What will I ask the Dr plse help

[Buzzybb]

A long story short Pain every month for 1 week before period heavy bleed 5-7 days, suffer fron anemia [sp] am underweight and have acd reflux and at times stomach shuts down and vomit anything I eat [History of eating disorder 10 years ago]. Had gyne scans 4 fibroids and poss endo to go back for another scan [been cancelled twice]Cannopt take pill for endo as had blood clots 2 yrs ago so even if offered I would be to afraid to take it.
Gyne Dr thinks it is not gyne but hormonal or intestine related GP insists is gyne. New scan date 3 months away. This is ongoing for 2 years am fed up of it all. Do I go and demand a second opinion or get an appt with another Dr re stomach, am a wimp for confrontation but have gotten a GP appt tomorrow and need some advice on what to ask/say/demand

Plse thank you that really sounds like a rant Sorry

you are entitled to get another opinion.......they arent always right and insist on it sooner rather than 3 months.

you are supposed to be seen within 16 weeks i believe, according to the PCT's

Hi Buzzybb

No need to apologise. I am going through something similar and it is horrid.

don't know what to advise but by chance had posted thishere today and I'm trying to work out whether it's stomach or intestine related too.

Interesting you say that you are anaemic because I am too and have just got back on pill owing to very heavy periods.

I hope you manage to get it sorted. Surely your GP should respect your (specialist) gynae's advice? If not, I think you are justified in asking for second opinion

I'd definitely lay out your concerns re conflicting diagnoses from gyne doc/ GP and ask politely for a second opinion to try to help you understand- that's not confrontational at all, and you have every right to be confused with the way they have dealt with your case!

Alypaly saw the Consultant, got the next appt but they cancelled it due to weather got a new appt and letter arr today with next appt all are within 12 weeks of cancelled appt but their saying I will be seen within the next 12 weeks and am so cross I could not talk to the poor girl trying to explain when I rang as I was being very unreasonable [PMT and awake the last 2 nights with pain]
Jumblygirl, What are they doing for you? I take spatone as the iron was causing more problems I also take vit c amd b complex [local health store were great and knew what I should and should not take] I guess I shouls ask for a second opinion re the gyne or would it be better to ask for a referral re stomach that is being brushed under the carpet by both due to eating disorder and tbh am terrified that if I get any more stressed or the vomiting continues it might. I am also thinking of going private and telling DP me being happy and health is better then a holiday [just have to find out how much it might cost]

Joolyjoolyjoo My Gp is very much I am a Dr when u go to med school you can lecture me worse still she is female and the male Dr who is lovely does not deal with 'womens problems'
Am just thinking will beg DP to come with me then male Dr may deal with me [no nurse avail tomorrow so I know he would not do an exam]but another person who has to suffer with me might help
I hate dealing with Dr's
Thanks guys am a worry wart and need people to shake me/ point me in right direction sometimes

on your behalf about cancellations

this happened to my bil recently who had a minor operation cancelled 5 times believe it or not and had made work arrangements and everything

Anyway, I digress

Taking it in sequence, I guess you can't really get any real answers until you have had the scans. Can you put pressure on your gp to phone up the hospital consultant and ask them to bring them forward (say that situation has got much worse and the pain is so bad you cannot sleep)

If that doesn't work then I guess I would go private if I could afford it and if you confident that the service is good (private part of NHS hospital best bet I reckon). Your health does take priority and you sound very anxious.

Good luck with it x

have had gynae exams and apart from fibroid all OK

am on low dose pill with antacids now so waiting to see if they have any effect

buzzybb- your GP's attitude is terrible! You basically pay her wages, and have every right to a second opinion- and a good service!

is it worth making an appt with the male doc re your stomach problems?? He might at least get some investigation underway which could rule this in/ out as a source of your problems (and men have stomachs too, so he should be ok with it!)

You have every right to be a worry wart- you are getting bumped from pillar to post and given no real diagnosis/ info. I am a vet and would not get away with treating my clients like this!!

it IS difficult to see the wood for the trees when you are in the middle of it all and sounds like you have the worst of both world's there with your drs

I think in those circs I might change and sign up at another gp practice entirely! Seriously, what is the use of a dr who "doesn't do women's probs"??? And if your gp doesn't respect you, is it possible to find another one in a neighbouring town or something (sorry - don't live in UK - not sure how system works)

Joolyjoolyjoo if I were your patient [ I would like to be a miniture Jack Russel plse what would you do ? Dp has already said he would put me down and keep the old smelly dog we aquired when an elderly relative died,
I do have an appt tomorrow so will ask about my stomach issues esp as I am living on plain boiled rice,
Jublygirl I find plain food like rice the easiest to eat add an oxo cube for flavour also pasta made from rice is easiest to digest I am still up as Dp made pasta tonight and stupid me had a glass of red wine which made me v ill [tmi] hence the getting me put down

If you were my patient you would have been scanned weeks ago! Full bloods done, possibly barium xrays... of course, I do appreciate that we are private practitioners, but even so I think your GP could have done more re your scans/ investigation. If the gyne doctor is adamant it is a GI problem, then your GP should have investigated that- at least then she could have ruled it in or out- she can't just dismiss it because she's been to med school!

