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Doctors in DC area
From: Sonya (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu Dec 30 11:24:00 2004
I'm also looking for a good doctor in the DC area--I have a bunch of
symptoms that my current doctor has not been able to identify over
several months (her theory right now is endo, but it's a bit atypical,
e.g. pain is not worse during my period) and I really want to get a
second opinion before having laparoscopy or starting Lupron. So, I'm
not necessarily looking for an endo surgery specialist--just a
gynecologist who will be good at listening to me and figuring out what I
might have, who has experience with endo and with other conditions that
might have similar symptoms.
Any ideas? Thanks!
At Thu, 30 Dec 2004, Carol wrote:
>
>Hey Krista: How did you like Doc MacKoul? I have endometriosis too (use
>to say I HAD it, sigh). I had a hysterectomy 13 years ago at age 29 but
>they did not take my ovaries. I now have a cyst on my left ovary (age
>42). I went to one doc last time for 5 years that just seemed to do the
>lap and put me on lupron then do it again after 3 months 4 times.
>Finally, I found another doc and he suggested the hysterectomy. They
>found endometriosis on my colon and lots of scar tissue. It has been
>gone all these years now. I just don't want to go through the issues
>with another doc again. One that seemed to give me the "pat" answer for
>problem and not treat me as an individual. I also found the
>endometriosis society too. I also have depression (mostly seasonal),
>asthma and allergies and found that endometroisis can be tied to those
>too. sheesh.
>
>--
>Carol
>
>At Wed, 9 Jun 2004, Krista wrote:
>>
>>Hi endo newbie,
>>
>>That is great advice. In fact, I may print out your message and bring
>>it to my appointment. I do have two edometriomas - chocolate cysts. The
>>one on my right ovary spans 7 cm at it's widest point. It's actually in
>>the ovary. The one in/on the left is much smaller. I've been chronic
>>bowel trouble for fourteen years and I have always been told it was IBS!
>>Very painful periods and other very telling signs. Why did it take so
>>long to get a diagnosis??? I partially blame the doctors and partially
>>blame myself and partially blame bad luck. My endometrimosis is
>>everywhere - bowels, bladder, diaphram, liver, etc, etc. My doctor says
>>she is not an endo specialist and is very supportive of me seeking a
>>second opinion. She thinks I am at stage 2 endo - but I'm wondering if
>>it may be worse.
>>
>>I think I'll check out MacKoul (it's only a ten dollar co-pay) but not
>>get my hopes up. Do you have Dr. Reich's number?
>>
>>Thanks again for your advice. I'll definitelly use it and it might help
>>make a difference in the course of this disease!
>>
>>--
>>Krista
>>
>>>Hi Krista,
>>>
>>>I've seen Dr. MacKoul's name in my insurance book. From my experience,
>>>I've found that you could be the best surgeon, but not necessarily know
>>>too much about how to best treat an endometriosis patient. I really
>>>like my surgeon. He is the best oncologist in the DC area. After my
>>>laparoscopy that converted to laparotomy and a 7" scar, I still have
>>>endo. Not because he was a bad surgeon, or not a qualified
>>>surgeon...but b/c he is a doctor who follows traditional surgical
>>>protocol. He's not an endo doctor and therefore wont do the kind of
>>>risky surgery our situation calls for. He has already told me he can do
>>>no more for me. I have massive bowel adhesions, an obliterated
>>>cul-de-sac and a rectovaginal mass. No normal surgeon will attempt to
>>>remove endo in these areas if it's not something they do every day. This
>>>doctor at Holy Cross may be really good, again. But not an endo
>>>specialist. Ask him if he's heard of Dr. Reich and Dr. Albee in
>>>Atlanta. Ask him if he'll excise deep infiltrative endometriosis. If
>>>you have a chocolate cyst, most likely you also have deep infiltrative
>>>endometriosis. Resecting or removing that cyst will not get rid of your
>>>endo and I'm sure you've read that by now. As for Dr. Harry Reich, I'm
>>>told he is the godfather of endo surgery (or at least one of them). His
>>>specialty is excising Stage IV endo from the cul-de-sac and bowels. He
>>>is the doctor you go to in "worst case scenarios."
>>>
>>>In retrospect, I wish I would have gotten a diagnostic lap locally and
>>>then gone to see an endo specialist to avoid the laparotomy. Definitely
>>>let me know how your appointment goes. Good luck!
>>>
>>>At Tue, 8 Jun 2004, Krista wrote:
>>>>
>>>>Dear Endo Newbie,
>>>>
>>>>In the less than last 24 hours I came across the name of a doctor in DC.
>>>>His name is Paul MacKoul and he is an expert in laparoscopy and pelvic
>>>>conditions (i.e. he routinely does hysterectomies laparoscopically). He
>>>>works out of Bethesda and is director of Gynecologic Laparoscopy at Holy
>>>>Cross Hospital. His number is 301-664-6490. I am going to meet with
>>>>him this upcoming Tuesday and I hope to find out if he has done a lot of
>>>>endometriosis and ovarian endometrioma operations laparoscopically. I
>>>>have also done a lot of research about what some specialists say is the
>>>>best way to remove the endometriosis (i.e. through excision as opposed
>>>>to vaporization) so that may help me determine if he is the one I am
>>>>looking for.
>>>>
>>>>I really hope he is an expert in endo because otherwise I may have to go
>>>>out of state and out of my insurance network which will probably cost
>>>>thousands of dollars.
>>>>
>>>>How did you hear about this doctor you are going to see?
>>>>
>>>>Unfortunately, I won't be able to make that lecture as I have to work,
>>>>but I would love to hear about it if you do go. I may see if I can get
>>>>off of work early, but right now I have not earned any sick/vacation
>>>>time from my new job.
>>>>
>>>>--
>>>>Krista
>>>>
>>--
>>Krista
>>
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