To think women (well all people) should be able to access what they need

[XEbonyrose1X]

We are all told.

Attend your smears
Report any new lumps
Report bleeding that's unusual.
Any pelvic pain etc tell your GP.

I've posted recently because I've had a horrible pain in my left ovary area that's been niggling on and off for a few years. But lately it's hurting more and it's quite uncomfortable.

The last two weeks I've had sharp stabbing pains in that area and dull cramps. I've had Bleeds.
I stretched ten days ago and a pain shot through that area and caused a bleed.

I told my gp the next day that I was concerned for these symptoms. He said I had to have an up to date smear and swabs before I can be referred. I had them done yesterday only to be told it would be 8-12 weeks for results.

Last night I laid on my stomach in bed to reach my phone and the pains got really sharp. Not agony. Keeping still helped control it but walking made it stab. I was a little uncomfortable probably 5/10. It did worry me.

This morning. It's crampy and sore all on the left side. (Ovary, left side of groin, hip area. Occasional stabbing pains.

The thing is the GPS have got sick of me. They have tried hormones and stuff for anemia but my issues remain. I asked them to refer me as I didn't feel I was getting anywhere and they argued they've suggested the coil three times. But I want to know what's going on first. I really want a gynocology referral. Also my drs have not seen me face to face since covid. They will not see you! It's all phone or email.

I feel I need a scan. I'm scared something is going to rupture or twist.

I guess my smear could have irritated it, But it didn't hurt and this discomfort is higher inside.

I also don't drive and there's only a basic treatment center locally. There is a hospital here and I've had a scan here in the past but they often send you an hour away, which I'd struggle with as I have children. Although I'd find a way but I don't think the gp will.

I just feel there's so much waiting around and when the problem is actually happening you can't access the help you need.

For the last year I've been barely living due to all this. The GPS are starting to focus on me being anxious and keep pushing me to get therapy.

Also you can't currently have bloods taken due to the labs not accepting the ones I need right now.

I just don't know what to do. I'm so worried I'll be in agony and need rushing in.

I'm currently bleeding again too.

I really feel that cancers and other gynocology problems should not be held back due to covid.

I feel we should have rights to refer ourselves for scans if our GPS don't realise what we are going through.

Can you change GP?
It’s frustrating the smear results take so bloody long! Surely you could at least have an online consult with a gynaecologist to help ally your fears...

Why the therapy suggestion if you’re in pain? Sounds archaic.

I doubt it will be that long for your smear result, mine wasn’t.
Are you taking painkillers, using a hot water bottle etc ?

Take the therapy tell the doctor it will be a waste of time as all you will discuss is the pain bleeding and lack of care snd support from your hcp

@FippertyGibbett

I doubt it will be that long for your smear result, mine wasn’t. Are you taking painkillers, using a hot water bottle etc ?

Christ that is so often the answer to womens health issues isnt it! Hot water bottle. Can you imagine anyone telling a man who was in pain, both dull and sharp, and having bleeding, to use a hot water bottle?

Also, I get various pains through the month due to my cervix moving up and down and I get period pain before my period.
I’m going to assume you are of childbearing age so you can get ovulation pain too.
The various pains I get aren’t agony but they are noticeable and I remember going to the GP on various occasions, and I even had a scan, before I made a diary of my pains and discovered that they were cyclical.

Fallon - it’s about managing symptoms while you wait for the referral.
And I’m pretty sure I’ve read this, or a very similar post, before.

I must admit I'm starting to think a new gp might be worth looking into. Although they all have good and bad reports.

I get anxious on and off and it's very mild and it's at set times in my cycle (week three) and because I've been through alot of weakness, worry and bad periods that restrict me, I have slowly started to loose my old life. For example I can't walk far with ovary pains. Being weak with anemia makes me struggle. So as soon as I mentioned feeling mildly anxious that was it. They keep barking that down the phone at me when I contact them.

Infact when I told him last week about my stretch/pain/bleed he didn't even acknowledge it or advise me. He just said get a smear and we don't need to refer you yet as we have other options like the coil.

I think I need scans, bloods etc.

There's endometriosis
There's cancers
There's cysts
I have one small fibroid but could it have grown?
When I was pregnant the sonnongrammer said my left ovary was folded and said it was strange. But the next scan it was normal. Could that be significant? I just feel a gynocologist would be much more able to find out why I suffer so much. I'm so fed up of GPS and there rushed phone calls and sti checks. I am in a long-term ten year relationship and it's very unlikely to be an sti as we always use condoms and I've not had sex for months and months because I can't due to all this.

A hot water bottle won't help if something is going to burst or rupture. I have young children and don't want to end up doubled over with a twisted ovary or something.

My nurse said due to covid it's taking around 8 weeks at the lab and to call back in 12 weeks if they don't arrive!

Yes you would have read similar as I have written recently. Does that mean my post is irrelevant?

I can't take my daughter to school as I can't walk as it pulls and bleeds. I am.not ovulating. I Am due on in 2 days and this is day ten!

