Re: 20 years of endo and headed for a hysterectomy
From: Mandy (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon May 24 11:13:55 2004
Hi! I don't have any advice for you, b/c I am not looking into the
hysterectomy quite yet. But I just wanted to say good luck!
--
Mandy
At Mon, 24 May 2004, Leslie wrote:
>
>I went to my PCP about 6 weeks ago with severe back pain, lower right
>quadrant pain and multiple trips to the bathroom at night (5-6). Turns
>out I have bilateral hydronephrosis, probably caused by 9.2cm and 7.6cm
>endometriomas, as well as 3.4cm and 4.4cm fibroids. I also have many
>smaller fibroids, as well as a dozen or so smaller endometriomas. My
>uterus appears fused to my bowel, and the doc (who is a leader in
>laparoscopic techniques) doesn't seem hopeful that he can save my cervix
>- he thinks it has multiple adhesions as well. He thinks everything is
>going to come out "en block."
>
>My question to the experts here is (or any women who have had similar
>experiences), when the adhesions are that severe, is it ever possible
>and/or desirable to "chisel out" the uterus and ovaries and save them,
>or are they generally too far gone to even try, or would I not want to
>try for fear of recurrance (I'm 42, and my mother completed menopause at
>48) of endo and/or fibroids and/or adhesions?
>
>I have been told that if my ureters are fibrous, or have endo, they may
>have to be resected and reattached to the bladder. If there is not
>enough ureter left, I may end up with a urostomy. This doc has done
>this type of surgery before, and a urologist will be on call if anything
>needs to be done with the ureters or bladder.
>
>To those ladies who have endo - if you are in pain, don't hesitate to
>switch docs if they refuse to do anything - my doc 7 years ago refused
>to do a lap b/c I wasn't in the market to reproduce! And stupid me, I
>didn't insist on it - Fast forward a year, and I am self-employed with
>no insurance. Fast-forward 6 years - "Luckily," the pain was so bad
>last year that I didn't make much money and I qualified for a funded
>program this year. What would my situation be if I had had a lap six,
>seven years ago? Things would not be so dire, I assure you. Educate
>yourself, INSIST on treatment, and find another doc who will listen to
>you again and again and again if you have to!
>
>--
>Leslie
>
--
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My Endo story
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