off to hospital on the 1st, question for the ladies !!

[rachel1]

so i finaly got an apointment thru this week to see my gynacologist (baby is seven months old so i have been waiting that long) and ive been taking these stupid metranidazol all that time. the thing is now ime a bit woried the doctor will keep me in. the problem hasnt got any better in all that time i was suposed to rest after the birth of the baby(prematurley) but having 5 kids 1 with severe eczema and one with glycogen storage disease this just wasnt possible. the gp said i have made my gynie problem worse by not resting and mentioned the dredded hystorectomy word.

so ime off on the 1st to see him yes him its a blody man am i the only one who sees this as an issue?
if i ask for a woman will i wait another 7 months?

[Bamawing]

I prefer women, myself. And I'm thinking of firing me gyno, since he's convinced I "can't possibably" have PMS.

Don't ask him for a woman. He'll just send you to a woman who will agree with him. I learned that the hard way.

I would *love* a hystorectomy, so I'm probably not the best to be giving you advice there! I don't want children, My face is hairy anyway, and I have such annoying hormonal problems that if they removed "Mr. Uterus" and "the evil ovary twins" I would be thrilled.

I don't know how long you would have to wait. But form what I've heard of the British health system, my guess is a long time.

[bunnie]

Rachel, would it be so bad for you to have a hysterectomy? If you are not wanting any more children , then go for it! Most women I have spoken to who have had this done have "blossomed" afterwards. Without exception they said it was the best thing they ever did. No more worry about getting pregnant(if that is an issue) no more periods, and all the problems associated with reproduction, over and done with .
It is embarrassing, (I don't think requesting a female gynaecologist should warrant you having to wait longer) but I had a superb Gynae, (he used to buy me a drink in our local!) he was really good , quite young and very "dapper"; a most understanding specialist you couldn't have found. Let's face it! it is not only only with gynae problems that one has to leave one's modesty on the doorstep! Skin problems run a close second to that!
Bunnie

[totalfolly]

so ime off on the 1st to see him yes him its a blody man am i the only one who sees this as an issue?
if i ask for a woman will i wait another 7 months?

It's not an issue for me.  The only female gyn I ever saw was brutally rough with her exam, and it wasn't till I left her practice for an all-male one that I realized those exams didn't have to hurt.  My current gyn is an absolute darling.  He treats me like a person rather than a body part, and talks directly to my face.

FWIW, I had a hysterectomy eight years ago, and as Bunnie has said, it is the single best thing I ever did for myself.

totalfolly

[CalamityJane]

I've no personal experience w/hysterectomy, but my GP of 30 years had one and made sure they took her ovaries as well.  She was very happy with it and hasn't regretted it, although she does take Premarin (or did).

Jane

[LIGA girl]

Rachel, I would have a hysterectomy at the drop of a hat, as I dont need those bits anymore and it is just more things that can go wrong isnt it? but for me they tried the least invasive treatment first and that worked so I still have it all there. I have never really met a gynae I liked much I am afraid and like TF found female ones were less gentle, it is more a matter of which ones are nice people I think.

[rachel1]

yea, the problem is i dont want a histerectomy. i know i have kids already but i am still young (24) and think it might make me feel less of a woman. the risk of getting pregnant is fairly low anyway i have only got one ovary left (eptopic) and the other seems to be broken ( hopefully the gynie will tell me why/if it is broken ) and my womb is full of cysts so will aparently regect any pregnancy anyway.

what conserns me is i am still technicly post natal, without giving gorey details my body is acting like i had a baby yesturday (yes down there)

it was bad enough having a salpinectomy(spelling?) i think a hystorectomy will be worse, wont i need hrt or something.

sorry about the long posts moaning about this but i am just a bit woried about this

[CalamityJane]

Hi rachel1

I'm not sure what problems you are having, but they sound nasty. You could be anaemic because of them? You've had a rough ride it seems, and you are very young. I understand after 5 children (lord, you are a heroin of great proportions ) you don't want anymore, but they are other pluses and minus's to consider.

Perhaps a hysterectomy would help to restore your health? If you needed HRT in the beginning, you wouldn't need it forever. The doseage could be reduced, or taken every other day. That's what I did.

