Re: First Lap will be diagnostic only--doc says she'll treat with Lupron despite any endo findings--confused & depressed :(
From: anonymous (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri Aug 31 22:04:09 2007
very good advice...
i don't like this doctor, not just because of the lupron thing, but she
doesn't seem to respect you as a patient!
At Fri, 31 Aug 2007, andrea wrote:
>
>Hi Trish,
>
>If I were you, I would go with my gut and cancel the surgery. That doc
>sounds really insensitive and not very good either! Why do the surgery
>at all if she is not removing any endo? I'm so sick of the way most
>doctors shove Lupron in women's faces like it's the only option. So
>many doctors are like, "Lupron or hysterectomy?" Those are not viable
>options for a lot of women. Not much help at all!
>
>You are not wrong for doubting her ability and intentions. She sounds
>like most doctors who have upset me, not giving me many options and
>making me pay for multiple visits and not really doing anything! I have
>changed doctors so many times, but I am glad I did!
>
>It takes a while to find the right one and it is very frustrating and
>discouraging, but there IS someone out there who is better suited for
>you and more qualified to do your surgery. I know you are in pain, but
>there is a possibility that a bad doctor could make things even worse.
>Don't feel rushed, take your time and think things over. If you don't
>feel this doctor will really listen to you, please try and find someone
>who will. After 11 doctors over the last 20 years, I have finally found
>the right one to do my surgery, but now I am having insurance issues. I
>am determined to figure a way to get this done! Don't give up and keep
>searching for the right one, ok? I wish you all the best and some relief
>soon!
>
>Have a good holiday weekend and take care of yourself,
>Andrea :)
>
>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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