Arrogant GPs

That sounds awful.

You can't comment on specific cases, but I will point out though that whilst endometriosis probably does increase the risk of miscarriage (although this is not clear, and its probably only a similar amount to say obesity), there is no evidence that treating endometriosis reduces that risk, be it with surgery or hormones.

Still worth trying the surgery though - 60-80% get at least some pain reduction from it (although half of those will have it recur within 2 years).

If my endometriosis had been diagnosed and treated when I first complained, instead of just being dismissed, then it wouldn't have advanced to the stage it has. I wouldn't have developed the scar tissue I have on my uterus. That would make pregnancy easier, and make it significantly less risky.

... It sucks.

It does suck.

But I do think that a big part of the reason you've had a tough time motivating doctors is because they know the treatments suck too. Even the surgery probably doesn't improve fertility, even if you do it early, although its a source of debate.

But I wish you the best in your search to get the surgery. 40% chance of long term pain reduction is not to be scoffed at.

There's still no excuse for not at least referring me to an actual specialist. I'm in constant pain and I never have any energy because of it. The treatments aren't great, and there's next to no research on new ones, but that's still no excuse for not referring me. It's common sense that treating endometriosis early, so it doesn't develop is going to help. Not least because it reduces the chances of having endometriomas burst on the ovaries.

Before I was diagnosed, the amount of pain I'm in was just dismissed as a non issue. If I was a bloke complaining of chronic low level abdominal pain that sometimes spikes so that it's so bad I can barely move from the foetal position, I would have been referred to a specialist immediately. But I haven't been. I've just been told to get on with it and use contraception to hopefully slow down the spread of the disease. That's not a solution or even really a treatment. It's a sticking plaster.

Well, given that you have a diagnosis already could you ask to be referred to specialist clinics for treatment?

I have done. They won't refer me. I've moved GPs and they still won't actually take it seriously. Because I'm on contraception, apparently I don't need any actual treatment or to see an expert. I have done everything I can to get help, but I still haven't had anything. The NHS needs to take women's health more seriously. I visit the GP far more frequently than I'd like because I think the only way I'll get a referral is by bothering them until they refer me to get me to leave them alone. GPs don't take endometriosis seriously. The symptoms are dismissed and we're denied actual treatment until it's too late.

Unfortunately, 'common sense' does not trump evidence, hence why we need doctors to make medical decisions. The evidence is that surgery doesn't work as well as many patient's think and that benefits like pain reduction wear off over time in many cases, perhaps implying that the endometriosis just 'grows back'. Unfortunately no amount of common sense will change that.

Its similar to things like chronic back pain. Horrendous debilitating pain, but the treatment options like surgery are just so bad that it often makes it worse. So sad.

Its true that abdominal pain without a medical cause is far more common in females than males, perhaps meaning that females who do have a medical cause like yourself sometimes get worse care. A legitimate grievance.

As I say, good luck getting a referral.

Unfortunately, 'common sense' does not trump evidence, hence why we need doctors to make medical decisions. The evidence is that surgery doesn't work as well as many patient's think and that benefits like pain reduction wear off over time in many cases, perhaps implying that the endometriosis just 'grows back'. Unfortunately no amount of common sense will change that.

Its similar to things like chronic back pain. Horrendous debilitating pain, but the treatment options like surgery are just so bad that it often makes it worse. So sad.

Its true that abdominal pain without a medical cause is far more common in females than males, perhaps meaning that females who do have a medical cause like yourself sometimes get worse care. A legitimate grievance.

As I say, good luck getting a referral.

I don't think telling her that treatments don't work is very helpful. So what, women have to spend their whole lives in excruciating pain?
Doctors have a duty to do what they can to improve her quality of life. Even if theres a chance the treatment won't work (and often they do) , they shouldn't just neglect her.

I think that a belief that doctors can heal everything and are just choosing not to is not only unhelpful, but harmful. I don't think your suggestion to lie, even if it's by omission, is a good one.

I also don't think you've considered the possibility of treatment causing harm. Laparoscopy is pretty safe, although every now and then there is a catastrophic complication, but anon also mentions the example of chronic back pain surgery, which is super risky, but often patients use the exact same arguments - 'you're a doctor you have a duty to help me' - to push for surgery then end up paralysed or worse. Acknowledging the limitations of modern medicine is important!

