Hi Everyone,
Please let me know if you have any advice or suggestions on this issue.
I'm a 33 year old lady who has experienced progressively worse pelvic pain over the past year. During my period, I am generally incapacitated for about 2 days. I bleed heavily, to the point of having to put a mattress protector on my bed to "save" my mattress. I pass a lot of clots. My old bathroom had carpet, and I had to put plastic on the floor due to the excessive bleeding. I generally become nauseated, and the pain is unbearable. I lay in my bed and cry. It was never this bad before.
To make matters worse, the pain has now increased to the level of being constant, even when I'm not menstruating. The day to day pain is generally a dull throbbing, mixed with intermittent sharper pains in the pelvic area. I experience a dark brown, clumpy discharge most of the month except of course when I'm having the "flood." My daily pain radiates to my lower back and even down my thighs at times. I constantly feel the need to urinate, and have to get up several times each night. I cannot be far from a restroom even during the daytime hours.
I've addressed this with 2 different doctors. One tried to give me birth control pills, which I had adverse reactions to in my 20's. I declined to take them. He did not have any other options for me because I do not have children. He explained that my fertility was very important to preserve. I do not want children, and never have. However, he refused to believe it. I went to a second doctor in hopes of finding answers. Same thing. However, instead of trying to push the birth control pills, he tried to get me to take Lupron. He explained that this would only provide temporary relief but if I had endometriosis, it would shrink the implants possibly giving me time to complete my childbearing. I explained that I did not wish to have children now or anytime in the future.
This doctor became hostile and told me that sometimes "women who decide not to have children just suffer with the pain until menopause." I was livid. He told me that I should really consider pregnancy and I should consider it soon because as women get older their fertility decreases. I told him that I thought it was "wrong for someone to intentionally conceive an unwanted baby." I explained that I have never wanted to bear children, and that I contribute to society in other ways such as volunteering to help the needy, including disadvantaged children. He told me to "have my babies" then I would have more treatment options. I am livid.
Does anyone have any tips on dealing with doctors? I don't understand why they don't believe me. I have so far avoided ER visits and suffered quietly. I'm wondering if I need to start presenting myself to their offices or the ER especially during the monthly "flood" and in between for the brown discharge and pain. It seems like all they are focused on is my ability to have children, without any regard to my pain, health, or my personal choices. This has gotten to the point that I've gained 15 pounds, I've had to give up my exercise program, I cannot stand on my feet for long periods due to pain, I miss work frequently (I'm on corrective action for attendance), I must carry a change of clothes wherever I go, and I am chronically tired. And these "doctors" are basically pushing me to get pregnant when I've made it plain that this is not in my plans.
Any suggestions?
Please let me know if you have any advice or suggestions on this issue.
I'm a 33 year old lady who has experienced progressively worse pelvic pain over the past year. During my period, I am generally incapacitated for about 2 days. I bleed heavily, to the point of having to put a mattress protector on my bed to "save" my mattress. I pass a lot of clots. My old bathroom had carpet, and I had to put plastic on the floor due to the excessive bleeding. I generally become nauseated, and the pain is unbearable. I lay in my bed and cry. It was never this bad before.
To make matters worse, the pain has now increased to the level of being constant, even when I'm not menstruating. The day to day pain is generally a dull throbbing, mixed with intermittent sharper pains in the pelvic area. I experience a dark brown, clumpy discharge most of the month except of course when I'm having the "flood." My daily pain radiates to my lower back and even down my thighs at times. I constantly feel the need to urinate, and have to get up several times each night. I cannot be far from a restroom even during the daytime hours.
I've addressed this with 2 different doctors. One tried to give me birth control pills, which I had adverse reactions to in my 20's. I declined to take them. He did not have any other options for me because I do not have children. He explained that my fertility was very important to preserve. I do not want children, and never have. However, he refused to believe it. I went to a second doctor in hopes of finding answers. Same thing. However, instead of trying to push the birth control pills, he tried to get me to take Lupron. He explained that this would only provide temporary relief but if I had endometriosis, it would shrink the implants possibly giving me time to complete my childbearing. I explained that I did not wish to have children now or anytime in the future.
This doctor became hostile and told me that sometimes "women who decide not to have children just suffer with the pain until menopause." I was livid. He told me that I should really consider pregnancy and I should consider it soon because as women get older their fertility decreases. I told him that I thought it was "wrong for someone to intentionally conceive an unwanted baby." I explained that I have never wanted to bear children, and that I contribute to society in other ways such as volunteering to help the needy, including disadvantaged children. He told me to "have my babies" then I would have more treatment options. I am livid.
Does anyone have any tips on dealing with doctors? I don't understand why they don't believe me. I have so far avoided ER visits and suffered quietly. I'm wondering if I need to start presenting myself to their offices or the ER especially during the monthly "flood" and in between for the brown discharge and pain. It seems like all they are focused on is my ability to have children, without any regard to my pain, health, or my personal choices. This has gotten to the point that I've gained 15 pounds, I've had to give up my exercise program, I cannot stand on my feet for long periods due to pain, I miss work frequently (I'm on corrective action for attendance), I must carry a change of clothes wherever I go, and I am chronically tired. And these "doctors" are basically pushing me to get pregnant when I've made it plain that this is not in my plans.
Any suggestions?
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