referral to gynaecologist rejected?

[Forestgreen90]

Suspected endo - referral rejected? UK

Hi just posting here as I have been investigated via X-rays scans bloods etc over the last couple of months with my GP referring me to gynaecology for suspected Endo. My womb has lowered if I remember rightly and I have scar tissue which makes periods agonising but generally now all the time feeling nauseous and difficult to get up from sitting etc. pain is in my lower abdomen now and travelling down my legs and feel an urgency to pee. I have just looked on my nhs app and it looks like a clinical pharmacist has reviewed my referral and sent a letter to the doc to say hormonal therapy is the norm for this and to be seen “routinely in clinic” - has any experienced this or understand what this could mean?

[bluebug]

Where in UK? As in what nation?

This is to ensure you get proper advice.

[Forestgreen90]

in the uk. East Midlands.

[Purple_Badgers]

Hi! I wonder if your GP has referred you wrongly - as in has tried to refer you to a tertiary care centre for confirmed severe endo, rather than general gynae? If so, this would get rejected, as the normal route hadn’t been followed.

I’m presuming that the GP has offered you different painkillers to try? And suggested contraceptive pill or coil etc to suppress periods? It’s usual to try to manage your symptoms via the GP first, then if none of them help or they are not tolerated, you should be referred to a general gynaecologist. Preferably one with an interest in endometriosis.

You should then get gynaecology-specific scans, eg trans vaginal ultrasound or a pelvic MRI, which are capable of showing endo.

However - endo doesn’t always show up in scans and it can depend on the expertise of the person interpreting the results. This may then mean that the next step is a diagnostic laparoscopy. They can treat mild endo if found whilst in there, but for more severe endo or other problems you would be closed up and then be referred to a specialist centre.

Anyway, probably best to get back to your GP to discuss what happened with the referral and what the new plan is, as you can’t carry on in agony x