I have struggled with some ongoing gynea issues for 20+ years. Periods so heavy and awful that I have built my life around my cycle.
From 2012 until now I have been under the same gynae department at the same NHS hospital. I have had various procedures to help with the heavy bleeding including quite a few hysteroscopies to remove recurring uterine polyps.
In 2022 I needed iron infusions as my ferritin levels fell under 3. Following the infusions I opted for a uterine ablation. Although the op went well I was still experiencing moderate bleeding with each monthly period but my gynae assured me this would ease. Sure enough, after 6 months it did and I have ended up with next to no bleeding during each period. However, that is when the horrendous labour type pains started. Now with each period I bloat like a balloon and am in so much pain (was awake all last night with the pain). I have struggled with this every month since October 2022.
In November last year I saw the gynae. He confirmed that I have developed post ablation failure and simply suggested pain relief. I was not happy with this so I requested a pelvic MRI. Results came back in December and it shows I actually have deep endometriosis. In addition to this I also have diffuse adenomyosis which was caused by the undiagnosed endo being pushed into the walls of my uterus by the ablation procedure.
My regular gynae then referred me to an endo gynae (within the same department). This gynae has put me on a year long wait for a laparoscopy. During my consultation with him in April this year I asked about a hysterectomy because I have had enough of these issues. I am 51 and obviously done with having dc. I also feel very uncomfortable that I am living with a damaged uterus with a completely burnt lining and worry what this holds for my future gynae health, so I asked about the possibility of a hysterectomy.
The consultant went out of his way to put me off having a hysterectomy explaining all the things which could go wrong and the long recovery times etc which I am fully aware of. I don't think he fully grasped how much pain I am in during each period, either that or he is hoping, due to my age, I will soon go into menopause and be off his hands. So it was left at that and I was put on the waiting list for a lap which will probably be some time next year.
In the meantime I am still struggling so paid to see a private gynae last week for advise on hrt. My gp contacted the nhs consultant to ask about hrt and my issues but he told her he knows very little about hrt.
The private consultant explained that I would be an ideal candidate for a hysterectomy, she says the adenomyosis will never go away even after menopause and if I had a hysterectomy I could then just have oestrogel which doesn't carry such a breast cancer risk in the same way as combined hrt (my mum has bc so this is a big concern for me). However, at £15k I simply can not afford the op privately so will need to go back and ask or the op on the NHS.
The issue I have is that in all honesty I do no warm to my NHS endo gynae at all, I find him quite arrogant, dismissive and he talks over me the whole time and I am pretty certain he will dismiss my request for a hysterectomy.
Can I request a second opinion? How does this even work and would I need to contact PALS or go to my GP?
Which would be the best route to take?