Re: MAYA~Weird things doctors say & time it takes to get diagnosed
From: Jenny (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu Aug 31 08:43:52 2006
Hi Maya,
I don't have any answers about the cervix issue, but I was going to
comment about the thing you said about YEARS! going by without being
diagnosed. It is SO frustrating and I think if there was a poll here we
all would say it has been more than 7-8 years of suffering before we got
taken seriously. (16 years for me) Here's some things doctors told me
over the years:
"Some girls just have bad periods"
"To do a laparoscopy is very involved, and we usually do that when the
patient can't get pregnant"
"Is now a good time for you to get pregnant? That will likely cure you"
(I'd just told him I had been dating a guy for 10 weeks)
"OK, let's talk about a hysterectomy because a laparoscopy is only
temporary." (I'd never had a lap to confirm endo at the time, and I was
32 with no kids)
"Some women just have bad periods"
On the good side, seeing a chiropractor has been helping me. I started
out with acupunture and have found better relief with chiropractic
treatments.
Good luck ~ Jenny
At Thu, 31 Aug 2006, Maya wrote:
>
>Hi,
>
>During my annual Pap end of last year, my gynae asked me if I had
>painful periods. (Yes I do)
>
>He told me that he had felt bumps, like matchstick heads on my cervix
>while doing manual exam. He said it is likely endometriosis. This is
>the first time ever, that any doctor came close to acknowledging that I
>have endo. I am 28, and my periods became 'strange and more painful in
>an unusual way' when I turned 18.
>
>I turned to medical books and surfing the net based on the symptoms that
>I had and the search kept leading me to endometriosis.
>
>WHile I do have pain, it is not severe like what doctors tell me when I
>broached the possibility of it being endo.The pain is and was constant,
>dull, at the 'sides' and can last from 1st day to 5th day of my
>period.When I clear my bowels, there is a sharp pain. I get bloated and
>gassy as soon as my periods start.
>
>I had mid cycle spotting on and off since I was 16. Pain during sex,
>especially on certain positions.
>
>Was I ever 'officially' diagnosed? NO.
>
>So when the gynae actually said the words 'endo' to me last year, I
>couldn't help feeling angry at all the doctors who told me to take
>painkillers and that I would not have period pains once I had kids.
>
>I live and grew up in SouthEast Asia.Medical care here might not be as
>extensive as in the US or other western countries. Plus we do not have
>medical insurance system, so most of us pay per visit or per procedure,
>which can be very expensive.
>
>As a result, I have had 10 years fly past me without ANY treatment for
>my endometriosis. No birthcontrol pills, no disgnostic procedure (they
>say its too expensive, accomplishes nothing because even if it is endo,
>treatments are severe and not worth it, lap requires general anesthesia,
>risk benefit ratio etc)
>
>Anyway, while my docs still insist that my probems aren't severe enough
>for surgery, except when I experience infertility (not tried to conceive
>before), I have begun to develop vague, strange aches in my pelvic area
>a few days before my period comes. This has never happened before.
>Also, I have had bleeding after sex a few times in the past months.
>These cnvinces me that my endo is becoming more severe.
>
>Does anyone else have endometrial implants on the cervix? If so, are you
>prone to post coital bleeding?
>
>Also, which alternative therapies that you have tried has helped with
>endo? My main aim now is to preserve my fertility quotient (hopefully I
>have it!)and to slow or reverse the progression of the disease.
>
>hope to hear from all of you,
>
>xxxxx
>M
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