Private surgery in North East

[ritschgi]

Hello,

I had a ruptured cyst August 2023 while travelling abroad and got emergency surgery in a great hospital. They drained the cyst and while already in there diagnosed deep infiltrating endometriosis, but couldn't remove any of it right then, as none of it was planned. I come back to the UK, get an MRI (which only showed endometriomas on my ovaries, nothing deep infiltrating) and was told the cysts are already back to 4cm (this was just 2 months after surgery)! I've been fighting to get proper endo surgery ever since. Finally made it on the NHS waiting list at the RVI, but was told the wait is 12 months. My left ovary feels like getting stabbed every single day. I'm also worried because they are completely dismissing the laparoscopy findings of deep infiltrating endo, because it was from a different country. So the surgery would only address my ovaries (again).

So I'm desperate enough to pay for private surgery, but the one private hospital I went to close to Newcastle just told me they can only treat mild endo. Does anyone have a recommendation for private endo surgery in the north? I have googled the endometriosis centres, but the closest one is still over 3h away from me.

[ritschgi]

Follow up question: Does anyone have experience with the Endometriosis Clinic at Spire Edinburgh Hospitals?

[Tangoandmax]

Hi,

From what I have gathered you need a BSGE centre. Whether that be NHS or private, they have the specialists who know what they’re looking for. General Gynaecologist's have been absolutely useless for me.

The BSGE website has a full listing of specialist centres could be worth looking on there. Paying for treatment at Spire will of course speed up the process but it’s useless unless they have their own specialist.

bsge.org.uk

Hope this helps!

[ritschgi in reply to Tangoandmax]

Thank you! I only learnt about BSGE centres when joining here and it has been really helpful. Thankfully the NHS hospital I'm on the waiting list for is accredited, I just really don't know if I can wait a full year for treatment... The Spire Murrayfield Hospital is the closest private centre I could find on the BSGE website, but I've had a not so good experience with spire before (not in regards to a surgery though) so I'm a bit apprehensive.

I guess I was wondering if anyone knows a specialist that also works outside a BSGE centre... I assume they do exist

[Axolotl23]

Hello. I have been on a waiting list to see an Endo specialist in Edinburgh for 6 months (another 12 to go). So, just as you said, I was desperate enough and decided to go privately. Initially, I arranged to see the lead consultant at Spire M hospital who agreed to perform a laparoscopy. He left his secretary's and his contact details for me to reach out to book the surgery. I emailed twice but no response from either. It's unacceptable so I didn't follow up - can't be possibly paying such money for their indifference. You may have a different experience but I shared what I went through. Hope you have it sorted!

[Busy23]

Try the Nuffield hospitals they are fantastic. A laposcopy should diagnose your deep routed adhesions. Do you have any tempreture or just pain.

[K2023]

Hi, I went private with Mr Roy at Stockton BSGE centre.He is a good consultant private but due to staff shortages I was flipped to NHS so surgery could be done quicker, it was a year and I was classed as priority.There is also a centre at James Cook Hospital.These were the two recommendations from Bupa I am from the North East .Hope you get sorted soon.

[Sunset-lady]

Woodlands private hospital Darlington. The head of James Cook endometriosis clinic does a private practice there every Tuesday. The guy at RVI is apparently on long term sick. Good luck x

[Kricam78 in reply to Sunset-lady]

Is it Tony Chalhoub who is long term sick? I've just wangled myself a referral to the RVI after a private scan in London which found severe and extensive bowel endo (DIE stage 4). I was hoping to meet with him (after a long wait of course!)

[Sunset-lady in reply to Kricam78]

Think so x

[MaggieSylvie]

We rage about our wonderful NHS but when it comes down to diagnosing, hospitals abroad are so much better. I cannot comment from personal experience on treatment but I believe they are better at that too. It's sad that we have to fight for everything here and frequently get told we haven't got what we've got.