|
Re: advise on a second Laparoscopy
From: anonymous@obgyn.net
Mon Nov 27 15:17:52 2006
Tara, definitely something you need to discuss in detail with the
specialist. If I were you, I would start journalling your symptoms and
include types of pain/discomfort, where you are in relation to the
cycle. One of the unfortunate realities of any surgery, be it
laparoscopy or laparotomy is the formation of adhesions--like in my
case. This is the body's natural way of healing and for many people
that don't cause an issue. For others, it can be a real problem. In my
case, endo was found in some adhesion tissues. Some of what you're
experiencing could be attributed to adhesions, or it could more
endometriosis has flared in those areas. This is your health, your
life. I have felt so fortunate not to suffer as badly as some women
with this disease. I hope that the courses I have taken are going to
make it better, or at least not make it any worse. Endo can affect both
the bladder and the bowel and this is why it's so important to find an
absolute expert. You need someone who has a great deal of experience in
diagnosing and excising. Have a look at the CEC website I mentioned
previously. If I were back in the U.S., I would do whatever it took to
see either them or Redwine. There are never any guarantees, but you can
give yourself the best possible shot at managing/defeating this disease.
Feel free to email me privately if you want to chat. Take care.
At Mon, 27 Nov 2006, Tara wrote:
>
>That was another question that I meant to ask... My doctor said that
>when she did the lap she did not notice anything that seemd out of the
>ordinary as far as endo to bowels or anything like that "sticking"
>together. But recently I have been having horrible bladder spasms,,
>constant feeling for the need to urinate... as well as about 80 % of
>the month terrible bowel movements. I also feel sometimes as if
>something is being torn (ovary area) if I move to quickly... like there
>is a string from each of my ovaries to my belly button and it's being
>stretched, sometimes a feeling as though it's snapped. Do you know what
>the possibility is that I could have Endo in/ on my bladder / bowels?
>
>At Mon, 27 Nov 2006, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>>
>>Well, recurrence is always a possibility. Don't know if some was missed
>>last time or it just came back. At the 2nd lap, 2 weeks ago they
>>removed an ovarian cyst that had reformed (as big as the one removed a
>>year ago) as well as anything that looked like possible endo. My left
>>ovary was adhered to the bowel with a bit of endo (something that
>>happened post-first lap). They cut away part of the ovary to free the
>>bowel, but left it attached as the surgeon was concerned the endo
>>adhering it could have penetrated the bowel. We're crossing fingers
>>that it just remains there and becomes part of the scar tissue without
>>causing future problems. The tissue that took out was a mixture of endo
>>and scar tissue. He thinks he's pretty hot at what he does ;-) so I'm
>>hoping chance of recurrence is less this time. Only time will tell with
>>this disease.
>>
>>At Mon, 27 Nov 2006, Tara wrote:
>>>
>>>Thanks! Actually I was just searching and Dr Redwine's name did come up
>>>quite a few times, as well as a doctor by the name of Reich, who is
>>>right near me in PA. I want to do more research but apparently he also
>>>does Excisions...
>>>
>>>Im sorry to hear you had a recurrence. Do they know why? What will you
>>>do now?
>>>
>>>At Mon, 27 Nov 2006, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>>>>
>>>>Tara, you may want to check out the previous posts regarding the Centre
>>>>for Endo Care in Atlanta (Dr Albee and Dr Sinervo), as well as those
>>>>about Dr. Redwine in Bend, Oregon. I'm an American living in Australia
>>>>and have just gone through my 2nd lap for excision. My first surgeon
>>>>did the lap to diagnois and excise at the same time. Unfortunately I
>>>>have had a recurrence (within the year). The new surgeon (only because
>>>>I moved States) even commented on Dr. Redwine as the foremost expert in
>>>>the field that boasts (and rightly so) a low recurrence rate within five
>>>>years. Do a search on his name and you'll see various references to
>>>>check out. It's unfortunate that you're having problems again, but not
>>>>surprising since you said your first dr. only removed a small amount.
>>>>Any amount left in is bound to cause problems again. Sounds like you're
>>>>on the right track though and definitely search out the best. The two
>>>>places mentioned above are also very much about trying to conserve
>>>>fertility.
