Help, opinions really needed

A little background:

I have been having pain in my left lower pelvic region for well over 9 months. My primary sent me to see an ob/gyn who found no cause for the pain, but gave me a couple of "maybes" which were endometriosis or adenomyosis but she said she didn't feel it could really be either based on my age (I'm 33). She gave me a prescription for BC pills even after I told her rather strongly that I couldn't take them because of severe migraines (I take one med daily to try to prevent them, 2 when I do get one and still will end up in the ER on occasion) and said to come back in 3 months to see her. I stopped taking the BC pills after a couple of weeks cause my migraines intensified in their frequency. I also told my primary that I would not see this ob/gyn again as I felt she wasn't listening to me.

I went back to see my primary after I ended up in the ER and was told to follow-up with him after having an ultrasound. The ultrasound came back normal. Pap test came back normal as well even tho I have an extensive history for abnormal paps and cervical ca.

Primary sends me in for a cat scan w/contrast. It shows I have a tumor on my left ovary (I think around 3 cm?, still waiting to get the report sent to me). I got this from the doctor who read the cat scan after it was done. When I called my primary to get the results from him, he tells me he was going to fax the report to the ob/gyn he sent me to previously! I told him that I wouldn't be seeing her again and that I saw no reason in her having the report. He also stated that he wouldn't be prescribing anymore pain medications for me since there was no reason for me to be in as much pain as what I'm in. I basically told him to go to &*^@ and now I'm not only looking for a new ob/gyn but a new primary as well.

My problem isn't only the pain I'm in all the time (left side but also like someone is trying to rip my insides out), but my bowel habits have taken a nose dive (primary put me on a stool softener but I still have to take a laxative if I want to "go" more than once a week), I'm so tired all the time to the point I will fall asleep sitting up or at work sitting at my desk and as a side note, I'm a bipolar who has stopped cycling and now I'm wondering since I know hormones come into play with this if maybe what's going on with this tumor/cyst or whatever it is isn't playing a part in that as well.

I'm going to call my insurance company this week and get a new primary doc and then hopefully a competent ob/gyn but in the meantime I have nothing but questions and no answers.

Sorry this is so long, but now that I know this pain isn't all in my head like 2 of my docs made me think it was I'm really scared especially with my other cancer scares. I'm just so tired of hurting all the time and not being the person I once was.

Hi Peanut,
Wow...it sure sounds like you have been through the ringer with your present doctor, and the specialist he sent you to.

If it were me....I wouldn't stop looking until I found a doctor that I liked, was comfortable with, and one who I felt was listening to me, and taking my concerns seriously.

I understand about the bowel problems, as that sounded like me before my hysterectomy, and I have to say since my surgery ( with the exception of while going through chemo) they have been wonderful, in fact better than they have been in my life I think.

I can't relate to the insurance problem part as being in Canada, we don't have to go through insurance as you do in the States. We have a wonderful national medical coverage system here thank God.

I have a sister who is bi-polar, and I have suffered with occassional migranes...so I know that without your current pain, you already were dealing with enough. I pray that you don't have to wait too long to find a new doctor and specialist to help with your current concerns.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
M.

Hi Peanut

You have a very complex situation and you need a doctor(s) who will listen to you and work with you to figure out what's what. Good choice to fire the last two and get on with finding somebody else. As for the cyst on your ovary, it's important to know what kind of cyst it is. If it's a simple cyst I don't think there's anything to worry about.

As for telling you your age precludes you from having endo or adeno, well, I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my life. !!!

Good luck in finding somebody who can meet your needs.

Hello Peanut,

I'm so sorry to hear about your situation. It is definitely most frustrating when you can't get anyone to listen to you. As for finding a OB-GYN I would call the hospital gyn floor that your insurance uses and ask to talk with a nurse in charge and maybe explain a little bit of your problem and see who they would recommend. They may or may not be willing to help you and they will know who is good and who is not. Technically they are not supposed to give out referrals but I know they do it all the time. you might want to even find out if the gyn you saw is thought to be any good. If she is and you now have the results of the cat scan you may want to go back to her for speeds sake depending on if it is a simplw or a complex cyst. ir it is a complex cyst I would get in to see somebody immediately. You may want to do the same thing I mentioned above about finding an internist by calling a medical floor in the hospital or even askng to talk to a senior resident on call and asking their opinion on a physician (And one that is affiliated with your insurance. Best of luck. Oh, and by the way you are most definitely not to young to have endometriosis as a mater a fact I don't believe there is any such thing one menstration starts.

Debbie

Please get a new ob/gyn! It is so important to find a doctor who you feel comfortable with! A lot of major decisions are about to be made that will effect the rest of your life, and you need a doc that you feel confident in. Calling the hospital is a great start! Speaking to a nurse who actually witnesses the doctors' behaviours and their patient's attitudes is a great way to start!! I wish you the best, and hope to hear some bright news from you soon!

Peanut: If your cyst/tumor is causing you pain then it needs to come out; after 9 mo it hasn't resolved itself so why not get rid of it. Interesting that it showed up on the CAT but not the ultrasound. It sounds not too big...like the other sisters said: if it is simple fluid filled cyst no problem but still why not get rid of the pain; if it is another type of cyst (there are many) than it still may be no problem but it needs to go. So how can you get referred to a surgeon? The question then becomes is there a possiblity that it is cancer? If so you want to go to a gyn/cancer surgeon who can perform the appropriate procedures. Also to reassure you, cysts can cause fatigue and bowel problems so that is par for the course. I second the many sisters responses that your age is irrelevant. Good luck! Jennifer