Re: First Lap will be diagnostic only--doc says she'll treat with Lupron despite any endo findings--confused & depressed :(
From: andrea (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu Sep 6 21:55:19 2007
I think this doctor wants to do a diagnostic lap just to cover herself
so she has a legitimate reason to prescribe Lupron to you, which you
said you would not take anyway. Any surgery is risky, but I can't
believe she's pushing you just for a diagnostic when you have only been
off of Coumadin for a week. (For those of you who don't know, it's
blood thinner.) That is scary. How can she predict how much you will
bleed? Or if they can stop the bleeding from surgery?
My mom was on Coumadin when she had cancer and they told her to not even
go near the kitchen or use sharp objects for anything. They said even a
small cut would not stop bleeding. I would feel much better being off
the Coumadin for a longer period of time, knowing I would only bleed a
normal amount, then see a specialist and go from there. We all know
what the physical symptoms of endo are. You don't need some doctor
risking your life just to make a diagnosis for something you are pretty
sure you already have. When I get opened up, I want to make sure they
are doing something to help me, so I am not going through surgery and
incurring all that cost for nothing. Like I suggested before, give it
some time and find someone you can feel safe having a procedure with. I
hope you are ok! I wish you only the best.
At Thu, 6 Sep 2007, Debbie wrote:
>
>There's nothing wrong with having a purely diagnostic lap....I had one
>myself at my own request. I wanted to know what was going on inside me
>before I chose a surgeon and decided on a treatment plan. You are
>better off having a purely diagnostic lap than having a botched attempt
>at removing the Endo by a clueless doctor who does more harm than good
>and ends up making your pain worse and giving you adhesions in the
>process! The thing that bothers me is the Lupron, which I am against
>taking, and the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" attitude. It's already
>broke! I say dump the doctor who sounds completely clueless to me, and
>go to a real doctor. She probably figured she was way over her head.
>
>--
>===================
>http://www.angryuterus.com
>
>At Fri, 31 Aug 2007, Jessica wrote:
>>
>>I agree with the other women. Follow your gut. It seems stupid that if
>>you have medical conditions that make surgey very risky for you, Why
>>would they want to do just a diagnostic lap knowing if there is
>>something wrong they will have to do another lap to remove the endo or
>>ovaries and things. I was on Lupron 4 years ago. I still have severe
>>joint pain from it and would not reccommed it as the only method of
>>treatment to anyone
>>
>>--
>>Jessica
>>jessicaroze@HOTMAIL.COM
>>
>>At Fri, 31 Aug 2007, anonymous wrote:
>>>
>>>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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