What questions to ask my doctor?

[lemon_tree]

Hi, I'm new here and just looking for some advice please!

I'm 19 and have been going back and forth to doctors for just over two years now about adnominal pain and have only just been referred to a GP with a specialism in Gynaecology. She has said it's quite likely I have endo with the symptoms that I'm displaying but has booked me for an ultrasound to check my ovaries for cysts.

I have an appointment this week and I was just wondering if there are any questions I should definitely be asking or if there are any questions that you wish you had asked your doctor earlier? With the current situation, I don't want to miss anything out when speaking to her as I'm not sure when the next appointment will be.

Also, at the last appointment, she mentioned changing my contraception from the pill to the contraceptive injection or the implant and I was just wondering if anyone had any previous experiences with these methods of contraception?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and thank you so much in advance, hope you are all well xxx

[TennisAM]

Hey, sorry they've been unhelpful till now. Where abouts are you in the UK?

I've not had experience of the injection or the mirena, the mirena would be a better option as its the lowest amount of hormone but it does take time to get used to and settle. Some love it as it stops the periods and most the pain. Some hate it.

What are you taking at the moment?

Worth asking if you get the coil, how long you'd have to try it for before it's may be successful? If you don't like it you would have to wait for them to take it out, question is how long will you have to put up with it if you don't like it?

Have you had an ultrasound? Internal is best to see if you have cysts on your ovaries? They won't see much else though. Have you had an MRI?

Worth asking to be referred to an endometriosis specialist at the hospital if nothing is working as its a long wait.

Worth asking for other meds - is heavy bleeding an issue? Tranexamic acid is very good for that. Nausea meds etc.

I recommend doing some reading about the mirena and the injections so you can make an educated decision and you're not just basing your choice on what they tell you. Look for the side effects and long term consequences, for example I was told that the progesterone injections can lead to a bone density issue for some. The mental health implications if you already have any issues or concerns. Progesterone can be worse for mental health side effects.

Hope it works out well

[lemon_tree in reply to TennisAM]

Thank you so much for your reply it's really reassured me! I live in Guernsey so whilst we are pretty much COVID free there are still large waiting times as appointments are backed up from when we are in lockdown and we only have two ultrasound machines and one MRI on island. I am currently on the pill but am really sensitive to the hormones so my doctor recommended changing. I've done some research into both injection and implant but will defo be doing some more. I haven't had my ultrasound yet but it should be within the next month and I am going to ask if she can book an MRI tomorrow as I think there is a fairly long waitlist at the moment, even if I go private.

I'll definitely be asking lots of questions tomorrow, thank you so much x

[TennisAM in reply to lemon_tree]

You're welcome. I hope it goes really well tomorrow and you have your ultrasound soon. I'm quite sensitive to hormones too so understand it makes it much harder. If you have any Tradition Chinese Medicine specialists in Guernsey, worth seeing if they understand endometriosis. My TCM specialist has changed my life. Acupuncture and herbs make such a big difference to my symptoms. x