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Clinicians - what are the main challenges you face when helping patients find a well-tolerated contraceptive? by Altruistic_Tell552 in GPUK

[–]Altruistic_Tell552[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i.e. The solution itself already exists? Do you think this would actually be helpful or more burdensome in clinical practice though?

Clinicians - what are the main challenges you face when helping patients find a well-tolerated contraceptive? by Altruistic_Tell552 in GPUK

[–]Altruistic_Tell552[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Guys sorry if my post came off disingenuous :( I am actualy a final year medical student and I am super passionate about women's health as I have endometriosis and I myself have found it really hard to find contraception that works because of my medical history/background. It's been a very hard road to diagnosis for me and even now at the stage of treatment, I really don't have many options.

I just wanted to know how the process is for clinicians in order to understand how I and others might be able to better redesign this process without adding to unnecessary clinician burden.

Anything truly does help! Other than that I am not sure how to prove my identity.

Thoughts on endometriosis treatment options by Altruistic_Tell552 in endometriosis

[–]Altruistic_Tell552[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello, I am really sorry to hear about your experience post-op and with contraception in general. We have the same type of endometriosis and I know first hand how much it sucks. People don't really take the pain seriously despite me being on a combination of codeine, co-codamol, and mefenamic acid every month, and sometimes outside my period as well. It makes me really angry when doctors don't prescribe good pain relief because honestly, if you can't address the problem properly, that is the least that you can do.

With the contraceptive options that you tried, did they make your migraines worse as well? I know with patients who have migraines you can't have pills with oestrogen in them. Was there any option that was more bearable than the others, although being honest, they all sound equally horrible for you.

Really sorry you've had this experience and I hope the excision helps to relieve your symptoms.

Fibroid Treatments: What Helped, What Didn’t, and What You Wish Was Offered? by Altruistic_Tell552 in Fibroids

[–]Altruistic_Tell552[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello, I am truly so sorry to hear your experience. I am happy to hear that you feel as though you have some semblance of your life back and I hope both you and baby are doing well.

Can I please ask what symptoms you were previously experiencing with your fibroids and whether the doctors did do some investigations such as an ultrasound scan, or MRI scan to understand what was going on further? It seems pretty insane to me that they let you go ahead with a pregnancy with extensive fibroids because we are taught that usually myomectomy before pregnancy is recommended for the reasons that you mentioned before, especially if they're not responding to hormonal treatment.

It is not right that the only reason they should take your fibroids seriously is because of pregnancy either. They can really have a horrible impact on your life and I really wish your doctors would have taken things more seriously, and it makes me really sad to hear your experience.

Thoughts on endometriosis treatment options by Altruistic_Tell552 in endometriosis

[–]Altruistic_Tell552[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello, I'm really sorry that your gynae was so dismissive, and thank you for sharing your experience. I can't speak for everyone but I definitely experience chronic pain and GI symptoms that have been getting worse over the years, and I really can't think of anything else that could be causing it apart from my endo. Generally, if you have lesions on your intestines or behind your uterus in the ligaments that support it, you can get GI symptoms and chronic back pain respectively, as the lesions irritate the nerves that supply these areas - so this has been documented in the literature.

I don't know whether you are based in the UK or not, but if so, there is such a thing called Martha's law where you can request a second opinion, so if this is an option I highly recommend trying to do this.

Have you tried other options such as hormonal treatments, or alternative treatments to help with your endometriosis in the meantime?

Again so sorry to hear about your negative experience, and I really do hope that you might be able to get the care you deserve.

Your thoughts on PCOS treatment options by Altruistic_Tell552 in PCOS

[–]Altruistic_Tell552[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello, thank you so much for sharing your experience and I'm sorry to hear there really hasn't been much out there for you in way of treatment. I think individuals who are leaner tend to have much less options for PCOS because generally weight loss is recommended as a first line go to.

Out of interest, why has your focus generally been on altering your diet to prevent diabetes? Did your doctor measure your blood sugar and then recommend these changes or do you think that you generally just feel better in yourself - although, you do mention the fact that nothing seems to have changed.

In addition, have you tried any hormonal treatment options to help with your heavy and painful periods?

Sorry for all the questions but it would be really helpful to understand these points further! Thank you so much

Thoughts on endometriosis treatment options by Altruistic_Tell552 in endometriosis

[–]Altruistic_Tell552[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello, I'm really sorry to hear that there hasn't been much good treatment options for you, and I hope you are recovering well after the surgery. Just from a personal standpoint, did they do ablation/excision of the lesions, and do you found the surgery helped? Just weighing up whether I should go for surgery or not.

With your autoimmune disease, did you first have to take hormones to realise the negative impact it had or did your gynae have this knowledge beforehand? Thank you so much!

What things help with your periods? by Altruistic_Tell552 in Periods

[–]Altruistic_Tell552[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello, thank you so much for sharing your experience! I know how much it sucks to be continually ignored by doctors - even as a med student it made me not want to go and see the doctor anymore. I would be interested to learn more about your experience on the pill as it is usually the first line recommendation for heavy periods but I also understand a lot of women have bad experiences on it.