Osteopoenia

So I've had ostepoenia for the past 5 years, since my last round of Lupron. It doesn't affect me, I feel fine. I had a DEXA scan the other day to see how my bones were doing, and since the last idiot doctor I saw for endo thinks I should go on Lupron a THIRD TIME. I'm obviously not doing that, but I thought since I had the script for the scan I may as well get it done and have the results sent to me, since by now I may as well be a freaking doctor. (Let me add that I was the youngest person in the waiting room by say, 30 years). Anywho, I was happy to see that everything stayed the same. My spine is fine, and my hips were in the 78% percentile for my age range, which isn't great, but I think with exercise and being more religious about taking my calcium, I can get that a little higher.

I'm a little concerned because my mom was just diagnosed with osteoporosis at age 52, so I definitely need to watch and be careful. Even though I've never felt better on it, there is no more Lupron in my future. Certainly is crazy though how doctors will dole that stuff (well, anything really) out like candy.

Big Busted History, Part 1

In 2000, I went to my ob/gyn complaining of severe menstrual cramps, which had begun at age 14. My doctor at the time insisted it was gastrointestinal issue. When I told her that I only experienced the pain on my period, she persisted that it was just IBS. A few months later, after being put on birth control pills, I went back to her and insisted something was wrong. My doctor finally “gave in” and said she would cut me open "if she had to" to determine if I had endometriosis. I found a new doctor!

In 2001, I started seeing another local ob/gyn. I told him about my painful periods, and he immediately said I had the classic signs of endometriosis. I had a laparoscopy and was diagnosed with minimal to mild endometriosis in my posterior cul de sac region. A right, paratubal cyst was also removed at that time. I believe the method he used was ablation; I do not believe he excised the endometriosis. After surgery, I went on a 6 month treatment of Lupron Depot, during which I have never felt better. I tolerated the minimal side effects extremely well. After that 6 month time period, my cramps resumed. Because Lupron is so damaging to bones, the doctor suggested I go on continuous birth control. I was put on Ortho Tri-Cyclen continuously, and had a little relief at first, and then the pain started coming back. I decided this was something I just had to deal with, and dealt with the pain for the next 3 years.

In August 2003, I started seeing a new doctor. At my first appointment, I told him about my pain, and how it was getting increasingly worse since my surgery. He decided rather than doing surgery, I go on Lupron Depot again, since I responded so well the first time. I also had a bone scan at this time and was diagnosed with Osteopoenia, but he still suggested Lupron. After another 6 months of being pain free, the pain immediately came back my first cycle off of Lupron.

In May 2005, he decided to do a laparoscopy (my second), since I had exhausted Lupron and birth control pills did not give me any relief. My pain had gotten so bad at that point, I was missing work at least once a month. After the surgery, the doctor told me he did not find any endometriosis. I asked him why I was in so much pain, and he seemed unconcerned, telling me it looked like endometriosis could start growing, because my pelvic region was inflamed. He said I should go on continuous birth control again, to stop the endometriosis from growing back. I was confused, but figured he knew what she was talking about. I then went on a continuous cycle of Yasmin birth control pills, and stopped after 3 months. The side effects of anxiety, depression and frequent spotting were too much.

To be continued...