Perhaps Bunnie will come along w/more help/advice, but on reading this thread of yours, if it were me, I'd say take it all.

You can have your uterus out, and still keep your one ovary. Maybe then you wouldn't need HRT?

Jane

[bunnie]

I think because of your age rachel you would need HRT. I think you should walk around with a HUGE gong of a medal! Six children , one seven months old, two with health problems, not to mention yourself! I take my hat off to you Rachel! I think you deserve a night out with the girls! 'Ya coming?
Bunnie

[LIGA girl]

I agree with the others, Rachel, to have so many kids at your age and coping with so much, with their health and yours, you are a champion!!

[rachel1]

its not as bad as it seems having so many children amy (stepdaughter) is old enough to help out with the younger ones. it is a nightmare with lauren and oliviaanne being the way they are but we are lucky some people cant have children.

as for the night out yea i wish i could i get a few hours off on a wednesday when i teach knitting in the village.

i am going to see what the doctor sais about the historectomy i hope it dosent come to that but if it does i spose i will have to bite the bullet and go for it.

thanks for the advice guys i didnt know wether to post in here about this but ime glad i did.

[Hobbob]

Having never seen a gyn, i cant give any personal views, but my Mum had an emergency hysterectomy a few yrs ago (& it was emergency - she saw the GP due to stomach pains, & he sent her straight to the hospital..), & shes none the worse..

As for having a male gyn, i duno, it seems a lot of men are in that profession. & having had 2 breast cancer scares in 2 yrs (the last 1 really scary) i can safely say that all the Drs in that department seem to be male... 

R

[rachel1]

hi hobb i just think that ladies problems should be sorted out by ladies, maybee its just me being a bit embarrased about a man seing those parts

[Bamawing]

I've had wonderful, gentle men, wonderful, gentle women, and a GP who didn't know what the heck he was doing. My first visit to an obgyn was for severe cramping, and I'll never forget the look on the doctors f'ace... so sympathetic, so concerned. Even though he had never had problems like that. He said his daughters had cramps.

On the other hand, it is a bit like taking your car to a mechanic who has never driven a day in his life.

I would give you my overies and Mr. Uterus, Rachel, but I don't think you would want them. Mr. Uterus is just evil and I think the ovary twins are bent on world domination. (Or at least Bama domination.) Seriously, though, I've never met a woman (or even heard of a woman) who regreted having a historectomy. Even women who are young like you. We used to have a member on here who had one when she was in her early 20s, and while she said she was scared to death, it turned out to be the best thing she ever did for herself.

but for crying out loud, feel free to come on here and post all you want. We'll support you. I wish I could take one of your knitting classes! I enjoy knitting, even if I'm horrable at it.

[mnm mom]

Hello rachel1,
I have seen more OBGYN in my life then I care to count and I have had trouble with both. Tell the Dr. your concerns. I think he will be understanding.
Good luck.
mnm mom

[rachel1]

just got home and thort i would pop on and see whats happening.
 i had a great class tonight we was making cmon dolls (you know from the car advert) for christmas presents.

i will tell my doctor my concerns and ask if there is anything else i can try first

sounds silly but i dont like the thought of never giving birth again or more so not having the option to

[LIGA girl]

Even though he had never had problems like that. He said his daughters had cramps.

But it's the same with our skin problems, the docs haven't experienced them either, tho I am sure if they had children who had they would understand  more .....

[rachel1]

thats true

[Bamawing]

That is true, Liga.

And it's true that I assumed that the mental health specialist I'm seeing hadn't ever been on drugs himself. My dear Doris hasn't. And when he said that my assumption was incorrect, it was like a heavy weight falling off my shoulders. There really is nothing, nothing at all, like having an expert treat you who has the same problems you do.

[CalamityJane]

Too true, to both Liga & Bama.

Reality is that most haven't experienced the problem at hand, or foot, knee, gut, head, etc. (Especially those discussed on this forum). But we need these folk on their toes when they see us. And we need them to at least understand and have empathy. Isn't that part of why they went to University/school for so long? Seems so to me.

