Seeing a consultant for stage 3 endo

[mmc485]

Hi All, a bit about me - I have been diagnosed since 2011 since I went to A + E with pains in my right side. It turned out to be a 8cm cyst on right ovary that had burst and although not due to endometriosis they found endometrotic tissue and mainly attached to my bowel. It all made sense since I had previously been to doctors and diagnosed with IBS and painful periods which I was prescribed pill to keep it manageable. Since then been taking pill back to back as told by then and luckily I barely get any pain, what I do get is severe bloating but no pain. I hadn't had my ovaries scanned since 2012 and I am looking to try to have kids in next 2 years. I wanted to have a chat with a specialist who might be able to talk me though other options of treatment due to SEVERE and uncomfortable bloating I get from morning to night as really affecting me. Also wanting to see how severe the endo is now as I am looking to try soon and also check fallopian tubes and ovaries, tests that my friends have had before and myself when I lived in Australia for 4 years. The latest available appt for me to see specialist was 3 months away. I booked it - collated all my past notes and looked forward to the appointment to get assessed again. When I turned up, and this is no discredit to NHS as I know how hard they work - the consultant was not the guy who saw me, I was introduced to the registrar with no explanation of why I was not seeing the original specialist I had waited months to see. I was pretty much told that I had to try for baby and come back to see them if I was not succeeding in 6 months. I am 32, and I just want to know whats going on with my own body and I have had these test before so I felt abit disappointed but also guilty as I know how pressured the NHS are. Since I was not in pain there was not much they could do. When I think rationally and about the system then fine, I understand...however, I do pay my taxes and I do also expect an element of diagnosis and not just to wait and see what happens, oh and to read this website (hence why I am here!) I am now toying with going privately but just wanted to 1. voice my experience to see if anyone else has had the same issue and 2. see if anyone else has had any tests. I really expected them to look through some of my notes, which I was asked to bring but they did not and I had to take half a day off work. I just felt abit hopeless and disappointed and not sure what to do next. Any suggestions welcome!!

[Fabbird]

Hi, sounds like you didn't get a great service. However it is quite normal in the NHS to see a registrar rather than the consultant, particularly on a first visit.

Did you get another appointment? Next time you go, it's always possible to ask to see the consultant. It might involve waiting around a bit.

From what you say I imagine that the doctor thought your main concern was fertility, which is perhaps why s/he recommended trying for 6m before taking the next step?

Good luck!