r/IrishWomensHealth

Hello, I have looked quite a bit into the various health insurance options. The private hospital cover so far has not benefited me, and my excess was high (over €500 Inpatient/€250 day case).
To reduce it, it was very expensive per month (over €115 for most options).
Any day-to-day expenses I had with previous cover, did not save me money when I looked back at premium cost increase vs usage.

I am now on the lowest monthly one, which includes public hospital cover only.
With the new consultant contacts limiting/preventing private care in public hospitals- is there any benefit to having public hospital cover only?

Thanks!

Hi all!

Seeking advice on getting a breast reduction.

I’ve been extremely self-conscious about my chest size for the majority of my teenage and adult life. I'm 26 years old, a 30FF/G cup with a BMI of around 21. I’ve never had major weight fluctuations - just always had a disproportionately large chest relative to my frame. Like many others who have spoken about their experience on this subreddit, my chest size makes exercising very difficult, clothes never fit properly, finding bras or swimwear that fit comfortably and are supportive is a constant struggle, and I have constant upper back pain.

From the research I’ve done so far, it seems like I meet the criteria that private insurance companies look for when approving breast reduction surgery. However, I have never had/nor currently have private health insurance. From what I understand, even if I started a policy now, I may need to hold it for around 5 years before they would cover something considered a pre-existing condition, even though this is not something I have discussed/documented with my GP previously.

I really don’t want to wait that long, so I’m trying to decide whether it’s worth pursuing through insurance at all, or if I should focus instead on financially planning to pay out of pocket.

TLDR/ Wondering if anyone has been able to get a breast reduction covered as a new health insurance policy holder? Is insurance is a realistic option for me (if so any advice on specific providers and policies), or if I am better off self-funding in order to get this done sooner rather than later. I'm based in Dublin so any general advice on the process in Dublin hospitals/ Dublin-based surgeons would be hugely appreciated! Thanks a mill 😄

Hi. I found a lump on my breast today. My GP doesn't have an appointment so I'll have to go to the out of hours doctor. Can anyone tell me what to expect? Will I need to be referred on somewhere? How long will this take? Trying not to panic but feeling terrified. Thank you.

Im 41 (F) done having kids and interested in elective salpingectomy. Has anyone had it done? My OB is also a gynie and I went to him privately for my kids in the Coombe. Would he do it? Its mainly to reduce risk of cancer.

I had a c section for my 2nd baby.

I’m an American married to a Dubliner; as the US gets more frightening we’re considering moving back to Dublin in the next couple years. I’ve had Long Covid since ‘21 and subsequent diagnoses of Fibromyalgia, POTS and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I am Native American in California, so I have a special plan that provides me excellent service.
I am consistently seeing in other subreddits that Dublin’s healthcare is terrible and this makes me very nervous. I am able to function through my illnesses only because of great care, medicine and weed. I know I won’t have the latter option there so I need to have some confidence that the other two will come through for me.
I need honest, realistic advice/feedback/stories about what to expect, what is challenging, and if it is worth the risk. I am also concerned about the weather causing further pain.

Hi, my 25th birthday is incoming and I'm wondering if there is any way to stop the cervical check letter from coming to my house without opting out altogether? I still do want to get checked. I'm living at home with my family and they can be really weird and immature sometimes. If a letter arrives suspiciously close after my 25th birthday with a giant CERVICAL CHECK or HSE logo on it, I'm gonna die. I'll be out at work when it arrives, I just know it. The mother will try to have a sit down conversation with me about the importance of it which I already know but please, I can't do that kind of conversation with her. She treats me like a child, so will assume I'm going to ignore the letter, which is so not true. Worst of all, my dad will probably make some crude joke or feign pity for his poor little girl going to get her first cervical test. As in, he will find a way to make me as uncomfortable as possible. He has always made me feel like I'm not human because I'm female. Just a sexual object. This letter won't help matters.

Also, the website says I'm not registered so I registered today but got no confirmation email or anything. It still says I'm not registered. Will the website only work once I'm 25? And how soon after my birthday will the letter arrive? Why can't it be an email? 😭😭😭

I'm close with my doctor. Would she still do it for me if I completely opted out?

In all seriousness, if there's nothing I can do, I'll just try be a mature adult and shut down any attempt at home to discuss my personal matters.

I’m looking for some advice.

I’m 9 months postpartum and have been suffering with knee pain since my baby was around 2 months.

It hurts mainly to stand up or sit down. My knees also ache if I can’t stretch my legs such as car journeys.

I’m been to physio and I attend a postpartum strength and conditioning class weekly. Everyone tells me I just need to build strength in my knees but I’ve tried and I can’t say it’s eased at all.

