GP had me in tears

I'm 21 and found out I had a 2cm mural fibroid at the top of my uterus in early May this year after I went to the doctor for pain in my ovaries and no period. I've dealt with ovarian cysts before and was worried that it was another one and was going to burst. Doctors were originally testing me for PCOS due to my symptoms and they found I had a fibroid instead. Ovaries were fine just a bit enlarged/swollen that was causing the pain none of us could figure out why my period was missing but came back on the 13th of May. It also turns out my uterus is retroverted but otherwise normal in size and everything else.

The first two months after diagnosis I was fine, nothing changed besides constant trips to the toilet and bloating/pelvic pressure that I was dealing fine with for months before so I didn't worry to much about it.

July things started to go down hill. I've had heavy periods in my early and mid teens but now it's just worse. I'm passing clots, tampons are filling up in two hours that I've had to switch to super overnight pads, the period cramps is just excruciating then ever that panadol doesn't seem to be helping like before and I feel like I'm going to be sick. My right leg has been constantly aching and I get shots of pain down my right leg, up my lower back and right buttock. Yesterday I finally gave in and decided to see a doctor to get a referral to see a GYN and it was just a horrible experience. I was shaky on going because of getting the reaction that I did. She was abdament I was exaggerating my pain and stressed about something else and trying to blame it on the fibroid because it's "so small" it shouldn't be causing any problems for me. I ended up in tears and just begging to please let me have a referral and when she did she was still trying to change my mind saying it could take months (which I already knew) or the GYN would just be telling me the same thing she was. She even tried to say my tears of frustration of the whole thing was me having an anxiety attack. I almost don't want to even go to the GYN after that.

I'm really hoping that being on here will be helpful because I can see my family and friends feel stumped on what to say or do as despite how common it is, none of us have ever heard of it.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

I'm sorry you are struggling.

Why can't you just call a gyn and make an appointment? Why do you need a referral?

Hello,

I just wanted to say you are not alone in this situation. Though your visit to your gp was not an entirely positive experience you stood up to advocate for yourself. That in itself is a huge step.

I know the wait to see the gynecologist can be long and frustrating. Be sure to go to that appointment as there may be more options that your gp is not aware of. Do you have a trusted friend or family member who can go with you to your appointment?

The whole ordeal can leave one feeling isolated with escalating symptoms. Continue to reach out as there are fabulous supports on this forum. You are much stronger than you think, dig deep, you've got this! All the best on your wellness journey. Take care

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Originally Posted by Itwillallbewell I'm sorry you are struggling. Why can't you just call a gyn and make an appointment? Why do you need a referral?

I had never been to one before and some specialists won't see you without a referral. I wanted to be safe then sorry.

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Originally Posted by Ealasaid Hello, I just wanted to say you are not alone in this situation. Though your visit to your gp was not an entirely positive experience you stood up to advocate for yourself. That in itself is a huge step. I know the wait to see the gynecologist can be long and frustrating. Be sure to go to that appointment as there may be more options that your gp is not aware of. Do you have a trusted friend or family member who can go with you to your appointment? The whole ordeal can leave one feeling isolated with escalating symptoms. Continue to reach out as there are fabulous supports on this forum. You are much stronger than you think, dig deep, you've got this! All the best on your wellness journey. Take care

Thank you so much. I'm making the appointment today, hopefully it's not a long wait but I'm hopeful maybe my mum will come with me if she can get off work.

Hi there! Your GP is a generalist and while they may know some GYN info they are not specialists in GYN issues. I think that a GYN will be able to give your more information. If after speaking with the GYN you are still unsure whether your diagnosis or options make sense, ask all the questions you need to get comfortable. It is okay to seek a second opinion if you need to.

Hoping you find some answers!

All I can offer is that by 21 I had significant menstrual cramping that would have me lying on the bathroom floor in the fetal position. I didn't seek medical help because everyone I spoke to minimised my pain by accentuating their own and I thought I was just whinging.

As it turned out for me I had multiple intramural fibroids and had a hysterectomy when I was 31. By this time I was very ill and had no other choice. If I could go back in time I would have sought medical advice earlier however in saying this I am also thankful that I was unaware at the time and was able to have three children during my 20s before hysterectomy was necessary.

It's a good idea to know where you're at health wise but at the same time you are very young and any surgeon willing to perform a hysterectomy for you before exploring every other option is doing you a disservice. Don't have a hysterectomy unless you absolutely have to.