Yikes! I can't believe I made the decision. And I can't go back because the husband already took off work and it would be a pain in the ass to go back and change it now.
So, laparoscopic excision surgery is scheduled for July 13 with my new doctor. I am SO nervous. I'm nervous that the doctor will either not find anything, and that's surgery number 3 for nothing, or he's going to find something horrible. It's one or the other.
Although I'm really confident in my doctor, I am only about 80% confident that he is going to find endometriosis. When I told him I was thinking about having a hysterectomy just to be done with all the pain so I can move on with my life, he said it was jumping the gun. But if I wake up from anesthesia and they say they found nothing, like last time, I will be devastated.
But, for now I am jumping that gun! Countdown til July 13! 25 more days...
Showing posts with label laparoscopy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label laparoscopy. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Can't Decide
I can't decide what to do about going to the CEC for treatment. I spoke to Muriel from there today, and she seemed very anxious to schedule me, and I'm just not ready to make the decision. One major factor in all of this is money. I really need to get at least an estimate on the cost of the procedure, then figure out what I will ultimately be responsible for, plus the airfare and hotel, meals etc. I know my health is more important than money, my husband will be the first to say that, but for me personally it's something I need to know up front.
Also, she said since they do surgeries on Tuesdays, I'll be there for about 5 days, since I will spend one night in the hospital. I've never had to spend the night in the hospital after any of my laps, and how does this qualify as outpatient surgery if I will indeed be an inpatient? Looks like I'll be giving Muriel a call back.
Then there's the whole work issue, although I found out today that I am earning about 2 sick days per 2 months I am there, so if I can get about 6 days in the hopper before we go down, I might be good. My job is not physically demanding and they might even let me do some work from home once we would get back from Atlanta, so I wouldn't have to tap into my vacation days. Of course, this is all dependent on the fact I just have endo excised, and don't need (or want) a hysterectomy.
Also, she said since they do surgeries on Tuesdays, I'll be there for about 5 days, since I will spend one night in the hospital. I've never had to spend the night in the hospital after any of my laps, and how does this qualify as outpatient surgery if I will indeed be an inpatient? Looks like I'll be giving Muriel a call back.
Then there's the whole work issue, although I found out today that I am earning about 2 sick days per 2 months I am there, so if I can get about 6 days in the hopper before we go down, I might be good. My job is not physically demanding and they might even let me do some work from home once we would get back from Atlanta, so I wouldn't have to tap into my vacation days. Of course, this is all dependent on the fact I just have endo excised, and don't need (or want) a hysterectomy.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Surgical History
2001 Laparoscopy (Possibly ablation)
Diagnosis: Mild endometriosis, ovarian cyst
Symptom Relief: After 6 months of Lupron immediately following surgery, pain came back
2005 Laparoscopy (No method needed)
Diagnosis: No endometriosis found, only “inflammation”
Symptom Relief: None
2006 Laparoscopy (Excision of cyst)
Diagnosis: Removal of paratubal cyst
Symptom Relief: Pain from cyst was gone, no relief from endometriosis
Diagnosis: Mild endometriosis, ovarian cyst
Symptom Relief: After 6 months of Lupron immediately following surgery, pain came back
2005 Laparoscopy (No method needed)
Diagnosis: No endometriosis found, only “inflammation”
Symptom Relief: None
2006 Laparoscopy (Excision of cyst)
Diagnosis: Removal of paratubal cyst
Symptom Relief: Pain from cyst was gone, no relief from endometriosis
Big Busted History, Part 2
So anywho...
From 2006-2008, I was not on any kind of birth control. At one point, they suggested a presacral neurectomy, which I was told would sever the nerve causing the pain in my uterus. I decided against it. My cramps were getting increasingly worse, and I was also having new symptoms, such as bowel pain, nausea and fatigue. My cramps were also starting the week before my period, and then increasing in pain up until 3 days after my period started. I had one more laparoscopy in 2006 due to a ruptured ovarian cyst, unrelated to endometriosis.
In July 2008 my periods started arriving 7-10 days early, when I had always had a perfect 28 day cycle. As of right now, my periods come anywhere between 20-30 days.
In December 2008, I made an appointment with a reproductive endocrinologist. I had done years of Internet research on endometriosis, and he was supposed to be a specialist. The only suggestion he had for me at my appointment, which lasted about 10 minutes, was to go BACK on Lupron. For a third time! He said that if I went on it with an add-back therapy I would not experience bone loss. Although it is tempting to go back on Lupron and be pain free for 6 months, I also know I need to treat the disease, not the symptoms. He also said that because surgery has not helped me in the past, it would not make sense to do it again.
It is now February 2009, and I have been dealing with this pain for 15 years. I’ve seen 4 different doctors, and they all seemed to want to treat the symptoms, not the problem.
From 2006-2008, I was not on any kind of birth control. At one point, they suggested a presacral neurectomy, which I was told would sever the nerve causing the pain in my uterus. I decided against it. My cramps were getting increasingly worse, and I was also having new symptoms, such as bowel pain, nausea and fatigue. My cramps were also starting the week before my period, and then increasing in pain up until 3 days after my period started. I had one more laparoscopy in 2006 due to a ruptured ovarian cyst, unrelated to endometriosis.
In July 2008 my periods started arriving 7-10 days early, when I had always had a perfect 28 day cycle. As of right now, my periods come anywhere between 20-30 days.
In December 2008, I made an appointment with a reproductive endocrinologist. I had done years of Internet research on endometriosis, and he was supposed to be a specialist. The only suggestion he had for me at my appointment, which lasted about 10 minutes, was to go BACK on Lupron. For a third time! He said that if I went on it with an add-back therapy I would not experience bone loss. Although it is tempting to go back on Lupron and be pain free for 6 months, I also know I need to treat the disease, not the symptoms. He also said that because surgery has not helped me in the past, it would not make sense to do it again.
It is now February 2009, and I have been dealing with this pain for 15 years. I’ve seen 4 different doctors, and they all seemed to want to treat the symptoms, not the problem.
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