Discharged from Consultant after one review

[Guest Posts]

Hi,

I was diagnosed in September 2021. The gynaecologist told me that since I was unwilling to use steroids I would be reviewed in 6 months and then discharged. I still haven't been reviewed and my doctor contacted him months ago to ask for me to be reviewed. Is it normal or acceptable that I will be discharged after one review ( which I'm still waiting for)? Should I not be checked annually? What can I do about this?

Thanks Donna

[Dr Nevianna Bordet]

It is hard to comment on an individual case without knowing all the details. If a vulval condition such as lichen sclerosus is well controlled, patients are usually discharged and asked to come back to clinic if they have a flare up they cannot control or develop something new. Unfortunately we no longer have the resources to follow up patients on an annual basis and most patients have well controlled disease that does not need annual follow up. Please consider contacting your consultant via their secretary and explain your worries at the next appointment. I often teach patients on what to look for and ask them to self examine every few months so that they can know when to ask to come back to our vulval clinic,