Re: When Dr. Reich says that my endo will not come back, how can he know this for sure?

From: Helen Dynda (olddad66@runestone.net)
Thu May 17 17:00:24 2001


I'm not an expert on endometriosis; but I have learned that all doctore do not treat endometriosis in the same way. Some doctors treat endometriosis only with drugs! Others believe that surgery is the only way to eradicate endometriosis. And doctors, who believe that surgery is the answer, vary as to what kind of surgical approach they take when they do surgery for endometriosis. Some surgeons use lasers, others use other kinds of surgical instruments.

If their patient has developed adhesions from past surgeries, it is very possible that endometriosis might be buried beneath the adhesions...out of the sight of the surgeon. Until a surgeon actually lyses these adhesions and excises ( cuts out ) the buried endometriosis, the disease of endometriosis will continue to cause problems.

Previously, I mentioned the names of Dr. Reich and Dr. Redwine because I know that they are experts, when it comes to surgery for endometriosis!! At the time of a surgical procedure for endometriosis, these surgeons actually send tissue samples to the pathology lab to make sure that they have removed every trace of endometriosis. Both of these surgeons have the skill and experience of recognizing the many different kinds of endometriosis; but endometriosis can also be microscopic...and this is when these two surgeons rely upon the pathologist to help them determine if they've removed every trace of endometriosis.

Unless the surgeon possesses the skill and experience similar to that of Dr. Reich and Dr. Redwine, for instance, then it is possible that endometriosis will return. If only one implant is missed, this implant will continue to respond to the menstrual cycle by bleeding internally and thus causing more implants and more scarring.

Please be sure to read at least the first four websites to gain a better understanding of endometriosis.

At Thu, 17 May 2001, Ellen Eggers wrote:

I think this is a very interesting question. I had a doctor in the midwest who was so sure of his technique for removing endo that he was the source of MY most insulting response from a Dr.: when I still had pain after the surgery (which, of course, I now know to be from adhesions), he kept repeating over and over, "I have removed the disease; there is no cause for pain." When I finally had a hysterectomy, there was a great deal of endo that had not been removed. I also have a good friend who, because of endo, had a total hysterectomy about 14 years ago. Recently, she had some bleeding and learned that it was endo that was causing it. Apparently, there really are no guarantees concerning the total removal of endo.

At Thu, 17 May 2001, Helen Dynda wrote:

Recently, someone shared her concerns about the following: When Dr. Reich says that my endo will not come back, how can he know this for sure? What happens during my cycle now, that these cells will no longer be deposited outside the uterus? "

Dr. Harry Reich performed her surgery at Scranton, PA. Dr. Reich is considered to be one of the best endometriosis specialists.

The following websites of information from the St. Charles Endometriosis Treatment Program at Bend, Oregon. Dr. David Redwine is also considered to be one of the best endometriosis specialists.

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1.) Does endometriosis "come back" after surgical treatment?

http://www.scmc.org/endo/html/question3.html

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2.) Observations from the Sixth World Congress on Endometriosis, Quebec City, Canada, June 30 - July 4, 1998 Old Theories Persist ... If you have been diagnosed as having endometriosis -- or if you have had excision surgery for endometriosis -- this paragraph will provide you with a better understanding about endometriosis:

"Sadly, some researchers continue to try to support reflux menstruation as the mechanism of origin of endometriosis, thinking that endometriosis is exactly the same tissue as that which lines the uterus. They don't seem to realize that endometriosis tissue is profoundly different from that which lines the uterus. It has fundamental differences in hormone receptors, hormone response, enzymatic activity, cellular differentiation, chromosome structure, and visual appearance among other things."

http://www.scmc.org/endo/html/reprint13.html

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3.) Our Responses To Your Common Questions About Endometriosis

http://www.scmc.org/endo/html/reprint5.html

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4.) Infomatics in Endometriosis Accurate Information Sheds Light on the "Mysteries" of Endometriosis ... Spring / Summer 2001

http://www.scmc.org/endo/html/endomysteries.html

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5.) Articles Reprinted from the St. Charles Endometriosis Treatment Program Newsletters ... There are many more articles about endometriosis at this website.

http://www.scmc.org/endo/html/reprinta.html

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