Advice please for gynae appt: So, as my... - Endometriosis UK

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Advice please for gynae appt

Mindfullness4791 profile image

So, as my symptoms have been so bad, I've been fast tracked and see my gynae in 10 days. The same gynae who thinks I can't have Endo due to my age and that my symptoms are due to Fibroids. I do not have the option to see a different one. Appointments are like hens teeth at the moment :(

Any advice would be great. I have written a big list of all my symptoms to take with me.

Thank you xxxx

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Mindfullness4791 profile image
Mindfullness4791
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21 Replies
courtneyhatts profile image
courtneyhatts

Hi,

I also got told that I wouldn't have endo due to my age which was 17 when I started my journey. I'm not sure why they say this, I think its ridiculous, they also told me that I couldn't have endo because I'm on contraception and got told all my symptoms are in my head and i am basically a hypochondriac. I never believed what they said and just never gave up, i just kept pushing and pushing to get seen by someone. No one believed me, not even friends or family. And I'm glad I didn't give up, it did take me 3 years but I finally managed to get laparoscopy surgery in 2021 and was diagnosed with stage 3 endo- my ovaries and fallopian tubes are stuck together on the left and my bowel and uterus is also stuck together. I have just had my MRI scan to see if the endo has penetrated through my bowel and on the waiting list for my next surgery-

my advice is- make your symptoms worse than they are and I know this sounds so bad but if I didn't exaggerate my symptoms I wouldn't be where I am today. They did not take me serious at all before I exaggerated my symptoms which I think is awful and you should never have to do this in the first place but unfortunately you do.

Please never give up, I know its hard and frustrating when you go to specialist for help and they turn you away.

You always need to ask for next steps- so for example I had an ultra sound and it came back clear and they sent me away so I called up and said well what happens now? what can you do for me now? Never let them close you off, just keep pushing.

I hope this helps :)

Weevikki profile image
Weevikki in reply to courtneyhatts

I was diagnosed at age 17 after having a laparoscopy of having endometriosis. This was 33 years ago. I don’t know why now they would say you couldn’t have it at this age. I’d been in pain with periods since they started age 11 and heavy bleeding.

You don’t say what age you are here so it’s a little difficult to be able to respond experience wise. The two who’ve responded talk about being so young at 17 , my earliest issues started at 14 but I got told at 58 ( late diagnosis) that I couldn’t have endo. So it’s basically one of those idiotic mindless phrases that gets trotted out. To whit my response is now “ well, let’s not dismiss it shall we and ensure that’s definitely NOT the case - we’d hate to miss the obvious wouldn’t we ???? “ whilst delivering a wry frosty glare.

AlexaMac profile image
AlexaMac in reply to BloomingMarvellous

Hi l am post menopause and almost 77 years of age and having my second op in a few weeks due to endo being mis diagnosed at 1.9 mm when it is in fact 9 mm, had partial hysterectomy 19 December last year and they did a hysteroscopy smear while l was under which shows l actually have cancer as well.

My initial symptoms were heavy post menopause bleeding age 75, which my first surgeon tried to convince me was because l was suffering persistent constipation at the time, now 15 months later l am finally getting the treatment l should have had a year ago, and they have transferred me to a different consultant who is cancer/gynea expert.

Don’t give up on yourself, l kept diaries, l am on my third, and started taking these to consultations, but my new surgeon is the only one who has taken notice of these.

Stay strong, best wishes Alexa

Thank you for your replies, it is really helpful. She also said she thought my problem were gastro as it affects my bowels. I actually don't care what the diagnosis is, I just want it to stop 🥹My symptoms are so bad, I won't need to exaggerate 🥲 I definitely need an mri/lap and I won't be leaving until she agrees to it!

I know I have Fibroids but the fact Prostap hasn't worked, proves it isn't that causing the problems! Maybe the Fibroids are aggrevating the possible endo?

BloomingMarvellous profile image
BloomingMarvellous in reply to Mindfullness4791

Funnily enough the bowel tissue is also affected by endo according to latest research so while she’s right she’s correct in the wrong way ….if you get my drift. It’s often the most frequent misdiagnosis for endo issues. Push on a have confidence to explore.

I'm 48 :) x

BloomingMarvellous profile image
BloomingMarvellous in reply to Mindfullness4791

So thrown in with all of the above may well be peri menopause. I love Dr Louise Newson’s site for info on all of this ….

Mindfullness4791 profile image
Mindfullness4791 in reply to BloomingMarvellous

Thank you. I love her too. I know I'm peri as well as everything else. The joys of being a woman 🙄

the4ts profile image
the4ts

I was 56 when I got diagnosed. Another late one.

the4ts profile image
the4ts in reply to the4ts

Oh, so sorry! I missed this. A bit late to reply now but I didn't want you to think I was ignoring you. I hope things have improved for you now. Happy to answer if still useful though.

The4ts - I'm so glad I came on here. Otherwise, I would have been fobbed off! What symptoms did you have? X

Groin pain, pain throughout pelvic floor, excessive bleeding, constant UTI’s with bleeding leading to kidney infections without apparent bacterial cause (🙄), excessive bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, severe sciatic pain and swelling in left leg, vomiting, nausea, migraines, hair loss, weight gain, loss of appetite, depression, pain across back and down thighs, pelvic floor collapsed in the last couple of years - so I became wholly immobile and couldn’t stand or walk, pain with sex … I felt marvellous. The bloating was so bad I looked like 9 mths gone with twins. My self esteem hit the floor. Combo of endo, adenomyosis and menopause it was a cool ride to hell. If I hadn’t had fantastic support from hubby and friends, folk to help out with private fees, stubborn nature and background in alternative health to self support I don’t know what I would have done. I can quite easily understand how it drives women to suicide as I came close. There is zero need for it to be this way and endo treatment at this point isn’t a “ pointless” thing as it does work and tbh doesn’t go away as many drs declare. It might change but it’s still hell.

Mindfullness4791 profile image
Mindfullness4791 in reply to BloomingMarvellous

Bless you, it's so debilitating 😢 I just hope my next appointment gets me somewhere. You're right, it shouldn't be this hard to get the right treatment xx

Firhd profile image
Firhd

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng73/c...

Take the guidelines with you and quote from it to explain the level of care you are entitled to. Good luck!

Mindfullness4791 profile image
Mindfullness4791 in reply to Firhd

This is so helpful, thank you xx

I spent 9 hours last night in a and e, after calling 111 as the pain was so bad even on co-codamol. They said it was too complex to deal with but did give me Diclofenac and Buscopan. The sooner this appointment comes, the better 🥲 xx

BloomingMarvellous profile image
BloomingMarvellous in reply to Mindfullness4791

Ye gods, you poor thing. Have DM’d you

Mindfullness4791 profile image
Mindfullness4791 in reply to BloomingMarvellous

Thank you, Blooming. I look forward to hearing from you :) x

TogetherWeAreStrong profile image
TogetherWeAreStrongModeratorEndometriosis UK

Thank you for posting Mindfullness4791 , it's clearly struck a cord with a lot of us, me included!

It makes such a difference talking with people that understand! xx

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