ENDO Messages for May, 2003: Re: Endo & Treatment

Re: Endo & Treatment

From: anonymous@obgyn.net
Thu May 8 08:32:29 2003

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In reply to: Sharon: "Endo & Treatment"
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Hi Sharon,

It's really so frustrating isn't it? As we search for answers to help us with simply living what we consider to be a "normal" life, it seems that each step only leads to another door, followed by yet another long narrow hallway! I'm not sure whether the emotional aspect of it is more related to hormones, fear, or just plain ole living with pain day in and day out! Then when you factor in not feeling that you are getting the answers that you need from your doctor, it really all feels like a big over dramatic mess ! But it's not! It's real, and it does affect many of us very similarly to the way it is affecting you right now!

I can't say that I admire your docs apparent disregard of your family's cancer history, but the diagnostic laparoscopy seems reasonable. Of course I'm no physician, but personally, I would rather not have a doctor whose wants to take out my insides without knowing exactly what is going on, at least to the best of their knowledge.

I'm sure that I would be reluctant as well, to take hormones with the cancer history. I'm not wild about taking them without that family history. I went through what I considered to be very conservative treatment when this all began for me. Antibiotics (even though I NEVER believed that I had an infection, I had NO risk factors... no surgeries, no pregnancies, etc), a couple of different hormone combinations for therapy, then eventually, I too, had a diagnostic lap. That's when the real nightmare began for me, not having any relief of symptoms after the endometriosis was supposedly removed. It was and still is, extremely frustrating.

There seems to be an algorithm of treatment for this illness, and I'm down to Lupron now. Not having what I would call "success" either. If you have any questions about the laparoscopy procedure itself, the recovery and what kinds of things to expect afterward, please feel free to post them or email me. I don't know that I could be of any significant help, but I'll sure give it a try ! Sometimes just knowing that you are not alone, helps tremendously!

Oh and one more thing... if you continue to be dis-satisfied with your doctor, and her avoidance of issues that are important to you.. there is no shame in seeking another opinion. There are still doctors out there who care about what the patient worries about! It's YOUR body ! In my opinion, being a compliant patient is a wonderful thing... but not to the point of compromising something that you really feel strongly about !

Best of luck and God bless you in your search for answers!

At Thu, 8 May 2003, Sharon wrote: >
>I have been having pelvic and rectal pain for the past two years. The
>gyne put me on Loestrin. There was little or no change. I have about 7
>- 10 days a month that I feel "normal". It has now gotten to the point
>that one certain days, I am so tired I can barely function. I bleed
>heavily for about 4-7 days with extreme clotting. I have pain
>approximately 1 week before my period and 1 week after. I have stopped
>taking the birth control pills since I did not see a any marked
>improvement. The gyne said that she did not feel that a hysterectomy
>would clear up pain, especially the rectal pain, that I am having. My
>family doctor ran a battery of tests since the gyne did not seem
>convinced that the endo was causing all my problems. My family doctor
>has told me that he can not find any other cause for my symptoms and
>suggests a hysterectomy since I am 46, have no intention of having more
>children and also have an extensive family history of breast cancer. I
>am concerned about taking birth control pills due to the family history
>of cancer. At my gyne appointment yesterday, I was told that they would
>do a diagnostic laparoscopy to see what exactly is going on. Is there
>anyone else out there who has gone this route? I am confused and very
>emotional about all this. I just feel like I am getting the run around
>from the gyne. I don't get any straight answers and she is never
>mentions my family history of cancer when we talk about treatments. Oh,
>I have also had ovarian cysts in the past and have a tipped uterus which
>is "connected in one point instead of three". I am not quite sure how
>that comes in to play with the endo but I know it is very painful at
>times and makes it very uncomfortable to say the least to have
>intercourse. I am fortunate to have a very supportive husband but I
>don't know how much longer our marriage can survive the stress. I take
>pain pills for the endo, then I take Protonix for my stomach because the
>pain pills make me sick. I am an emotional roller coaster all month. If
>anyone out there has any advice or experience with this I would love to
>hear from you. I do not want to be on birth control pills forever and
>that seems to be the direction the gyne is taking.
>
>--
>Sharon Jones
>

--
Hugs,
Katy

Next message: anonymous@obgyn.net: "Re: I was Diagnosed with endo"
Previous message: Barb: "Danazol/Danocrine side effects"
In reply to: Sharon: "Endo & Treatment"
Next in thread: DJ: "Re: Endo & Treatment"

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