Consultation - what to expect?

[Oncmed]

Tomorrow I am finally meeting a consultant at hospital after being referred from my GP with suspected endometriosis.

I’m really anxious as what to expect.

I’m sick of living such a debilitating life, arranging my life around my periods.

Please share what happened on your first contact with a consultant, if I should be asking/requesting anything and what to expect regarding timelines for investigation to start.

Thank you

[princessk09]

Hey, I know you won’t want to hear this but don’t expect too much as sometimes it takes more than seeing one consultant until you get answers. I saw 8 in the space of 2 years until I finally had a laparoscopy and diagnosed.

I have terrible experiences with most of them and it takes a lot of advocating on your part to get listened to and taken seriously.

Is the consultant a specialist in endometriosis? This is a great help to be honest.

They don’t normal offer surgery first as they will suggest some kind of hormone treatment to manage the pain and painkillers.

It can be long and frustrating but it may depend on the area you live in and if you get lucky to have a good gynae first try.

They will probably do a pelvic exam but you can refuse if you’re not comfortable with it etc. They will just ask questions about your symptoms, what you have tried already to ease the pain.

Good luck xxx

[Oncmed in reply to princessk09]

Thank you. I’ll go in with realistic expectations - I have already tried the pill and it has been unsuccessful and have said no to an implant or coil.

The consultant on the hospital website doesn’t say endometriosis but I’m assuming will have some knowledge, it gives me hope that the hospital I’m going to is classed as an endometriosis centre and there is a consultant there who does.

I don’t mind having another internal but already had a couple and had internal scans. I honestly don’t know what else they can do other than actually go in and see if I have it

[princessk09 in reply to Oncmed]

Yeah surgery tends to be last resort, over two years I got different hormone treatments thrown at me even though they didn’t help.

They may have some knowledge then if it’s a credited endometriosis centre but always question them if you feel you’re not being listened to or anything like that xx