Re: Article and why OB/GYNS lack knowledge of endo- must read!
From: anonymous (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue May 15 22:58:03 2007
I agree, that was the point of the article. OB/GYN'S are not getting
the training needed to do the type of surgery endometriosis patients
need.
This is the reason so many women have numerous surgeries and little
relief.
It is frightening when you think how we are putting our lives in theses
surgeons hands that have little skill for the surgery we need.
My first surgery was done by my OB/GYN..not by any means an
"endometriosis specialist". The surgery was supposed to be a
exploratory laparoscopy.
If I had known then the severity of my endo or that I even had endo, I
NEVER would have allowed him to operate. My surgery turned into a
laparotomy. I have stage IV endo with GI involvement and severe dense
adhesions. I had frozen pelvis and everything was all adhered together.
The Dr. told me that he could not believe how severe my case was and he
actually was "sweatin it out" during my surgery. Not something you want
your surgeon to tell you...He had to call in a bowel surgeon ( thank god
he did )..It is horrifying to think that some
( not all ) of the surgeons are operating not having enough skill..and
many times they do the surgery and cannot remove the endo, so another
surgery is inevitable. It is a vicious cycle. I think this is a HUGE
issue and part of the problem.
We all know how frustrating the whole thing is..I pray that one day we
can all get the care we so desperately need.
It is important just to be sure the Dr you see is skilled..
Thanks..and take care.
>
>Much has changed in 10 years, I agree, but I also think the main point
>of the article is still very much valid. Obgyns are not getting the
>training necessary to treat endo successfully, and part of the reason is
>that by trying to be primary care doctors they are spread too thin.
>
>I'm undecided about whether obgyns should be PCPs or not, but as far as
>endo goes, I think it's just unrealistic to imagine there are many
>doctors who can both provide good primary care AND be skilled at
>thorough laparoscopic excision of endo!
>
>At Tue, 15 May 2007, Kristy wrote:
>>
>>That article is over 10 years old and a lot has changed in relation to
>>insurance companies and the way they deal with the cost of medical care.
>>People on PPOs do not have to have a primary care physician, and for
>>those that are trying to find one like me who is trying to find a
>>primary care physician to take care of general stuff is having a hard
>>time finding one. It may start out ok the first visit or two but then
>>when they figure out how complicated our case is especially because of
>>the gyn issues they start running the other way.
>>
>>OB/GYNs should be the primary care physicians of women and I have felt
>>that way for years. A number of other drs also feel this. And yes it
>>has been done pretty successfully over the years. My OB/GYN is my
>>unofficial primary care dr (because she would prefer to be considered a
>>specialist) because of the fact that she knows my history so well
>>because of its complexities overall so when any of my other drs (even an
>>actual primary care dr if I ever find one) wants to treat me with a
>>medication or something, or they do any tests she will be getting copies
>>of those to keep up to date on my ever complex health history.
>>
>>Another thing about insurance and medical care it's not just HMOs that
>>are denying certain things, PPOs can do so as well. And I've met a few
>>women that it has happened to. Also, HMOs are on the way out because
>>they are causing more problems in general for Medicine.
>>
>>The reason that health insurance exists (even in spite of the
>>imperfections with it) is to try and control the ridiculously high cost
>>of a number of aspects of Medicine when it comes to care of patients.
>>Problem is that because of the cost of some of the treatments for
>>certain conditions some insurance companies are excluding a number of
>>conditions that will be covered. This has happened to a few I've met
>>with some other medical conditions.
>>
>>But in the over 10 years since that article came out a lot of changes
>>have taken place when it comes to Managed Care, and also about OB/GYN in
>>general.
>>
>>--
>>=====
>>Kristy :)
>>
>>http://www.geocities.com/sokokl/Kristysstory.html
>>
>--
>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/
>
![[ endo@obgyn.net ]](../../images/endo_at_obgyn.gif)