Endometriosis Support Group
Endometriosis is a common medical condition where the tissue lining the uterus is found outside of the uterus, typically affecting other organs in the pelvis. The condition can lead to serious health problems, primarily pain and infertility. A major symptom of endometriosis is pain, mostly in the lower abdomen, lower back, and pelvic area.
Hi ladies,
this isnt endo related...however very much female related!
Jases little sister (she is 18) has a lump in her vagina..she says it hurts when she pee's. I keep asking if she has been to the doctor and she keeps saying "no I will". I asked her WHY she wont go, because "no I will" isn't an excuse. She said she is scared to have someone "look down there".
Im sure we all have felt like this! I remember I sure did! However after having over 6 + MALE doctors look at my vagina not to mention the females who have, my shame level has had to drop!
I do understand her fear, she is coming to stay with us tomorrow, and I am considering offering to help pay for her to see one of my doctors in the family practice where I go as well as offering to go with her.
Firstly, I don't know what this "lump" is, it could be a cyst, nothing to worry about or it could perhaps be more serious. They lost their grandmother in 2009 of cervical cancer it spread to her uterus and ovaries and then well, you know..gradually everywhere.
Now I am NOT going to say "well you know it could be cancerous" more, "it could be anything you should have it checked out just to make sure :) "
I just want to know how I could combat this touchy subject with her, some of you are mothers, how would you/have you combated this issue?
Most of us get chucked in the deep end with endo. But she has 0 mother support and her biggest support and best friend was her grandmother, the one they lost at the end of 2009 so I have to help her somehow.
Advice on how I go about this?
Thanks ladies,
I know it's non endo related, but who better to ask then a board full of ladies!??
taters
this isnt endo related...however very much female related!
Jases little sister (she is 18) has a lump in her vagina..she says it hurts when she pee's. I keep asking if she has been to the doctor and she keeps saying "no I will". I asked her WHY she wont go, because "no I will" isn't an excuse. She said she is scared to have someone "look down there".
Im sure we all have felt like this! I remember I sure did! However after having over 6 + MALE doctors look at my vagina not to mention the females who have, my shame level has had to drop!
I do understand her fear, she is coming to stay with us tomorrow, and I am considering offering to help pay for her to see one of my doctors in the family practice where I go as well as offering to go with her.
Firstly, I don't know what this "lump" is, it could be a cyst, nothing to worry about or it could perhaps be more serious. They lost their grandmother in 2009 of cervical cancer it spread to her uterus and ovaries and then well, you know..gradually everywhere.
Now I am NOT going to say "well you know it could be cancerous" more, "it could be anything you should have it checked out just to make sure :) "
I just want to know how I could combat this touchy subject with her, some of you are mothers, how would you/have you combated this issue?
Most of us get chucked in the deep end with endo. But she has 0 mother support and her biggest support and best friend was her grandmother, the one they lost at the end of 2009 so I have to help her somehow.
Advice on how I go about this?
Thanks ladies,
I know it's non endo related, but who better to ask then a board full of ladies!??
taters
I'm not a mother but I am around her age, so I would want to hear something like, "We should get it checked out, just so that we can take care of whatever it is soon. Then you won't have to worry about it." Remind her that ignoring it won't make it go away. I think it would definitely help if you suggest going with her, that helped me when I got checked down there for the first time!
Im 20 so Im close to her age too =)
It is scary having someone see down there for the first time!
Thanks for your advice =)
Thanks!
xx
As Brooke says, you are such a wonderful big sister.
Is it possible to see the female doctor at your GP practice? Jase's sister may feel more comfortable with a lady. But you go in with her and explain if she can't.. Poor kidlet, I really feel for her. She is so lucky to have you when she has no support from her mother.
Love you, sweetie
I commend you for being there. It could be a boil (sp?) which hurt like HELL. It could also be a infected sweat gland... i know who knew we had those THERE but we do. She does really need to have it checked out. It is prob nothing but either way she needs to know. And esp since it hurts when she pees. Good luck... (((HUGS)))
She's having so much trouble...I had to secretly loan her $77 untill next week because her step father is chucking out her bills after he kicked her out of her home! All those kids have so much going on, but I don't want that to be an excuse for not getting something in her personals not checked! I'll let you know how I go tomorrow sometime.
Thanks all!
I'd take the angle that All girls have to go once a year to get checked out and although it is scary, once she goes then she won't have to keep worrying and to make sure it doesn't get any worse. It probably is a boil, those buggers are painful!
you are an amazing friend and a wonderful sister! i hope she goes and i pray that it's nothing worrisome! lots of hugs and support! your doing the right/only thing to do that can help her!
luv~jen
How long has she felt it? I had a spot in my vagina that felt like grains of sand. It hurt when I used the restroom and with sexual intercourse. I felt it for a week or so and went to my obgyn and she said it was because of my hormones fluctuating. It went away after a week or so. So I would ask her how long she has felt it and if has been longer than a week than definately strongly incourage her to go see a obgyn!
I would agree she needs to be seen. I agree with the other ladies that you should suggest taking her because it is probably nothing, but better to be safe than sorry. I also recommend a female doctor if she feels insecure. Just explain it is no big thing, and there is not a better time to start her yearly exam than now! I mean, if she hasn't seen one and is 18... she should go, and continue to go once a year, you know? That may be my opinion, but I am a BIG believer that all men/women should be checked once a year 'down there.'
Good luck Taters!!! It sounds like you are the closest thing she has to family, and to be honest she is VERY lucky to have you. I wish you the absolute best! :)
Having a female doctor would definitely make things easier for her. If not, then telling her how much you trust your doctor, how professional and warm he is, then explain how everything works where she has a gown and you can be up by her head, holding her hand and you can't see anything, so she won't have to be embarrassed about that.
And personally I don't think there is anything wrong with being honest about relating Grandma and annual papsmears. Women get them every year because it's amazing how quickly things can happen and escalate. I know they just lost Grandma, but that is sadly an example of what could happen if she doesn't take care of things right away. I'm surprised she has never had one. I thought they started at like 14 or something.
She is worth it. She needs to feel like she's worth it. She confided in you about the lump, which means she needs someone to tell her what to do because she's scared. And she obviously trusts you. Don't let her not do it.
Good luck! :0)
In RE: to situation. I offered her to see my absolutely lovely female GP I also offered to pay for it and to go along. No deal. She said she doesn't want people down there. I also said, ignoring a problem wont make it better. There is nothing I could do! She said it isn't growing, it's hard not squising and it's not hurting as much when she pee's but still. I was getting sort of annoyed, I was offering her everything even my hand to hold and nothing. She said "when I get more symptoms I'll worry". It's a low blow but I finished with "hyperthetically if it is say cancerous, by the time you start getting "more symptoms" it might be too late". I stressed the fact that cancer is rapid and she of all people should know this. If it's a cyst or something less intense atleast she has the peace of mind AND from all my non endo friends apparantly a pap smear doesn't hurt at all! I also told her all of this. No deal.
I feel like banging my head on a brick wall, I know she's 18 and I know she's terrified but her ignorance urgggghhh!
Can I do anything else?