NEEDED ASAP: NON-JUDGEMENTAL ob/gyn in DC

[Anonymous]

good people,

thank you very much for reading my post.

i am in need of an ob/gyn very quickly. due to unforseen circumstances, i am currently without an ob/gyn and i have two complicated gyn conditions (endometriosis and adenomyosis) which cause severe pain every month and which rendered me unable to participate in daily activities or attend work. after many uncomfortable procedures, the diagnosis was made and i was placed on a treatment regimen which has worked miracles for my quality of life. the tratment regimen includes two medications, one of which is a controlled substance. i am rapidly approaching my period and have no gynecologist and not enough medication to get me through this cycle (and of course will have no doctor) and i am at a loss as to what to do. i need a new gyn asap who can provide me with the medication i need and with whom i can develop a new, lasting doctor-patient relationship.

i am looking for someone who is compassionate and respectful, and/or one that specializes in complex gyn conditions or chronic pelvic pain who will understand my needs. finding a new doctor is hard enough; having to convince that doctor that my current treatment regimen works for me and that i do not want to change it (at least not now) is even harder.

if you do not have a suggestion for an ob/gyn, i welcome any and all suggestions about what i should do for this immediate need. i don't want to go to the emergency room for this, but i don't know what other options i have. i am open to anything at this point.

thank you so much.

[Anonymous]

call the prior doctor and make sure they are ready to fax and/or call your new provider. Sorry, I don't have a suggestion for a new provider but I would leverage your prior documentation of procedures and therapies tried.

[Anonymous]

Umm. Are the unforeseen circumstances that you were fired by your MD? Controlled substances imply either narcotics or medical marijuana, both of which require monitoring and the latter of which may preclude the former.

So: Be aware that most docs run urine tests and also check with the states in the area for pharmacy overlap.

[Anonymous]

I got the looking for drugs vibe as well. OP not trying to be offensive, maybe it is just the way you described it. Go see a new provider, if you end up in severe pain they will have at least seen you once. then go back for an urgent appt. Sometimes you need to follow proper procedure. Maybe you aren't looking for drugs, but if not, 10 others are. No matter how nice the provider is, narcotics and pain meds are not taken lightly.

[Anonymous]

q

[Anonymous]

weed?

[Anonymous]

Agree with the drug seeking issue. Not accusing you of ANYTHING, but just the way it was worded in your post. I have a friend that ends up taking Vicodin every month because of how painful menstruation is, so I don't hold judgments against those who need medication because of pain. If you do not have enough medication to get you through the pain right now, I rec. an urgent care or ER. At least this will get you the meds. If you approach a brand new doctor who does not know all your circumstances, it will come across that you're just trying to get drugs.

I'm trying to figure out how to say this nicely, and you do not need to provide details, but did you leave the practice because of issues with medications? The only reason I ask is because if your former doc dictated issues with narcotic use in his office notes, or gave any indication that he finds you untrustworthy, those medical records could negatively affect a new relationship with a doctor.

I hope I didn't come off as accusatory in my post, just some things to think about.

[Anonymous]

The PPs are right.

I don't even take aspirin normally, but know what it's like to have an urgent desire for pain meds because you, duh, need them not to be in pain, and have that be misinterpreted as drug-seeking for pleasure/addiction.

It's unfair and insane and any empathetic person would understand that anxiety/fear of pain looks a lot like jonesing, but it's totally real, so you need to be very careful not to look too eager. Be patient, answer questions as the doctor asks them and don't beg.

- signed, spent a week flat on my back in excruciating pain because the ER doc thought I was drug-seeking and denied a few days of fucking muscle relaxant, not even the good stuff.

[Anonymous]

I have the two conditions OP is talking about and, yes, it can be so bad it feels like labor pain - seriously -

[Anonymous]

Women's health specialists in Rockville, they deal with all kinds of women's issues
Good luck
301-770-4967

[Anonymous]

I know what it's like to have extreme pain from endo...when I ended up in the ER with a ruptured endometrioma, the pain was so intense I found it hard to breathe and I was dry heaving. It is REALLY bad. I know people in my endo support group who couldn't get out of bed without taking Tramadol.

When then gave me a shot of Demerol (happened twice in the ER) the relief was so sweet, it was almost better than an orgasm. Not kidding!

I would find a reproductive endocrinologist who specializes in endo, even if you're not planning to get PG now or ever. It's one of the most common causes of infertility and they are the best at treating this problem, IMO.

Good luck!