To think going private won't change anything?

[Esmereldapawpatrol]

I have been having ongoing issues for the last 6ish years. Mid cycle when I ovulate I am in a lot of pain. It hurts to go to the toilet, having sex, and I am in quite a lot of discomfort all day for the four/five days or so that it happens every month. It also has other affects, I get really bloated, feel really tired. headaches and just generally horrible while it's going on.

I had a laparoscopy 5 years ago which showed all was normal. I have had regular ultrasounds and nothing shows up, smears all normal. When I last saw the consultant she told me that my options were to take strong painkillers or have a hysterectomy. I have just turned 40 so I don't really wants to do that. I have the added complication that because of breast cancer history in the family I have been advised to avoid estrogen based contraception which means my options of things I can take to stop me ovulating are really reduced. My last hope was a mini pill but that hasn't stopped my ovulating as my GP hoped it would.

Where do I go from here? My DH wants me to go private for a second opinion but I have seen two consultants now, both of which haven't come up with anything. My GP thought it could be endometriosis but the last consultant said no as I have had two children with no issues in conceiving. I just think I could pay to go private but is it likely to change the outcome?

Sorry that was longer than I intended. I am fed up of it and feel I just have to put up with it but it really affects me every month and I just don't know what to do!

I think that if you can afford it you should definitely get a second opinion from a private consultant.
I sought a second opinion privately and it changed my life.

Your consultant sounds useless - having two children doesn't mean you don't have endometriosis! I conceived within months with both of mine, but also had pain every month mid cycle that left me barely able to move at times.

I have been using the mirena coil to stop my periods, and while it took over a year to fully stop my periods, it has changed my life.

I'd go private just for a second opinion, if you can afford it.

Without a doubt go private for a second opinion. You would more likely get an answer or further investigation rather than a brush off.

Go private.

It certainly could be endometriosis. The private gynae I saw diagnosed it in about 10 minutes. I had had symptoms for about 20 years at that point and the NHS had spent a YEAR treating me for "digestive issues' .

Private don't have all the answers but they did more tests than the NHS

If you can afford it, I'd get a private consult.

For what it's worth, in similar circumstances I was offered NHS hysterectomy ; we had finished our family so I did it and have never regretted it.

I had a hysterectomy at 40 and went private as I had similar symptoms you described. It was the best thing and I have felt amazing ever since (I still have my ovaries). The whole private healthcare experience was first class.

@CityMumma78

I had a hysterectomy at 40 and went private as I had similar symptoms you described. It was the best thing and I have felt amazing ever since (I still have my ovaries). The whole private healthcare experience was first class.

Doing is that way does it mean you will go through the menopause naturally? I wonder if they can leave my ovaries as that seems to be the issue. I am dreading the menopause as well due to the no estrogen thing which I presume a lot of HRT contains?

Thank you for your responses, I think you have convinced me that having a private consult is worth a go.

Maybe give private a try? It was a lifesaver with my mental health diagnoses - might work better for you? Good luck.

I know two women with bad endometriosis who conceived quickly and naturally, 6 DC between the two of them. I wouldn't trust a doctor that said it can't be endometriosis because you conceived quickly. While endometriosis can cause fertility issues it's not an absolute that it 'must'

You can definitely have endometriosis and still be able to conceive. I think a private consultation would be good but you really need to see an endometriosis specialist. There’s so many doctors that don’t understand it. I don’t know where you’re based but check the qualifications/research interests of the specialist. This is what the description is of my doctor:

“specialises in the management of endometriosis, especially complex cases. He has specialist experience in the management of advanced endometriosis using keyhole surgery. He is the Consultant lead for the Endometriosis Centre and is actively involved in research into endometriosis. Additionally, has a specialist interest in treating women with unexplained pelvic pain and unexplained vaginal bleeding.’

Hope that’s helpful!

My understanding is, if you specifically ask your GP to refer you to a private consultant for a second opinion, you dont loose your NHS consultant or place on NHS waiting lists and they can easily refer you back into NHS for treatment. Ask for copies of all your medical records including any imaging you've had done, and take them with you. Good luck.

Also side note my understanding is that some HRT may be acceptable at menopause but you may need to be referred to a specialist menopause clinic. GP may be reluctant to prescribe due to breast cancer risk, but it's not a total no if a proper risk assessment is done and different formulations have different risks, so eg a topical gel may be suitable

I have the same symptoms. Ovulation means days of agony and bloating. Periods not great, but not as bad as ovulation.

I had a laparoscopy a few years ago and they found mild endometriosis on my ovaries and removed it surgically. The pain I had been experiencing hadn't been mild, but I have been told that you can have severe symptoms with mild endometriosis and vice versa. They fitted a Mirena at the same time that I had the surgery. I felt ok for a year and then it all came back. I had no problems conceiving - you don't always, with endometriosis.

I have had many NHS and private appointments over the years, and for me there doesn't seem to be a real solution. We can only keep trying!

I have stage 4 endometriosis and have conceived within a month twice and have no fertility issues at all. Yet my insides are effectively glued together. It's a weird disease. I've gone private and managed to get an appointment for a consultation with a surgeon and surgery within a month. Also - look up Nancy's Nook on FB. You want a specialist endo surgeon. Hysterectomy isn't a cure, you need someone who understands the disease properly.

Private doesn’t have all the answers, but what it does buy you is time in which the doctor actually has a big think about your problem. The NHS consultants have so little time for each patient that they tend to miss things.

The average endometriosis case takes TEN years to be diagnosed (and has nothing to do with having children). Go see an endo specialist I think there’s a good one in Tunbridge Wells / Maidstone if you are South. It may not be that but it certainly requirs deeper investigation than you have had.

The NHS kept giving me cheapo ultrasounds and suggesting counselling for my ovary pain. Turned out my ovaries had fused into a lump of scar tissue which was fine until ovulation/sex and then OUCH. A laparoscopy picked this up, if you haven’t had one for five years you may want to have another as there is no substitute for a doctor actually getting his eyes on them.

So sorry for your troubles.

Thank you for all of the replies. It's so frustrating as I feel like a nuisance to keep going back but there is something going on rather than it 'just' being mid-cycle pain.

I think I'm going to go down the private route as I have found a specialist who has been recommended to me.