Hi I'm new here and I'm having an issue with getting a straight answer from my GP.

[MeggyCharlie]

Hi, I'm new here, I started having severe abdominal pains, short but heavy periods, and having to go to the bathroom every ten minutes last year in March. I managed to get into my GP surgery in October, and was scheduled and ultrasound. I had to call the GP after three weeks of nothing to find out that my scan came back clear and was told no further action was required. The symptoms have been happening every month since March, and have been making it extremely hard to do my job (I'm a Commis Chef). Needing the toilet every ten minutes is not great when you are trying to cook people meals! It took me 5 years to get my POCS (Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome) diagnosis, after I kept demanding tests to be done, I don't want to be kept waiting another 5 years with this pain.

I have suffered with my periods since they first started when I was 13. They have always been very heavy and painful, only getting worse as I got older. I know that I need to keep going back to my GP to get results but I find it disheartening when all they do is shrug it off, telling in its women's problems and the best one was to google POCS and read what it says. IS there anything I can do to get a diagnosis??

Sorry for the long message I just needed to vent, and having people who understand what I'm talking about is great. XX

[Spireite]

GPs are pretty pants, vent all you want, I don't think you'll find anyone sticking up for them here!

The dreaded 'no further action' said in that voice that says you should be please, when it just makes you feel ignored and helpless. Up there with 'your iron is low (again), the Dr has done a prescription for you to collect' after their latest round of 'We'll run some bloods first'

There needs to be a huge change in women's health issues at primary care level. Endo affects such a large percentage of women, it should be on their minds for every consultation over abdominal pain and/or problematic periods.

I know you know, but keep going back. Endo often doesn't show up on an ultrasound unless it has caused a cyst. It infuriates me that GPs don't know this about such a common condition. Keep pushing your inability to work without regular interruption, you could even make out you are worried it'll lose you your job if you can't get an improvement. You could try pushing for help with your PCOS and tell the gynae you are worried about endo when you get there. Another one may be to Google the stuff on the dietary changes that can help PCOS. If you are already doing that, you can say you've done what they asked, and you are already doing everything you can, and still suffering badly (and need a referral) If you've not tried it, you could do it and use no improvement as something to beat them into submission with.

Years back, I was diagnosed with a rare ENT issue, which is neurological in origin. Got a referral that took me on a straightforward route to the right consultant after only two trips to the GP. I went along with the daft proposal made at the first appointment, of taking Sudafed for an entire month, when it didn't work, I had them backed into a corner.

Your other route is to make a complaint to the practice manager about the impact of this on your ability to work having been overlooked, and you shouldn't be expected to cope with it without further investigation by gynae.

I hope you get somewhere with them soon, you really shouldn't have to fight this hard x

[chloehbeaum]

Hello!

I am in the same boat. It took me 2 and half years to finally get into a hospital for further checks.. and that's only because I requested a change of doctors, to a women who was head of the surgery.

I too have stomach issues and the intense pain where I pass out/ throw up and I am trying to get more help as I keep being told there is nothing wrong with me. Which I know is not right. That's including the times I have been in a and e with complications...and been sent home the same day saying everything is fine. Its ridiculous!

I've seen on here a lot of people saying it helps to look to see if you can go provide, but money for private is an issue as I'm a student. But I just basically wanted to say you are not alone in these problems xx

[Hidden in reply to chloehbeaum]

Private is quite expensive upwards of £1500.I would say get on the nhs list even though it will take a while and if you have to change gps to get a referral then do it as some show more empathy than others.I’m sorry about your pain and wish i could help you.

[Hidden]

Oh Meggycharlie!i know how you feel as it took me years to be diagnosed with stage 4 Endometriosis i feel if it was spotted earlier things would not be as bad for me.

The thing is alots of women conditions like Endometriosis do not show up on the ultrasound.

You have pain and symptoms so that should be enough for your gp to refer you to a specialist perhaps a gynaecologist so just ask for this instead of the gp trying to brush you off and be firm about it.Unfortunately everything on the nhs takes time and you have to keep pushing.

[Cailleach]

Good advice given already re endo. Just wanted to say even if the bladder problem is caused by endo, the GP can prescribe tablets to help with frequency and urgency of having to pee. I have this issue myself and this has helped.