In the last few weeks my lower back has become so stiff and I often have a burning pain sensation in my back. I don’t know why but I feel like the knee and the back pain are all related. Picking up my baby is getting harder and harder.

I am getting to the point where I’m stressed because I don’t know what to do. Has anyone else has issues with their knees/and or lower back after having a baby? What helped?

I’ve been to the GP to but she wanted me to wait a few months to see if things improved.

Any advice appreciated

Has anyone in Ireland ever managed to get an exception from VHI/private health insurance for a breast reduction?

I’m currently at a BMI of 30, but I’ve already lost 5 stone and I’m still actively losing weight. The frustrating part is not an ounce seems to have come off my breasts and my bra/cup size (HH CUP)has barely changed despite the weight loss.

I’ve had chronic back pain for years and have already undergone 2 microdiscectomy surgeries on my spine. At this stage I genuinely feel like the weight of my chest is contributing massively to my pain and overall quality of life.

I know I’m above the standard BMI criteria right now, but I’d love to at least get the ball rolling and get on a consultant waiting list while continuing my weight loss journey.

Just wondering if anyone has ever been approved as an exception based on medical history/spinal issues? Or had a consultant who was particularly supportive when dealing with VHI?

Would really appreciate hearing real experiences because it’s hard to know where you stand from just reading the policy online.

I am 3 months postpartum and started the pill 2 weeks ago tomorrow haven’t missed a pill always take it within 3-5 minutes every single day I’m on day 9 of a very heavy period I had spotting since my last period (21april-27) I’m usually a 4-5 day woman before I had my baby but since having my baby it changed to 6-8 days the past two periods is this constant heavy period a side affect of the pill it doesn’t seem to be getting lighter and if it is how long more is this expected to go on for this is like my heaviest day but everyday any advice would be greatly appreciated thank you

Hi Ladies,

At my wits end with perioral dermatitis. I’m fairly certain it was caused by me using products with niacinimide as I’ve recently deduced that the ingredient is causing my skin to be irritated.

The PD isn’t extremely bad but still very annoying when I’ve had clear skin for so long. The GP prescribed my steroid cream which I avoided using as I know it makes it worse. I’ve been using The Ordinary 10% Azelaic Acid which has helped a good bit but still can’t clear it.

Any advice from anyone who suffers from this? I’m afraid a dermatologist is out of my price range at the minute.

Hi everyone, I have an appointment at the colposcopy clinic this week to have a biopsy taken. My appointment is a bit different to the other advice threads I've seen, the biopsy is not of my cervix but more like the vestibule area so it will be a different experience to theirs.

I'm very worried about the pain and that the level of anxiety I'll have before the appointment will make it worse, for context I find it very hard to tolerate a speculum at all (not sure if they'll be using one), so this type of appointment is particularly stressful. I'm waiting for the clinic to call me back to answer my questions but in the meantime I'm just wondering if anyone here has advice/experience with this?

1. I read online that if I take a Xanax that I legally need someone to bring me home. Is there any way around that? I don't have anyone who can come with me and I have to take the bus home so I wouldn't be driving. I'm a bit worried that if the clinic know that I'm attending on my own there'll be no chance of me getting any kind of sedative to help
2. If they can't provide a sedative and I have to get it from my GP, does that mean I have to pay €60 for a consult just to get it even though it's for a public appointment? I feel like for a public appointment that really should be provided by the hospital (it's times like this I wish I still lived in the UK ha)

I do have a couple of valium at home but I'd really prefer not to take that as it's so heavy and long lasting. If anyone has any other advice about getting through the appointment/recovering afterwards that would be great too

Trigger warning ⚠️** : Miscarriage, chemical pregnanc**y

Hi all,
I’m currently going through the aftermath of my first pregnancy. I passed what was later confirmed as miscarriage tissue on May 1st, which would have been between weeks 5 and 6. Repeat bloods in GP showed a jump from 65 to 125 HCG a week and a half post loss so was referred into rotunda for investigation and scans for incomplete miscarriage.
Waited 5 hours in the ED for a scan and as they couldn’t see anything they’ve determined it as a PUL (pregnancy of unknown location) for now and I’ve been repeating bloods every 2 days since.
When first referred to the EPU a few days ago they put the idea on the table that the increase could be due to a new pregnancy just developed in the weeks since the chemical.
Just received a call with my most recent blood results which only saw a climb from 125 to 145, so still in the PUL limbo with no answers, but looking highly unlikely now it could be a new viable pregnancy with such a small increase.. so I wish they’d never even posed that possibility.
Not sure exactly why I’m writing all of this out, just am extremely stressed and confused at the minute so wondering if anyone has had any similar situations, they can’t give me any kind of straight answers right now and my body doesn’t know if it’s pregnant or mourning a loss or still harbouring some of a remainder, the uncertainty is just driving me crazy 🥲

Not necessarily malicious advice, just the kind that makes you stare into the distance afterwards.

