Aa
At my wits' end...
Hi everyone,
I was hoping to get some opinions. I have been increasingly unwell over the last year, having all sorts of symptoms including abdominal pain, dizziness, what seems to be horrendous PMT, uncontrollable hot flushes and far more besides!
I actually collapsed at work back in September last year and was admitted to A&E with a high temperature and suspected appendicitis. They weren't very interested, decided it was a panic attack and sent me home. Ever since I have experienced all the symptoms returning once a month and barely get any respite because as soon as one cycle is over the symptoms of the next one seem to kick in straight away. Any physical activity (including short walks) now finishes me off - I really am that tired. This is massively interfering with work, all my friendships are suffering and my life seems to be disappearing around me.
After a few routine blood tests came back normal, my GP decided that I needed to see a psychiatrist. Unhappy with this I changed doctors and after more (clear) blood tests my new GP suspects endometriosis.
She managed to get me in with a gynaecoloist very quickly and I went to see him yesterday. He was running massively late due to a staff shortage and I was his last patient. He clearly just wanted me out of the door and I really didn't feel like I had been given a fair chance to explain what was wrong as I was in tears (I always get really upset talking to doctors about it).
He said I have IBS and was just getting anxious and making it worse.
Something in me is saying that this isn't the root cause, even if I have now developed IBS after the months of anxiety trying to get someone to take me seriously!
At times it just feels completely hopeless and I feel very alone. I see a hypnotherapist regularly and even she says it's obvious I have physical symptoms and it's not 'in my head'. I also saw an endocriniologist who said that he thinks the emotional stuff is my body reacting to whatever is happening during my periods.
My body feels like it's fighting something all the time and wanting to 'come on' constantly. When my GP tried to do a smear test she found that she couldn't and said things seemed to be 'narrowed' rather than it being me tensing up. The gynaecologist didn't mention any of this and it was like my GP had never written the referral and I'd just walked in suddenly off the street.
I was wondering whether anyone can relate to any of this, and what you did? I am going back to see my GP on Thursday morning so I am hoping she might have some suggestions, but I feel a bit lost (I'll admit- very lost!!).
I was hoping to get some opinions. I have been increasingly unwell over the last year, having all sorts of symptoms including abdominal pain, dizziness, what seems to be horrendous PMT, uncontrollable hot flushes and far more besides!
I actually collapsed at work back in September last year and was admitted to A&E with a high temperature and suspected appendicitis. They weren't very interested, decided it was a panic attack and sent me home. Ever since I have experienced all the symptoms returning once a month and barely get any respite because as soon as one cycle is over the symptoms of the next one seem to kick in straight away. Any physical activity (including short walks) now finishes me off - I really am that tired. This is massively interfering with work, all my friendships are suffering and my life seems to be disappearing around me.
After a few routine blood tests came back normal, my GP decided that I needed to see a psychiatrist. Unhappy with this I changed doctors and after more (clear) blood tests my new GP suspects endometriosis.
She managed to get me in with a gynaecoloist very quickly and I went to see him yesterday. He was running massively late due to a staff shortage and I was his last patient. He clearly just wanted me out of the door and I really didn't feel like I had been given a fair chance to explain what was wrong as I was in tears (I always get really upset talking to doctors about it).
He said I have IBS and was just getting anxious and making it worse.
Something in me is saying that this isn't the root cause, even if I have now developed IBS after the months of anxiety trying to get someone to take me seriously!
At times it just feels completely hopeless and I feel very alone. I see a hypnotherapist regularly and even she says it's obvious I have physical symptoms and it's not 'in my head'. I also saw an endocriniologist who said that he thinks the emotional stuff is my body reacting to whatever is happening during my periods.
My body feels like it's fighting something all the time and wanting to 'come on' constantly. When my GP tried to do a smear test she found that she couldn't and said things seemed to be 'narrowed' rather than it being me tensing up. The gynaecologist didn't mention any of this and it was like my GP had never written the referral and I'd just walked in suddenly off the street.
I was wondering whether anyone can relate to any of this, and what you did? I am going back to see my GP on Thursday morning so I am hoping she might have some suggestions, but I feel a bit lost (I'll admit- very lost!!).
Thanks for your comments everyone :)
I'm pleased to say that I have seen my GP this morning who immediately suggested getting a second opinion and was really shocked at how badly I had been treated. (For the record I also found out that the guy I saw on Friday has been done for medical negligence in the past?!) I am looking at going privately to see someone with a good reputation so my GP has gone off to find the best person.
I had also been given some medication for the pain and some other medication to stop the side-effects of the first medication LOL.
I'm pleased to say that I have seen my GP this morning who immediately suggested getting a second opinion and was really shocked at how badly I had been treated. (For the record I also found out that the guy I saw on Friday has been done for medical negligence in the past?!) I am looking at going privately to see someone with a good reputation so my GP has gone off to find the best person.
I had also been given some medication for the pain and some other medication to stop the side-effects of the first medication LOL.
I would get another doctor - primary and GYN asap and keep searching until you find ones who treat you better.
