I just need ya'lls opinion!

I went to my normal Family practitioner for my yearly woman checkup. We started talking about my periods and how bad they are etc....he sent me to the hospital to have an ultrasound(inside and out). Results came back, bad pap smear, and thickening of the uterus lining. He sent me to an OBGYN. This doctor checked me out, did some testing, did an endometrial biopsy that day, in several places. He said "You need a hysterectomy". Lets schedule you soon. If you don't have the hysterectomy, you'll have to come back every 3 months for another pap and ultrasound. I'm all for a hysterectomy, I've had my kids etc. I won't miss a period...because I have thrown up enough, and had severe pain and cramping down into my legs for far too long. My 13 year old is doing the same thing and she is probably going to have to go on birth control pills.

So anyway, he sends me on my way, with 2 prescriptions, some other advice, and told me to come back in 2 weeks for a consult on the hysterectomy. Well, 2 weeks passed, I was broke, cancelled and rescheduled appt. 2 more weeks passed, appt. came up, still broke, cancelled appt. Received bill from Hospital for the testing they did, my portion was $312.00, plus the bill from the first ultrasound $371.00. I called the doctor and told him that I was going to have to put the consult off until I could get these bills paid down. I am totally unsure what portion of the surgery my insurance is going to pay now, and am scared to death that I am giong to keel over when I get that bill. I don't make a lot of money. I live paycheck to paycheck. He said his office would find out what kind of price we are looking at. So, in the meantime I asked him that while I'm trying to get these bills paid, will he continue to give me the same meds for my period that he prescribed the day I left his office. He said, what do you mean? I said, When I left your office you had prescribed me Tylenol 3 with codeine and something for nauseau. Will you continue to do this for me, while I'm trying to get these bills paid down, or I will be suffering very badly without it.? He said, I'll take care of you. A few days later, I call his office, my period started in the middle of the night. I had been throwing up since and could barely work, but had somehow made it to work, would they call in the prescription? She took my info, and said she'd call me back. HE called me back and yelled at me that he was going to call me in a prescription for birth control pills, and to start taking them THAT DAY!

Here's the problem....he knows I can not take birth control pills, I'm 40 years old and I smoke. I'm already pre disposed to numerous problems, I don't want to add blood clots to the list. I asked my pharmacist if taking the birth control pills would be okay and even he said no.

Now, here's my question. Do you think he thought I just wanted the pain meds? I'm very serious about my periods being very debilitating. I can go and get my pharmacy records to show him that only in the last year has this other doctor even considered giving me something for the period pain. He rarely writes me any scripts...and I honestly don't ask. I eat alot of Advil. I spend 75% of my life on heating pads. I just don't know what to do. I'm shocked and upset. I have one doctor that I see, before this guy, and I use one pharmacy in town. What was it that freaked this guy out? If anyone can give me some insight I'd appreciate it. I'm really confused.

aaronon

hi aaron,
my best suggestion is call him back and explain that birth control pills are not an option. tylenol 3 is not going to put your health as at risk as b.c. pills will.
i assume you both have discussed the pro and con of b.c. pills with endo. if this doctor knows about your fibromyalgia it may be a good idea to explain what the stress is doing to exacerbate your fms symptoms.
call your family doctor if the specialist is reticent to help.
hang in there kiddo. how well i remember hugging my heating pad and resting my head on the cool toilet seat. poor girlfriend. you may want to rethink putting your daughter on the pill at such a young age. i went on it at 14 and still had to have it all out at 29. endo. i often wondered if the altered hormones sped up the endo. it was widespread and took the doc several hours to clean up inside me.
what would any of us do without our heating pads!
peace,
bluelakelady

blue,

We discussed birth control pills at the appt. I told him then I didn't want to take them.

I am so beyond frustrated, and angry. I'm so damn tired of doctors. I've decided to not go back....well..I can't afford to with this ridiculous insurance.

I don't know what else to do for my dear child that is cursed as badly as I am with these horrible problems. I so do not want her to have this malady every month, without relief of any kind. I just cringe when I think about her having to live this same miserable existence that I lead and have lead for so long.
I'm really sick of doctors. It's just not working for me anymore.

Thanks blue, I appreciate your advice. I won't be calling him back tho. I will deal with these miserable periods just like I did before. Heating pads and vomiting.

aaronon

Hi Aaronon, is seeking another doctor an option? Maybe in an emergency room? Regardless of insurance wouldn't they have to treat you? I don't know where you live, so I don't know how it works. It just seems strange to me that the doctor would freak out at you like that. I wouldn't want to go back to him either if I were you.

Would your GP give you the meds until you found a new Gyn? I know how frustrating it can be, it is a horrible rocky path, but I honestly believe if we can find the right doctors ( which I have yet to do :( ) then there is hope. You need a doctor who will actually listen to you.

As for you daughter, I am only 23 myself, and have been suffering for years from "female" problems, my period is the worst for me. At 14 it would last 10-14 days, and was just horrible - cramping, painful, it kept me in bed alot of days. I don't think I would rush to get her the pill though, prolonged use of the pill I believe can cause her a whole new set problems. Make sure you research this thing to death for her before making any moves.

hi aaronon,
don't call the turkey doctor, call your g.p. that is what i meant. your daughter will survive this aspect of womanhood, as we all have. no it won't be easy, however it will make her a stronger woman within. may i suggest if you do opt for b.c. pills for daughter that you do it for one year and then see if she has balanced out. i did this with one of my daughters. she is 26 now and has very little trouble with her cycle.
if i have a choice i would rather my daughters have this than fibro. one of my daughters was just diagnosed with fibromyalgia and cronic myofacial pain.
i hear you on being sick of doctors. dealing with doctors who do not listen or have ego issues drains your energy. do not let this poopy man have your energy. he is not worth it. your g.p. sounds like a reasonable person.
you hang in sister and hug that heating pad. i will dance for you today.
peace,
bluelakelady

dear blue,

I just called my g.p. He is a reasonable man. He is calling me in something. I don't care what as long as it helps. I won't be dancing but I'll think of you while you are.

aaronon

I'm not sure where you live, but in my state, we have Free Care at the local hospital, and Dr's office. We go apply, give proof of income, and if you fall within the guide lines you receive free care. The only things that aren't covered are tests that they send out to another lab. I would suggest that you call your local hospital and ask if they have a free care program. Please take care of yourself and your daughter. Hope that you feel better soon.

I have only seen one person that I know of in all my years (60) that had ANY problem with what you are describing during the first couple of years. Most don't have much of a period to start with. Let alone getting sick! The one person that had a problem at all like you are describing wasn't NEAR that bad.

Do what you need to do for your daughter. Just being on this board means you are trying to seek out information and do the best for her and yourself. Does she have fibro too? Or do you know. It CAN sneak up on people.

Check out the free health care. If you live in or near a large city there is usually something available for lower income people. Also, college towns also have them.

Aaronon,

Is there anything worse than seeing your child suffer? It makes any pain we are experiencing pale in comparison. I hope whatever you decide, it helps relieve her pain. Hang in there.

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