This story has been brewing for some time now, In fact it started to radically rear its ugly head back in Feb/March.
I took a trip to my local GP with abdominal/pelvic pain that never really seemed to go away however it seemed to be increasing and on occasion it took my breath way.
Over the last few years I have been no stranger to pain, due to the fact that I suffer with SPD after my pregnancy with Joshua over stretched my pelvic ligaments. However this was new pain and more to the left hand side than to the right. This is a long and drawn out story so I won’t bore you with the ins and outs other than to say I visited my GP 6 times in 7 months, I had internal and external exams and even had an internal and external ultrasound.
By mid-October I had lost the will to live, the pain was increasing, I was bloated and my GP’s response was to tell me to take stronger pain killers and come back in a month. This was the ever helpful advice I pretty much received on each visit.
Over the last few months I had become irritable, tired, withdrawn and resentful, resentful that I was beginning to think that in fact I was going slightly insane, that maybe this pain had never really been there at all and I was become a hypochondriac.
Late October I went for a last ditch attempt and I made the drastic decision to move to a Dr’s out of the village we live in to a practice in another village. Needless to say they were not overly impressed at my attempts but after filling them in on my woes they took pity and agreed the whole family could move to them.
Within days I had received my new patient appointment and I was then able to book my full appointment, however for 3 weeks I chicken out, however after a particularly bad few days I finally booked my appointment.
I visited my New GP on Wednesday 27th November and after taking a whole 35 minutes.. Yes you read that right 35 whole minutes of non-pen holding and full direct eye contact followed by an internal exam he decided that I needed to see a consultant urgently. Less than 24hrs after I saw my GP I received a phone call from the hospital (yet again surprising me at 8.30 in the morning) to say I was booked in and must attend on Wednesday 5th December.
After having attend last week all I can say right now as I am a little shocked but it seems my GP thought I may have had Cancer, however they now think that my chance of having Cancer is 0.01% (although a biopsy will be performed) however it seems I was not wrong I am in fact in pain (I am not mad after all) in fact the shock came from the Consultant in that I had lasted so long in this pain.
So I will be having surgery in the coming weeks/months to repair some acute adhesions, stemming from my caesarean scar as it seems I don’t heal well and internally my scar has over healed, sealing some of my internal bits together.
My surgery will be started and hopefully completed while I am under general anaesthetic and hopefully it will remain as key hole surgery, however this depends on what mess they find while in there.
Sitting here now, I can truly hand on heart say I am happy, joyous even, for nearly 8 months I became depressed, was in pain, and no one seemed to care, no one even acknowledged this pain and I was made to feel like it was in my head.
I now feel that my life can move forward, there is light at the end of the tunnel and I am eternally grateful to the new GP who took the time to listen and take action.
I am looking forward to some fairly pain free days after the surgery and best of all I am not going mad! … Although on some things maybe a little round the edges.
oh my goodness! i’m so happy you finally found a doctor that took your complaints seriously. i hope your surgery goes well 😀
awww thank you honey, its been so great to find a GP who listened x
Wow Jaime what a post. I’m so glad you’ve managed to find someone that took you seriously and you have a plan of action. That’s great news. Less so about the surgery as you’ll need time to heal afterwards but at least you’ll be on the road to recovery 🙂
I am just so so relieved that there is a light at the end of the tunnel now x
Oh, goodness Jaime, I’m so glad your new GP took you seriously and this has finally been sorted out! Sorry that you will need surgery, but if it resolves the issues and stops the pain, then it’s worth the recovery. Big hugs xx
Thanks honey, even the surgery is not dampening my spirits i know the few weeks of being uncomfortable will be worth it x
Poor you! What an incompetent GP to not have sent you to a consultant earlier even just to check! I hope you get better soon lovely x
thanks Zaz it seems they were incompetent but at least the new one was super duper efficient x
So pleased to hear this GP took you seriously and you’re going to get some treatment, but so sorry you had to suffer for such a long time. Hope the operation goes well.
Thanks Sarah, I am just focusing on the fact the light is at the end of the tunnel xxx
Oh my Jaime, what a scare! So pleased that you finally have some answers and that it can be sorted. Make sure you rest up and look after yourself, that all sounds nasty. Much love x
Thanks my lovely, i just cant wait to get in there and have it done now x
Well done you for being persistent but how awful it took this long to sort out. Good luck with your surgery. xxx
thanks Afra, im excited now to get the ball rolling and surgery underway! x
Oh just feeling so angry on your behalf … there are so many wonderful doctors and some who just make you want to scream!!! Hope all goes well now. Thinking about you xxx
awww thanks you Alice, at least the new one was worth his weight! xx
So glad you’ve got some answers. Hope they can keep the surgery as keyhole. I’m sure if they can sort this out for you, it will make life a lot easier. x
thanks Erica, i hope its through keyhole too and i dont fancy months re-cooperating 🙂 xx
Oh my goodness, what a worrying time for you Jaime. So sorry you have been in so much pain but so pleased you are finally getting to the bottom of it.
thanks Jo, I am super excited to get in and have it done now x
Oh lovely, how awful for you, you poor thing! Hope they sort you back out nice and quickly! Will be thinking of you xx
Kate x
thanks Kate, if they really loved me they would squeeze in a tummy tuck at the same time!
