New member----never-ending problem.

[whitemaged.livejournal.com]

I'm having a major problem and I need help, but I don't have the money to go see a proper gynocologist. (I just got taken off insurance)

Ever since I started having sex, back in the beginning of January, I've been having pains in my crotch--and even more so in my urethra. So, I went to this really cheap walk-in clinic and they prescribed me some bladder infection medicine--even though he said it didn't really look like I had any. (He thought I was pregnant so he told me to go home and get a pregnancy test. I wasn't.) The pills didn't seem to be helping, and a few days later, I was in horrible pain and I saw a teeny-tiny little line of blood in my pee, so I went to the emergency room. They said I didn't have a UTI, or rather it didn't reach my bladder. They checked me for STDs, and gave me some medication at the hospital, then they gave me the orange pee pill to take and some vikodin. Needless to say, even the vikodin didn't help with the pain (just put me to sleep) and I took all the doses of the pee pill and I still have pains to this day. Tonight has been worse than any other night. The pain is as bad as it was in the emergency room and I'm freaking out and crying and all that and I have no clue what to do. I don't know if it's actually something wrong with my vagina or my bladder or my urethra or what and... I'm just in tears because I'm so frustrated and in pain. I've posted on countless medical forums and have had zero replies, I hope this doesn't end up being the same.

I've heard planned parenthood is free or something, so I'm going to call them up tomorrow and make an appointment. Does anyone know if they're any good for checking people out?

Any tips on what this is would be extremely helpful. I would give anything to get an answer and to make this pain go away.

Comments

[we-are-toasters.livejournal.com]

this is totally random and may not end up being at all related to what you're dealing with, BUT:

my friend's girlfriend had a similar experience a few years back. she was having this horrible intense pain and thought she had a kidney infection. went to the e.r., they found nothing. few days later, she passed out from the pain and we took her to the e.r. again. this time, they did an ultrasound. it turned out that something in her girly bits had twisted and was cutting off blood supply to something. i apologize i can't remember more, but this was about 7 years ago. she ended up losing an ovary, i think. i don't know. the fact that your pain has been going on for nearly 10 months makes me think it's probably not this, but i thought i'd throw it out there.

if it doesn't go away, go back and demand every test possible until they find something. don't let them send you home without an answer. you have to be pushy sometimes.

[onesoursong.livejournal.com]

As someone who has had a twisted ovary and subsequently lost it, I can say you could not survive that pain for 10 months. I dealt with it for a week and it was more miserable than you can imagine and I have a high pain tolerance.

[lamenting-gigno.livejournal.com]

this happened to me but i didn't lose it, but the pain after just a few hours was enough to knock me out. =(

im sorry <3

[snowe.livejournal.com]

I obviously don't know where you live, but if there is a university hospital in your area, those are often cheaper. Also, ask for samples if you need a prescription; lots of doctors will give them out to low-income patients.

This sounds really serious, since it's been going on since January. Maybe, if you explain your situation to a gynecologist, they'll work out a payment plan or something. Since you've been to the cheap clinic and the ER with no results, I'd try going to a gynecologist or an internist.

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

My recommendation would be to see a urologist, or a urologist-gynecologist. In the absence of that (understanding insurance issues), I'd see a medical provider at Planned Parenthood, because they're good people.

[otherrootbeer.livejournal.com]

I've heard planned parenthood is on a sliding scale, based on your income.

I've no idea what's wrong with you, but I think you need to get to a doctor right away.

[pygmybugs.livejournal.com]

I second Planned Parenthood. The clinic you went to sounds kinda shady (I've been to tons of cruddy little clinics like that), and ERs are quite often more concerned with just making sure you aren't going to croak there.

PP usually has sliding fees or emergency funds for things, they quite often (especially if they do terminations) have ultrasound machines, which might help pinpoint your problem.

Depending on where you live, there might also be some kind of state medical program or local independent women's clinics that could help you out. The women's clinics are kinda hard to find (there are often false women's clinics that don't actually provide any medical services, but serve solely as fronts to keep people away from clinics that perform terminations).

Good luck figuring out the problem, hon'. It's frustrating when the whole money/insurance thing is the barrier to being healthy.

[frankie-cat.livejournal.com]

because noone else made this clear, make sure you actually ask about a sliding scale program when you call the Planned Parenthood. Not every PP has a sliding scale! Depending on the funding they receive, you may need to bring proof of citizenship or legal status as well. It even varies by location within a specific area/network. I know I made the mistake of visiting a campus PP without calling them first and found out they did not offer free or sliding scale payment options, but was told which ones in the area did. That being said, yes, PP is generally pretty helpful, and I also recommend them.

Good luck to you. I can also relate to the incredible frustration of having no money or insurance and having health difficulties. =/ I hope PP can help you out!

[lauraluv.livejournal.com]

Ultrasounds and X-rays will definitely be something to look in to. You need to talk to your doctor, and you need to be pushy. Don't back down. It can be something very serious, and if they don't treat it, something terrible can happen. Go back to the E.R. - not a walk-in clinic - and tell them to do a bunch of tests when the pain comes back. Don't forget to tell them that the pain has been recurring for ten months.

And, if you need help with payment/money, talk to your parents. Talk to your grandparents. Cousins, aunts, uncles, siblings... anyone else related. You can always pay back later.