Ok-what do I say to my doctor?

[sammysam]

I have finally pluched up the courage to go to the gp about ttc and the weird things going on with my body-but i HATE going to the gp (i never go!) and really what i'm wanting him to do is some hormone tests-but I know that gps don't tend to react well to people asking for tests. I'm going to the gp at 3pm this afternoon and i'm scared already
So....we have been ttc for 11months (9 of those really trying as opposed to just no contraception iyswim) and i know that that isn't long at all but i've been having odd things happen that i just want to get checked out-headaches, very bad skin twice a month, bad pains during the month (had a smear and they checked for PID but that was all clear) feeling very nauseous towards the end of the month with very decreased appitite, and i know there are other things that I knew i'd forget (very good thing i'm writing this down as I need to remember everything) I'm having acupuncture with a fertility specialist and she has suggested i get some hormone tests as although she knows she can't diagnose there are just some things that are making her think there maybe something not quite in balance.

So how do I get him to agree to the tests? It is getting me down and i'm quite worried (esp about the pains) I'd just like to know what is going on.

Please, any suggestions are very welcome!

I'm no expert, but some of your symptoms sound like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. so you struggle to keep your weight consistent? thats another symptom. Say you have concerns that it could be PCOS- 11 months is a concerning amount of time ( as long as you are BDing a lot) and insist on tests. don't get all subservient with the doc, make sure that you get your way.

That is exactly what my acupuncturist was thinking-but i don't struggle with my weight really-how consistent is consistent? I always get subservient-thats the problem I just don't want to be sent away without any answers etc and just fobbed off. Not good timing either as I feel crap-just getting over a sickness bug so my mind isn't really working and don't feel very able to be pushy....

Hi Sammysam

I just wanted to say that I very recently also plucked up the courage to go to the GP about ttc (was dreading it!). It's a brave step, so well done you !

I wanted to reassure you it was fine - there seems to be a set series of steps they do when trying to see if there are any problems with conceiving. Just be firm and don't be fobbed off!

The GP first asked us about charting, anything I had noticed, whether we were having sex at the right times. I hadn't brought my charts with me, but did have all the info about cycle lengths, the days I ovulate, my pre-AF spotting etc.

He explained that the first step was to send my DH for a sperm analysis (as it's so much cheaper than instantly sending the woman for lots of invasive tests). He then asked me to book in for blood tests on CD 1-3 (to check for LH and FSH) and CD 21 (to check progesterone levels to see if I ovulate). Since my results have come back fine, I'm going to be referred for investigations to see if my tubes are OK.

Just a tip on the sperm test, there was a waiting time of 3 months before he could even have the test with another few weeks before the results would be back (the GP thinks this is fine as it used to be 5-6 months before you could do the test!!). So we just stumped up for a private sperm test - you can get them for about a £100 from most clinics. Seemed like money well spent to us as I would go out of my mind wondering for months!

PCOS should be caught by the hormone tests. The bad pain may indicate something that needs to be investigated further, but I just wanted to let you know that the very first steps of sperm test and blood tests are very straightforward.

Since I'm not a fan of going to the GP (hadn't been in years!), I just kept muttering to myself that it was going to get us a step closer to getting a baby!

Sorry for rambling, but hope it goes well for you!

hi - i have just come back from my gp after plucking up the courage to go after 10 months ttc#2 (which i also know isn't very long but..)She was great and I am having blood tests done this month - i asked outright saying i just wanted to know whether i am ovualting because then i will be happy to give it a few more months before really paniking (sp) She knows our family well and I think that helped as she was sympathetic. I figured it was just important to go and get it on the record so that if i'm still struggling in a few months, the basics have already been done.

Caitini - good advice re sperm test - might look into this for my DH. Anyone know if steriods for excema and asthma have an impact on swimmers?

sorry for poor grammar and spelling - am at work and ina hurry!

Thank you!
Can I ask if this is you first time ttc caitni? I guess its your 2nd twoplease ?
We concieved dd by accident so this is all very new to me-we were so lucky we did!

I wasn't sure if I should mention the charting as I didn't want them to think that...well i'm not sure really! I have no idea who the gp is-it was hard enough to actually get an appointment to see anyone-they wanted to do it over the phone but i didn't like the idea of that! But the only 2 times i've seen my gp-once for me and once for dd he was lovley-i was really hoping it'd be him

God should I just be brave and ask outright then? I'm scared! Pathetic really! The only other time I have ever asked for tests for anything was years ago (different gp practice) and he got REALLY funny with me so that doesn't help!

