Finding an endo specialist

[MontsJ]

I’m new to this community but have been on this forum for some time in the infertility community. We struggled with primary infertility and now secondary. For the past 12 months I’ve had moderate uterine cramps for the whole second half of my cycle from ovulation to period, pain at times when my bladder empties or when doing a poo, and occasional deeper pelvic discomfort during sex. I was putting some of this down to early perimenopause symptoms which have settled and not pelvic floor since giving birth. But having gone to my GP they’ve agreed endo is worth ruling out given our ongoing infertility. They’ve warned a considerable wait time and so I am looking to go private as time is not on our side (I’m 42). I’m in North Essex, I’m not sure how to go about finding someone. I have read I need an endo specialist and just a gynae. I’ve had a look on the BSGE website but how do I chose a clinician? A friend has recommend Shaheen Khazali who is in London. I know we are not meant to recommend specific clinicians on here so would appreciate and recommendations by PM. Thanks in advance everyone 🙏

[Leanne102]

Hiya,

I'm so sorry to hear that you're suffering like this, it's really no fun. I looked at going private for a laparoscopy and was recommended a couple of specialists from an initial enquiry, and they actually recommended the specialist I was already under with the NHS.

I'm Cambridgeshire based so was seen at Addenbrookes (as an NHS patient). Their whole endo specialist clinic is fantastic and I would recommend looking for hospitals with endo specialists and seeing if any of them also treat privately. My initial consultant was Mr Mabrouk and he does see privately. There are also a number of specialists further towards the Midlands and up north, I can remember there being a centre in either Nottingham or Northampton (sorry I can't remember specifically), but I didn't look any further into those because of the distance.

I would say get in touch with your private healthcare provider and get them to look into who would accept your case and go from there. I was given a selection to choose from and was able to look further into the consultants and clinics from there.

Hope this helps a little!

Leanne

[MontsJ in reply to Leanne102]

Thanks for the prompt reply Leanne and fir the advice. Dr Mabrouk is on the BSGE list, did you find him to be good, did you have successful treatment?

[Leanne102 in reply to MontsJ]

Oh wonderful! He was fantastic, took me very seriously and was really great with suggestions and taking my opinions for treatment options, fertifility etc. as final. He made sure to thoroughly explain everything, even drawing diagrams to make sure I fully understood.

Treatment wise I'm not 100% sure just yet. My usual pain and previois symptoms seem to have stopped, but I'm still getting cramping where I had the majority of the surgery. I ended up having extensive removals and organs detached from my uterus wall. It also looks like I had endo on my kidneys which weren't previously investigated so I'm having to go through more scans to check. But I think that's unfortunately down to bad timing more than anything else. For the most part though I'd have said it was successful if not for the latest appearance 😂

[MontsJ in reply to Leanne102]

Thanks so much for the follow up message. Sounds like you had an epic surgery, it must have taken quite a bit to recover from that. Really great he explained everything so well. What did he say about yuur fertility? It was it more that they have to see what they find at the time of your lap?

[Leanne102 in reply to MontsJ]

With the fertility he asked if I wanted to freeze my eggs because both ovaries were likely to need an element of surgery. For me personally, children aren't something I want so I didn't look into any of that further but it was left open ended until they got in there for the surgery.

[Hidden]

there’s is a list of UK specialists on Nancys Nook on FB, good luck x

[Luz_R]

Hi. I worked with Shaheen Khazali when he was in the NHS as well as in private setting. He is lovely. I still work with 3 specialissts in the NHS who also has private practice and are equally as great. Vasileios Minas, Matthew Erritty and Michal Adamczyk. I know Mohamed Mabrouk as well who has been mentioned below, he's lovely too.

[MontsJ in reply to Luz_R]

Thanks so much, I appreciate you replying

[Hidden]

Hi, I hope you are well. Mr Mabrouk is one of my surgeons, I have my surgery booked for 5th August at Cambridge Spire Lea private hospital. To date he has been fantastic, I had my pre op assessment yesterday and he put me completely at ease. I would recommend him 100%. He is a leader in the field of endometriosis.

[MontsJ in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for the reply, it’s very helpful 😊

[Palomino13]

Hello Monts,

Dr Amer Raza is the lead Endo specialist at Cromwell Hospital and Chelsea and Westminster and he is simply amazing. He is world renound and obv BSGE. I had to go privately after waiting 7 years on the NHS He is also a specialist in robotic excision.

Good Luck and best and hope you feel better soon

[MontsJ in reply to Palomino13]

Thank you for replying and for the recommendation 😊

[KTF21]

I am the same 43 and due to NHS wait times went private , saw a consultant / MRI and diagnosed with stage 4 due to age and we had our last round of IVF to do consultant said to have the required surgery on NHS in my area would be 18mths so his opinion was to go ahead with ivf and consider options treatment after as the delay and age will outweigh any positive benefits. He then transferred me to his NHS clinic moving forward.

I would just search endometriosis specialists in your area and often you can find out more about them from there private practice

Good luck 😊

[MontsJ in reply to KTF21]

Thank you so much for replying, I’m on the waiting list for an appointment so will see how things move forward