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Re: Black Women and Endometriosis
From: Dominique (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon Mar 1 11:25:40 2004
Dear Liss:
Thank you for your feedback and welcome! I certainly agree that the
majority of all women (regardless of ethnic background) have many
difficulties getting an appropriate diagnosis and treatment for endo.
However, health care disparities amongst (all) women and minorities are
well documented for many diseases (e.g. cardiovascular, autoimmune,
etc). Prejudice or bias was not the primary reasons for my delay in
treatment; however, they did have a significant role in my experiences
with some of the physicians. It was particularly disconcerting because
these were academic (i.e. teaching hospital)physicians, who are
responsible for the education of physicians-in-training, therefore
perpetuating a dangerous philosophy! Whether intentional or
unintentional, the inappropriately applied statistics had major
consequences. Physicians come to the table with many filters: personal,
medical education, medical training, the "philosophy" of the training
institution, skill set limitations, and their cursory "views" about the
patient. It is something EVERY WOMAN needs to be aware of in her quest
for good care. Again, thank you! Your welcome is very much appreciated.
At Fri, 27 Feb 2004, Liss wrote:
>
>Dear Dominique,
>
>It is terrible how you have been treated by doctors. Thank you for
>sharing your story. I saw that another poster thought that your story
>might not have anything to do with you being a person of color. While I
>sort of see how she might think that, I disagree with her. I hope that
>people of color can find this message board to be a welcoming place to
>share their views.
>
>I hope you (and everyone) will think about writing your story for
>Kerry-Ann Morris's book about endometriosis -- she is great to work with
>and I am really excited about her project. Her website is
>http://www.unveilingendometriosis.com. Best Wishes, Liss
>
>At Thu, 26 Feb 2004, Dominique wrote:
>>
>>At Tue, 9 Sep 2003, Kerry-Ann wrote:
>>>
>>>Hi,
>>>I found this link after searching for information about black women and endometriosis.If this topic is still of interest, I'd like to add my input...
>>
>>As an African-American woman with endometriosis, my experiences with
>>health care professionals were appalling! I unfortunately had moderate
>>endometrios and several large fibroid tumors. Over a 15 month period, I
>>visited 9 Ob/Gyn providers before I finally found one who was willing to
>>remove my fibroids.The endometriosis was an "incidental" finding. No
>>provider ever suggested it was the cause of my chronic and acute pelvic
>>pain. All were quick to suspect pelvic inflammatory disease even though
>>I had no social risk factors, or high risk behavior. One female
>>provider even proclaimed that "fibroids do not cause pain". When I
>>inquired about a myomectomy, I was told "Operating on you isn't my idea
>>of a good time. You've got that belly, I don't know if I can get a
>>camera in there. Don't get me wrong, I like my job, but operating on
>>you isn't my idea of a good time". I reported the incident to my health
>>plan. At a grievance hearing this same provider indicated that she had
>>not used the words "good time"; rather, she protested that she had said
>>that operating on me wasn't her idea of "fun".
>>
>>Most of the providers behaved if the fibroid and endometriosis
>>symptomatology were akin to getting a pimple. When I indicated that I
>>could no longer tolerate the acute symptoms,one provider suggested that
>>I was narcotic seeking. When I informed him that I have never asked any
>>provider for narcotics, he replied "most people don't want to admit it
>>if they do".
>>
>>I live in Pittsburgh. All of the physicians whom I consulted were
>>academic physicians at a women's hospital. All were highly recommended
>>by by other health care professionals whom I cosulted (i.e. physician
>>friends, nurses, personal friends etc.). I finally found a young
>>surgeon who sucessfully removed my myomas. However, due to the
>>unexpected endometriosis, all of it was not removed. Therefore, 6 weeks
>>following my myomectomy, my symptoms returned.
>>
>>I finally sought treatment from The Center for Women's Care in Atlanta
>>Georgia. Dr. Thomas Lyons was my physician. He and his staff
>>epitomized professionalism, courtesy, and kindness.
>>
>>Several months later, I sought a consultation with a
>>reproductive-endocrinologist to discuss fertility concerns. I took
>>copies of all of my records to my visit. This provider never asked me
>>about the endometriosis or fibroids. However, she asked me one question
>>three times: "You've never had PID"?. After three "NO's", she asked
>>"has anyone ever told you that you had salpingitis, oopheritis"?. Again
>>my answer was No. At this point, she stared at my quizzically, and
>>muttered that's odd. I reminded her that all of my records were before
>>her, and that they contained a complete personal and family history. She
>>never looked at them, nor did she do a physical examination. She said
>>that the nurse practitioner would be in to answer any questions that I
>>had about fertility options, and left the room.
>>
>>The experiences that I have had are extremely disconcerting. If they
>>are happening to me, then young women who are uninformed and lacking
>>basic health benefits get worse treatment. I am a professional
>>well-educated black woman. Medicine is the last place that I should
>>have to guard against stereotype.
>>>
>>>--
>>>Kerry-Ann here from the Unveiling Endometriosis Project. First I want
>>>to thank all of you who responded to my first post concerning
>>>endometriosis and its social effects on women in their 20s. If any of
>>>you are still interested please do not hesitate to contact me.
>>>
>>>Today, I have another request. Just out of curiousity I would like to
>>>hear from any black women on this forum. I have a few questions I would
>>>like to ask concerning your endometriosis experience. I would be very
>>>pleased to hear from any and all of you. Please to contact me at
>>>xahmaica2002@yahoo.com. Thank you and have a wonderful day!
>>>
>>>Kerry-Ann Morris
>>>Secretariat
>>>Unveiling Endometriosis Project
>>>
>>>--
>>>"To Make Aware, To Educate, to Support & to Empower"
>>>
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