Re: Black Women and Endometriosis
From: Liss (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri Feb 27 12:07:53 2004
Dear Dominique,
It is terrible how you have been treated by doctors. Thank you for
sharing your story. I saw that another poster thought that your story
might not have anything to do with you being a person of color. While I
sort of see how she might think that, I disagree with her. I hope that
people of color can find this message board to be a welcoming place to
share their views.
I hope you (and everyone) will think about writing your story for
Kerry-Ann Morris's book about endometriosis -- she is great to work with
and I am really excited about her project. Her website is
http://www.unveilingendometriosis.com. Best Wishes, Liss
At Thu, 26 Feb 2004, Dominique wrote:
>
>At Tue, 9 Sep 2003, Kerry-Ann wrote:
>>
>>Hi,
>>I found this link after searching for information about black women and endometriosis.If this topic is still of interest, I'd like to add my input...
>
>As an African-American woman with endometriosis, my experiences with
>health care professionals were appalling! I unfortunately had moderate
>endometrios and several large fibroid tumors. Over a 15 month period, I
>visited 9 Ob/Gyn providers before I finally found one who was willing to
>remove my fibroids.The endometriosis was an "incidental" finding. No
>provider ever suggested it was the cause of my chronic and acute pelvic
>pain. All were quick to suspect pelvic inflammatory disease even though
>I had no social risk factors, or high risk behavior. One female
>provider even proclaimed that "fibroids do not cause pain". When I
>inquired about a myomectomy, I was told "Operating on you isn't my idea
>of a good time. You've got that belly, I don't know if I can get a
>camera in there. Don't get me wrong, I like my job, but operating on
>you isn't my idea of a good time". I reported the incident to my health
>plan. At a grievance hearing this same provider indicated that she had
>not used the words "good time"; rather, she protested that she had said
>that operating on me wasn't her idea of "fun".
>
>Most of the providers behaved if the fibroid and endometriosis
>symptomatology were akin to getting a pimple. When I indicated that I
>could no longer tolerate the acute symptoms,one provider suggested that
>I was narcotic seeking. When I informed him that I have never asked any
>provider for narcotics, he replied "most people don't want to admit it
>if they do".
>
>I live in Pittsburgh. All of the physicians whom I consulted were
>academic physicians at a women's hospital. All were highly recommended
>by by other health care professionals whom I cosulted (i.e. physician
>friends, nurses, personal friends etc.). I finally found a young
>surgeon who sucessfully removed my myomas. However, due to the
>unexpected endometriosis, all of it was not removed. Therefore, 6 weeks
>following my myomectomy, my symptoms returned.
>
>I finally sought treatment from The Center for Women's Care in Atlanta
>Georgia. Dr. Thomas Lyons was my physician. He and his staff
>epitomized professionalism, courtesy, and kindness.
>
>Several months later, I sought a consultation with a
>reproductive-endocrinologist to discuss fertility concerns. I took
>copies of all of my records to my visit. This provider never asked me
>about the endometriosis or fibroids. However, she asked me one question
>three times: "You've never had PID"?. After three "NO's", she asked
>"has anyone ever told you that you had salpingitis, oopheritis"?. Again
>my answer was No. At this point, she stared at my quizzically, and
>muttered that's odd. I reminded her that all of my records were before
>her, and that they contained a complete personal and family history. She
>never looked at them, nor did she do a physical examination. She said
>that the nurse practitioner would be in to answer any questions that I
>had about fertility options, and left the room.
>
>The experiences that I have had are extremely disconcerting. If they
>are happening to me, then young women who are uninformed and lacking
>basic health benefits get worse treatment. I am a professional
>well-educated black woman. Medicine is the last place that I should
>have to guard against stereotype.
>>
>>--
>>Kerry-Ann here from the Unveiling Endometriosis Project. First I want
>>to thank all of you who responded to my first post concerning
>>endometriosis and its social effects on women in their 20s. If any of
>>you are still interested please do not hesitate to contact me.
>>
>>Today, I have another request. Just out of curiousity I would like to
>>hear from any black women on this forum. I have a few questions I would
>>like to ask concerning your endometriosis experience. I would be very
>>pleased to hear from any and all of you. Please to contact me at
>>xahmaica2002@yahoo.com. Thank you and have a wonderful day!
>>
>>Kerry-Ann Morris
>>Secretariat
>>Unveiling Endometriosis Project
>>
>>--
>>"To Make Aware, To Educate, to Support & to Empower"
>>
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