Hello,
I've come here because I'm at my wits end, I really don't know what to do.
I live in UK. I recently moved to a new area, which meant I had to change NHS doctors. as I was out of the catchment area. My old doctor was brilliant. I've had a terrible experience at my new surgery.
In March I visited my new surgery as after sitting 8 hours a day at work, I was getting anal pain, also a burning pain on my buttock. In the past my previous doctor suspected I may have endometriosis as I would get very painful periods, and the this burning sensation on my buttock area, among other thing. I went on the pill, and the burning pain went away. This was a couple years ago.
I explained this to the new doctor, as they didn't have my medical history through yet. I also explained the severe bloating I would get occasionally after eating, and my painful stomach. I told her I suspected I had hemorrhoids, as I could feel bubbles around the outside of my bum. She did not examine me, she said if I had hemorrhoids and I quote "You wouldn't be able to sit at all and people would stare at you because you walk funny". I thought what a total load of rubbish. She said I probably have IBS and gave me some tablets for gastro reflux. I was not satisfied with this, but gave it a go. I explained that when I became aroused inside my vagina would hurt very badly. I tried to explain my past history, also that a past ultrasound showed cysts etc. She wasn't interested.
1 month later and the anal pain had because unbareable. By midweek every week at work I'd be on the brink of tears from the pain. I'd take painkillers and use suppositories for what I suspected were piles. I went back to the doctor. This time she examined me externally around the anal area. She said I had 'loose' skin, not piles. I did not agree with this. I tried to explain how much pain I was in, and the lower back pain, the stomach aches etc. She didn't seem interested. I asked questions. Nothing much came of this. I left empty handed and still in pain.
I suffered another month, and went back AGAIN. By this point I'd been missing work as sitting was unbearable. I was suffering with depression and anxiety (I have a history of severe depression and anxiety) but dare not bring that up incase she thought I was lying about everything else, by this point I was seriously questioning her judgement.
This time she took a vaginal swab. I explained I now had reoccurring painful peeing, and I was often up in the night 6 times to go. She gave me 'pee pot' to bring back to the surgery for testing.
A few painful weeks go by and I make and appointment to her AGAIN for the results, this time I took my partner with me to witness the way she acted in the consultation, as I had serious doubts about her. The results came back clear. I told her how much pain I was in, all the symptoms. She grutted a lot and seemed completely not interested, I asked if she had my medical history yet (she couldn't even remember me from the previous appointments). She then grunted again, wrote my name on a stick and went of the room. Few minutes later she comes back with printed notes from my previous doctor. She asked when I'd seen the gyno in the past, I said a couple years. She said 2006? I said I'm not sure, she very rudely went YES 2006, as she found the letters in my history. My partner tried to ask a question but she kept cutting him off. By this point I was missing a lot of work and was extremely stressed and she didn't seem to want to do anything.
Apparently my previous doctor had made an appointment for me for the gyno that I wasn't aware of, that had been missed.
She said she would call the gyno the next morning and refer me. A whole month went by, I'd had no appointment through for the gyno and I was spending most of my time in bed, in pain. I'd lost faith in this woman and had this dreadful thought of her not refering me. So I called the surgery. They said she had refered me today. 1 WHOLE MONTH from when I was her. I said are you sure that's right, it was right. I was livid. I didn't know what to do. I was frightened to death to see her again. I waited another month for an appointment for the gyno (by this point I was convinced it was more to do with the anal area), it came through.... it's for 18th August. All in all 6 months after seeing the doctor repeatedly.
I asked to see another doctor. When I told her my symptoms she asked if I told the other doctor this as she had made no notes. WHAT A SURPRISE, NOT! She examined me externally, and low and behold I have piles. What the other doctor said I didn't. However this did not explain the other problems. I've now been back to this doctor twice. She's also refered me to the, sorry I don't know the name, anal specialist, this was 2 weeks ago... and yet to hear a thing.
That brings us today. 6 months on. I have missed A LOT of work, my boss has been good to me, however I do NOT receive sick pay. We came to an agreement I could work from home, but now I can't even do that I cannot concertrate at all. My finances are dire and so is my health. On top of the physical issues I'm now suffering from several depression and anxiety. I have suffered very badly in the past with this, but I thought it was all behind me. I cry all the time, can't sleep at night, sleep in day, frightened to death to go outside, get angry at everything... lots of thing.
I don't know what on earth I need to do to get diagnosed. I'm in pain constantly, can't sit more than a couple minutes at a time. Get a bloated feeling in my bum like there's a balloon up there. Upset stomaches, stabbing pains in anus. Constantly tired, back pain, sickness. But no doctor seems to LISTEN! On top of this I am now severly depressed but don't want to seek help for this incase they then ignore the other issues. I'm now in debt from missing work, frightened I'm going to lose my job. I'm at my wits end.
My boss and partner have said I should go to A&E but I don't feel that's the right thing to do. Tomorrow I'm going into the walk in centre, but no doubt they will refer me back to my TERRIBLE doctor.
Please, any suggestions or help... I would be so very very grateful for!
:-(