How do you manage?

[MeggyCharlie]

Hi everyone, this is a long one, so thank you in advance for reading this.

So, I had a laparoscopy last September through private care as I was in too much pain to wait for it on the NHS. In April/May this year, the symptoms came back even worse, and at the end of August I had to take a week off work as I was taken to A&E by my parents. After talking to a consultant after ringing 111 they told me that I was quite young to of had the surgery (I'm 28, 27 when I had it), and that I needed to go to the hospital straight away.

After being seen in A&E the doctor told me that I was being sent to Gynaecology with a letter and that I would be seen there. I was seen by a doctor who told me that the hospital was an Endo clinic and that I would be seen by an Endo specialist (I didn't know this, and it is my local hospital!). I had to get my GP to refer me to the hospital, I went back three days later for an ultrasound and the doctor that saw me told me she was contacting my GP and telling them that the referral was urgent and needed to be done straight away.

Fastforward and the referral was never done, I have been backwards and forwards with my GP and the hospital trying to get someone to help me with no luck. I have now been off work for 4 weeks as the pains is constant, my hands shake, I can't sleep, I need the bathroom all the time and I can't even bend over as it hurts so much! I have never had an official diagnosis, or even knew what stages meant before I joined this group.

I am wondering what my best option is for me about work, do I hand my notice in and concentrate on my health for once (I live with my parents luckily, and I have put my job before my health twice in the last two years and I don't want to keep doing this), or do I continue on sick leave, making me feel miserable and leave my co-workers short staffed for longer( I am a supervisor of a busy garden centre restaurant).

Thank you for reading my rambling, and advice would be appreciated. XX

[RueBlu3]

Hi,

I'm really really sorry this is happening to you! That sounds absolutely horrific!

I think it's terrible that your referral wasn't done properly. I feel like those kinds on mistakes happen way too often and it means we have to wait even longer for help. Has it been sorted yet or are you still waiting? I hope you can see the specialist soon and get some help.

As for your work situation, please don't feel bad about leaving your colleagues short-staffed. Your health is more important than your job and you need to take care of yourself.

It's the company's job to worry about hiring more people to make sure they can cope if a staff member is absent for whatever reason. Please don't make yourself feel worse by stressing about your job, this situation isn't your fault.

If you feel comfortable, I think you should stay on sick leave if its still available to you. It's there for when workers get poorly and you deserve to have a wage, you didn't do any of this on purpose!

I'm glad you have a good support network at home, so leaving your job wouldn't be a terrible idea either if that's what you think is the right decision for you. However, I don't think it's fair for you to leave because you think you're a burden on your work or something, because that's not the case at all. It's okay to need some support. <3

Wishing you all the best, I hope things can improve for you soon x

[Kazh1209]

firstly sending you lots of love. I was 22 when I had my first laparoscopy and was told I was too young for it to be endo but they would look anyway, well it was and 17 years later it still is. Keep pushing them for that referral and track all your symptoms. Endo Uk have a fab tool to take to doctors/consultants which also have trigger words to use to express the pain.

[Helena45]

Hi, I had dilatation and curettage for severe pain from endometriosis when I was 15yrs old in the days prior to laparascopic surgeries, so there is no age criteria if the symptoms warrant investigation.

By now you will have the results of the laparoscopy and ultrasound and if the radiology team suspect sinister pathology then they can fast-track a referral under the 2 week pathway. Check with the GP surgery where the referral has now been sent and average waiting times then you can make a decision whether to see an Endo consultant on a private consultation - usually around £300 but you'll get an idea what the plan of action is and whether to join the NHS waiting list for surgical care or again pay privately for this.

Your GP should be able to prescribe meds to help with the pain and only you can decide whether you are fit to work or not, if the latter then present your sick note and don't feel guilty about it.

Best of luck with everything.