>>>>Good luck to you!
>>>>
>>>>At Mon, 27 Nov 2006, Tara wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>I definitely feel that it's time to start reconsidering having a second
>>>>>lap, I guess I'm just a little apprehensive. I really want to make sure
>>>>>that it's a doctor who is highly recommended..no matter how far I have
>>>>>to travel... We've been trying to get pregnant for almost a year and a
>>>>>half now with not even the slightest bit of hope. I'm just really
>>>>>getting to the point where I find myself unable to control the tears
>>>>>when people ask or talk about children. After getting married everyone
>>>>>starts in with the "when are you going to have children" and a lot of
>>>>>people especially at work dont know what I am going through so I cannot
>>>>>expect then to understand the sadness and pain I am going through...
>>>>>anyways I guess its time to seriously look into this huh?
>>>>>
>>>>>At Mon, 27 Nov 2006, Alyson wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Tara,
>>>>>>The endo could absolutely be ab issue in your trying to conceive. It
>>>>>>can create chemical imbalances, block ovaries and tubes, etc. I know it
>>>>>>is nerve wracking to consider a second lap when you worry that nothing
>>>>>>will be found. I had my second lap only a year following my first. My
>>>>>>original doctor insisted doing another lap was pointless because there
>>>>>>was no way endo could have grown back in such a short time and while I
>>>>>>was on meds. I sought a second opinion, he did the surgery and found
>>>>>>extensive endo- considerably more than my first doctor had found a year
>>>>>>earlier. It is important to remember that this disease tends to be
>>>>>>progressive. Each person progresses differently. Not everyone will
>>>>>>have the kind of rapid progression that I did and some women here have
>>>>>>had even more rapid progression of their disease. I talked to my doctor
>>>>>>about trying to coceive before he did my lap (the 2nd one). He said
>>>>>>that data shows that the best success for getting pregnant with endo is
>>>>>>within 4-6 months follwing a laproscopy for the removal of endo. Kind
>>>>>>of makes sense...get everything cleaned out and get busy before it has a
>>>>>>chance to really get going again.
>>>>>>Obviously having surgery is a personal decision. I am not trying to
>>>>>>talk you into it, but just ease some of those "what if" concerns. Also,
>>>>>>if you really trust this doctor, I would take her advice. Unfortunately
>>>>>>it can be rare to find a doctor dealing with this disease who is willing
>>>>>>to suggest that you seek someone with more knowledge of endometriosis. I
>>>>>>meantioned in my previous post (re: Endo and pregnancy) that a
>>>>>>reproductive endocrinologist might be helpful. That was at my docs
>>>>>>suggestion after she said that she was at the end of her expertise in
>>>>>>dealing with this disease.
>>>>>>Alyson
>>>>>>
>>>>>>At Mon, 27 Nov 2006, Tara wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I'm just looking for some advise...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I was diagnosed with Endo three years ago with my current Doctor through
>>>>>>>a laparoscopy... at that time she was able to remove only a small
>>>>>>>amount of my endo. Directly after my surgery my DR suggested Lupron for
>>>>>>>6 months, which I did and though the pain subsided for 4 of those months
>>>>>>>they returned almost immediately after my injections stopped. For the
>>>>>>>past two years pain meds have done nothing to help... and my Dr is out
>>>>>>>of suggestions. She thinks I should see a new specialist. She informed
>>>>>>>me that the new doc will probably want to perform another Lap to make
>>>>>>>their own diagnosis. I see many of you have had NUMEROUS laps and was
>>>>>>>just wondering if they were only able to see and remove a tiny amount
>>>>>>>the first time, is there any real point in going through that again?
>>>>>>>Have any of you had better success on your second, third...etc? Or do
>>>>>>>you have any other suggestions as to another treatment I should talk to
>>>>>>>my Dr. about? A big factor right now is that my husband and I are
>>>>>>>trying to get pregnant... will that be an issue?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Thanks for any suggestions, advise you can give.
>>
>>--
>>Bula
>>
|
|
![[ endo@obgyn.net ]](../../images/endo_at_obgyn.gif)