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Re: advise on a second Laparoscopy
From: Tara (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue Nov 28 07:17:21 2006
Well it's always nice to hear when people speak so highly of a doctor.
Kind of helps you know what you are getting into , opposed to never
hearing anything about a doctor. I cannot wait to hear back from him
now. I don't even mind the drive to PA if he no longer works out of
Manhattan... but that would be a definite plus! :-) How Ironic that you
happen to sign in, read my little blog and know the doctor I was asking
about!!! Life is crazy like that sometimes. So how is your Endo these
days? It sounds like you have it under control.
At Mon, 27 Nov 2006, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>
>Hi Tara:
>I'm actually surprised that the current group here at the endo forum
>doesn't know of him -- he is the master of endo excision surgery. I
>just happened to pop in to the forum for the first time in several years
>-- every now and then I feel a need to pop in and give back since this
>forum helped me so much (guidance, advice, friendship, support) when I
>was going through my own endo "hell".
>You live in NY! Several years ago he operated in both NY city and
>Scranton, PA -- he may still operate in Manhattan, I don't know.
>Yes and yes. I've met him and used him. He is just such a nice down to
>earth guy (ALL the expertise without the arrogance -- just a super nice
>guy -- I'm not kidding though, he really is the master!). You'll see
>what I mean when you talk to him.
>
>At Mon, 27 Nov 2006, Tara wrote:
>>
>>Hey thanks so much for the confirmation, i came accross that page and
>>send him an e-mail earlier today. It's great to hear that someone has
>>heard of him. How is it that you did? I live in NY but PA is definitely
>>a "do-able" trip to getting this taken care of :-)Have you met him? used
>>him???
>>
>>At Mon, 27 Nov 2006, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>>>
>>>Dear Tara:
>>>Hi. I've been reading your forum posts and just noticed that you
>>>mentioned you live near PA -- you mentioned Dr. Reich. If endo is your
>>>problem, smile Tara! Tara, Dr. Reich is world renowned -- he truly is
>>>the "BEST" -- read his resume; search his name here on the endo forum;
>>>google his name; read about him at http://www.adlap.com/reich.html (
>>>http://www.adlap.com ) or http://www.womenssurgerygroup.com and to top it off, he is
>>>the nicest guy. You literally could not be in better hands -- he is
>>>"the Master"! Just read about him and you'll see.
>>>He even provides his email address if you want to email him! Read this
>>>page (his email is listed on this page) http://www.adlap.com/reich.html
>>>
>>>At Mon, 27 Nov 2006, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>>>>
>>>>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
>>>>>>
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