Hospital appt tomorrow but no idea why - would you go?

[butyourealrightareyou]

Got a phone call half an hour ago, ‘you’re on the gynae waiting list, can you come in to Saturday clinic tomorrow to be seen?’ . Secretary that called said she’s no idea why I’ve been referred. GP surgery also have no idea but said worth going along anyway in case there was something to avoid another 3-4 year wait.

I do have PCOS, suspected endo, previous ovarian cysts and have had a lot of surgery about 10 years ago - but most of that’s very well managed right now, I’ve got a coil in which is keeping things on an even keel.

Secretary said the list dates to pre pandemic so it’s maybe something that’s long since resolved itself.

I genuinely can’t think what it is. I’m phobic of gynae appts due to trauma - properly phobic, usually need sedated - and if I can avoid it I don’t want to go. Even the thought has me panicked. I have got meds I can take to get me through it if needed but I can’t cope with the thought of that happening tomorrow when I’ve no idea if it’s even necessary to put myself through it.

Just go and see what they say, no need to consent to any treatment.

Could you go but be very clear that you won't be consenting to any invasive examinations? Then you can speak to the Dr and find out what the referral relates to? You can absolutely choose what to agree to. Is there anyone you can take with you that you trust to advocate for you if needed?

If you have absolutely no gynae symptoms of concern and are planning to refuse any kind of examination then I would phone back and cancel the appointment so it can be offered to someone else.

The thing is, if you don't go, won't you be wondering what it was about?
Why not go, discuss the options and then decide whether or not to proceed with any treatment. If it's something already resolved then you shouldn't need any treatment, and if there's a problem, you would need to get it seen to, but tell them about the anxiety and the need for sedation.

I’ll go, I don’t think it’s anything internal as I was given an internal not that long ago to get coil in (with sedation) and told all’s OK.

I haven’t got anyone who could come with at such short notice no. Can’t cancel it either as after ringing GP etc, it had hit half 4 - so no one answering telephones now. Even if I did cancel it, it wouldn’t be offered to anyone else.

I genuinely can’t think what it is. I’m worried they’ll get annoyed if I walk in tomorrow and tell them I don’t know what it’s for/that everything seems fairly well managed right now!

They wont be annoyed you dont know what it's for. It's not like it's a self-referral. Good luck!

Oh just to add, it's probably a routine follow up

I'd go and speak to the doctor. You don't need to consent to anything you don't want once you're there.

I’ll go, I’m just scared. Everything about gynae appts I can’t cope with. Even being in the room. I end up freezing and just saying yes to everything. It probably is a follow up yes.

I think it's a good idea to go, but explain when you get there that you have no idea what you're there for.

I had a letter from the hospital during lockdown apologising that they couldn't give me an appointment until "later on in the year". Didn't say what for, didn't say which department, and as far as I know I'd never been referred to the ĥospital for anything.

Ive never had any follow up letter or been called for an appointment, so I'm assuming it was some sort of error

Same I would go and explain

I ended up an immunology once by accident (long story) who seemed short of patients and interested in a random condition I had
Because they were quiet, they took loads of blood tests despite me being in the wrong department
Anyway it turned out to be a good thing as I had hashimotos!

I think you should grit your teeth and get it over with. It’s so hard to get hospital appointments for actual emergencies nowadays, I think it’s unlikely you’ve been called in for no reason. You may be glad you went in the end if they do find something of concern. And if you’re anything like me it’ll drive you mad not knowing what the app was even for!

Write that you don't consent to examination on a piece of paper and hand it over.

Write down what you want to say beforehand. Preferably type it. If you freeze, you can hand the gynae the piece of paper.

I’ve managed to speak to someone at the clinic, who said it’s in my interests to go, that they’ll keep me safe and it’s an all female staff.

I was sexually assaulted by a doctor a few years ago and am currently in the process of sorting that out with the police, that’s why I’ve gotten in such a panic.

Appointment’s at 10 past 3.

That’s shocking!

op, it is important to go. Remmeber you can always leave.

@PaigeMatthews I had been saying for years that every female in my family has a dodgy thyroid so I was glad it got picked up
I was meant to be at dermatology but someone made the appointment at immunology instead
They were confused but very lovely!