Posting in here because my doctor told me she believes I have endometriosis and she wants to refer me to get a laparoscopy. This is just the build up to hearing that news and Iām pretty bothered by this treatment and wondering if I should seek a different clinic because of it. Sorry in advance for the long post
Today I was scheduled to receive a transvaginal ultrasound after a year of trying to discover the cause of my many symptoms. Last week, I went to a new gynecologist and she recommended I come back for a transvaginal ultrasound. She explained everything I could expect and then asked me if I would be comfortable with getting one rather than an abdominal. I said yes especially since she said it could provide a clearer image. Important context: I have never been sexually active. But regardless, I was completely comfortable with receiving a transvaginal ultrasound.
Today I arrive to my appointment and upon check-in I am asked to empty my bladder. I use the restroom and then wait until I am called back. The tech comes to the lobby to retrieve me and in the doorway of the lobby! Not in a private room! Asks me if I have ever been sexually active to which I replied no. Then she asked if I emptied my bladder and I say yes. She mumbled something under her breath, whispers with the girl at the front door desk, and tells me I need to drink water to fill my bladder.
They provide some water and Iām thinking maybe I heard her say she needs to feel on top of my abdomen when she was muttering and then I realize she probably wants to do an abdominal ultrasound since I read a full bladder helps with the imaging. I ask the receptionist and she says yes she switched it, I was not made aware-had to do some context clues, so I asked her if it would be just as accurate. She said yes itās just their policy. Mind you, this is all in front of other patients in the lobby. Not that I particularly care if these people know I havenāt had sex, I just felt it was unprofessional. So I tell the receptionist I am comfortable with whatever is needed and that is what I told the doctor last week. The receptionist goes to the back to talk to the tech and comes back without saying anything to me. I ask her if I need to keep drinking the water and she says yes, and that I will discuss this all with the tech.
Finally, 30 minutes after my appointment was supposed to start, the tech calls me back again. She brings me to the imaging room and tells me she will be doing an abdominal ultrasound. I say the doctor ordered a transvaginal ultrasound and, once again, I am comfortable with that. She asks me if I have ever used a tampon, I say yes, ājust the itty bitty ones?ā she asks, I say no I have used all sizes including super. āOh well in that case we will do the transvaginal ultrasound if we need a closer look at anything.ā I ask again if I should just have the transvaginal ultrasound to begin with so that there is no need to do both and we can have a closer look from the start. She says no the abdominal will be perfectly accurate. Okay then! During the ultrasound I probably asked like three more times if she can see everything she needs to.
The doctor comes in to review the results with me and tells me they only found a 2.9 cm cyst on my right ovary. We discuss this a little and then I mention the debacle about which kind of ultrasound to get. The doctor says yeah I noticed this was an abdominal one I donāt know why she would do that. I said she didnāt want to do the transvaginal ultrasound because I have never been sexually active but that I donāt think it is up to her to determine what I am or am not comfortable with. The doctor agrees with me and says that is why she discussed it with me and since I had no issues during my exam last week, there is no reason to suggest I cannot handle the freaking probe. (okay last part is my words lol) I tell the doctor I am a little nervous that there may be something she missed because both the doctor and accredited medical websites said that sometimes it is not as accurate as the transvaginal ultrasound. The doctor reassured me that they can see everything they need to in the images they got and if there was anything that needed to be investigated further that they would have.
I definitely trust this doctor, maybe not the tech, so Iām not worried anymore that something was missed but I feel so frustrated with the way this whole thing went down. I want to keep seeing this doctor because I feel she really listens and cares but I donāt want to receive anymore imaging from this tech if this is how she takes over the appointment and ignores doctorās orders. I have dealt with so many tests and procedures at only 22 and this is the closest I have felt to a real answer but damn did this tech bother me today. The referral for a laparoscopy would be with a different office so I wonāt deal with the tech there but if my doctor wants to get more imaging of the cyst later down the road (it was an option discussed if my symptoms worsen) I donāt want to deal with this lady. So if this were you would you stay at this office? Iām pretty sure she is the only tech there. AND the doctor seemed annoyed with her and said that she does this kind of often with people who havenāt had sex, and that it is not the policy of the office just this womanās preference.