passing pointers to a class function

ok so i have this

Code:

class Poly{
private:
struct node {						int exponent;			
	double coefficient;			
	struct node *next;
};
typedef struct node ListNode;

ListNode *first;

public:
          Poly(){ first = NULL;}
          
           etc....
};

Poly* Poly::addPoly(Poly *p2)
{
if(product!=NULL && temp!=NULL)
stuff
}

Poly* Poly::multiplyPoly(Poly *p2)
{
Poly *temp = new Poly();
Poly *product = new Poly();

product->addPoly(temp);  (assuming product and temp have values
                                           but when i pass it, it sets product->first=NULL
                                           which in the function addPoly, it ignores the if loop 
                                           which i need it to go through. is there a way to make
                                           product->first!=NULL the two 
                                           objects are passed?)

I don't think you're showing entirely real code. product can't be referenced from Poly::addPoly() unless I'm missing something.

Please try to show a real but small and yet complete demonstration of what the issue is.