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.