Unhelpful college doctor ...

LegacyUser

Hi,

I'm a 21-year-old girl. I've been to the college doctor a few times over my past four years in college, mostly with symptoms relating to Irritable Bowel Syndrome and heavy painful periods. Our family doctor retired last year, but I'd stopped going to him anyways as I just can't afford it (college doctor is free!)

Anyways, last week I had about 4 days bleeding outside of my period, along with horrific pain, the worst I've ever experienced. I went to the college doctor today to check it out. She did a super-quick internal and said, "Yup, it's coming from your womb alright. Call back if it happens again." Now, I've suspected for a while I might have endometriosis, as I have a lot of the symptoms. However, when I mentioned this to her, she just got quite annoyed at me for "self-diagnosing" and said there is no bleeding outside periods with endometriosis.

I know that endometriosis - if that's what it is - isn't really treatable anyways, but it would be nice to have reassurance that that's what it actually is, and not anything more dangerous.

I'm in final year now, I don't have a job this year due to study, so I won't be able to go to a regular GP til summer at the earliest. And trying to find a good one will probably be tough too. I'm not looking for medical advice here, I'm just a bit annoyed at the treatment I got. Like I'm pretty sure that it's nothing too serious wrong with me, but for all the checking she did I could well have been pregnant or anything (I'm not)

Basically I just wanted a bit of a rant, because I'm suffering a lot with whatever it is that's wrong with me, and I wasn't happy with the service received (however I recognise that I'm not really entitled to be annoyed when I didn't pay for it!)

Rant over

Lollipops23

that's shíte!is there more than one doc in the medical centre on campus?i get the impression that sometimes college docs aren't as good as normal docs, the one i go to in DCU is alright but gets you in and out at top speed.

i'd say go back and tell her you're not happy to "wait and see" and would like her thoughts/referal letter NOW.

Jack B. Badd

broke student! wrote: »

however I recognise that I'm not really entitled to be annoyed when I didn't pay for it!

Sadly, I think there are quite a few college doctors who operate on this basis despite the fact that not being paid directly by the patient shouldn't make a blind bit of difference. Maybe it's the knowledge that most of them could be easily and cheaply replaced by automated contraceptive vending machines that does it.

If there's a alternative doctor at the clinic, try to see them in order to get a second opinion. If not, scrape together the fee to see a local GP. If nothing else, it'll put your mind at ease.

dudara

broke student! wrote: »

however I recognise that I'm not really entitled to be annoyed when I didn't pay for it!

That's not true at all. Your student registration fees go towards the running of the college including the medical services. You are as entitled to good treatment as is a paying customer at their G.P.

You seem to have been examined very cursorily. You might consider lodging a complaint with the management of the medical centre. I would also suggest going back for a second opinion from another doctor.

LegacyUser

this is not meant unsympathetically, but if it is REALLY important to you to get it sorted / have peace of mind, you will find the money to do so - The Well Woman clinics will do student rates... Or like the other replies, make a complaint and get another doctors opinion, expressing that you are very worried about it, and not happy with how you dealt before.....

old boy

would you qualify for a medical card perhaps,

Messed Up Mind

The student rates in Well Woman clinics are still very pricey. I had to pay a student rate there during the summer and it was well more than I'd pay for seeing my normal GP.

I usually visit my college doctor too due to not working and luckily she's quite helpful. Outside term time, I visit my home doctor, which costs €70. Thankfully, the receptionists are quite nice and if you explain yourself to the doctor, they can give you some money off. Maybe saving up €50ish might be worth your while for a proper diagnosis as endometriosis is quite serious and the pain is certainly not worth it.

Would you be in a position to ask your parents for a lend of some money that you can pay back the second you start working?

loloray

Hi OP, in a way I disagree with the other posters.

My doctor also suspects that I have endimetriosis (not the first doctor to say so, and I also suspected myself). To find out if you have it for sure, it is very invasive. The medical profession prefer not to do it (laporoscapy/biopsy) unless the symptoms are so bad they think they will have to operate on you.

Your doctor is wrong when she/he says there is no bleeding in between periods, as far as I know that can happen whether or not you have endimetriosis, so even though it's not actually a symptom, it doesn't mean you can rule it out.

The pill helps 'pause' endimetriosis but there is no cure. Are you on the pill? I am on the pill - it has changed my life and is practically my favourite thing!!!!

I know you can't trust all medical information on the internet but I have found a lot of the information out there useful and informative.

PM me if you like.

Good luck

Hauser

old boy wrote: »

would you qualify for a medical card perhaps,

WTF Whats a dirty "old boy" doing lurking around personal Issues? re you a frigging doctor or just another slimey perv?...

P like that make me P***

Mr Benevolent

I agree, check out the medical card situation.

Wibbs

Hauser ehhhh what? I have no idea where you're going with this, but off topic posts and insulting other posters is against the charter of this forum. This is your only warning. Next time it's a ban. Please read the charter of this forum.

Tupins

loloray wrote: »

To find out if you have it for sure, it is very invasive. The medical profession prefer not to do it (laporoscapy/biopsy) unless the symptoms are so bad they think they will have to operate on you.

Just to let you know that if you ever do have to have a laporoscapy (basically where they make a small incision in your stomach and put a tiny camera in to have a look), it's not that bad. I've had one done and it's all done by microsurgery. I had only two stiches afterwards. Bit sore for a few days but nothing too serious.

It may not even come to that but just to put your mind at rest.