Some background- Unfortunately my adult life has been plagued by serious health issues, and I’ve been failed time and time again. To begin with it was a major eye condition and I got swept up in the Bristol Eye Hospital appointments scandal, which was so bad it made mainstream headline news at the time as some people went blind as a result. Next up I was diagnosed with cancer just over six years ago, not long after my diagnosis one of the oncology team was so rude and dismissive I had to make a formal complaint and didn’t see them again during my treatment, treatment that was nearly screwed up by them forgetting to send my sample to genetics, the results of which made a difference to the second half of my chemo regimen. If it hadn’t been for my DH stepping in (he actually had to take time out of work to collect and transport the sample to genetics himself when we found out what had happened) I wouldn’t have received the correct chemo type for three rounds. I was put into medical menopause, and only after complaining about the side effects of this was I referred to the menopause clinic, who turned out to be as useful as a hole in the head.
Now I’ve been referred to gynaecology, I thought for just an ultrasound but the cheery woman booking the appointment said I ‘should bring a couple of paracetamol in case you need a hysteroscopy’.
No.
Bad news for them is that I’m already quite well informed about the long and ongoing controversy over the glib and dismissive way clinics deal with pain management around this procedure, and that one third of women find it extremely painful and even traumatising. Because of this, if they say they require one that day I will be refusing and insist they book me in to do it under sedation ( I have a tilted uterus, I found childbirth so horrendous I only did it once, and I’ve been in surgical menopause since the cancer treatment). I haven’t even been to the appointment yet and I’m already having the added stress of being in potential combat mode.
I’m so, so tired of having to approach my every interaction with the NHS in a wary and defensive position, to be constantly having to brace myself, in already stressful situations, for the endless need to adequately advocate for myself, to have to inform myself well over and above the information I receive. Every Single Time.
AIBU to think that I shouldn’t have to feel this extra layer of stress and fear over and above the medical issue I’m seeking treatment for? How do those who are less resilient, who don’t have a supportive partner for backup, who don’t have the same communication skills, the same ability to approach in a truly informed way, supposed to deal with this?
😩