Re: Endo & Treatment
From: kim (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri May 9 06:54:29 2003
Sharon,
The only 100% way to diagnose endometriosis is through the laparascope.
It is not true that a hysterectomy will cure you though. You have deep
tissue disease for sure just by telling me your symptoms. You need to
find a specialist that can excise this disease where it is . Do not
fool around with the middle man. Read and gain knowledge and seek out
someone who can truly help you to be well. If you are not considering
having any more children and are at peace with a hysterectomy, after the
surgeon excises all the endometriosis, it will increase your chances of
being well if you were to have a complete hysterectomy and removal of
your ovaries. But to leave the disease and remove your uterus and
ovaries would almost likely be a prescription for ongoing pain! Most
likely you would have to start HRT, which will continue to feed that
deep tissue disease.
Endometriosis is misplaced endometrial tissue( tissue that is normally
found inside your uterus). The only way to remove this tissue is by
surgically removing the misplaced tissue, not your uterus! Deep tissue
disease like you explain does not respond well to hormone treatment
either(like BC pills or Lupron.)
There continues to be a lot of misconceptions about the disease, with
women and the medical field. Please seek knowledge through the
Endometriosis Association and The Endometriosis Research Center. If you
would like, email me personally. I know this type of disease well and
would be happy to help you get everything sorted out and help you to
find doctors that may be able to help you best.
--
Kim
brittain@kwcom.net
>
>Sharon,
>I too suffer from endo. I've had problems since I was a teen. I've had
>3 laparoscopies and the latest from my gyn is to take Lupron. I won't
>do it. Sounds just as bad as what we go through. I don't have any
>answers but if I were you I would opt for the hyster. I'm 40 and still
>unsure whether I want another child. If I wasn't unsure, I would have a
>hysterectomy. My Mom did and said she felt great afterwards. My Aunt
>and Grandmother both did as well. This stuff runs in the family. I'm
>probably going to give myself 1 or 2 more years then have the hyster.
>It's the only way to get the endometrium tissue out forever. I'm not
>sure why the doctor says it won't get rid of your pain. Endometrial
>tissue comes from our uterus. I think your family doctor is givign you
>the best advice. I wish I could be decided on whether I want another
>child because it's the only thing stopping me. I'm miserable most every
>day of the month, like you. I have extreme bleeding and clotting and
>then when that's done I have the ovulation pain which is unbearable most
>months. It stinks. Good luck to you in your decision.
>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
>>
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