Whose second opinion to seek?

[OllieF]

If looking for a second opinion, would you pay to see a consultant at another hospital or to have an ultrasound done by a skilled operator? My doctor says my ongoing problems can’t be rectovaginal endometriosis because he removed the only bit of superficial endo he found over/on (my notes say both at different times) my right uterosacral ligament. He says to go back to my GP for other investigations.

[Moon_maiden]

My GP has sent an urgent letter to another endo team at a different hospital for another opinion.

[luthien]

You ideally need a second opinion. I can't remember where I found the information but if under the NHS you are entitled to a free second opinion. So the best thing to do is go to your GP and say you're not happy with your specialists findings and would like to be referred on to a different hospital / clinic for a second opinion.

Bear in mind though that most general gynaecologists will only look around the organs they work with so uterus, ligaments, ovaries, fallopian tubes, vagina and cervix. They won't know or admit they need to look at the bowel / bladder so can often miss endo on there. You may need to be referred and push to see an endo specialist and / or colorectal specialist (bowel).

You could try looking up the doctors in your local hospitals / clinics and see if there's one specialising in endometriosis - that would be a start. Perhaps your GP has a search function to help - they usually can search local hospitals for specialists / doctors with an interest in something.

An ultrasounds no matter how skilled the operator is simply will not always show endo, so it's not definitive for a diagnosis, it may show some, it may show none so not a good route to go down.

I paid for my consultation - went private so saw an endometriosis specialist and a colorectal specialist whom both treated my stage 4 bowel endo by excision together.

[Moonglo]

I didn’t get on with my local NHS gynae at all, so I asked my GP to refer me to a BSGE clinic for a second opinion. I printed out the clinic’s page from the BSGE website and gave it to my GP.It sounds like you’re already diagnosed with endo, so this might be a way forward.

[OllieF in reply to Moonglo]

I have thought of this but I wasn’t sure what I would need to prove suspicion of deep endo, as the current consultant says not. I don’t know if the GP can take me at my word or if I need to try and Eva use private scans first?

[Moonglo in reply to OllieF]

You must be diagnosed with endo, because the consultant removed it. And just because he removed it, doesn’t mean it’s gone.

As far as I’m aware you need to be diagnosed with endo (which you are) to be referred by your GP. I’m not sure how else you can prove it, if you’re asking for a second opinion?

[OllieF]

Sorry, what I meant is you need a diagnosis or suspicion of deep end to be referred to the BSGE centre, and my consultant maintains I only had superficial endometriosis. So I am wondering if my GP will have enough evidence to refer me.