Dear Gynecologists,
I came to you after multiple ER visits, continuous, excruciating pelvic pain, several ultrasounds, 2 CT scans, and countless pelvic exams. One of you told me I had vaginal wall muscle strain and should try pelvic floor exercises. This was your diagnosis after spending a grand total of 10 minutes with me, not taking a gynecological history and failing to take into account that I had just had 2 internal ultrasounds within the past 3 days-so yes, my vaginal wall muscles were sore.
So, I sought a second opinion. I, again, endured another pelvic exam, but this time you gave me hope. You took the time to talk to me and even advised that you believed I had endometriosis, adhesions, or a combination of both which would best be treated with a hysterectomy. You told me you would request my medical records and call me the next day to put me in touch with the surgery scheduler. 1 week later, after numerous calls to your office, you called me at 8 pm to tell me you did not think there was anything "pathologically causing my pain" and would not be taking me as a patient. I am not an idiot, I know that this means you think it is all in my head.
So I took a month off. I dealt with the pain, but did not seek any further opinions. I think I was hoping it would just go away since I had been told twice that I was imagining the pain to begin with.d
But the pain continued, and got worse.
So I went to a 3rd gynecologist. And she listened. She examined. She also believed I needed a hysterectomy due to endometriosis or adhesions or both. She referred me to a specialist as I was a complicated case. I had such hope.
The purpose of referring me to this specialist gynecologist, was with the idea that she would at the very least she would perform a laparoscopy to get a better idea of what was going on to cause my pelvic pain. But that is not what happened. She put me on the birth control pill to see if that helped my pain which would then confirm a diagnosis of endometriosis. It did not help my pain. It did cause me to bleed continuously for 3 months. After another, very painful, ultrasound and a D&C to remove a benign cyst from my uterus, she discharged me from her care and referred me to another group located about 1 hour from my home. At our final appointment, she indicated that because she was unable to find anything (even though she did not do the laparoscopy), my pain was likely psychological rather than true physical pain.
I am now on GYN #5 and guess what? I have a hysterectomy scheduled for 5/13/16. I have been diagnosed with endometriosis, an endometrioma on my left ovary and adhesions.
To all of the physicians that were not willing to listen, or were quick to believe I was exaggerating my pain-shame on you.
It should not take almost 1 year and 5 different doctors, countless ER visits, and a plethora of tests to diagnose this. And the biggest shame of this entire process is that it has been this way for decades. My mother suffered from endometriosis for 15 years before she had an emergency hysterectomy at my father's insistence. I have at least 10 friends that have had similar experiences before someone finally listened and gave them the treatment they needed.
This is a blemish on the face of our medical system. The problem lies within the fact that doctors are afraid to prescribe narcotics to control pain due to unrealistic DEA regulations, if a problem does not show up on a test or scan-doctors are quick to state that the issue must be in the patient's head, and doctors tend to believe women less than men when it comes to pain caused by something they cannot see.
I am sick. I have suffered for months with intractable pain. I have been humiliated and dismissed. This needs to stop. Now. There is no excuse for this type of treatment of women.
Sincerely,
Patient in Pain
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