how do i get GP to listen, afraid it could be cancer :(

[lumpybumpyme]

I have been back and forth to the GP for the last 2 years with tummy pains, diahorra and tireness.
Last few months I started feeling sick alot and feeling like Im full all the time. This past week, I keep getting stomach pains like I have held wee for way too long.
Im aware it might not be anything serious but all he keeps saying is its IBS and sending me home with tablets that dont work.
I know some of these signs (if not all) could be a sign of overian cancer, and I would like more tests to rule things out.
My GP has done no tests at all in the past, just told me its IBS.
Im so tired and so umcomfertable, but everytime I go to doctors he just doesnt listen.
Do I take a list and demand more tests? take my husband?

I know I could be over thinking this too

[lumpybumpyme]

there's a lovely lady GP but its hard to see her, and its hard to find time to go to GP, so might just go with whomever I can get an appointment with tomorrow, but know they will think Im mad and done too much goggling if i mention the C word

[MaryAnnSingleton]

absolutely agree with MissMary's reply lumpy

[purplepidjin]

What MissMary said.

The test for colon/bowel cancer is a simple sample sent in the post, but basic bloods will flag up any signs eg raised white blood cell count.

Also, apologies if I'm teaching you to suck eggs but have you tried cutting down wheat etc? You could ask for a referral to a dietician to help manage the IBS...

[fannybaws]

See a different GP, if they say its just ibs again ask for a referral to gastroenterologist.
Do take your husband with you and list your symptoms explaining how long you have had them.
Ask for a referral for a pelvic ultrasound, this is relativly inexpensive and together with a blood test your gp can do would either show or rule out most ovarian cancers.
Good luck op

[IntotheNittyGritty]

The first thing you need to do is ask for blood tests to be done. Is there a well women clinic or another avenue to go down to see another doctor.

If you ,don't get anywhere then go straight to hospital when the pain is bad

[BelleEnd]

Just say that you have been suffering for a long time, and that it hasn't been sorted. I did this recently, and the GP was great once I (softly) explained) that I was at the end of my tether and that I felt it wasn't being taken seriously.

[stargazy]

Yes take your husband if it helps and he can back you up and say youre not at all your usual self.Chances are it may be something less serious but don't be afraid to push for tests.Relative of ours was sent away with tiredness and bloating for months and turns out it was ovarian cancer-she's ok at mo but type three and chances it may come back-so in your shoes I would insist on some investigations.Good luck.(Pleaste don't panic probably not but best to be sure!)

[IntotheNittyGritty]

I would go with your gut instincts and push for tests. You know how your body is changing and feeling. Make extensive daily notes so that you can go through these with your doctor. I have been fobbed off and told that all tests were clear, and the doctors would never delve deeper and now I am suffering from the consequences.

[BlameItOnTheBogey]

I disagree with MissMary. I find that if I have a real concern about something and have - in my mind - already jumped to worst case scenario, it helps enormously to be up front with the GP. For example, I have a rough patch of skind on my shoulder which I have been stressing about and have decided is skin cancer. When I went to see the GP she said; oh it looks like Excema. Rational explanation but I knew if I left it at that there would still be doubts in my mind. So I said, I am worried about skin cancer. Can you reassure me that it is not that? She then adequately did but if the explanation hadn't been reassuring ('well it's more likely to be excema'... rather than 'doesn't manifest itself like that') then I would have insisted on more tests.

I think you MUST be upfront about your concerns.

[mrsravelstein]

dh has been back and forth from GP for over a year now with worrying symptons that they aren't able to diagnose or treat - eventually he went back last week and said "i'm here because i want to be referred for a scan so that we can rule out cancer". they did it with no complaint. so i think sometimes upfront is best, especially if you keep being fobbed off. i hope it all works out.

[Elibean]

My GP always says 'what are you worrying about, specifically?' because she knows that in any given situation, people worry about cancer/other things. She aims to deal with worries as well as diagnose.
I would go with two pronged approach: a) I'm worrying a lot that it could be cancer of some sort because b) its been going on a long time, and not got better: I would like some further testing please.
Good luck, worrying can only ever add to symptoms so reassurance is extremely valid need!

