Hi everyone!
I'm a 20yo international student studying in the UK, Wales to be specific, and this is my last year before I go back to my home country. I still have a few more months before I go back, and I was hoping to start looking into surgery and other exams once I got back, but since my issues have begun to increase in intensity these last few months I'm more urgently looking for other solutions.
I am not diagnosed, however my GP does agree that something is wrong. On top of extreme pain, fatigue, and illness from my periods, I've also begun to experience cyclical anal bleeding with bowel movements. Now my cramps and painful bowel movements have extended into nearly every day, and it's negatively impacting my mood, mental health, and also my education.
I know the NHS is very slow. I've been put on a list for an intravaginal ultrasound at my local hospital, but when I called to ask when the date for that might be, I was informed that I was so far down the list that they couldn't give me an estimated time for when it would be. I'm thinking of turning to private healthcare because honestly I can't keep up with how quickly my symptoms are worsening. I used to be able to deal with my old symptoms no matter how hard it was, but I feel this has gone too far for me to manage, and I'm trying to find what my options are.
I've spoken to spire healthcare, and they'd be willing to streamline me straight into a laparoscopy, but it would cost £11,000+. However, I'd be able to get the surgery within 4 to 6 weeks. Is there an option or a way to get treatment for cheaper in a similar time frame with another private care company? Or maybe a way to get the process started more quickly with the NHS? I'd appreciate any advice I could get on this, thank you!