I want to ask my consultant to stop writing this on all my letters, can I do this?

[ASockofFleagulls]

A quick background to my heath issues. I have struggled with awful gynae issues and digestive problems for over 20 years. During that time I have had endless gynae and gastro appointments and tests and have been told for years that my gynae issues were just one of those things some women go through and that my gut issues are simply IBS and so I have just had to get on with it.

Despite spending a small fortune trying to find ways to feel better, the older I became the worse it got. In 2023 I asked my gynae if I could have a MRI scan because I had a uterine ablation a year before which had failed leaving me in awful pain (was told just to take pain killers). Turns out that I actually have deep endometriosis and diffuse adenomyosis and I am now on a long wait for a laparoscopy. Discovered all of this at the age of 50.

My gastro says it is possible my gut issues could be related to my gynae problems but then of course I could still simply have IBS alongside this which is fair enough. My GP says I can't possibily have bowel endo because I would be passing blood from my rectal area (being on several support groups I am pretty certain that isn't the only bowel endo symptom).

However, since being in perimenopause my gut issues are now a dreadful daily occurrence, my gastro can't offer up any more advice than I am already following (which is everything advised) as I have had all the tests. This is fine, I accept that and I now have a yearly telephone follow up appointment with her.

This thing is that with every follow up letter that comes from her she will state 'HEALTH ANXIETY' in bold letters which really pisses me off. I have anxiety yes but not health anxiety. I am anxious because I am living with daily pain, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, nausea and discomfort all the time, find me anyone who can put up with this every single day and not feel a little anxious about the whole thing. I have never once told her that I am suffering from health anxiety as I truly don't believe that I am, it's not as though I am going from one health worry to another, I am simply trying my best to live with the issues that I currently and genuinely suffer from which can be quite debilitating at times.

I feel with this stated on every letter neither she or any GP is ever going to take me seriously, now or in the future and surely it's just her personal opinion which she should keep to herself?

I want to ring her secretary and ask that from now on she does not add this on to any of my letters. I feel it serves no purpose other than to make it look as though I am exaggerating my problems.

WWYD?

You absolutely can get all those symptoms from endometriosis OP. I was lucky and my GP referred me for laparoscopy on my first visit, having collapsed at work after months of what I had mistakenly thought was intestinal problems. I never had any rectal bleeding so that is definitely not a definitive symptom. Surgery and a Mirena coil cured me instantly and I’ve been lucky and never had a recurrence even after the could was removed 3 years later.
Definitely get this investigated (can you go privately?) and do not let the consultant away with dismissing you like this
Good luck with a diagnosis so you can get on with your life

What is it with male consultants and their attitudes to female patients!! I had a very arrogant consultant ask me questions then everytime I went to reply he shut me down. My OH got so annoyed he left the room as wanted to punch him😬. He decided he would carry out a procedure "although he didn't think it necessary ". I asked then why do it, and he said just to he sure!! I had the procedure and they did find something, not major, but it's what was causing my ongoing problem. When he came to tell me in the recovery room he was very dismissive again. Arrogant knob, and I did complain but nothing came of it. They really should be spoken too about their attitudes, it really is unacceptable.

Go to PALS and ask them about it.

Health anxiety is just the modern term for hypochondria. I would be absolutely livid about this and would ask her to explain in writing what has led her to this conclusion since she is a gynaecologist and not a psychologist. She is not qualified to diagnose mental health conditions and is being very dismissive of your chronic health issues.

I was labelled with depression and health anxiety twice and then it almost cost me my kidneys. No doctor would take my concerns or symptoms seriously.

Absolutely. You go to the GP with the symptoms they tell you not to ignore, and the GP looks at you condescendingly with that little smile, says it's probably nothing and tells you to come back in 3 weeks if it isn't better. That's if you're the lucky one to actually get an appointment in the daily phone queue lottery.