"Gynaecology referral for painful periods"

I was referred to a consultant gynaecologist after my GP thought that my painful periods required further investigation and management by a specialist.

On the day of the appointment, I was told to come through by a nurse. I entered the consultant's office to find them engrossed in their Smartphone. It took some 30 seconds to be acknowledged. I found this not only to be unprofessional, but extremely rude.

When they were finished on the phone, I explained I had severe period pain with diarrhoea/vomiting. Despite taking medication for it, I'm left unable to carry out normal activities. The consultant told me that I should continue taking the medications I was already taking and managing my pain as I was already managing it. They refused to prescribe co-dydramol (a medication given for period pain-see NHS website), giving the reason that it's not prescribed anymore. This isn't true: it's in the BNF.

The consultant refused to prescribe anything else in case I'd get addicted to it. This is rare with therapeutic use (especially when it's for 2 days per month, and it's not as though I have a history of drug abuse) and if stronger painkillers cannot be given for severe pain, then what are they actually for? They refused to recommend that my GP prescribe me anything else, and refused to refer me to a pain clinic, stating that Gynaecology have never referred anyone to a pain clinic.

I'd explained I didn't like how hormones affect my mental health, so didn't want to try the mini pill, and have had bad side effects from COCs. I was told I had to try the mini pill, or put up with the pain, which, even though it hurts so much it makes me vomit, this consultant didn't think was that bad anyway since it only lasts 2/3 hrs on 1-2 days. They then suggested acupuncture (NICE guidelines recommend against this as there's no evidence it works, which is why it isn't available on the NHS. When I brought this to attention, they tried to assert that painkillers have no evidence behind them either. Every hospital in the land wouldn't be using opiates for pain relief if this were true).

The doctor also also recommended shop bought period pain killers (my GP wouldn't have referred me to a gynaecologist if they thought my symptoms were so mild as to be manageable using OTC ibuprofen, which I'd already made clear to the consultant I wasn't able to take due to gastrointestinal issues.). They also told me that I couldn't have the Mirena coil fitted because I haven't had children. This is untrue: not only do I know numerous women who haven't had children who have had the Mirena coil fitted, the UKMEC and BNF information on the Mirena coil, as well as NICE guidelines, all mention absolutely nothing about whether the patient has had children.

I had high hopes this specialist would be able to help me, only to be invalidated, have my intelligence insulted, and have my pain dismissed. Disheartened and angry that they'd refused to help me, I actually left the consultant's office in tears. As I stood up to leave, the consultant said that they hoped my pain gets better soon. I do not see how it is going to get better, since they refused to prescribe any medication or make any of the recommendations that I need to facilitate its getting better.