Health Organization for Pudendal Education

How do I get a referal to one of these dr's? I have had PN symptoms for over 4 years but each doctor i have seen in this time has put my pain down to the fact that I have a long history of anxiety disorder, so therefore believe my pain to be psychological.

I have completely lost hope now and am extremeyl depressed and don't want to live anymore. This is my only hope- a referal to a specialist, but I don't know how i can get one.

Please can someone help me?

Good evening candice-marie

I am very worried about the last statement in your post, that you don't want to live any more. Please, please, please - seek help immediately for this. You can go to A & E and tell them what you've just told us, they will get help for you. Or you can call NHS Direct, they have people on call who can help you as well. The number is 0845 464748. Or you can ring the Samaritans - 08457 90 90 90.



Other than that - how to get referred to a specialist here in the UK - using the NHS, this is always done by going to a GP, and asking for a referral. If you choose to go privately, please bear in mind that it will be ferociously expensive. There are two teams dealing with PN in this country, they are led by Dr Greenslade in Bristol and Dr Baranowski in London.

Your GP will want to offer you some pain relief first. And that is sensible, really. You'd want some pain relief whilst you wait for an appointment, at the very least.

Hi Candice,

When you go to your GP, take a print-out of the HOPE fact sheet . Tell them you have many of the symptoms on the sheet and ask for a referral. Try to be matter-of-fact and assertive when you go -- and take a friend or family member you trust with you to give you confidence. Take a list of what you want to say and the points you need to get across, focusing on the physical PN symptoms and not the emotional stuff. Good luck -- you can do this.

All excellent practical advice above. Let us know how you get on Candice-Marie.

Hello Candice

I just read your post and felt very sad. Please, please you must believe that there is some hope and that you can feel better. You are feeling low just now because the pain is relentless, but we have all been there, believe me, we know how you feel and please take comfort that you are amoung friends. I live in the UK too and when my GP said to me he didn't know what else to do and where else to send me, I decided to research this myself and found out (via this site) about Dr Greenslade in Bristol. Went back to GP with the information and said could I have a referral as this guy is an expert and he couldn't argue. I do now have a good relationship with GP. Do print off the details and take them to your GP. You have to be strong and keep going back, even if you are saying the same old thing, eventually they will have to take you seriously. There's some good advice here, take a good friend, someone who is not backwards at coming forward and can help you challenge things. I was so uplifted and releived just by simply going to see Dr G (although it was a long way and I didn't really want it to turn out to be PN) it was worth it. Think about an initially private consultation if you can afford it, I would say it's worth it to fastrack yourself to some decend pain releif from a specialist.

Good luck, hold your head up girl, you can achieve this.

Lots of hugs
Peaches