Why do the doctors keep brushing me off?

I have posted before... In December 2012 I had a laser conization for CIN 3 HGSIL. I even had a sample taken from further up in my cervical canal to make sure it had not spread. Pathology came back with clean margins for everything. I have had all normal paps since the procedure, including being HPV negative.

1 month after the procedure I was given the go ahead to conceive. We unexpectedly conceived immediately (so two months exactly after the procedure). So I only had 1 real period after my procedure. Then I was pregnant for 9 months, nursed for 18 months. During that 18 months my period returned at the 13 month post partum mark. It was very heavy and weird.

Then I started getting a weird brown discharge every month before my period. I went in a total of 8 times in the last 18 months. I was told because all of my paps have been clear (including my last April pap) that I need to stop worrying and that it may just be my new "normal" since having another baby.

Well in September of 2015 I went in for the 7th time because of the weird brown discharge and spotting after intercourse. The doctor told me to watch and wait since my husband was deploying right that month, I wouldn't know if the problem persisted until he returned. Well it's March and he has JUST now returned and three of the four times we've had sex, i've bled not just spotted. SOMETHING is going wrong and the 4 different doctors I have seen won't do crap. I'm being told this is normal when I know it isn't. What do I do? I KNOW It has turned into cervical cancer at this point, I can feel it in my gut. Even at the highest point of my HGSIL I never had bleeding like this. I've expressed this to my doctors, they all treat me like i'm nuts. Pushing anxiety/depression meds at me each time like i'm a hysterical nut job (the faces they give me are horrible). Im absolutely terrified. I don't know what to do anymore......Am I crazy???

Have you had a 2nd opinion? My advice is: go to as many doctors as you think you need to, until you get a firm diagnosis and treatment plan.

No, bleeding like this isn't normal.

It took me FIVE doctors, over many years, before someone diagnosed me properly. In my case (as I hope it is in yours), I never did have cancer, or any of the other many things they thought. I had adenomyosis, which causes severe bleeding. I, too, had biopsies that were negative, yet the bleeding persisted.

Are you in the VA system? If so, is there a way to request another opinion?

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Originally Posted by Summer2015 Have you had a 2nd opinion? My advice is: go to as many doctors as you think you need to, until you get a firm diagnosis and treatment plan. No, bleeding like this isn't normal. It took me FIVE doctors, over many years, before someone diagnosed me properly. In my case (as I hope it is in yours), I never did have cancer, or any of the other many things they thought. I had adenomyosis, which causes severe bleeding. I, too, had biopsies that were negative, yet the bleeding persisted. Are you in the VA system? If so, is there a way to request another opinion?

I've had a 2nd, 3rd and 4th opinion. It is soo hard to get a referral from the Military clinic to a specialist or an outside doctor. I can't even get them to do an ultrasound to see if there are fibroids or something. I know it isn't normal and the bleeding is becoming too common for me now. They just keep citing my normal pap and the fact that i'm not having any pain at all. I just want to cry...

Oh, I completely hear you, on the doctors brushing you off and you wanting to cry. I got my medical records from my 4th doctor, and I read what she wrote about me, and it was not kind. She was one I actually scheduled surgery with, who told me my only option was a total hysterectomy with large vertical incision, and she'd only decide to leave my ovaries once she got in there but would probably take them.

I can also understand the issue of having a hard time getting referred to an outside doctor.

Years ago, my mother went through this where her insurance company kept her within their system, and she was so unhappy, she paid out of pocket for an opinion she trusted. Is that an option for you? Could you afford to pay for a doctor who is outside your system, just for the opinion? A few hundred dollars, and then you could bring that opinion back within your system?

I'm sorry you are not being taken seriously. Can your husband go with you to the Dr to give your case more weight? Is there another Dr? I know you've been to 4, but you need to either see one again, or see a new Dr either in or out of the system. If you can't get a referral, then you'll need to seek your own outside opinion, if you want one. Can you afford a private GYN consult? If not, there may be free, reduced cost, or sliding scale options. Look into community or county clinics, or those associated with a medical school. Sometimes writing a concise list of the issues and handing it over helps, if you tend to get emotional or derailed at visits. I have been brushed off by Dr's myself, and know how frustrating, maddening, and scary it can be. Do you have anyone who can act as an advocate, and accompany you, if your husband cannot? Sometimes persistence is necessary, and we are our own advocates. I hope you can get the work up you need, please keep us updated, we are here for support.

Try Planned Parenthood. Seriously.

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Originally Posted by ScaredNConfused ...SOMETHING is going wrong and the 4 different doctors I have seen won't do crap. ... I've expressed this to my doctors, they all treat me like i'm nuts. Pushing anxiety/depression meds...

Of course you are not nuts, trust your gut and keep seeking other opinions. My problem was different from yours as it was debilitating pain rather than bleeding. Because docs "claimed" not to find a reason they started pushing pain psychology and antidepressants and I KNEW this was not in my head. It was then I knew I was not being believed on the severity of my condition.

I understand that your husband is in the military, but I suggest you continue seeking additional opinions AND take another person with you as an advocate (I took 2 people with me). I am single and after that last appt, I knew I needed to take someone with me so that I would be taken more seriously. After seeing 7 or 8 docs in over a year I finally found one that said what they believed the problem to be. This doctor disagreed with the previous 2, told me that I had fibroids (the 2 previous never did...always ask for a copy of your diagnostic reports I learned from this one), and acknowledged that I had tried many non-surgical methods of interventions and failed thus a surgical intervention would be acceptable. The others would've kept experimenting for God knows how long with no regard for my quality of life. After surgery, I have been pain free.

I don't know anything about the hoops you have to jump through when dealing with medical coverage through the military but perhaps consider posting that as a topic on this site. Maybe something like:
Military Insurance & Need Help
Military Coverage & Need Second Opinion
Military & Want Outside Opinion

Best of luck to you as I understand the frustration of not being believed and having psych drugs tossed at you.

Thank you so much everyone for your comments and support!!

I was able to see another doctor together and she actually took me seriously. I am scheduled for an ultrasound to check for fibroids this week, then a follow up vaginal exam after that. She also wants to do a CBC and check my thyroid. Hoping I can finally get some answers!!!

Post when you have an update. Hope all goes well.

I have my ultrasound scan today. I am a nervous wreck. I just know what's coming... The worst part is, my follow up for the results from this isn't until April 11th! That's the earliest they could get me in, i'm super frustrated about that.. I'm guessing if the technician sees something, they won't be able to tell me.