I would change GP. You wouldn't stick around at a sandwich shop if they had you indefinitely waiting without good reason would you? They don't have a good reason to not refer you. The smear test is not going to be a full answer. So change GP to someone who is less obstructive.

I must be missing something but why do you have to have the results of a smear test before a referral ?

A smear test is a screening tool not a diagnostic one and given that your symptoms and fibroid history are much more suggestive of ovarian or uterine issues, is seems an unnecessary wait before referring.

Did the GP order any blood tests ?

Hi. They have dug their heels in because they want me to have a coil but I've said no more hormones as none of the others helped but just gave me other problems such as constant bleeding and low moods.

I am due on in a couple of days and can't have internal scans etc when I'm on as I'm sooo heavy. So I'm really annoyed that I can't be seen before so they can look what's causing that area to be so uncomfortable.

If it is a cyst I wonder if it will get worse with my period.

If you are in so much pain that you cannot walk and take your daughter to school I would go to A&E.

Honestly the way Womens health concerns, especially gynecology concerns are brushed aside with coils and painkillers really pisses me off. We all know men would not be left in pain without finding out the cause as well as relieving the pain.
I would change GP and ask for a referral. Smears only show changes in the cells in the cervical area. They are not a catch all for reproductive health.

Christ that is so often the answer to womens health issues isnt it! Hot water bottle

In all fairness it works ! That’s what I did after we
Surgery

I’m as feminist as they come but I don’t think anyone is getting their health addressed right now
My sons mental health certainly isn’t

But I do agree that telling OP she has MH issues is shameful , and sexist

Keep pushing. They pat us on the head and try to send us on our way with hormones. If you can afford a private consultation please do it. It's the only reason my endometriosis was diagnosed and the only reason my sister's severe anaemia from fibroids was treated

Yeah they can't force you into birth control

Next time they start on about the coil tell them to put it in writing that they refuse to investigate your issues unless and until you go on a semi permanent birth control

Hormones can aggravate conditions they have a fucking medical degree and should know its not a cure all

I'm another one to second a&e. If your GP won't refer you, perhaps they will. My friend's GP refused to refer her so she sat in a&e until someone took her seriously. It was cancer but thank God caught in time.

This is appalling and yes you need a different GP. Could you afford a private MRI scan? A few years ago I went to the gp with a dull pain in my throat. She was so patronising and sent me away with a sheet of neck exercises! I went private for an MRI which showed a cyst on my thyroid.

I'm on my partner's Aviva insurance so I'm going to contact them today to ask. The gp apparently needs to refer me though? But I will try and push it as I've been telling them for weeks I've got insurance.

We are not well off. It's just a perk of partner's job.

I feel ignored and like a pain.

I do have warm baths and take pain relief. I know how to manage things. My main concern is what's the matter with me. My left side of my pelvis is really sore and keeps causing bleeds.

I am not in agony for a&e. Also we don't have one here. But I can ring 111 out of go hours for advise.

I've honestly lost faith in the drs. They are making me wait so long to get the support I've been asking for since march.

Hormones don't agree with me at all. Even the ones I was induced with in pregnancy caused a reaction. Within an hour I was shaking and they thought I was having a fit.i wasn't. It was just a reaction to the pessary. I just don't tolerate them. They all make me feel dreadful.

Also you can't currently have bloods taken due to the labs not accepting the ones I need right now

What bloods aren’t they accepting?

I just feel a gynocologist would be much more able to find out why I suffer so much

Don’t count on it I spent several years under gynae.

I just wonder if, as your GP won’t refer, if an initial private consultation is an option? It would be a couple of hundred pounds but, if there was anything wrong, you would then be on the gynaecologist list. A couple of hundred ££ would be worth it for peace of mind.

www.spirehealthcare.com/treatments/womens-health/

www.bupa.co.uk/health/payg/gp-services/womens-health

X post!

Hi. Iron, thyroid, vitamin d etc they need to check. They've told me to ring back next week to see if the labs are taking them again. Apparently it's been on the news. But I've not seen.

Yes I think I'm going to have to either pay or get Aviva to tell me if they can help me without the gp referring me.

I'm suspicious of endometriosis. Possible cyst. But without scans who knows. This is why it's so frustrating. We have regular smears. Why not have scans and things for women too so we are checked every few years for anything in that department.

Especially after having children, many women experience gynocology issues.

You can see by this thread this is a common occurrence.

I saw the cancer advert yesterday saying we are waiting for you and ready to help you.. I thought you might be but the poor patient is probably trying to convince the gp they are not mentally ill.

Insist on a gynae referral

I'm surprised they won't refer you if you have private health insurance. My experience is that they're usually keen to do it as they don't then have to deal with it. Start the process - contact Aviva and find out exactly what you need to get the referral.

If you have insurance I'd self-refer to the gynaecologist. I did similar with no referral and no insurance - I looked up my local private hospital, found the name of the consultant, and paid cash - it was a couple of hundred but worth every penny. When I used to have insurance I would call the company and ask who was on their approved list of consultants, sometimes I needed a referral from a GP but there are private GPs too who can do that for you.

Good luck - I've had a ruptured ovarian cyst before and the pain was unbearable so really hope they figure it out soon.