Jane

[LIGA girl]

Even if they cant have empathy they should be able to listen and to believe, at the very least. My first derm also used to get cross with me because I wasnt getting better with his treatment, can you believe that? Also because there are so few with my disease and my case is the worst they have seen they were sceptical when I told them I was very tired and that I could no longer work. But then if I am having a really bad day I cancel my docs appts because I am just too tired to go, so they dont actually see me at my worst. I have explained all this to my GP and he is understanding (now), it was a struggle at first though.

Sorry to hijack your thread Rachel, but this stuff is sort of related   

[mnm mom]

Dear Rachel,
I am in my mid forty's and I am having the same thoughts. I will never have another child after this. But the trouble and pain I have is too much anymore. So I tell my self it's okay and thank God for the children I have. And yes I have tried everyother method to correct my problems and to tell you the truth the Drs. treatments were worst than the trouble I am having.
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT drs. don't know everything and they will use us as Guinea pigs, so be careful at what you will let them try.
My sister-in-law had hers out when she was 30 due to on going trouble and she says it was the best thing she could have done. And yes she tried everything else before she had it done. And she still says that tyring everything before having it out was the wrong way to go, she wishes she had just had it out in the 1st place.
I hope your visit goes well.
Good luck
mnm mom

[rachel1]

hiya thanks for all the replies, liga girl dont worry about hijacking the thread like you say its all related. so i got back from the gynie about an hour ago
i got there they did the usual urine blods etc then i saw the doctor (to my suprize i got a lady because the man was off sick) she said so whats the problem i dont think she had read my notes or she would have known. so i told her i was still bleeding and in pain from having my last baby 7 months ago, she examined me and found a growth, she said not to worry but took a biopsy anyway to send off to the lab. then she put me on the pill and off she went
about half an hour later she came back with a scan apointment and said she will call me when the biopsy results come back.
she said a hystorectomy may not be nessasary but we will see what happens with the lab.
then she gave me stuff to read and sent me home




so ime going to sleep the anashetic off then ill be back on later to explain the rest
too tired just now

[Bamawing]

Have a good nap, Rachel. Best of luck with the biopsy.

[LIGA girl]

Yes best of luck with it Rachel,

I do agree with MNMMom too about not letting the docs experiment with you. I had a Mirena IUD put in as my treatment (it is not experimental) and it MAY have been responsible for my outbreak of linear iga 15 months later but it is impossible to prove. There is another thread on here started by Roni about the same device which she says caused her lots of problems, so be careful before agreeing to one if they suggest it.

[CalamityJane]

Good advice from LIGA rachel.

Wishing lots of luck w/the test results , and hoping you'll keep us up to date.

Jane

[mnm mom]

Hello rachel1,
I am glad to hear that you saw a woman. I hope it made you feel a little bit better about the whole thing.
And I hope you feel better when you wake up.
I will send you this because I have had a biopsy done in the office too.............
mnm mom

[rachel1]

thanks guys
i am feeling much better now i woke up this morning thinking it was friday and dave (partner) said no its sunday youve been in and out of it for days, oh well i must have needed it

my results shouldnt take too long to come back
i think i must live in that hospital between skin clinic endocrine clinic and gynie lol

[bunnie]

Hope the result is good Rachel.

i think i must live in that hospital between skin clinic endocrine clinic and gynie 

I know exactly how you feel Rachel, I was like that for 10 years! but it involved being admitted to different hospitals and different wards in my own hospital. awful!

[Bamawing]

I was getting a little worried there! Glad you're awake.

[Blue Bird]

 Rachel> I agree with your instinct to keep your uterus.
Not only for having having any future children, your uterus is also important to keep the structure of the internal organs in place in a young woman of your age, which is only 24. If the uterus is not diseased or damaged, I believe the latest medical reasoning is to keep the uterus intact, even if you do not have any more children.

 There are various new techniques for controlling excess bleeding. Ask your doctor to discuss all of those options with you so you can make an informed decision as to what method would be best for you.
 
I am concerned for your health, you are very important to your family. Once you know what the biopsy reveals, you and your doctor can discuss your options.
 
Best wishes for your good health, good fortune and happiness

[rachel1]

thanks guys,

no results yet but hopefully they will be soon

i had to stop the pill the doctor gave me because i was vomiting but they have given me another one now so that should be better.

