AIBU to expect my GP to "keep looking"?

[Eliza22]

Nine months ago I was fit and training for 25k. I'm 53 and in the throes of menopause. Suddenly, I started to feel "off colour". Symptoms: fatigue (as in totally knackered); constant nausea; feeling "full" all the time; waistline/abdomen expanding; unable to lie on my sides due to nausea/abdominal discomfort so, sleeping propped up. My GP referred me to a gastroenterologist (for all things digestive).

Had: abdominal scan, gastroscope, blood tests for coeliac disease, anaemia and hepatitis screen.... All came back negative.

Left it 4 months but went back today with continuing symptoms. Nothing's changed only now I have to undo all my zips I'm so "fat" and I feel like I'm about to go pop! I'm SO uncomfortable. GP said it's probably menopause and to keep taking the irritable bowel syndrome meds (I honestly don't think it's IBS) and anti nausea tablets (even in the night if it wakes me up) and because I have high BP and a family history of stroke, I can't have hrt.

I could cry. I've gone from being as fit as a flea and slim to a stone plus overweight, no energy and feeling like I have constant "morning sickness" to go with having swallowed a brick.

Am I a hypochondriac? I don't WANT to be ill but I feel shocking.

What can I reasonably do? AIBU to expect my GP to think along a different line other than "possible IBS/anxious menopausal woman....NEXT!"

Another here saying get yourself back to that GP ASAP - for a CA125 blood test and ultrasound of your ovaries. Without scaring you, you have a lot of the symptoms.

Yy to seeing a gynaecologist. Don't just accept it as menopause.

I have seen 3 or 4 different GP's (partly due to locums and staff shortages) and had to INSIST on smoething being done so, they did (all those tests) and there was "nothing remarkable" as she put it today. I felt today that she was looking at me as if to say "I can see you're worries, but you are not ill and I felt embarrassed, to be honest.

I had a pelvic scan 4 years ago for left sided pelvic pain and that too was normal. It was four years ago, though.

No nutritionists, please. Anyone can call themselves one.

A previously healthy, non doctor-shopping patient should be listened to!

I second the posters saying get your ovaries checked. Full ultrasound and a Ca125 test. Full thyroid check too (the full panel, don't be fobbed off with just a TSH reading.) don't be fobbed off with talk of 'the change.'

Keep pushing. Better to be a bit pushy and be fine than miss something serious.

No, keep on. I had pretty much all those investigations and they missed the fact I had intestinal cancer. I would also ask for a barium meal. It's how they (eventually) diagnosed mine. I really wish I had been more persistent now.

It's a bug bear of mine peachy people throwing money at nutritionists to find out if they have a food intolerance or to get basic advice on a healthy diet. There is no testing for food intolerance (I'm talking intolerance here not full blown allergy). The only way to see if certain foods affect you is via process of elimination which you can do yourself for free or read the same book as your local nutritionist.

Also, I'm always dubious about gynae matters. For 2 years I had smear tests come back as "borderline" and was told to have it repeated 6 monthly. Eventually, I went for a colposcopy and I had CIN II/III and needed extensive cautery. God knows what may have happened had I just gone on having repeated smears.

Yes defo push for more tests. Your symptoms sound a bit like my MIL's fibroid symptoms (caveat I'm not a doctor!).

Must be very frustrating

I have very similar symptoms, have had an ultrasound which showed fibroids but nothing more. have been waiting an age for an appointment with a gastroenterologist.

cross posted, yertizz!

OP, is there a Sexual Health Clinic near you? If you see the doc there, they can refer you, that's what I had to do, when I was told I was imagining my symptoms.

I had similar symptoms to you and I ended up having extensive surgery. I don't want to scare you, but I'm annoyed on your behalf, that your GPs aren't taking you seriously.

It depends on the type of abdominal scan. If they were looking for something gut/stomach/liver related they may have only done upper abdo.
You definitely need to ask for a CA125 test.

Abdominal scans don't go down far enough for ovaries. They divide the torso into 3. Chest, abdo and pelvic.

You need a pelvic u/s. U/s is best for initial screening because no X rays are involved.

agree, insist they explore all avenues.
i saw the consultant today after a normal colonoscopy last week
(waiting for biopsy results)
they are now arranging ct with contrast, barium small bowel tests and other stuff i cant remember - i have your symptoms but im losing weight even on an appetite stimulant - i just cant eat.

wfrances, sorry to hear that. My GP is reassured that I haven't lost weight but I'm shocked at the sudden "middle aged spread" effect and expanding waistline. I haven't weighed this much since I was pregnant 14 yrs ago.

I was fobbed off with similar symptoms but having lost 3st not gained. Practically pushed out of the surgery by one doctor. Another took me seriously and sent me to hospital there and then. My organs were beginning to fail. It turned out to be Crohns.
Keep going back until you have been fully checked out.

I would advise you to keep going back and "pestering" until they agree to more tests. Some of the problem is that we assume that they will always know what is wrong and don't make enough fuss when they don't.

My dh has recently been in hospital for 2 weeks until being discharged as they couldn't diagnose what was wrong. They took bloods every day he was there as well as other tests and nothing was found.

He has been given follow up appts for various departments as I have been ringing and emailing so that we are not forgotten.

Good luck with it all and don't be afraid to keep asking for help.

Thanks for all the replies, ladies.

Possibly underactive thyroid re. fatigue & weight gain?

Sorry OP, I hope we're not scaring you but I too thought immediately about Ovarian issues (I don't want to say the C word but it's a possibility)

Get your appointment booked ASAP and best of luck X

Anyfucker and others

I didn't say that the poster should give up on the conventional routes. At the bottom of my post I did say the OP should go back to the GP.

I don't think it's fair to tar all nutritionists with the same brush. My nutritionist had a Degree and a PHD in Nutrition. He was also the only person who helped me with my gastrointestinal issues when my GP basically gave up on me. His advice was perfectly sensible and made a huge difference to me. He was also very reasonably priced, I consider it some of the best money I've ever spent.

I know the ears thing sounds crazy, but unless you've been there you don't know how awfully debilitating it can be. It was only a suggestion not a diagnosis.

OP, I know it's not easy but you really need to nag your GP not to leave things as they are. A relative of mine who has had treatment for several very serious conditions once remarked 'It takes a strong healthy person to be ill'. What she meant was that the NHS can be inefficient and its very easy for you to fall through the gaps. You really really need to be an advocate for yourself - which is very difficult when you feel poorly. Do go back and don't let them fob you off.

This also rings alarm bells for me too, your ovaries need to be checked. A lot changes in 4 years. Please go back to your gp asap.

they are all the signs of cervical cancer, has he checked you for that? Its very difficult to diagnose.

Hope they get it sorted.

i agree with everyone else who says you need to get a pelvic scan.

it could be ovarian (cysts or cancer or fibroids), or it could be to do with the womb, or it could be anything down there, but a scan will at least be able to see if there's anything there that shouldn't be