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Original poster

Sounds slightly barking .. but would you say to the doctor that you read something in a magazine and want it to be ruled out

49 replies

Twiglett · 15/05/2007 15:03

if you had some niggling symptoms that have been going on a while (a year at least) and getting more frequent / longer

anyway I want to rule out ovarian cysts/cancer (thanks mother's copy of Good Housekeeping) and intestinal problems (thanks Google) .. before I continue to just try to amend diet / lifestyle

will it sound barking if I say this is what I'm worried about can I have the tests to rule them out so my brain doesn't play stupid psychosomatic tricks on me

.. I am the mad old lady of London it seems

OP posts:

Original poster

Twiglett · 15/05/2007 15:04

am fortunate enough to have private health cover so its not like the GP will have to play with their budgets to salve my nuttiness

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WelshBoris · 15/05/2007 15:04

Of course you're the mad old lady of London but it wont do any harm to at least mention it to him.

rowan1971 · 15/05/2007 15:06

Ovarian cancer is notorious for being diagnosed late because the symptoms are so easily ignored, so your GP will probably think you are being very sensible.

(Don't mean to scare you sh*tless, BTW. I'm sure you're just a bit wheat-intolerant. Or bloated. Or maybe pre-menstrual?)

Kathyis6incheshigh · 15/05/2007 15:06

Yes, just say it, because at the worst they will go and if there is a good reason not to give you the tests (eg if they're particularly intrusive or nasty) they will tell you so.

mosschops30 · 15/05/2007 15:08

Ovarian Cancer is the silent killer, much better to get it checked out although is unlikely you'd have any symptoms with it until late on .

p.s. I nagged dr. for years and eventually got a scan and proved myself right so dont take no for an answer, youd be amazed at how many people 'just know' theres something wrong

rowan1971 · 15/05/2007 15:12

Blimey, mosschops, did you have it?

mosschops30 · 15/05/2007 15:14

ooh sorry not ovarian cancer something completely different, my post didnt make much sense

rowan1971 · 15/05/2007 15:17

phew

saralou100 · 15/05/2007 15:24

if you feel that something is wrong say it.

a simple blood test and pelvic scan can easily rule it out.

the amount of people i meet who were initially diagnosed with ibs is apalling.

saralou100 · 15/05/2007 15:28

and their are early warning signs, they just get misdiagnosed, or people ignore them and assume their caused by something else, try changing eating habits, put it down to menopause... i could go on.

i aso don't like to refer to it as a silent killer... that implies no hope, yet their is when dr's act appropriately to rule it out and diagnosis is made early.. i see lots of that going on too!!

motherinferior · 15/05/2007 15:36

I would make a fuss about ovarian cancer suspicions as it's often undetected. I made a fuss and got a scan a few years back - I have a bit of a family history that I could invoke for this - and in fact they were really nice about it.

mosschops30 · 15/05/2007 15:47

sorry but that what our cancer lecturers refer to it as which is why i mentioned it

babygrand · 15/05/2007 15:48

Apparently doctors hate it when people say they've read something/seen something on tv etc.

Original poster

Twiglett · 15/05/2007 16:15

I know that but if I obliquely refer to it then I'll just be left wondering about it .. wondering whether they've picked up / missed something or whether I gave them the full picture

I have already ended up with a severe infection due to a GPs misdiagnosis (which involved flashy ambulance trip to hospital and about a year to truly recover) so my faith in both myself to be well and GPs ability to accurately diagnose is slightly dented

dosen't help that DH thinks they're all quacks

I'm going to have to bite the bullet and look like a nutter

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nogoes · 15/05/2007 16:18

Please take the article to the doctor. My sister took an article to the GP as she had all symptoms of ovarian cancer, it turns out thankfully she did not have ovarian cancer but she did have cancer of the womb. Please please take the article along, you won't look like a nutter.

Kathyis6incheshigh · 15/05/2007 16:18

You don't have to care what the doctor thinks of you - apparently they're not allowed to put all those coded offensive comments on our notes any more.

Tamum · 15/05/2007 16:21

I wouldn't take the article, it sounds as though you assume the doctor won't know the symptoms of ovarian cancer. I would just go, list the symptoms, and say that you can't get the worry of ovarian cancer out of your mind. You can always mention your other worries afterwards.

Original poster

Twiglett · 15/05/2007 16:25

can't take the article anyway .. its at my mother's house

its not even like I could go down the list and think tick, tick, tick .. I suppose I had about 3 or 4 out of 7 ..

mad mcmad or madville

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eemie · 15/05/2007 16:27

You won't look like a nutter. If the symptoms are persisting you should tell the doctor exactly what's worrying you and why. A year is a long time (but you already knew that)

I had non-specific symptoms which could have been an ovarian cyst. Asked for a scan and it was a tumour, which turned out to be benign.

Good idea to take the article with you

Tamum · 15/05/2007 16:28

See, that's the problem. There are no symptoms of ovarian cancer that are really specific, so the chance of worrying for no reason is very high. No harm in getting it checked though.

Original poster

Twiglett · 15/05/2007 16:30

family history of ovarian cysts .. I suppose I could mention that

I also was diagnosed with polycystic ovaries before DS .. but was given all-clear before DD

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Original poster

Twiglett · 15/05/2007 16:30

I'm merely looking for a way not to be seen as a numpty

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littlelapin · 15/05/2007 16:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Twiglett · 15/05/2007 16:35

I think I shall blame my sister

am seeing the only doctor who seems to be bothered about patients .. but have to wait till next weds

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saralou100 · 15/05/2007 16:35

i would just list your symptoms... don't even mention the article

then he can't label you a ravng hypochondriac who reads an article and diagnoses herself

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