My mum was very ill for many years before she finally died, and it taught me to question and question again. Sometimes you have to be a polite but assertive when you aren't happy- my dad and I have been amazed at how many mistakes we caught in time wrt my mum's treatment

Jumblygirl do the antacida work for you? Gaviscon liquid gives me about 30 min but thats it the tablet melts work a little longer or do you get yours on prescription?
Male GP prefers not to do 'womens problems' as there are 2 female gps on staff and the surgery has had problems in the past re a male dr [all proved unfounded] but I find male dr's are better when dealing with gyne so will insist I see him he will not exam thou as no female nurse [fair enough] and not an emergency. Ok off to take 2 more painkillers and a motilium as gaviscon will stop the painkillers working and going to bed
Thanks for the chat and making me feel like a reasonable person again

Sorry didn't get back to you last night Buzzybb - had to get to bed!

Thanks for your concern. Antacids at the moment don't seem to be making much difference as nausea very arbitrary. One day I will have it, and another I won't and there doesn't seem to be a pattern even though I've written down when it occurs. Going to wait another month to see if the pill settles it down, if not, I am going in to battle again!

Hope you manage to get everything sorted and don't be afraid of putting yourself FIRST. I know it's much easier said than done (I rang my gynae yesterday after a month's wait as she had instructed to find out very test results and she couldn't have been more clipped or terse when normally she is extremely patient and willing to take time over things). It's just the reality of the situation sometimes. Don't be put off though!!

Take care x

Buzzy

Am no expert but your symptoms do seem very suggestive of endometriosis being present. Infact any symptom that is cyclical in nature and gets worse either prior to or during menstruation could be due to this. Also endo can get onto the intestines and cause pain to this area too (some women with endo are misdiagnosed as having IBS). The four fibroids would also cause heavy bleeding to arise.

I would seek another opinion from another specialist gynae via the GP.

If you are scanned you need to be aware that endometriosis if present will not be detected on such a thing. Endometriosis is usually only diagnosed through keyhole surgery, in this regard a laparoscopy is usually done.

You should be checked out to see if both fibroids and endometriosis are present.

I have very heavy and painfull periods and the Dr. put me on tranexamic acid for the bleeding and naproxen for the pain. If you haven't already tried them they might help.

duvetqueen,

You should really be referred to a gynae if you are having such problems. Although treating the symptoms is a must, the CAUSE of such problems should be determined as well. Also what you've been prescribed is only a short term solution to what is often a long term problem.

I had symptoms very similar to yours and in my case the cause was endometriosis.

Many GPs do not recognise endo even if presented with a classic case, it is a very much under diagnosed disease.

I would insist on a referral to a gynae in your particular circumstances.

You will need to be persistant in order to get answers.

Thks for all the replies am sorry so many other have similar probs but very mean of me glad to know it is not just me, Am off to the Gp and DP is coming so that if I get upset or really cross he will be a voice of reason I also rang and it will be with male GP so will see what he says. At least I know I am not unreasonable to ask for second opinion/ new referal re stomach.
Attilla I do have 4 fibroids does that increase the chance of endo? I know the scan will not show it but no mention of futher checks at last gyne appt.
Duvetqueen thanks for the tab names at the minute am being silly saying no tabs etc unless it fixes it I do not want it to hidde the symptoms also with stomach issues and vomiting tablets never really stay there long enough esp if slow release [sorry TMI]
Thanks again for replys was v upset last night
PS Joolyjoolyjoo DP says will you treat me if Dr fail as am a bitch most of the time anyway [Yes for some reason I do love him]

Good luck Buzzybb

Great you have your dp with you for moral support and hope you get some answers

(Very useful to know that endo doesn't show on a scan also - thanks Attila)

Hi Buzzy,

Having fibroids does not in itself increase the chances of endometriosis arising.

Good luck at the GPs. You will need to be persistent with them in order to get answers.

Guys thanks again for all the advice, it was v helpful as was bringing DP esp when Dr begain talking about tunours and diverticulitis [sp?] was in tears made huge leaps but Dp did manage to get me to calm down and realise he was talking about the fibroids so I have asked for a second gyne referal and a referal for the diverticulitis [googled it and aside from the pain nothing else matches and it does not seem to be hormone related so wait and see]will ask the new gyne to check for endo and Dr also said to go for allergy test re wheat and dairy. also aked for some help my stomach and reflux etc. So will hopefully get some ans. Thanks again

That's good news Buzzyb - glad it went well (apart from doc's lack of bedside manner)

HOpe you get on OK. Let us know.