I know exactly what you mean when you feel that joy because finally a doctor’s listening to you. I’m going through a similar sort of scenario, at last my doctor is doing the blood tests I need done. I get the results on Thursday but whatever the results at least I’ll know if I’ve inherited the autoimmune disease that runs in my family.
Good luck with your surgery. x
awww Alexandra what an awful awful position to be be in and i have every empathy in the world for your plight my lovely. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you for Thursday honey x
Thank goodness you changed GPs, and best of luck on the 5th x
aww thank you honey, we are now just waiting for the op date now and i am just wanting to get it over and done with
Omg Jaime, I can’t believe you’ve been through so much pain for so long. You poor thing and shame on your first doctor for not taking it seriously. It must be such a huge relief now that you know what’s happened and that they can fix it. x
all i wanted to do after seeing the consultant was cry with relief! i genuinely thought i would be like this forever!
Oh my goodness, what a terrible 8 months. So pleased you made that decision to move Drs and that they are finally doing something for you. You must feel so happy to see a solution on the horizon. Hope the op is soon so you can be pain free x
its one of the best decisions i have ever made!! xx
Oh sweetie – hope all goes well xxxx
thanks Louise, i am just super happy there is light at the end of the tunnel now x
Oh hun, it sounds like you’ve had an awful time. Having been a sufferer of endometriosis for the last 10 years I am only too familiar with the take painkillers and come back method of doctoring. But I am so glad you have finally found a doctor willing to listen and take the time to help you get better.
Really hope you get it all sorted and the pain finally gets better, pain is nothing to be sniffed at. Much love and get well hugs xx
thanks honey, its been a bit of a nightmare and i genuinely thought i was going mad!! honey you have my sympathy on the endometriosis as this is very similar from what the Dr has said and its been agony xxx
xxx
It’s weird, my doctor used to say ‘well I don’t understand how you are in so much pain’ well I bloody well was! It’s difficult because you can’t see it, can’t see the effects of it. It’s pretty silent, it’s not like you have walked in the room with your arm hanging off so no one believes you. Take care off yourself xx
thats so it exactly honey, i wanted to bang my head against the wall! has your GP improved since?
Oh my lovely – I am so glad that someone has listened and that you are getting the care you deserve.
awww thanks Kate, I have no doubt now they are going to look after me x
Oh my goodness, coming from a medical background, I don’t understand how dr’s can keep sending people away, when there is clearly something wrong! Sorry to hear it has taken so long to sort out. Hope you are feeling better soon after the op. x
awww thanks Karen, its been the most frustrating yet depressing time over the last few months, i am just so relieved that i am now on the right track x
Oh honey you poor thing. So pleased you have a light at the end of the tunnel waiting for you though. HUGEST hugs xxxxx
awww thank you my loveliness 🙂 xx
Well done on finding a super efficient GP! That does sound really painful, I really hope that they don’t keep you waiting for the surgery now and you are soon on the road to recovery xx
awww thank you Anne, this consultant seemed super efficient so i am hoping its now quick x
That sounds awful. It’s terrible living with a constant pain, particularly when you are made to feel that nothing is actually wrong. Glad you are finally getting somewhere and I hope the surgery goes well.
thanks you Tami xx
Hope you have a fast recovery and so glad to hear that it isn’t anything serious! 🙂 xx
awww thanks you so much x
I am so pleased that you are n the way to being sorted out and hopefully pain free (well apart from the SPD – I know that feeling!).
Hope it goes well xx
awww thank you honey xxx
Oh Jaime, how dreadful that you were treated so badly for so long but so great that it is something non life-threatening, that will be remedied soon, good luck with the op xx
thank you my lovely xx
OMG how scary but you must be so relieved that you finally have an answer and it’s curable for you.
it was such an amazingly immense feeling finally getting an answer x
That’s a long time to be in pain! I am so glad the new doctor was able to determine what was wrong and a treatment. Sometimes a second opinion is all that’s needed =) Wishing you a fast recovery!!
awww thank you Nicole xx
My heart jumped in my throat as soon as I saw the C word, that must have been so worrying for you.
I’m so happy that you’re finally getting the treatment you need. Persistence is definitely key.
Wishing you all the best Jaime xx
awww thank you Misty its been such an amazingly stressful time i am just pleased we are on the home stretch now xx
OMG, I can’t believe that you have been in this much pain for so long! Here’s to 2014 and getting this sorted out once and for all!
I am so with you on that one honey, heres to 2014 been a super year for us all x
Oh Jaime, what a nightmare, glad it’s ben jumped on at last. Good luck, hope it all goes well and you are fighting fit soon xx
thanks Mary xx
That’s sounds horrendous, and must have been so awful to go through. So glad you were able to move doctors and for them to listen to you.
