Asking your GP to see a specialist

[Iszabella]

Hi all,

Need some advise...

I have another call with my doctor tomorrow as nothing is being done to help me. The pain in the pelvis, bowel, back, etc are just getting worse. My partner has come close to taking me to the hospital some days.

I'm going to ask to see a specialist at a hospital and talk to someone who will know how to help (my doctor admitted to me last time that he doesn't know anything about gynaecological issues). How easy was it to get a referral to a specialist and how long did it take. I have a bad feeling that they won't refer me as nothing came up on my ultrasound

xXx

[Emmy31]

To be fair my GP has been good but I have had terrible experiences previously with other doctors. I am due to see a consultant soon. I have made a timeline of all my symptoms and what has been happening. What my daily life is like and what I want to happen. I have also looked at the NICE guidelines for gynae and endometriosis specifically so I can see the processes guided in these. I have used endometriosis UK to help me too. Xx

[RAS87]

Ask for an internal scan if you can as that was the only way they spotted my issues. They just wanted to refer for ultra sounds but it wasn’t enough. The gynaecologist rejected my referral but i asked my gp to refer me again for an internal scan and ultrasound and only then was I accepted with the gynaecologist. There are loads of barriers but all i can suggest is to just keep pushing and pushing. Also write down everything, all symptoms, who you have spoken to, dates of contact and anything really because people will ask loads of questions and if it’s written down its easier. Hope you get it sorted x

[Iszabella in reply to RAS87]

Hi Thank you

I have both abdominal and transvaginal ultra sounds done and they said nothing was wrong with me. I want to see a specialist but im worried I won't get referred because my doctors haven't been logging anything I've told them. My ultrasound hasn't even been put on my medical record.

[RAS87 in reply to Iszabella]

Thats terrible . I would consider changing doctors as that is unacceptable. I hope you sort things soon x

[Purpledisco in reply to Iszabella]

Hi Isabelle, I hope this helps but nothing came up on my scan either. I was luckily referred to gyne last year but I kept on at my gp's for years prior to this. However, the waiting list was far too long so I paid to go private £200 (for this specific hospital) to see a private gyne consultant specialist within two weeks of paying I was seen. He specialises in endo and pcos. Anyway, I was quite shocked of my diagnosis because nothing came up on my ultrasound and 'everything looked fine' when I asked him about this, he simply said with the ultrasounds it's very hard for them to actually see if there's any cysts. Because of this 1 appointment I paid for I am now actually being listened to!! I couldn't afford this originally but saved up to get this done and I regret not doing it sooner.

I really hope this helps

[BookBimbles]

As Emmy31 says quoting the NICE guidelines might help. And being informed e.g by charities like EndometriosisUk. Endo doesn’t always show up on scans. Mine didn’t and it was painful. IMO in asking for referral to a specialist, and if it’s for Endo, save yourself time and ask for a Endometriosis Specialist Centre, rather than general gynaecology (eg. there’s a list on the BSGE website -bsge.org.uk/centre/ )

[Cailleach]

I absolutely agree, look up the NICE guidelines online it should tell you what the process is your GP should be following. List your symptoms to him/ her and say you think it could be endo and you want to be referred to a gynaecologist with a special interest in endo. I think you will not be entitled to be referred to a BSGE at this stage as you do not have a diagnosis - the NICE guidelines should explain this though.

Ultrasound does not always show endo especially if the person doing it is not specially trained.

In the meantime ask for some good pain relief from your GP.

Hope you get some help soon.

[Iszabella]

Hi,

Thanks for all your advise, my call went better than expected. My doctors went through every symptom I've been having asked proper detailed questions and just said that's it I'm putting you in for urgent referral to the gynaecology specialist. Should have my appointment in the next few weeks. Hopefully anyway

I did find out, everything I said during my ultrasound scan wasn't recorded; the pain it was causing and the question I asked. Just so disappointing, like he didn't even care

😔

xXx