Advice for pushing to get a lap

[Haylz95]

Hi everyone,

I've been dealing with a variety of symptoms over a period of years and for a long time I didn't link the likes of my sciatica (scheduled MRI was cancelled on the day because consultant told me he could "feel" a slipped disk) and IBS (had colonoscopy - clear of course) because I was on the pill.

Long story short, I came off the pill after about 5 years because I couldn't cope anymore with the endless side effects and that's when my full list of symptoms came to light and have gotten worse since.

I was referred to a consultant on the NHS about 8 months ago and have been lucky enough to be able to get private healthcare with work. I was struggling to find ways to manage my symptoms, and on my period I find myself taking mefenamic acid, cocodamol and aspirin to touch the pain. I also have a TENS machine.

I saw a consultant gynecologist specialising in laparoscopies who conducted an internal ultrasound and was able to see thickening of the womb and told me this pointed to "subtle endometriosis", as well as "string of pearls" cysts on one of my ovaries.

He told me I needed to go back on the pill or get the coil and I explained why this wasn't an option for me - I will never go back on the pill because of how it made me feel and I've never been comfortable with the idea of the coil, nor do I want to mask something without having a diagnosis.

I've since started taking amitriptyline (20mg) after requesting it from my GP and I really feel like it has made a difference to managing my pain. I have also had hormone profiling done with all coming back normal (this was to rule out PCOS).

I'm going back to see my private consultant on Monday with a letter from my GP also pushing for the lap and wanted to ask for any advice on how to reiterate this point to him and how any of you guys have had success (or failure) in requesting this.

Sorry for the long post, feels nice to write this all down, it's driving me mad not having a definitive answer/diagnosis after so many years of tests coming back negative. Hoping for some success stories!!!

Thanks in advance

Hope everyone is keeping safe and well in the current circumstances.

[Moon_maiden]

If the consultant specialises in Endo I’m not sure why they are hesitating. They need to do the lap to be sure. Did they justify last time why they wouldn’t do lap?

Good luck.

[Haylz95 in reply to Moon_maiden]

Hi Moon_maiden,

I wondered that too! He told me that he didn't think it was "necessary" and he sees plenty of women my age with "bad periods", I kid you not. Think I really just need to make a point of not taking no for an answer.

Thank you!

[Moon_maiden in reply to Haylz95]

Maybe a different consultant! 😡

Don’t be put of, I was years ago, Dr told me if I had a baby periods would get better. It’s not a route I took. I am paying the price now, it’s something that obviously needs dealing with as soon as you can.

[Warriorpc]

Your on the same pain killers as me, there great for back pain (3 slipped disc) ddd disease. But with endometriosis pain I feel like nothing takes that away 😢