Definitely a reason to be happy and hopeful!
it sure is in my book its the beginning of the end of a massive nightmare x
Gosh this sounds awful. You’d think that those GPs who are paid a fair bit of thousand pounds per month would be able to help you out asap. Sadly though, I think they also see so many people nowadays who’ll do anything for a sick line. I’m just glad for you that your new GP listened and took you seriously and now you’re getting the help you should have had all those months ago.
i think everyone makes mistakes but to continue to make them over and over again is unacceptable and your right they are trained and have a reasonable wage to carry out the job so it is frustrating when it seems to come down to money x
It’s sad that you went through all that pain because of a negligent doctor. Well, at least now you are in good hands and I wish you a quick recovery. Take care xx
Tarana thank you so much for your kind words, its been a nightmare and a half! x
You poor thing. What a long time, and so much pain, to go through, whilst trying to get on with normal life. I really hope they can get things cleaned out and cleared up (been there, myself, with similar issues, it’s not fun but it should help) Am sorry. What a horrible thing to go through and the scare that it might be something more serious. 🙁
awww thank you Karen, its just good to know there is an end in sight now x
Oh my God that must have been so awful! I can’t believe you had to change Doctor to get seen properly. So happy for you that you will finally get sorted. If you promise not to be scared about your operation then I’ll promise not to be scared about mine 🙂 x
What a nightmare for you being in so much pain with no answers. My best wishes to you for a speedy recovery after your operation.
That’s fab news hun and good for you to be pro-active when you weren’t getting the care you so obviously needed. Good Luck with the surgery xx #magicmoments
That is crazy! Some GPs are such a nightmare, we are very lucky to have a great GP here. I’m so glad you bit the bullet to move to another one and have made such great progress. Good luck with the surgery and to having a pain-free life after 🙂
What a horrific story! So glad you found a good GP and finally got a proper diagnosis. Good luck with the surgery! xx
thank you honey, its been such a nightmare but it will be sorted soon .. i hope!
Oh Hun (((hugs))) am sorry you’ve gone through this alone but so glad you are getting the help now xx
awww thank you my lovely i will be fighting fit for britmums 🙂
I am glad to hear you have found a GP that can help you..good luck with the surgery, i hope it all goes well xx
thanks Wendy xx
Oh, my goodness, this makes me so angry with majority of the “professionals” in the medical system in the UK! I am so glad someone listened to you in the end and you will no longer be in pain!!
Wow Jaime, what a horrible time you’ve had! And none of us were any the wiser that you were going through this depressing time 🙁 So glad you’ve finally got a diagnosis and help. Am shocked by your doctor’s appalling service initially. Get well soon x
awww thanks Suzanne xxx
So glad you finally got some answers!! x
Thanks Chantelle xx
So glad you finally got a proper diagnosis-hope surgery goes well.Wishing you a very speedy recovery and a Happy Christmas!x
thanks my lovely xxx
Ooh Jaime, poor you. My sister had SPD and it was really dehabilitating. Thank goodness you now have a GP who will listen and take things forward. Good luck with it all xx
unfortunately the SPD is here to stay but its good riddance to the adhesions … phew!
Oh My Word! What a terrible time for you! So glad that it’s nothing too sinister and hopefully keyhole surgery will correct it and sort the pain. xxx
Everything crossed for you honey x
thanks Michelle xx
Jaime, hun….man you much be elated to finally have your voice heard. Moving GPs was the best decision you ever made and I think your old GP should have a bit of a talking too as they clearly suck!! Good luck for your surgery and I am so pleased your finally getting sorted and will be experiencing ‘pain-free’ days!! xxx
thanks so much Debs its been a long journey and even sat here in pain post op i know that this was worth it x
So glad you’re alright lovely and it went well today. I hope you’re not in too much pain or at least have some good painkillers to see you though. Here’s to feeling better!
Make sure you rest when you’re home *says in stern voice*
i am trying to listen to you .. but you know i am a bugger to do the opposite! 😉 xx
Glad it’s all over and hope you will be pain and worry free soon
awww thank you my lovely
shme you had to move dr’s to get an answer. I am thankful we have great occupational health at work and I have got more from them than my GP.
thanks honey, it is disgraceful that moving was my only option to get the answers and also that it came down to money for my local surgery or so it seemed x
Goodness I’m only just catching up after reading your photo post this week. It’s shocking how GPs can overlook something because of a judgement they’ve previously made about you. I am a worrier, and I know my GP has labelled me as such. When I don’t think I’m being listened to I remind them how they overlooked gallstones for years before I insisted (on the advice of a stranger who could see it in my skin!) on being scanned for them. Glad you’re on the mend now.
oh my goodness there is so much of it about, its frustrating though that we know our own bodies and sometimes they just wont listen!! I hope your surgery gose smooth and swiftly my lovely x