I Could Have Died: Why My Doctor Almost Refused Needed Treatment

Have you ever wondered if your doctor always has your health and best interests at heart? Or is he just going to tell you whatever will get you out of the office so the next patient can come in? Around 10 months ago, I began having pain in my lower-right abdomen. I don't know how I knew it was my ovary and not my appendix, but I did, despite the doctor giving me a strange look when I told him. I also had a lot of unexplained nausea. Since it took over a month to get an appointment with my actual doctor, I spent most of my visits with his physician's assistant. I went several times for the pain and nausea, but was always sent home after my blood work and x-rays showed nothing.

Eventually, I knew I had to do something, so I changed doctors. My new doctor was young and listened to all of my symptoms and theories before scheduling an ultrasound. Three days later, he called me personally to say the ultrasound showed I had uterine fibroids. Great! I finally know what is wrong with me. Yet, I had to schedule an appointment with a gynecologist to determine the best treatment method. That involved another month of waiting, in pain. My first visit to the gynecologist was envisioned with him recommending a partial hysterectomy, since I was 29, done having kids, and had no use for all those parts. Unfortunately, I was told that my fibroids were too small to be causing my symptoms and he honestly did not know what was wrong with me. He wanted to do an ultrasound in his office, so he could be there to see it as it was performed.

Another long month of waiting, due to the holidays, and I found myself having the worst ultrasound of my life. The gynecologist used a catheter to insert saline into my uterus while he checked for polyps, cysts, and whatever else. All I knew is that the pain I experienced, during and for three days after, made childbirth almost seem pleasant. Keep in mind that after birthing five children, I have a very high pain tolerance. I wondered if all of this could have been avoided had my doctor's assistant just listened to me months earlier.

Of course, the ultrasound, along with a CT scan, showed no sign of any problems. There I lay, still in pain and with just as much nausea, as I was months ago. The gynecologist said the next step would be a laparoscopy. A few small incisions would be cut into my abdomen, harmless gas would inflate my abdomen so that cameras could look around and find a cause for al this trouble. The procedure took roughly two hours overall. I was so aggravated to wake up and be told that I had a golf ball sized cyst inside my right ovary, where I had complained of the pain being located. I also had adhesions from my previous c-sections and the gynecologist performed a D&C to scrape out the existing fibroids.

Not only am I now even more livid towards my doctor's assistant for the months of preventable and treatable pain I endured due to his lack of concern. Not to mention the great job that I lost due to my medical leave required while waiting for the gynecologist to schedule my laparoscopy. The whole experience leaves me to question what would have happened if I had merely blown off the symptoms like my physician's assistant. Would I still be here today to tuck my children into bed? Or, would I be dead from complications after my ovary burst due to the growing cyst inside? I can only wonder and be grateful that I found a doctor wiling to listen to me. Someone who knew I was not just looking for pain pills, but a patient in serious need of help. If you ever think your doctor, physician's assistant, or nurse is blowing you off, do not hesitate to get a second opinion or even change providers. Your health and life are too precious to have someone stand by and let you suffer or even die.