Pain a year after gynae op. Gynae department say it’ll be at least a 9 month wait to see anyone.

[Makemeawinner]

After years of very heavy periods (and ending up needing an iron infusion as a result)and trying many things to help ease them, I opted for a uterine ablation procedure in April 2022.
I still had (fairly heavy) monthly bleeding for at least 6 months afterwards. The gynaecologist said to give it these 6 months and it should ease up.
Luckily, it did and at the end of last year I started experiencing two day, very light periods which is what I still experience.
However, I then started to experience quite a bit of pain during these absent periods. Although my periods had always been super heavy one thing I have never suffered from is pain (lots of pain during ovulation but never whilst on period).
I gave it a few more months but come February this year the pain was so bad I contacted my GP and they referred me back to gynae. Not heard anything from the hospital, to date.
I have my period today and am in so much pain. I take paracetamol and have a heat pad but anything stronger upsets my IBS. The pain also seems to be upsetting my IBS, (I have the deep joy of daily gut issues!).

So I rang the department today, spoke to a very unhelpful woman who told me that the waiting time for gynae is very long and I will probably get an appointment either end of this year or the beginning of next. I explained that I am in so much pain and discomfort but she said that’s the way it is atm, I was discharged from the service at my last follow up and I have to start again as a new referral even thought this is an issue following a procedure already performed by the department! I’ve spoken to my GP surgery and they feel they can not do much other than send a letter to chase it.

What on earth do I do. I am in so much pain and worried this is Post Ablation failure.

Am sorry you’re going through this.

Something is causing all this pain and it is in your interest to find out what that is. Lots of pain during ovulation is not normal either, did anyone ever mention endometriosis as a possible cause. Any pain that is cyclical in nature should be checked to see if endometriosis is present. It can also cause heavy bleeding to arise and can be misdiagnosed as IBS. Endometriosis can also get onto the intestines.

Do finances permit for you to see a gynaecologist at a privately run hospital for an initial consult?. If not I would phone this gynae dept every few days to see if they have a cancellation appointment available. It may also be worth contacting PALS at the hospital where this op was performed. I would also keep a daily pain and symptom diary if you do not already do this as this can give clues.

AttilaTheMeerkat thank you. I have often wondered if my issues could be endometriosis related. My sister was diagnosed a few years ago, at the age of 44 after a mass that had been found on her ovary turned out to be endometriosis. My mum also had gynae issues I I wonder if she had suffered too. I have mentioned this to the gynaecologist several times but have always been dismissed. My sister also has IBS and was told for decades that her issues were always down to this.
Sadly, I can not afford to see anyone privately so will definitely be contacting PALS, as you say the source of the pain needs looking into and it’s unacceptable for them to expect me to continue with this until the end of the year/beginning of next.

I’m sorry it’s shit. Dd is on a year wait for a gynae referral for suspected endometriosis. She’s in a lot of pain which is worse when she has her period but there other times as well. I’m worried it’s not endometriosis and not gynae and then she’ll have to wait another year for a gastro appt.

Have a look at the wait times of your next closest hospital and if they are much shorter ask to be referred there. Waits are not huge everywhere, 12-14 weeks at my hospital for most gynae.

You might not get much joy with this through pals. The majority of people waiting will also be suffering and if you are graded as a routine referral you might not be able to jump the queue

HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas I really do feel for your poor dd. I’ve been on the merry go round of gynae and gastro waiting lists and appointments for 4 or 5 years and I’m still going round and around!
WWYDIYWMRN Oh thank you, I hadn’t given that a thought but actually think of it, dh friend has just had a knee replacement, the waiting list at our local hospital is 6 years, the wait at a hospital 25 miles away was 2 years and he’s just had the op (with the same consultant from our local hospital!).