Re: Hysterectomies do not cure endo.--Question for 'D'
From: m (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat Mar 31 03:04:24 2007
D,
Would it be possible to say what your doctor did to allow you to return
to work? I have been struggling to get better for more than 2 years now
and despite pain management and every other type of treatment you can
think of, I've no better. I'm worse, in fact. And like you say, that's
even after a hysterectomy.
You could email me in person if you don't want to say on here what your
treatment's been. I hope you'll see this message and get back to me. I
am devastated over the very real prospect of never being able to work
again and your story gives me some hope, maybe, depending on what your
treatment is and whether I've tried it yet or if it's something that
might actually work for me. I think I've tried it all basically but you
never know.
Thank you so much! (Anyone else who was so bad off you had to go on
permanent disability and found a way to eventually get back to work
again, please let me know what you did!) Thank you!
M
At Thu, 29 Mar 2007, D wrote:
>
>There's been a number of posts recently from women considering
>hysterectomies to deal with their endometriosis. I'm very sorry that
>there are still doctors out there promoting this as a treatment because
>I think they are doing a great disservice to their patients.
>Hysterectomies don't cure endo. In one small study, the pain relief
>women who had hysterectomies got was comparable or even less than what
>women who have conservative laparoscopic excision surgery acheive:
>
>http://www.wdxcyber.com/npain06.htm
>"In this study, 80% of the women under age 30 reported that the
>hysterectomy completely cured their pain. On the other hand, 50% of the
>women still admitted to painful intercourse (dyspareunia). It is not
>clear if that was due to low estrogens if the ovaries were also removed
>at the time of hysterectomy, but it must temper the 80% report of being
>pain free."
>
>The highly regarded Women's Surgery Group has this to say:
>http://www.womenssurgerygroup.com/conditions/Endometriosis/myths.asp
>"Hysterectomy absolutely, positively will stop a woman from
>menstruating. Obviously, this also stops menstrual cramps. Removing
>the uterus, however, has no effect whatsoever on endometriosis. If the
>endometrial implants are responsible for symptoms (pain with
>intercourse, diarrhea, painful bowel movements, painful or frequent
>urination) and they are not removed along with the uterus, the symptoms
>will not change. Similarily, removing the ovaries and leaving
>endometrial implants behind is not likely to do anything but throw the
>patient into menopause, possibly creating a whole new set of problems.
>
>When a hysterectomy is performed for endometriosis, removing the
>endometrial implants along with the uterus give the patient the best
>possible chance for relieving her symptoms. We always try to preserve
>the ovaries if possible, particularly in the younger patients.
>
>Hysterectomy with or without removal of the ovaries does not, repeat
>does not, cure endometriosis."
>
>--
>Dr. Redwine, a leading endo excision specialist, found higher somewhat
>success rates for hysterectomies, but that "removal of the pelvic organs
>will remove all endometriosis in only about 4% of patients" - and the
>problems the endo caused will likely continue:
>http://www.endometriosistreatment.org/html/reprint7.html
>
>Then there are the effects of surgical menopause to contend with,
>including higher risk for osteoporosis and heart disease:
>http://www.project-aware.org/Experience/premature.shtml
>
>If your doctor is pushing you to have a hysterectomy to solve problems
>with endo you need to find a better doctor, and I know that isn't always
>easy or simple. The two main resources I know of for finding endo
>specialists are the endodocs yahoo group linked at the bottom of this
>post, and the Endo Victims doctor list:
>http://www.geocities.com/endovictims/endodocs.html
>(If anyone knows any other lists or places to find doctors, please post
>them!)
>
>Another really sad part of this disease is how many women with endo
>suffer with undertreated pain, and it does't have to be that way.
>Doctors should treat patients' pain, or they should refer people to pain
>management specialists. Because it can take time to find a doctor and
>have surgery and most doctors aren't comfortable prescribing stronger
>pain meds, getting into pain management can be very helpful. Most women
>can get at least a reasonable amount of relief from pain working with a
>pain management specialist. For me, my pain doctor has made the
>difference between being unable to get out of bed from the pain and
>nausea, and working fulltime. It's not perfect, but it's hugely
>improved. Here's a few links with more:
>
>The National Foundation for the Treatment of Pain:
>http://www.paincare.org/index.html
>
>American Chronic Pain Association:
>http://www.theacpa.org/
>
>American Pain Foundation:
>http://www.painfoundation.com/
>
>As ever I hope this info helps - and I do hope it doesn't offend anyone!
>I'm not anti-hysterectomy, there are times when they are necessary and
>beneficial. It's just that they don't cure endo!
>
>--
>Find an endo specialist in the ERC's EndoDocs group:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EndoDocs/
>
>Try an excellent endo support group:
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/erc/
>
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