Dr goes from bad to worse...

[Mrs_Sch]

Having consulted my endo, I had an appointment with gp yesterday to ask for a referral to obs/gyn to explain my misscarriages. I also have a dermoid cyst on my rhs ovary, which was discovered in Feb after my most recent miscarriage. At the time they said it was about 3.5cm. It has grown - I can feel it, I'm in constant pain, and it is disrupting my sleep and day-to-day life. It needs to come out. It hasn't been checked since it was discovered.

Anyway.

GP told me that my endo should make the referral, as that would get me 'to the top of the list'. He then told me that there 'isn't a list', and that I might be seen before Christmas. (Endo has since told me that if the GP refers, it goes to the 'TOP', and if an endo refers it goes to the bottom of the pile). When I asked about having the cyst removed, I was asked 'what cyst?' 'how was that discovered?' IT'S IN MY NOTES!

I swear the guy reads nothing. He didn't even know I'd had a miscarriage - let alone 3!

Grrr...

[bantam12]

There is no "top of the list", the referral letter is sent to the Consultant and he/she decides how urgent your case is and how soon to see you, there will always be a waiting list unless you go private.

[ejh1]

This is really traumatic for you. Is there any way you can afford to go private and jump the queue? I have been lucky enough to do this for all my gynae operations, and my ovarian cyst was out within 2 weeks of discovery.

You should be being investigated for recurrent miscarriages in addition to having the cyst removal.

I wish you all the best.

[Moggie]

I put myself at the top of the list by phoning the endo's secretary and, pleasantly but firmly, demanding an urgent appt. Like you I have a right sided cyst (at the last scan is was 10.5cm x 8cms) and like you I know its there but unlike you I am past the menopause so its not as urgent as I have already had my children. I got told my endo appt would be months and when I phoned and politely told his secretary that if the cyst was to burst (or worst still twist the ovary) while I was at work I would be taken to a totally different hosp for emergency surgery and they would have no notes to refer to regarding heart issues (the reason I was being seen by the endo) and if this happened I would be holding the hosp responsible. I got my appt within 2 days!!!!!

Every other consultant my endo has wanted me to see has been referred by my GP as "we like to keep GP's in the loop" he said.

Moggie x

[Marz]

..I have read that being Hypo can affect fertility and the ability to hold on to a pregnancy. This is so difficult for you and it seems as if you are being given the run around with no one being in charge. I think it is time for you to be in charge and follow the advice above You have suffered enough... Sometimes you can ask for a private consultation and then go with the NHS for the treatment/op. This is one good way to ensure some sort of priority in my experience.

[Mrs_Sch]

I had a dermoid cyst in the same place when I was in my mid teens. It burst, and I ended up in hospital for a week, and had my appendix removed. Unfortunately, my notes were never passed to the surgery when I moved house, and so neither my GP nor my endo have any record of this. There is no way I can go private: my husband and I started our own business 2 years ago, and are still in the 'breaking-even' stage financially. I've read that being hypo can affect your ability to maintain a pregnancy, but my endo has said that I've 'reached the end' of his expertise. I agree with Moggie: with my past history, my concern is that it bursts, and I end up in hospital in a less controlled/informed situation. Do you think it's worth making a phonecall directly? Has anyone else had a good result by doing that? I just feel that a year has already been wasted, and last time my GP said he'd refer me, he didn't actually bother. How long should I wait?