Wait wait wait... she was just diagnosed a month ago, and
they are now scheduling a hyst? I obviously don't know her medical
records, but NOOOOOOOOO!!!! That is a HUGE deal and a BIG surgery
that will have an effect on her the REST of her life. That should
be the very last resort, after every other option has been
explored!
I am hoping there is a very good reason she is getting a hyst
that has more to do with something other than just endo, but if
not... please encourage her to seek a second opinion!!
You're in Canada, right Casey? I'm not sure what the typical
treatment protocols are there, or what options there are. So often
it is really individualized. I will say that I would encourage most
women to REALLY do their research before submitting to Lupron as
well. It's a tough drug, and while most gyns will recommend it,
most of the top specialists won't.
Do you know how advanced their cases are?
I can honestly say that I wished in the beginning, I had been
more willing to ask questions and seek alternatives. My first year
of treatment was the hardest by far, because my doctors were just
pumping me full of drugs without a whole lot of concern for the
side effects those drugs had with them. My best pain relief tools
have actually been acupuncture and myofascial release. Both have
made a huge difference for me. I would also encourage them to look
into the endo diet. I haven't personally had a ton of luck with it,
but I have friends who swear by it. And then beyond that... just
research research research.
Oh, and pycnogenol! It's pine tree bark extract, which sounds
weird, but preliminary studies have shown it to have similar
results to Lupron without the side effects. Patients have to be on
it longer, but the benefits are more long lasting as well. And it's
a supplement, vs a drug. I take 100mg/day.
I've got to head to bed, but I'm going to try to pop back in
tomorrow. Sorry if I got too intense, I just... I can't wrap my
head around a hyst after a preliminary diagnosis for endo. If that
is really the only reason they are doing it, I guarantee there are
better options out there. She definitely needs a second opinion.
And a third and a fourth for that matter! My surgeon was one of the
top in the country, and he said I was one of the most aggressive
cases he has ever seen, and even with me - he has never recommended
a hyst (my gynocologist did though, which is why I moved on... she
was actually the second doctor to want me to have a hyst before i
found my surgeon now). It is NOT the answer for endo though, and
there are a lot of women who have hysts and continue to have
problems from endo anyway. Like I said, it should be the LAST
resort. My heart is just breaking thinking of a woman having a hyst
who doesn't actually need one. :(