I went from age 20 with what I suspect is Endo; I finally found a new dr when I was 30, who was great and treated me but my health insurance wouldn't approve even a laproscopy because my primary said nothing was wrong with me.
Fast forward to 2004; I was almost 36 and started excessive bleeding; the pains were double or triple what it was before; IBS symptoms and I started fainting during intercourse...went to my primary and he did tests - ultrasounds - a ton of testing he told me nothing was wrong he told me to lose weight and I would be fine and wouldn't refer me out to a GYN.
After 6 months straight of this I went around him to my insurance company and they approved a visit to my GYN. He listened to what I said and told me on top of Endo; I probably had Adenomyosis. He got the test result from my primary and what do you know - my uterus was enlarged and he called my insurer and I went for surgery the next week. I was dx with Endometriosis; Adenomyosis; Uterine Fibroids and there were tons of Polyps he removed.
Now at age 44, I need a full hysterectomy due to so much tissue growth all over inside since my Endometrial Ablation in 2005 didn't work and meds did little for the problems. I'm choosing a wait and see process since though since I'm pretty sure I'm starting menopause.
Either get the GYN you have to do something for you and find out what's wrong or switch dr's; try calling the insurance company (not sure how that works in your part of the world though).
I went from age 20 with what I suspect is Endo; I finally found a new dr when I was 30, who was great and treated me but my health insurance wouldn't approve even a laproscopy because my primary said nothing was wrong with me.
Fast forward to 2004; I was almost 36 and started excessive bleeding; the pains were double or triple what it was before; IBS symptoms and I started fainting during intercourse...went to my primary and he did tests - ultrasounds - a ton of testing he told me nothing was wrong he told me to lose weight and I would be fine and wouldn't refer me out to a GYN.
After 6 months straight of this I went around him to my insurance company and they approved a visit to my GYN. He listened to what I said and told me on top of Endo; I probably had Adenomyosis. He got the test result from my primary and what do you know - my uterus was enlarged and he called my insurer and I went for surgery the next week. I was dx with Endometriosis; Adenomyosis; Uterine Fibroids and there were tons of Polyps he removed.
Now at age 44, I need a full hysterectomy due to so much tissue growth all over inside since my Endometrial Ablation in 2005 didn't work and meds did little for the problems. I'm choosing a wait and see process since though since I'm pretty sure I'm starting menopause.
Either get the GYN you have to do something for you and find out what's wrong or switch dr's; try calling the insurance company (not sure how that works in your part of the world though).
ok first i have to say wow ! can i ever relate, i had been going through the same same thing exactly! for a year up until about 3 months ago, i kept getting sent away bcuz my blood and u/s and xrays kept coming back fine, i did have a cyst in one that ruptured and was hospitalized, and then after the pain wouldn't go away from that when in the hospital they decided to set me up with a lapriscopy that i actually had yesterday, indeed i had endo! and more so the pain was caused from scar tissue from previous surgery's but i know how you feel with no one taking you seriously, i had to have a 7 inch cyst explode for a doctor to take me serious! it hurt but im glad it happened!
what you have to do is go back to your gyno and tell them you demand a laproscopy! im sure with your symptoms it is definite that you have something wrong in there and they will find it! please go back and tell them thats what you want :) good luck, let me know how it goes
what you have to do is go back to your gyno and tell them you demand a laproscopy! im sure with your symptoms it is definite that you have something wrong in there and they will find it! please go back and tell them thats what you want :) good luck, let me know how it goes
Thank you, from some of the stories I am reading this is not an uncommon beginning to getting diagnosed! I'm hoping that my GP still thinks that it is endo so that I at least get a chance of having it diagnosed and treated.
I was talking to a colleague at work who said that she had been diagnosed with kidney stones for three years, even though there weren't any visible and bloods and MRI scans came back clear. Then she changed doctors and they found a massive cyst and endo, both of which they had somehow managed to miss!!
This is getting worse: the decline in my health even over the last six weeks has been extremely disturbing. At this rate I'm going to fade away :(
I was talking to a colleague at work who said that she had been diagnosed with kidney stones for three years, even though there weren't any visible and bloods and MRI scans came back clear. Then she changed doctors and they found a massive cyst and endo, both of which they had somehow managed to miss!!
This is getting worse: the decline in my health even over the last six weeks has been extremely disturbing. At this rate I'm going to fade away :(
I'd see a different gyno! I know the first one I saw I also left in tears. It wasn't til the pain got worse (was more than just pmt time) that I sought a new gyno. He immediately scheduled me for a laproscopy and diagnosed me with endo.
You know your body, trust yourself and seek a new dr. It also doesn't hurt to see a counsellor/psych cause constant pain definitely impacts how you cope with stuff. You often need to deal with these things from many angles!
Good luck!
You know your body, trust yourself and seek a new dr. It also doesn't hurt to see a counsellor/psych cause constant pain definitely impacts how you cope with stuff. You often need to deal with these things from many angles!
Good luck!
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