I'm especially worried as I wanted to ask a couple of things about dd as she is still ill, since we have the appointment.......I sure that won't go down very well either

Tell him/her you've been tgrying for longer than a year?

Hi Sammysam

I seem to be constantly seeing one doctor or another for ttc related issues... My experience is that it is always worth asking outright for what you want, so yes, tell him/her you want the tests.

As far as charting goes I would mention it. The thing about seeing the GP for a year is a red herring I think. A year may not be long to try if it takes you the first 8 months to figure out that you are having sex at the wrong times, but if you have reason to believe that you are doing everything right (and have been for more well over 6 months) and still nothing has happened I think the GP should take notice of you.

Your GP is there to help. Just explain what your worries are and how they can help and I bet he/she will.

Thank you so much! Why i'm so scared I don't know! What can happen? Sort yourself out sammy!
How should I start the conversation? Do I ask straight away or explain symptoms or what?

Just a quick note (also at work and quite busy!!) to say I agree with MrsH about asking. It seems such a straightforward process (and cheap!) that there should be no reason for a GP not to say yes to some simple blood tests etc.

It's my first by the way and it was also the first time I'd seen the GP (we'd recently moved house). In fact, I only registered with a GP because of the whole ttc business (I figure I'll have to see the GP when I finally get preggers!). I also worried he'd think i was a ttc loon but in fact he said we were right to come and find out what was holding things up.

And it should be fine about asking about your DD too, but don't let that become a way of not getting the attention that you need. Honestly, it was so straightforward that I nearly cried with relief once we got out of there as I'd honestly dreaded it.

Good luck!

i just said i had been trying for 18 months and off we went. GOOD LUCK

i agree - just ask - seems to work.

yes-its my second i'm trying for - i was lucky enough to get pregnant on my third month with dd - she is 4 in a month! so i'm a bit new to all this too. I think some of the others are right, metnion charting - it shows the doc that you know what you are talking about and that you have been proactive yourself before seeing them and shows that you can't be fobbed off with 'are you sure you're doing it at the right time' type of qu's!.

good luck nd let us know how you get on.

Thank you everyone! I feel a bit stronger now-lets just hope dd doesn't distract me when we are in there! I'll go and be brave and it's a good point about the charting-I hadn't looked at it that way before! Fingers crossed for me-i'll update later!
Better get showered now still feeling quite rough with this bug

sammysam

I think you are very wise to be going to the GP and asking for some blood hormome tests to be done.

The blood tests should be done to see if either there are problems with your thyroid and also for PCOS.

With regards to the bad pains during the month this should be discussed further with the gyane as endometriosis may be the cause of this. This is not picked up through blood tests, ultrasound scans or swabs (its usually diagnosed through a keyhole surgery op called a laparoscopy).

Regardless of how the test results come back you should be referred as a couple to a gynae at a subfertility unit.

Write down all the symptoms you have and ask for a referral to the gynae as well. You will need to be persistent in order to get answers.

You can mention that you've done temp charting but many GPs do not take notice of such charts primarily because they are so unreliable.

I'm back!
She was lovely (although quite weirdly she was trying to finish all my sentances!)-I shouldn't have worried really
Anyway she is referring me for an ultrasound, and for day 21 bloods-I just need to work out when that should be-my cycle is 30-32 recently and it needs to be 7 days before af. She said we'd have to wait til 18months ttc before they'd refer us to a gynae.....I was happy i'd got the other tests so left it at that-I can always go again and ask

Thank you all for your encouragement

I just hope things come back ok now....

"She said we'd have to wait til 18months ttc before they'd refer us to a gynae..."

I would query her response with either NICE or your Primary Care Trust - the normal time is 12 months.

You must also bear in mind that it can also take several months to actually receive the initial appointment. On that basis you should be referred earlier.

If your cycles are erratic you can actually have the blood tests done according to calendar days i.e the 3rd and 21st of the month.

Thank you attila-that is worth thinking about-I will try and sort out another appt with the gp-although when i was there as from today they are only doing telephone triage-really don't like the idea of that.

My cycles aren't that erratic over the last year they have been between 29-35 days but are normally 30-33. When should I book the test? 7 days before 31 or 32 days as that is in the middle?