Is it worth going private for period problems?

[AnotherBloodyUsername]

Irrespective of the moral issue - which I am ignoring because this is my daughter and I am panicking

I honestly don't know if it would help - I am guessing the first consultant appt will just lead to a load of expensive tests so we'd have to wait to have them on the NHS anyway

Poor DD is so poorly - she generally has a high pain threshold and is in tears almost daily the GP has referred her but who knows how long that will take (she is just adult so I am unable to be assertive on her behalf - although she rang the doctor on Monday & requested medication & a referral so I am proud of her)

[AnotherBloodyUsername]

The local hospital (Basildon) doesn't seem to do gynae privately - unless I missread the website & the website is appalling!

I live quite a distance from her so I don't know where else is local so I'll work it out - I have asked around at her college for reccommendation but not had anything back yet

Sorry if I am seeming ineffective & confused but I'm upset and it's affecting my thinking

[AnotherBloodyUsername]

She has to take her last Norethisterone today & it doesn't seem to have done much good

The pharmacist was much more sympathetic than the outofhours

[AnotherBloodyUsername]

In their favour they have a "‘one stop’ menstrual disorder clinic offering a full consultation, a pelvic and vaginal ultrasound scan and, if required, a diagnostic hysteroscopy." and as she has had both the scans hopefully the consultation/hysteroscopy might be done quickly

You have to go through the consultants alphabetically rather than by discipline

[Floralnomad]

No the hospital won't do private work but you can find a consultant who works there who also does private work so they can access her scan results etc .

[HennyPennys]

You don't have to be tied to a hospital in your local town- you can go anywhere. My gynae in London sees women from all over the country and the world! (they come with their interpreters.)

You may have to think about London if you are in Basildon- not far if she can travel.

Otherwise, look around Essex- google private hospitals Essex or nearby counties.

[AnotherBloodyUsername]

@Hennypennys I messaged you about a London Gynae (sort of it's complicated)

I'll keep looking when we get her letter tomorrow we will be able to see how soon she can be seen & go from there

Maybe we can get a private referral over the phone as the wait for an actual appt can take 3-4 weeks

Thanks everyone for being patient with me, I know I sound a wuss

[HennyPennys]

A GP won't do a referral by phone- not sure what you mean TBH. The letter gives the person's medical history. Is that what you meant?
RE seeing a gynae- it depends on how busy they are. Could be anything from a week to a month.

[HennyPennys]

I've PMd you!

[AnotherBloodyUsername]

The GP would normally need to see DD again to write the referral letter - I'm hoping that instead of waiting for an appt, he will agree to do it on the phone

Thank you

[Floralnomad]

You don't need a referral for a private appt , in most cases you just refer yourself .

[holdthewine]

I saw this gynaecologist in London on a different matter. He was pleasant and thorough, in the end I had my surgery done locally but the Gynae agreed with the first diagnosis. I see he mentions “period problems” in his list of specialisations. See also the website page on self referral or GP referral.

Hope this helps: here’s a link:

www.gynaecologyspecialistlondon.co.uk/conditions-treatments/

[PurplePillowCase]

are you paying yourself or are you insured.
some (not all) pmi require gp referral.

consultant fees are only for the consultation. any test, any medication, every plaster costs extra. and can be very expensive!
however, it might be good to have a consultation with someone who has the time to look into the history and apcan give pointers where to go next.

good luck, hope your dd is better soon.

[HennyPennys]

Floralnomad
You don't need a referral for a private appt , in most cases you just refer yourself .

It's not black and white. Some consultants will see patients who self-refer, others won't.

You need to ask their PA when booking an appt.

Yes, GPs ought to (and do) write a letter of referral FOR A PRIVATE CONSULTATION WHERE YOU ARE PAYING YOURSELF if you phone them and you have had some recent appts so they know why you want to see a consultant. No need to see them to ask for a letter.

Insurance companies need a referral by the GP if they are paying, even if the consultant accepts self referrals.

[Floralnomad]

I said in most cases actually . I always phone my GP to keep him in the loop and in case the consultant needs anything . I shouldn't imagine there are many people dashing off to self pay privately who have not previously been at the GP recently ( I should think mine is sick of me )

[AnotherBloodyUsername]

We went to see the GP to collect a choose & book referral to a gynae & it wasn't ready yet; they acknowledged that a week was reasonable and that it would be another 3 or 4 days before it was ready

We came out and rang a consultant's office who said we didn't need a referral from the GP so we are booked for Friday

BTW thank you for the people who we were in contact with about consultants - we have found someone who specialises in DD's career.

Realistically I want 2 things out of the consultant 1) reduction in pain (either by fixing the problem or providing appropriate pain relief) 2) stop the bleeding and recheck if she is aneamic (as she was tested on 26th Sept) - I do hope that is a practical aim

[AnotherBloodyUsername]

I did however pick up her scan results which I think are pretty normal

[holdthewine]

That scan result looks reassuring to me. Not sure what a dominant follicle is but someone on here will know.

Hopefully it is “just one of those things” probably hormonal was what we were told with DD. The main thing is to see someone who can Treat it and take it seriously. Don’t be too British when you see the gynae don’t underplay it. Your DD will probably not want to tell the embarrassing leak stories but maybe prepare her to be frank as he/she can only go on what they’re told.

[AnotherBloodyUsername]

I thought it looked pretty normal

But what do I know!

[holdthewine]

I agree it all sounds reassuring, I mean treat the symptoms so she can have a normal life. You don’t want them to find anything! When the gynae told us the scan was normal and she’d seen 2 ovaries and tubes all connected properly to a “tiny” uterus my DD cried and thought she meant it was too tiny so she would be unable to conceive. Gynae explained that it’s the size of a walnut before first baby in everyone! All she saw which was unusual was the pool of blood above the cervix.

Fingers crossed you get answers.

[AnotherBloodyUsername]

He was lovely

He thinks that it is a combination of too many & the wrong hormones (3 lots of different pills, implant & contraceptive injection) & the fact that as an athlete her muscle to fat ratio is unusual and that means she should have had different (newer) medications

He gave us a private prescription - which the chemist didn't have, so I have to go hunting for it tomorrow & a telling off for not taking her iron properly

Loads of blood tests today - another scan on Wed & a second appt with him then possibly some oestrogen?

He was very patient, explained it well enough for her to understand and was sympathetic with me

[MountainDweller]

Glad it went well. I was going to recommend a consultant but got to the end and found you have one - excellent!

Just to add if it is endometriosis it is unlikely to show on a scan. If there’s nothing on the tests and no improvement with his suggestions I would push for a laparoscopy.

[AnotherBloodyUsername]

Thanks Mountiandweller - the consultant mentioned it as a possibility but needs more tests before he decides if it's worth doing a laparoscopy

He seems very on the ball