If you are or know a teenaged woman please read

[dsc]

Is she having harsh periods and constant urinary tract infections? Are doctors telling you it is in her head? Don't just take that at face value. My sister had very rough periods all through her teens and 20's. It took until this year for her to be diagnosed with endometriosis. She has been faced with the decision of having a baby now, going into chemical menopause and then having a child, or having a hysterectomy. If you, or someone you love, is having wicked periods get to a competent doctor. Our family is wishing we had this to do over again.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[liberalhistorian]

2. Well, I DID go to my doctor for many

years with every single symptom of endometriosis, including the ones you mentioned, and I continually asked if that's what it could be. My doctor always just said no, she didn't think so, and just continued to give me prescriptions for strong painkillers. She'd been my gynecologist for over ten years, so I foolishly trusted her. Finally, I started bleeding a week earlier than my period was due, then it was every single day; she finally had to really pay attention to that.

The ultrasound showed ovarian cysts and fibroids and, since I'd had abnormal pap smears, she asked me if I just wanted a hysterectomy. I was 37, never married, with one child, and really thought it was for the best to do it. When she opened me up, she also discovered endometriosis EVERYWHERE, it was even twisted into my fallopian tubes. Well, she was one hell of an apologetic doctor when she came to my hospital room afterwards. I think she was afraid I was going to sue her or something, since I was a paralegal, but I wasn't interested in doing so. I just made her promise to actually LISTEN to her patients from then on and take them seriously. She could have saved me years of pain, suffering and inconvenience if she'd done so with me.

On edit: Just to clarify something, it's not just teenaged girls and young women that have to deal with this, either.

[beyurslf]

4. Somehow I think a large malpractice settlement is better guarantee

than a simple promise. It could pay for your kid's medical school. I bet he or she listens to their patients.

[dsc]

6. I put the young in

since had she been properly diagnosed she wouldn't be facing this now. She had the same history as you and now is in a big mess.

[liberalhistorian]

9. I know, and I'm so sorry to hear that, it's

really so unfair. And so unnecessary, too, since the symptoms of endometriosis are very well-known and accepted by now, and there's no excuse at all for any gynecologist not to pay attention to them or to say that things are "in her head." And I could say that it's better to go to a female gynecologist, and that's usually true, but in my case my gyn. WAS a woman.

[dsc]

10. hers was too

and the one who finally diagnosed her was male.

[survivor999]

3. Is the diagnosis 100% certain?

Which I think is only possible by surgery.

[dsc]

5. sadly yes

She had the surgery a few weeks ago and it was not very sucessful. He then outlined her options. Had she gotten a proper diagnosis as a teen she wouldn't be where she is now.

[survivor999]

12. I think even when you do surgery early on

New tissue forms and you need more surgery later on. It's a bit of a mess. I was asking because two friends had very painful periods when they were teenagers and into their 20s. They were told they probably had endometriosis but they did not want to go through some dicey surgery that probably would not have taken care of the condition anyway. Instead they went on the pill for a few years. And after they stopped all was well. I assume they did not have endometriosis to start with. Or perhaps not enough is known about the condition, and certain types can be dealt with by stopping the period altogether for a few years.

[dsc]

13. birth control might have helped her too

though her case is very bad.

[idgiehkt]

7. I don't understand why the hysterectomy is necessary?

Can you explain this? Will they leave her ovaries, or take them too. My ex informed me recently that she had had a total hyst and I was mad as hell, she is only 37, and it was over endometriosis. But she never had serious pain with it. Are they afraid she will get cancer? If there is no risk of cancer why do the hysterectomy? I am having a hard time understanding all these damn hysterectomies.

[dsc]

8. Evidently

the endometriosis is out of control. It has affected her bowels. The hysterectomy isn't being offered this second but as something in a few years time if she can't or won't get pregnant or do the hormone therapy. She is 27 now and they are figuring 31 if nothing is done.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

11. partial hysterectomies are still fairly rare...

Most doctors just remove everything. Luckily, when I came up with Cervical cancer, I had a good doctor who explained all my options, and then let me make up my own mind. He's a rare gem.

[pansypoo53219]

14. i don't know what my prob is

but i had horrible cramps til i got an easy remedy for anybody and no midol. just take an aspirin a day at least 4 to 7 days before and no more. you might get minor ones, but bearable.

a tip for anybody. i use cheap everyday regimen aspirin from walgreens.