Re: First Lap will be diagnostic only--doc says she'll treat with Lupron despite any endo findings--confused & depressed :(
From: deirdre (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri Aug 31 16:13:58 2007
Which doctor did you speak with at atlanta, i mean, which one did you
e-mail?
Call ASAP and speak to Heather - even try today if you can - she
arranges everything!
go with them, they're GOOD
At Fri, 31 Aug 2007, Trish wrote:
>
>Hi all,
>
>My first lap, which was rescheduled from last month due to an
>underactive thyroid, is now all set for this Wed. the 5th...I've been
>back and forth to Duke so many times in the past two months that I've
>lost track, at a cost of about $25 per trip for gas and parking, only to
>find out yesterday that my doc has switched gears on me!
>
>While my doc has never been fully convinced that I have endo, (I've had
>two others opinions, both agreed that I probably do), she was planning a
>lap to possibly remove one or both ovaries and had me sign a consent
>form for that, and any other procedure(s) necessary including a
>hysterectomy. Well, since that time, I learned that my sister had
>severe endo and a complete hysterectomy in her mid-30's. I notified my
>doc's office of that, and now they have switched my procedure to a
>diagnostic lap only. When I questioned my doc about this, she said that
>even if she saw ANYTHING, such as a large cyst needing drainage all the
>way to moderate endo, she WILL NOT TOUCH A THING. She says she chooses
>medical management as the first line of treatment in all cases...if I do
>have endo, she says, I will be placed on Lupron, as I am not a candidate
>for bcp's due to my history of pulmonary emboli and Coumadin use.
>
>Well, I was too busy picking my jaw up off the floor to say anything
>before she smiled and scooted out of the room! I did, however,
>re-question the nurse as I signed these new consent forms about the
>choice of medical management with Lupron over removal. She also told me
>that it is the doc's philosophy, if endo is present, "Well, we see it
>this way: if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
>
>Now, I have spent all morning calling the other two docs here in town
>that have seen me...both had previously told me to stick with Duke, as
>they see me as a high-risk case with my rather complicated medical
>history (pulmonary emboli, grand-mal seizures, hypothyroidism, etc..) I
>BEGGED both docs to do my lap, saying that if it were to be diagnostic
>only, why not have it done here in town, making it so much easier on my
>fiance and other family members who want to be there with me? One turned
>me down, saying that he too, if he found endo, would proceed with
>Lupron, and the other flat-out said my case was just too complicated.
>There are no other clinics in my town that do laps!
>
>I also, some time ago, contacted the endo center in Atlanta re: bowel &
>bladder symptoms--one of the docs immediately emailed me back & asked
>for my phone number, saying he would call me to further discuss my
>symptoms...I have yet to hear from him :( I had expressed a sincere
>desire to drive or fly to Allanta despite limited funds to do so. So,
>what do I do now? I've been driven to tears, am very depressed and in
>pain (esp. lower back--all my female probs seem to present in the lower
>back for some reason?) and have no desire to go on Lupron if I am found
>to have any endo at all. Also, why would I want to go under general
>anesthesia more than once, if endo is found the first time?
>
>Is it common practice to have a diagnostic-only lap at first? Is it
>common for a doc to find mild/moderate endo and still treat with Lupron
>with no removal? I am off my Coumadin already and taking Lovenox
>injections in preparation for Wednesday's lap, but want desperately to
>cancel...but where else to turn, what else to do?? Please help--all
>opinions and experiences welcome...thanks in advance to all who
>read/reply to this.
>
>Sincerely, Trish
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