[rachel1]

i ahve an ultrasound and an x ray today hopefully they will give me some awncers


ill let you know

[bunnie]

hope all goes well Rachel.
Bunnie

[rachel1]

thanks bunnie

it went fine turns out that when i had lilly my stitches wernt done (lilly was verry poorley and they needed to warm her up)

this caused an infection thats been gradually getting worse no wonder i have been in so much pain

it will be sorted now tho i hope

[LIGA girl]

It sounds awful Rachel, I hope it is sorted now ....

[bunnie]

Do you mean from an episiotomy ( incision of the perineum during childbirth) Rachel?
Did they not suture the incision??  Or did you not have soluble stitches and they never removed them?
In either case you have a claim there I would think. I think you have to claim before two years is up?? Lilly is only 7 months? Its quite shocking really if either is the case.
Bunnie

[rachel1]

bunny i didnt have an episiotomy it was because she came so quickly (40 mins in all) i wasnt ready and she tore me even tho she was small(32 weeks). they said in the delivery room that i needed stitches but because lilly was in trouble they sorted her out. About an hour later i got sent off for a shower and i came back in the room and said the amount i was bleeding wasnt normal (remmembering ive had babies before and you know yourself when something isnt right) they were more interested in the other mums that were laboring so i just didnt get the stitches

when i went to the post natal ward a midwife asked if she can check my stitches and i told her i didnt have any (now that makes sence) she said she must have got it rong she apologised and said she would look in my notes (mustnt have happened)

when lilly had to go  into neonatal at 3 days (we went home the day before) i was put back on the post natal ward because i was breast feeding her and again a midwife asked if she can check my stitches,again i said i didnt have them and she said she must have made a mistake and just checked my tummy.

at my 6 week check (14 weeks because she was prem) the doctor said she would refer me to the gynie because i was still bleeding but i had to try the pill injection first.

3 months later i was still bleeding only having 2 or 3 days clear so she refered me

now i am at the point where i think i am still in so much pain trying to care for all the kids maybee i should make a claim against them

my gynie told me yesturday she is going to photocopy my notes and i am to collect them tommorow so they cant be changed
she told me to claim aswell she said how would i feel if it happened to another woman and she lost her life over it?
awncer..... i would feel like a murderer

[rachel1]

Hello rachel1,
I am glad to hear that you saw a woman. I hope it made you feel a little bit better about the whole thing.
And I hope you feel better when you wake up.
I will send you this because I have had a biopsy done in the office too.............
mnm mom

lol i love that a biopsy in the office

[CalamityJane]

Holy smoke rachel1, what a horrific story.  I hope it gets sorted. I think you should sue them or something. That's outrageous!

Jane

[rachel1]

ime just glad ime not having any more kids

well i got up this morning and ime not in as much pain as i have been lateley i got away with just codiene instead of tramadol (wich is handy )

ime going to collect my medical records later on just in case i decide to sue. to be honest i just dont know what to do part of me wants to leave it and just get on with it, another part thinks why should i let them get away with it

[LIGA girl]

ime going to collect my medical records later on just in case i decide to sue. to be honest i just dont know what to do part of me wants to leave it and just get on with it, another part thinks why should i let them get away with it

Get some legal advice Rachel, and that will give you more info to make up your mind. I can understand how you feel though ....

[rachel1]

yea thats what my mother in law said last night.

the problem is i cant really aford to sue the hospital lawyers are expensive

[bunnie]

Rachel, you don't legal advice from costly lawyers. In every hospital there is an office that deals with patients complaints. Ask where this office is when you pick up the notes. If the Gynae are telling you to do something DO! It won't cost you anything and you will be recompensed. They are most likely to want to settle out of court anyway. You need to simply write everything down from start to finish, in your own words, (do a rough copy first, and also retain a copy of the final draft for yourself) and hand this letter into that office, asking for a receipt as you hand it over , confirming that they are in receipt of your written complaint.

[rachel1]

thanks bunnie i didnt know that. i will right out a complaint now and take it in later on

[bunnie]

The following are very serious, and clearly each of these persons have failed in their duty toward you as a patient. One of the prime principals of nursing is to check everything, that is why there is so much paperwork involved in nursing nowadays, because everything has to be written down. If she checked it will be recorded, and if she recorded she did check, when she didn't in fact, then that is a serious offence under law.
It was her duty as a nurse to have checked!!

