Re: Looking for referral for endometriosis laparoscopic specialist in Maryland or neighboring states
From: SB (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri Jan 7 13:08:34 2005
Dear Krista and Newbie,
I'm in DC and also looking for an endo doctor. Krista, did you see Dr.
MacKoul, and what did you think? And Endo Newbie, what is the name of
the doctor you like? Please backchannel me if you prefer....
And anyone else who has suggestions in DC, VA, or MD, please share! A
few names I've found but don't know much about: Drs. Giere and Hurson
at GW; Russell Jaffe in Sterling.
Thanks!
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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