First hospital appointment

[littlebitnic]

Hello,

After several appointments with my doctor and months of waiting, I finally have my first hospital appointment next week.

I haven't been diagnosed with endo and my doctor told me I was being ridiculous when I suggested it, but I'd like to talk a little about my symptoms and how I can get them to believe me at the hospital that something is wrong.

The doctor did the usual examinations and tests and sent me for an ultrasound before telling me that I am a woman who has bad periods and to suck it up because that's that. I had to practically breathe fire before she referred me to the hospital.

This was despite the following issues and also my sister having had a laparoscopy 10 years ago that showed she had adhesions -

I am 30 years old. My periods have always been bad, but now they're so bad that I cannot imagine a worse pain. If I experienced any other pain so severe, I would be calling an ambulance without hesitation.

I swell up so much that I don't fit into my normal clothes.

Over the counter medicine doesn't even take the edge off the pain.

I'm always completely exhausted.

The starts of my period are always 2-3 days of old looking blood, it's not as heavy as when my period actually gets going, once in er.. full flow... it's very clotted.

I get horrendous stomach cramps followed by almost instant explosive diarrhoea, 6 or 7 times a day, OR I am completely constipated. This happens throughout the month, not just around my period. It doesn't seem to matter what I have eaten, I am quite a clean eating vegan so there's not that much in my diet that would cause either of these things, and until 12 months ago, my bowel movements were always normal except for the week that I was on my period.

When I exercise (running or jumping), I get pains similar to period pains that last for a few days.

I can always "feel" my womb... I'm not sure how to describe it, but I am completely unaware of my other organs unless I have a stomach ache or something, but my womb always seems to ache just a little, or it feels like it is inflated and bumping into everything else...

Sex hurts.

My right ovary (I assume it is my ovary, anyway), hurts frequently, almost a throbbing but gnawing little pain.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head, I am writing a list ready for my appointment next week. I'm just so scared they'll try and fob me off with birth control, I have tried that and it made me unhappy and killed my libido, consequently putting strain on my relationship.

How can I make them see that something is wrong? I'm so scared they won't be able to help me

Thanks for reading and any response,

Nic

[Hidden]

I think it might be helpful to take some notes of your symptoms in bullet point form, in the same way you've listed them here.

I had exactly the same difficulty as you in getting referred and diagnosed. In the end I paid for a private ultrasound scan which revealed endometriomas and finally set me on the road to diagnosis. It's hard work getting there sometimes though! Xxx

[Annie-P]

Hello

I wish I'd seen your post before I had my first appointment. I could have written your post myself! I did come out of my appointment with a prescription for Microgynon. I was distraught as it's taken over 20 years to get to that point. I wanted someone to finally listen & do something about it. My consultant still hasn't diagnosed Endo but I'm absolutely convinced that's what I have. I was sent home with a prescription for Microgynon & a diagnosis of dysmenorrhoea (which I've been diagnosed with once before but i was too upset to speak when the consultant told me the options of the Pill, Mirena coil or an implant ( I can't remember it's name). I ended up leaving the hospital & cried all day!

I do have another appointment in November so I'll be hoping for some answers then.

I hope your consultation was more successful than mine x