 

i came back in the room and said the amount i was bleeding wasnt normal (remmembering ive had babies before and you know yourself when something isnt right) they were more interested in the other mums that were laboring so i just didnt get the stitches

when i went to the post natal ward a midwife asked if she can check my stitches and i told her i didnt have any (now that makes sence) she said she must have got it rong she apologised and said she would look in my notes (mustnt have happened)

again a midwife asked if she can check my stitches,again i said i didnt have them and she said she must have made a mistake and just checked my tummy.

at my 6 week check (14 weeks because she was prem) the doctor said she would refer me to the gynie because i was still bleeding but i had to try the pill injection first

Well could she not see??

3 months later i was still bleeding only having 2 or 3 days clear so she refered me

This wouldn't be the same doctor who is also looking after Lauren is it?? !

she told me to claim aswell she said how would i feel if it happened to another woman and she lost her life over it?

Absolutely Rachel!! It could have been you! Then what would have happened to your children? The doctor is particulary remiss Rachel , that is disgusting! It really is serious that. This woman is incompetant. What if she makes mistakes like that with your kids?
This Gynae I'm sure will help you Rachel, but really you don't need any, just go to the office of complaints. It is there for this very reason , as an advocacy  for the patient. Anyone will tell you where that is in the particular hospital.
Bunnie

[rachel1]

hi bunnie
yes its the same doctor who looks after lauren we only have 2 doctors at our surgery and they have set patients dependant on surname

thanks for your help bunnie i cant tell you how much i apreciate it
i was in a situation where i just didnt know what to do now i can see quite clearley i have to take this further because like you said what if it was one of my kids this happened to

i am just glad (in a way) it was me they didnt treat properly and not lilly because in there defence i must say they were fantastic with her they tried using skin to skin to heat her up and when it didnt work they got her in an incubator really quickly

anyway ime off to the hospital now ill let you know what is said
thanks again
rachel

[bunnie]

Here is a link Rachel about complaining to the NHS Scotland. Scroll down and it mentions the liason officers at the hospital. Everything you need is on this link.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/A2494172
This is the Patients Association
http://www.patients-association.com/
I am appalled that your doctor waited after your second visit, for 3 months before suggesting she would refer you, and all that time you were losing blood. Did she not check you Rachel there?It really is shameful that Rachel, anybody with a grain of common sense knows that isn't right under those circumstances.These people hold the care of you and your childrens lives Rachel. I wouldn't trust her as far as I could fling her, and would travel if necessary to have a better doc I could rely on. From all you have said, she has made some huge blunders, not least in Laurens case.
Bunnie

[rachel1]

thanks bunnie.

i went to the hospital and it clearly states in my notes that i needed stitches

also regarding the midwife on the ward she had riten in the notes that she was told no stitches were present when she asked me if she can check them and it needed checking with the dr

it also states that after my shower i said i was bleeding abnormaly and i was to be monitored for half an hour before i had stitches

so i went to the advocasy place and the woman couldnt beleve what she was hearing she said she would get straight on to it dunno if that was just to fob me off but she seemed genuine enough especially after i pulled out a great big file with my notes in it proving what i was saying i showed her all the stuff from when lilly was born then showed her the notes from mondays apointment and she seemed genuinley shocked apologised on behalf of the hospital and said she was going to deal with it straight away. i didnt accept her apology i said she wasnt at fault and therefore its not for her to apologise she then told me that they always apologise like that to see how many folk are genuinley going to take it further. i then informed her that now i have got over the shock myself i am going to take it all the way

[bunnie]

  They will be C*&%^"*g themselves Rachel. Try the citizens advice too Rachel, they are very good with things like this, just to add another string to your bow. Ask them how they would advise you to proceed. Did the liason officer TELL you what to do next? because she should have done.

[rachel1]

she said that the corect procedure for esculating a complaint is to first make the complaint so she took the letter you advised me to right (and i put everything in it even the loss of bonding time with my baby because i was laid up in bed) as a letter of complaint she said i will get a writen reply within 28 days and that will have further options on it

she didnt say i could take it all the way but you could clearly see her bricking it

i need to go make tea but will be bk soon
thanks
rachel