Dear Gynecologists,
I came to you after multiple ER visits, continuous, excruciating pelvic pain, several ultrasounds, 2 CT scans, and countless pelvic exams. One of you told me I had vaginal wall muscle strain and should try pelvic floor exercises. This was your diagnosis after spending a grand total of 10 minutes with me, not taking a gynecological history and failing to take into account that I had just had 2 internal ultrasounds within the past 3 days-so yes, my vaginal wall muscles were sore.
So, I sought a second opinion. I, again, endured another pelvic exam, but this time you gave me hope. You took the time to talk to me and even advised that you believed I had endometriosis, adhesions, or a combination of both which would best be treated with a hysterectomy. You told me you would request my medical records and call me the next day to put me in touch with the surgery scheduler. 1 week later, after numerous calls to your office, you called me at 8 pm to tell me you did not think there was anything "pathologically causing my pain" and would not be taking me as a patient. I am not an idiot, I know that this means you think it is all in my head.
So I took a month off. I dealt with the pain, but did not seek any further opinions. I think I was hoping it would just go away since I had been told twice that I was imagining the pain to begin with.d
But the pain continued, and got worse.
So I went to a 3rd gynecologist. And she listened. She examined. She also believed I needed a hysterectomy due to endometriosis or adhesions or both. She referred me to a specialist as I was a complicated case. I had such hope.
The purpose of referring me to this specialist gynecologist, was with the idea that she would at the very least she would perform a laparoscopy to get a better idea of what was going on to cause my pelvic pain. But that is not what happened. She put me on the birth control pill to see if that helped my pain which would then confirm a diagnosis of endometriosis. It did not help my pain. It did cause me to bleed continuously for 3 months. After another, very painful, ultrasound and a D&C to remove a benign cyst from my uterus, she discharged me from her care and referred me to another group located about 1 hour from my home. At our final appointment, she indicated that because she was unable to find anything (even though she did not do the laparoscopy), my pain was likely psychological rather than true physical pain.
I am now on GYN #5 and guess what? I have a hysterectomy scheduled for 5/13/16. I have been diagnosed with endometriosis, an endometrioma on my left ovary and adhesions.
To all of the physicians that were not willing to listen, or were quick to believe I was exaggerating my pain-shame on you.
It should not take almost 1 year and 5 different doctors, countless ER visits, and a plethora of tests to diagnose this. And the biggest shame of this entire process is that it has been this way for decades. My mother suffered from endometriosis for 15 years before she had an emergency hysterectomy at my father's insistence. I have at least 10 friends that have had similar experiences before someone finally listened and gave them the treatment they needed.
This is a blemish on the face of our medical system. The problem lies within the fact that doctors are afraid to prescribe narcotics to control pain due to unrealistic DEA regulations, if a problem does not show up on a test or scan-doctors are quick to state that the issue must be in the patient's head, and doctors tend to believe women less than men when it comes to pain caused by something they cannot see.
I am sick. I have suffered for months with intractable pain. I have been humiliated and dismissed. This needs to stop. Now. There is no excuse for this type of treatment of women.
Sincerely,
Patient in Pain
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
The Power of Prayer
Yesterday I experienced the intervention of the God of all creation on my behalf in a way that I have rarely seen. I also saw tangible results of the power or prayer.
We spent 4 hours at the UNC Gynecological & Pelvic Pain Clinic at Hillsborough yesterday. The appointment started off terribly-the nurse told me they would not be prescribing any pain medication to treat my chronic pelvic pain. My previous physician who had discharged me from her care to turn me over the this clinic had written just enough medication to get me to my appointment date at UNC.
But then God intervened. The PA to my medical history and then told me she was going to take the case to Dr. Stegge. Now, a few things you should know about Dr. Stegge-he has been in the top 1% of all gynecological surgeons in the nation for the past 10 years; he is the former Director of Gynecology for all of UNC; he is now semi-retired and only comes into the clinic 1 day per month to mentor the physicians there and review complicated cases.
Let me repeat that last statement: he is only there one day per month.
You cannot make an appointment with him. We did not know he would be there that day. But God did.
After an intense exam, he determined that surgery is the best solution for my problem. And he gave me a diagnosis. A diagnosis. Something I have been seeking for months. Endometriosis with an endometrioma and adhesions. The solution is a hysterectomy, something we have been told on and off for several months, but each time the physician back-pedaled and dismissed my pain as "in my head".
They wanted to do an ultrasound. The PA said she would call down to see if they could fit me in so we did not have to delay treatment further by scheduling it for a later date. She called at 2:45 pm at which time I contacted my Over-Comers group and asked for specific prayer, at 2:58 pm she came in to our exam room and told us to "book it" down to ultrasound because they could see me at 3:15 pm. Prayer answered. God intervened.
I now have an appoint on 3/9 with the best laparascopic surgeon in their practice to discuss the surgical process and hopefully get a surgery date.
Y'all-God showed up in a big way yesterday.
But God shows up every day in my life (and yours). We rejoice when we have experiences like I did yesterday, and that is a good thing. But, we need to be still and see the everyday miracles he performs in our lives as well.
God provided one more miracle yesterday-and every day. My amazing husband. My husband who takes care of me. My husband who holds my hand when I am crying in pain during an exam or test. My husband who holds me when I am wrecked with disappointment and anxiety. He is my gift from God and I could not get through this without him.
Blessings,
Meri
We spent 4 hours at the UNC Gynecological & Pelvic Pain Clinic at Hillsborough yesterday. The appointment started off terribly-the nurse told me they would not be prescribing any pain medication to treat my chronic pelvic pain. My previous physician who had discharged me from her care to turn me over the this clinic had written just enough medication to get me to my appointment date at UNC.
But then God intervened. The PA to my medical history and then told me she was going to take the case to Dr. Stegge. Now, a few things you should know about Dr. Stegge-he has been in the top 1% of all gynecological surgeons in the nation for the past 10 years; he is the former Director of Gynecology for all of UNC; he is now semi-retired and only comes into the clinic 1 day per month to mentor the physicians there and review complicated cases.
Let me repeat that last statement: he is only there one day per month.
You cannot make an appointment with him. We did not know he would be there that day. But God did.
After an intense exam, he determined that surgery is the best solution for my problem. And he gave me a diagnosis. A diagnosis. Something I have been seeking for months. Endometriosis with an endometrioma and adhesions. The solution is a hysterectomy, something we have been told on and off for several months, but each time the physician back-pedaled and dismissed my pain as "in my head".
They wanted to do an ultrasound. The PA said she would call down to see if they could fit me in so we did not have to delay treatment further by scheduling it for a later date. She called at 2:45 pm at which time I contacted my Over-Comers group and asked for specific prayer, at 2:58 pm she came in to our exam room and told us to "book it" down to ultrasound because they could see me at 3:15 pm. Prayer answered. God intervened.
I now have an appoint on 3/9 with the best laparascopic surgeon in their practice to discuss the surgical process and hopefully get a surgery date.
Y'all-God showed up in a big way yesterday.
But God shows up every day in my life (and yours). We rejoice when we have experiences like I did yesterday, and that is a good thing. But, we need to be still and see the everyday miracles he performs in our lives as well.
God provided one more miracle yesterday-and every day. My amazing husband. My husband who takes care of me. My husband who holds my hand when I am crying in pain during an exam or test. My husband who holds me when I am wrecked with disappointment and anxiety. He is my gift from God and I could not get through this without him.
Blessings,
Meri
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