Frustration

[Char_charlottie]

I'm getting of sick of having the same rant over and over!

I'm fresh out of hospital after my third visit to A&E in about a month. I was given stronger painkillers (which seem to be working at the moment) but I was still not allowed to see a gynaecologist. I was scanned and examined and talked through various conditions that I could have.

What I am really frustrated with is that I know my body, I know the pain I get in, why can't I be seen by an expert?? If I'm in the hospital, being scanned and examined how hard is it to get a consultant to speak to me??

I'm not against the NHS (I actually work for the NHS)but how can the treat people like they are idiots. I was getting no answers, all I want is to know for sure what is wrong with me.

My scans are clear, but I have so much vaginal and pelvic pain.

Sorry for the big rant 😅

[JulesUK]

just to say I’m sure most of us share your frustration. Over the last few years I’ve read various papers, petitions to government for change and celebrities speaking out to raise awareness but here we are still every day reading stories like yours. It angers me so much we still don’t get taken seriously. It’s exhausting to have to keep pushing when, like you say, you know your own body. What sort of scans have you had?

[soph09]

Hi Charlotte, I'm sorry to hear you're going through such a tough time at the moment. I was in a very similar situation to you with multiple A+E visits as the pain became so bad. At my worst I would be calling an ambulance to be put on gas and air , anti sickness medication and strong IV pain relief. They never looked for the cause just treated me in the moment and sent me on my way.

I went back to my GP who ran an ovarian marker blood test, called a CA125 and it showed elevated levels. It can be for a range of things , including endo. My GP referred me to have some scans and I had an internal ultrasound and it all came back clear. My GP wasn't happy to leave this and so referred me to the Gynae department. They said they would do a laparoscopy and see what they could find- and bingo , endo all over my bladder, ovaries, on top of my bowel and in my POD.

My advice would be to go back to your GP ( a female if possible ) and ask for that blood test or a referral to a Gynae team. Failing that , is it an option for you to see a private consultant ? I have a friend who paid for the initial appointment and he agreed to do the surgery on the NHS for her as he worked at the local NHS hospital. I hope you get the answers you need and deserve 🤍

[Avourneen]

A and E is teh wrong place to go to get help with endo. In A and E they usually only employ very junior doctors and not a lot of them you won't get to see a gynae by going there. You will always just wait for hours and be sent home with painkillers as they don't have a specialist gynaes to treat you.A and E is just for broken legs, heartattcks, car crashes etc

Go on the internet and look up gynaes in your area, look for one who says on their page that they specialise on endo. The NHS is not working it will take you forever to see someone, if you work there it should be clear. there aren't enough doctors for the number of patients. Just pay and see a gynae privately then you can see one in a few weeks and get to the bottom of what is wrong. Don't waste time in A and E you cannot get to jump the queue to a gynae by going there and you won't find anyone who can help there.

Good luck.

[BloomingMarvellous]

Oh dear. Yep, been there have multiple badges on that one. Recent research has demonstrated that regular admission to A &E by women in pelvic pain etc is a sure fire indicator of endometriosis. Slam dunk. Urgent GP visit for urgent referral in what I would loudly tell them “to enable me to stop wasting everyone’s time and resources in A&E”. I mean honestly how frigging hard is it for them to actually bloody sort it ???

[Char_charlottie]

Thank you all for responding! It's nice (in a reluctant way) that there are people going through the same. I have a referral to gynae, luckily my GP is amazing and she has been on my side. I've had ultrasounds and physical exams, they've said that they are reluctant to laparoscopic surgery due to risks. I'm definitely going to mention the blood test though.

[Greenlady48]

hi.

It’s awful isn’t it! I’m 20 years plus into it. It’s a vicious circle. You go to the gp. Get referred. Get scanned get diagnosed and then either get painkillers or zoladex implants. And then you get in the cycle of the same thing over and over again! I also work for the nhs. And have lost count the amount of times I’ve been to a&e. I have Diclofenac amitriptyline codine. HRT patches CBD drops. I’ve been offered everything from hysterectomy and bowel surgery to stoma bag. Menopause doesn’t stop it. I’m 53 it’s still ongoing 😖