[lumpybumpyme]

ok, saw GP today. He asked what was wrong i went though list, he then looked at the notes on screen and said yes its your IBS
I then said I didnt think it was, im sick of being tired and in pain. He checked me (I have quite bad pain in right side today), and agreed to blood tests but refused me a scan :(
Bloods are basic, cell count, coliec tests, C reactive proteins and a few other i cant remember.
Have spoken to DH and he said if they cant get to bottom we will pay for a private scan (not that we can afford it) :(

[purplepidjin]

See a different doc. He shouldn't be refusing you treatment (or feeling like you have been)

[hsurp]

Go to your Gynocologist! Check that 1st as he/she can tell you if you have cancerous cells down in that area (that is how I found out about mine and I need to go back soon!). If that doesn't work, then ask for a Colonoscopy or an Endoscopy. Those will show the rest of your insides and help a lot. I've done these 2 also and had polyps in my colon (pre-cancer) and abrasions in my stomach and GERD. If you tell your Doctor that you would feel more comfortable with having these procedures, then he/she should refer you. If he/she doesn't, change doctors!

[WeirdAcronymNotKnown]

Coeliac is a good test to have (and actually not that basic compared to others) - it can be quite hard to get those IME.

But that's beside the point really... As your biggest concerns haven't been addressed.

Have you actually said to him "I am worried about cancer"?

[acumenin]

I agree with MissMary. If you are not the right kind of person, you should never ask your doctor for tests and certainly never for pain medication, even for amazingly apparent illness and injury. My DP's spinal cord injury was ignored for years as the GP assumed he was a drug seeking attention whore and did no investigation.

You have to manipulate them, unfortunately.

[Smum99]

I also feel that when GPs dig their heels in you have a real problem trying to get the treatment. Sadly I have had experience of GPs failing to make correct diagnosis for serious conditions so I I would seriously consider a private scan. The likelyhood is that it is IBS but what do you have to lose - only money!

[Elibean]

lumpy, c-reactive protein (CRP) will show any inflammatory processes going on...if its normal, and your white cell count is normal, and all the bloods are normal, you are very unlikely to have anything awful going on. Not saying that to put you off getting second opinions or scans, but just to reassure you that the bloods are worth something - hopefully they will give you some degree of reassurance. Especially as your symptoms have been going on a while - so you'd expect to see something in your bloods with anything major by now?
You could ask to see a different GP in the practice, and then ask for a referral to a gynae maybe?

[tallulah]

Sorry, I don't agree that it's nothing serious if your bloods are ok.

I had been going to the GP monthly for 7 months with worsening bowel problems. I saw 3 GPs, had several blood tests and was reassured it was IBS. I was told that if it was anything nasty it would have shown up in the bloods, which were clear. In the end my new GP said she would refer me, although she was convinced it wasn't serious. Within 2 months of her referral I had surgery for bowel cancer, which had been growing for 2 years. It had started to spread to the lymph nodes as well, so good job I didn't just accept the diagnosis and go away. I'm just about to start chemo.

[issynoko]

My mum was misdiagnosed with IBS which turned out to be bowel cancer too. Caught early enough for her treatment to be successful at the time but she was fobbed off for over a year.

I am very assertive at GPs now and basically INSISTED on a scan when I had similar symptoms - had bladder and ovarian scans and a colonoscopy. The GP did take it more seriously when I emphasised my family history and told him about the persistent misdiagnosis of my mother. Fortunately my symptoms were due to IBS and the reassurance of the clear testing has probably contributed to lessening of those symptoms caused by stress. I did mention concerns about cancer - and asked the doctor if he was aware of the current awareness campaign to highlight ovarian cancer symptoms and said I felt it would be irresponsible of me not to investigate that bearing in mind I have a young family etc. He referred me the same day...

[Elibean]

tallulah, so sorry to hear that. i stand corrected. It was actually a GP who told me that bloods would probably show any inflammatory processes (including cancer) going on...she didn't say definitely, but just 'probably'. Clearly not.
Good luck with your chemo.

OP, as I said, go ahead and ask for scans/get second opionion/referral - good bloods is still good, but clearly not good enough!

[lisad123]

sadly they missed my husbands cancer for well over a year! they refused to do any tests at all, saying it was cycts, just an infection and finally said it was coliecs when they did a blood test. Lucky for us his cancer did show in his blood, but he was very unwell :(
Please fight if you dont get your answers