I’m asking because a friend of my parents was over today, she’s in her 60s, and joked that “a good ride would sort out” my back issues.

For context, I have a severe back injury that causes extreme pain and neurological issues in my legs. I’m on high levels of morphine and it still barely touches it.

I’ve had some really fucking insulting and upsetting things said to me over the past few years about my health but that misogynistic comment genuinely takes the cake. I’m so drained by comments like this.

I’m on day 3 of taking sertraline for anxiety and panic and it’s making me feel extremely fatigued, drowsy and kind of woozy. I’ve been taking it in the mornings but going to try in the evening tomorrow. Just wondering if anybody else had this kind of effect with it and did it last? I can’t imagine going to work like this I feel like mildly drunk. Also it’s probably a placebo affect but my anxiety has already improved so I do want to see it out and push through the initial first weeks of weirdness.

Hi all, first time ever posting on reddit. Went for my first smear this week. Was feeling pretty confident going in, wore a skirt, took panadol, had an airpod in with some nice music and tried to relax as much as possible… when the nurse started to insert the speculum its like my whole body froze and tensed and i really couldnt stay still… it was really uncomfortable and almost a little painful.
I asked the nurse could she maybe use a bit more lubricant but was told “theres enough on there” I then asked could I just come back and bring my fiancé with me and she said “but what will they be able to do?” I honestly just got so uncomfortable and had to leave. The nurse was ok but wasn’t really listening well to my concerns and didn’t seem like she wanted to make it as comfortable as possible.. It was a really bad experience. The nurse however is going to see if they can give me a muscle relaxer to get it done, because I really do know the importance of smear tests and how dangerous HPV can be. Basically what I’m trying to ask is, is it possible at all to be sedated for this? I don’t have any issues with intercourse at all its just whenever i go to a gyno or nurse i freak out and have a panic attack when anything is put inside me… any advice welcome or if anyone has a similar experience it would be nice to know I’m not alone… thank you ❤️

I have always been a little overweight but several months back I started thinking about my health, watching what I was eating and working out. I got very sick a few months ago which left me physically unable to work out but I kept going with the healthy eating.

In recent months, I have been struggling with cravings like never had before. I find myself eating more than I would have done previously and craving chocolate and sweet things. I just don’t seem to have the willpower to resist and as a result, I’ve put on several pounds recently.

Could this be related to hormonal changes? I cannot seem to stop myself and I hate that I am putting back on the weight that I had lost and the potential impact to my health.

Advice please badly needed!!!

Had a hysterectomy 6 weeks ago vaginally and then after the op I had a lower pelvic pain returned three weeks post op and had laparoscopic surgery that showed my ovary had been stitched to my incision site and my small intestine was wrapped around my ovary! Fabulous I know. My question is I’m now three weeks post op from the correction surgery and that pain is back constant throbbing can’t walk standing straight can only sleep in the fetal position and I’m taking multiple painkillers! I had this treatment abroad and returned abroad with the complication that was fixed. I have a call with the surgeon on Wednesday do you think he’ll bring me back and help me 😔

Hi everyon! I’m just wondering if anyone here engaged with any medical providers around fatigue? I have had a lot of thyroid issues the past 25 or so years and was temporarily hyperthyroid but appear to now be in remission. I’m advised by an endocrinologist that I am not fatigued due to my thyroid. Would any of you have ever attended any of the specialist providers who address fatigue? Or have any great insight to share? This really impacts my life and it‘s pretty miserable at times. Would be very grateful for any guidance!

Wondering if anyone else has suffered with migraines on Ozempic

I generally get a headache on injection days towards the evening, but they could be sorted with two panadol. Also, I’ve had migraines in the past but they generally haven’t lasted this long.

On Wednesday, I took my 3rd dose of 1mg. Thursday morning, I developed a full blown migraine and I still have it. Panadol not effective, nor excedrin. Managed to get some relief with migraleve, thank god!

It seems to be a bit of an uncommon side effect from what I see online.

I’m asking because I’m seeing my consultant this Friday and obviously, will be mentioning this migraine. I’m just curious has anyone experienced this with a GLP-1? Were you taken off of it because of this, or did your body adjust eventually?

I was really hoping to be successful on Ozempic as I have chronic pain and have gained weight due to being physically limited. I was really hoping to get a bit of my life back, so I’m disappointed that I’ve developed this side effect!

Would really appreciate hearing if anyone else has experienced this and how they dealt with it along with their GP/Consultant