Advice please! Endo specialist referral?

[Faith27]

Hi .. omg it's been such a long journey, I'll try to keep it minimal!

Long story short..

- I have been waiting for a Gynacologist appointment since August for fertility issues primarily. Endo wasn't really discussed although I've had years and years of excruciating pain that has progressed worse and worse.

- I and a private Gynacologist (I became inpatient due to agony a few months ago) believe I have endo. I need a laparoscopy.

- a laparoscopy private was 3.5k! Which I couldn't afford, so I asked to go back onto the NHS.

- this private gaeny wrote a letter to my doctor recommending a laparoscopy.

- she then expedited (fast tracked) my original appointment referral for the Gynacologist that I've been waiting for since August (thus we haven't really saved any time) but I have an appointment next month (woohoo)

The issue I now have is, if they refer me for a laparoscopy which is likely given the info I'll be sharing and the prior recommendation from a private consultant having done multiple tests.. This may not be with a BGCE registered endo specialist!?

So will they then refer me on as appropriate, or should I be calling my GP and requesting my referral get moved to an endo specialist clinic? Bearing in mind that we need fertility issues afterwards to be reviewed?

I just don't know what to do! Do I go ahead with the appointment next month and have this person refer me for a laparoscopy done by a the general gynae who will follow things through and help with the fertility issues or should I be separating both issues out and waiting potentially even longer to be seen ....

#exhausting #headsgone lol

[Rehanat]

Hey- you won’t b referred to a bsge centre unless you have severe endo which in your case is unknown.

I was in the same position as you and had my first lap done by a general gynaecologist and then diagnosed with severe endometriosis. If it’s just a diagnostic lap then a general gynaecologist will be fine after which you will know if you have endo & can asked to be referred to a specialist. The waiting times are ridiculous- I was referred to a specialist last yr and a yr later still waiting for a lap... hope this helps a bit x

[Faith27 in reply to Rehanat]

That really helps!! Thank you so much for replying. Hope your appointment comes around soon for you xx

[MichelleOlivia]

I was able to choose which hospital I was referred to. I felt strongly I had endo so chose a bsge. If I were you I would fight for an endo specialist. A lot of general gynaecologists aren’t skilled in excision which is the best way to treat endo. I ttc for 3 years before my excision, I got pregnnt 3rd cycle after my excision surgery. My now 4 month old is fast asleep in my arms as I write! Good luck

[Faith27 in reply to MichelleOlivia]

Thank you for sharing your experience!! It's so hard to know what to do. Can a Gynacologist refer to a specialist centre or does the entire referral have to go through the GP again? This whole process has just been a time consuming nightmare!! We are hoping to start IVF at some point in the future bit can't progress until we know if there are endo issues (I don't want to waste cycles if they are just not going to work due to endo which is a huge decision because I'm well aware even with endo, IVF could work. I'd rather give us as much chance as possible!) Xx

[MichelleOlivia in reply to Faith27]

I’m not sure to be honest, I was given the option from the get go so didn’t have to worry about re-referral. My only advice after you have excision of endo if you do have endo, is to try on you own for a bit first. It’s very common to get pregnant quickly and naturally after excision. Some of the drugs used for ivf can make endo worse, and therefore decrease chances of conception. Good luck, I hope it all works out for you. The endo specialist I saw has an endo nurse who I saw after my excision, and she gave me lots of info on excercise and the endo diet to try and remain endo free, so it is worth waiting for a specialist.