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Re: please help me explain to my inlaws about leaving endo untreatedFrom: AGS (anonymous@obgyn.net)Sun Mar 30 23:37:45 2003
Well, all I can tell you is what happened for me when my endo went untreated (partially by choice, as I was also concerned about Lupron's side effects, and aware that the results from Lupron would be temporary): I had a TAH-BSO this last year at age 46 for a giant (larger than grapefruit, maybe pomelo) sized cyst. My CA-125 (marker for poss ovarian CA) was elevated, and when they went in, not only was everything adhered together, but controlling the bleeding was difficult, as endo manufactures its own blood vessels (known as "angiogenesis"). Prior to this, I had an ectopic pregnancy in the cul-de-sac, something that could have been life-threatening had we not been on top of it! Endo itself creates its own hormones, blood vessels, and inflammatory chemicals. It is infiltrative and has some undefined central immune system implications that they are only beginning to explore. Here is what you say to in-laws. You smile, and say that you are making a decision in conjunction with your doctor about a condition that is at the very least life-altering if not life-threatening. There have been moves in the OB-GYN community to have endo listed in with the cancers as a neoplastic disease...it meets most of the criteria for one. Your in-laws would certainly not argue with surgery to remove a cancer (which, btw, can be more treatable if caught early). This is not a "lifestyle" choice (nor is it even a choice)...it is an insidious condition that can turn life-threatening if there is heavy bleeding from adenomyosis (endo infiltrating the uterine cavity) or an ectopic pregnancy -- or if a cyst "converts" into cancer. And if that is too much information for them to handle, the decision is yours, not theirs, and you ask them to respect your doctor's choices in the educated management of your own health. Just keep repeating that you trust your doctor's judgement, and you must make your choices based not only on your future health, but also the happiness of your marriage. This is such a long road, you really do not need unsupportive people in your life. I hope you find peace in your decision, and relief in your treatment. Audrey
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