GP refusing to send me to private investigations

[Wobblyheart]

I want to preface this with saying that my GP practice is really amazing compared to what I have experienced before, on time, understanding, caring, accommodating. They have ordered a significant number of investigations for me already, but not being able to find anything abnormal. So I do understand why they are doing it but I feel so incredibly frustrated.

Long story short, I have been suffering with relentless fatigue (nothing like any thing i have experienced before) for 2 years, my muscles hurt and burn on a minimal exertion and out of breath from minimal activity. I have a bloated stomach all the time, and some digestive issues. Recently I discovered a really large - maybe 10 cm or so - sausage shaped lump in my right side. GP could feel it too on the examination. Suggested it could be my ascending colon. However, my worry is that the lump is ALWAYS there, irrespective of bowel movements or anything else. After 3 FIT tests and normal bloods, GP refused to refer me for a private scan. I understand and dont want to be a burden for NHS anymore but why refuse to send me privately?

I do suffer from health anxiety and the rationing is that it will not help me. However, without knowing what this lump is, my anxiety meds (a high dose) doesnt do anything for me, without knowing i wont be able to try for another pregnancy (and I am 38 already). I understnad why having another scan might make anxiety worth but i feel like denying it to me just resorts me to a half-living in a state of tourteous uncertainty. If i did not a physical lump and this 2 year exhaustion, I would find it much easier to move one, but this is not the case here. I know that no amount of CBT, drugs etc wont be able to help me whilst I feel utterly drained of energy for no obvious reason and feeling the "swelling/lump" in my abdomen.

I hate this situation so much. Because I totally understand where the GP is coming from but it is not going to be helpful for me. I hear people and some people say this to me too: "advocate for yourself". I'd like them to try and be a young woman with health anxiety and real physical symptoms and try to advocate for themselves. I am burnt out. Scared. and so so so so tired.

haven’t rtft but everything you’ve describe bar the lump sounds like peri menopause to me

maybe post in the menopause forum - with your symptoms and they have wisdom in differentiating amongst them

blood tests day 3 LH FSH and progesterone day 21 can give clues but sometimes bloods are normal for peri symptoms. They also test androgens and things

I was told if you are not happy with gp you can ring 111 and ask to have your issue esculatted

also find a private gastro who is the local nhs gastro - they can refer you back on the nhs if they think you need urgent care

Ask for a second opinion.

Can you have it with normal hormone results?

Just have seen this. My hormones are all normal.

Are you in England? If so, and you are willing to pay for the scans yourself, you dont need a referral. There are companies where you just book and go depending on the scan but an MRI is easy enough to book without the need for referral.

If England, look up Vista health, MRIs can be booked without referral.

Since the gp is not God and has done some bloods and called it a day I would not suggest that that is proof that there are medical grounds or not, there are too many cases of GPs palming people off with anxiety or dismissing women's health issues and there had been severe illness missed.

My consultant felt my abdomen when in pain a week post gallbladder removal and dismissed my concern of a bile leak - saying I did not need a scan - 48 hours later I was in hospital severely ill and it was a bile leak.

I just googled private scan my area. Had an MRI two days later and was emailed a detailed report of the scan the following day. I was given the option for the report to also be sent to my GP. Think it cost £350. Vista Health as @rosalynd34 says above.
Last year did the same for an ultrasound. Different clinic but exactly the same process and cost me £95.

Are they reliable? I know it takes years to train to be a good radiologist.

There was a team of radiologists looking at my mri when I had a tumour on my muscle, it took a team of them to interpret it and they weren't still 100% sure.

Bit I guess maybe normal vs abnormal will be pretty straightforward?

It’s not generally the person who does the scan that reads it , when you go privately……my DDs mri was read by 2 doctors…..one read the brain…..the other read the abdomen and pelvis ……their names and GMC numbers were recorded on the scan results documents

You do need a GP referral if you are going via private health insurance. Not if you are self-funding though.

Some procedures you do need a GP referral for even if you are self-funding. I know you do for x-rays (due to radiation), so possibly it's the same for CT/MRI scans too?

My cousin had to pay privately for a large lipoma to be removed the other year as it's not something that's done on the NHS because it's considered to be cosmetic. It was on her side and was huge! She's really tiny, so it was very noticeable when she wore tight tops.

you absolutely can, many in peri don’t show alterations in blood hormone levels. It’s ‘treated’ on the basis of symptoms. so they would try you on HRT, these days it can be bioidentical, and see if they abate. I would post in menopause or maybe read a few threads on peri - they have a lot of expertise and I think they can help, even if to exclude.

but if trying to conceive that may change their management of you - it may depend on how debilitating your symptoms are. I don’t know how hrt affects fertility

in case it strikes a chord, peri is associated for many with a strong uptick in anxiety

@FawnFrenchieMum That's the case with insurance. But if you wanted to pay and not use insurance you don't need a GP referral.

????????????

what on earth has a lump got to do with peri meno?

one of the (many) perimenopause symptoms is IBS which causes bloating and bowel spasms. All made worse by anxiety.
Trapped wind in a section of bowel can feel like a lump when palpated.

But that’s not what you said, you said they don’t refer anything ever.

And to be fair, mine has never asked if I have insurance, I’ve just said please can I have a private referral and they say, yes open or to a named consultant.

I think even if you have a scan you may still question it's validity and want an exploratory laparoscopy. With health anxiety your mind jumps from one possibility to another.

Why go to a health professional and then complain he examined you for the reason you want? !! God help the NHS.

Can you make a diagram of where the lump actually is?

As for all of your other symptoms:

• have you had a virus / Covid in the lead up to your fatigue symptoms?
• could it be slightly early peri-menopause? Primary ovarian failure?
• anaemia?

Do you have any other diagnosed illnesses?

The night sweats very much sound peri-menopausal. Hormone tests are a total waste of time during peri-meno as your hormones quite literally change on an hourly / daily basis. Are your periods exactly as they’ve always been or heavier / lighter / shorter / longer?