New symptoms since referral

[Tangerine1990]

Hi lovely people,

I've got a question that maybe those of you who have been through the NHS referral system might be able to offer some suggestions on.

I got referred to a Nook dr in June 2019, had a consultation in October 2019 and have been on the waiting list ever since due to covid cancellations.

A few issues are:

- I noticed that some of my symptoms weren't captured by the nurse who wrote to my GP about our decision to go through with a laparoscopy. This includes pains in the upper abdomen.

- My symptoms have developed a bit since. I have more frequent upper abdominal pain which has always been under the left rib (most often), epigastric pains (negative gastroscopy), on occasion under the right rib. This pain isn't worse from breathing, it doesn't seem to change with cycle (I don't have a cycle really anymore).

- Pain above what seems like appendix/right ovary region

- Recent recurrence of rectal pain, which has subsided

- My GP is rubbish and doesn't know what a pelvic physio is, and has no gynae experience. I am concerned if I approach him asking about how to investigate any of this, that I will be fobbed off.

- Surgical/endo team I've been referred to are BUSY, should I be telling them and could these symptoms affect how a laparoscopy is done?

Any and all thoughts and suggestions welcome. Thanks!

[Cailleach]

Hi,

I don’t think what you are saying was missed out will affect the laparoscopy, but you could definitely phone the team who are going to do it to ask them. If you have an appointment letter it should have a number for any queries about the procedure. I just did this re an endoscopy I am booked for and found them very helpful.

Can you change to another GP in the practice? Don’t get stuck with one who you don’t find helpful.

I have persistent pain like you describe on the right lower abdomen, in my case it seems to be deposits of endo on the colon.

The epigastric and upper abdomen pain could be unrelated to the endo, don’t let your GP forget about that.

I know it’s really hard to keep pushing for stuff especially when you don’t get a helpful response. I have often let stuff slide myself. But we have to keep trying I guess.

[Tangerine1990 in reply to Cailleach]

Thanks... yeah I moved to a new place and the GP surgery is small (only 2 GPs work there) and no gynae specialism. We live in a retirement type of area, so they probably deal with a lot of ageing related issues and MSK stuff. It's hard when you feel like *that* patient who won't go away. I've considered not mentioning the endo and just seeing what they think the pain is - but then I'll probs come away with bloody omeprazole and buscopan won't I ffs.