* Plus the beta blockers were a high daily Soave which didn't help.

I'm not expecting my doctors to cure everything. I'm just expecting them to take me seriously and refer me for assessment and treatment by a specialist. They haven't set out my options and explained why surgery isn't right in my case, they've just told me to take contraception when it's not a long term solution for obvious reasons. Before I was diagnosed, something that only happened thanks to the early pregnancy unit and not due to my GP, they didn't even examine me for years. After notes saying that month after month I was complaining that my periods were so severe that I couldn't function. That didn't set off alarm bells when it should have done. I just kept being told to suck it up and get on with it. Women with endometriosis often say that the pain is worse than childbirth.

If they continue to ignore my endometriosis, I could end up losing an ovary due to a burst cyst. Or facing internal bleeding due to one. I might end up needing a total hysterectomy. Without treatment, I will have chronic pain for years. I might never have kids, something I have always wanted. The risks of treatment are clearly less than the risks of not treating me.

That's not even considering the emotional toll this is taking on me. My GP hasn't cared for me. Deliberately or otherwise, they are choosing not to do anything to help.

I understand. I get anxiety when I have to see a doctor. My heart rate goes up and when I was experiencing pain a few years ago, I saw my gp. My heart rate was obviously up cos I was feeling anxious. the gp was concerned there was something wrong with my heart and she sent me to hospital where I spent the night and I was wrongly prescribed beta blockers to keep my heart rate down because the hospital doctors had no clue what was wrong with me. They were assuming I had a heart/thyroid problem. The beta blockers gave me terrible side effects, I couldn't leave my bed for weeks. Later on I found out I just had a vitamin deficiency.

GPs really have no clue what they're talking about, they just act like they know it all but in reality they're so dumb and need to go back to medical school.

I think that a belief that doctors can heal everything and are just choosing not to is not only unhelpful, but harmful. I don't think your suggestion to lie, even if it's by omission, is a good one.

I also don't think you've considered the possibility of treatment causing harm. Laparoscopy is pretty safe, although every now and then there is a catastrophic complication, but anon also mentions the example of chronic back pain surgery, which is super risky, but often patients use the exact same arguments - 'you're a doctor you have a duty to help me' - to push for surgery then end up paralysed or worse. Acknowledging the limitations of modern medicine is important!

I'm not expecting my doctors to cure everything. I'm just expecting them to take me seriously and refer me for assessment and treatment by a specialist. They haven't set out my options and explained why surgery isn't right in my case, they've just told me to take contraception when it's not a long term solution for obvious reasons. Before I was diagnosed, something that only happened thanks to the early pregnancy unit and not due to my GP, they didn't even examine me for years. After notes saying that month after month I was complaining that my periods were so severe that I couldn't function. That didn't set off alarm bells when it should have done. I just kept being told to suck it up and get on with it. Women with endometriosis often say that the pain is worse than childbirth.

If they continue to ignore my endometriosis, I could end up losing an ovary due to a burst cyst. Or facing internal bleeding due to one. I might end up needing a total hysterectomy. Without treatment, I will have chronic pain for years. I might never have kids, something I have always wanted. The risks of treatment are clearly less than the risks of not treating me.

That's not even considering the emotional toll this is taking on me. My GP hasn't cared for me. Deliberately or otherwise, they are choosing not to do anything to help.

Ffs it's not a lie when there are treatment options that could help endriometriosis, a quick search on NHS choices would tell you that. To leave it untreated just runs the risk of complications.

I understand. I get anxiety when I have to see a doctor. My heart rate goes up and when I was experiencing pain a few years ago, I saw my gp. My heart rate was obviously up cos I was feeling anxious. the gp was concerned there was something wrong with my heart and she sent me to hospital where I spent the night and I was wrongly prescribed beta blockers to keep my heart rate down because the hospital doctors had no clue what was wrong with me. They were assuming I had a heart/thyroid problem. The beta blockers gave me terrible side effects, I couldn't leave my bed for weeks. Later on I found out I just had a vitamin deficiency.

GPs really have no clue what they're talking about, they just act like they know it all but in reality they're so dumb and need to go back to medical school.