Fed up!

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Convert_in_99

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I’m done with my Napro Doctor. So done. He’s not such a bad doctor, but his office is inexcusably inefficient. I can’t take it anymore. If I’m lucky, it takes days to get a nurse to return my call, if I’m unlucky (which is often) they don’t return it at all. They keep using the same excuse “we’re short staffed today” or “so and so didn’t show up today.” I have a rather serious (but most likely not life threatening) issue to discuss. I have been spotting for 11 days and am 3 days late for my period. I took three early result pregnancy tests and they were all negative, thankfully. But if I wind up in the ER for something serious, or heaven forbid and ectopic pregnancy, I will be flaming mad. (Not like I’m not already ;).)

The earliest I can talk to anyone is two weeks! :eek: Lord have mercy if I was pregnant and in need, I can’t imagine the terror I’d feel with this kind of treatment. :mad: His only treatment left for me is to dope me up with an Opiate. He does hysterectomies, but doesn’t want to do that until there’s no other options. I hate these strong pain killers. They make me feel worse than I did before. I can’t believe I’ve exhausted the Napro Doctors “extensive” knowledge of Endometriosis, but I seemingly have. These doctors are held up on golden pedestals in the Catholic circles. I get bashed and berated for what I’m about to do, but it’s not like I haven’t exhausted all other options. So I’m biting the bullet. I’m going to a “secular” doctor. I got in immediately without question and their staff was incredibly nice and helpful. I’m going to probably be prescribed ABC Pills, and I’m going to take them. Come Hell or high water I’m going to find relief. Surely going on ABC is better than a complete removal of the ovaries and uterus. That I can’t get a darn follow up to the Napro doctor to get that process moving in the right direction.

I’m a practicing Catholic and I’m going to be on ABC. There I said it. I don’t like it but it’s what I’m doing. I have already received a stone throw from a “friend” at Church. My Spiritual Director will most likely be next. After that I refuse to let anyone else know. I’m already treated practically like a leper because of my mental illness, my infertility, and my mixed marriage. Its not happy fun times in my faith world. I have no support. Now I will have less. And to think of all the “have you tried Napro’s?” I’ve heard through the years. :rolleyes:
 
Best wishes with your new doctor and likely new treatment plan.

Let’s be clear about this - you know what you are doing (going on ABC) is morally acceptable to treat your condition. It is no one else’s business.

Why would your spiritual director give you grief? It sounds like perhaps you lack confidence in your own decisions here and worry that you’re not doing the right thing and others will challenge you on it. Don’t worry about the need to convince others - just get it straight in your own head first.
 
Do not feel the least bit worried about going to see a traditional obgyn who will see you tomorrow. You need to be seen, end of discussion. You have a medical condition which can be validly be treated with birth control, and it’s been very clearly documented that it’s alright to do that. If there are “holier than thou’s” at your parish, they should take the planks from their eyes first!
God bless and be well.
 
Please do not beat yourself up. I have been on the ABC for years (except the times I went through fertility testing/treatments) because of hormonal headaches. And yes, years of testing from neurologists finally isolated a specific pattern of headache to a specific hormone.

Sadly, drug companies don’t make the specific drug that works. It only comes in combo. But it allows me to be a mom and kept me from an opiate addict, because it is what I would have become.
 
Convert_in_99 said:
I’m done with my Napro Doctor. So done. He’s not such a bad doctor, but his office is inexcusably inefficient. I can’t take it anymore. If I’m lucky, it takes days to get a nurse to return my call, if I’m unlucky (which is often) they don’t return it at all. They keep using the same excuse “we’re short staffed today” or “so and so didn’t show up today.” I have a rather serious (but most likely not life threatening) issue to discuss. I have been spotting for 11 days and am 3 days late for my period. I took three early result pregnancy tests and they were all negative, thankfully. But if I wind up in the ER for something serious, or heaven forbid and ectopic pregnancy, I will be flaming mad. (Not like I’m not already ;).)

The earliest I can talk to anyone is two weeks! :eek: Lord have mercy if I was pregnant and in need, I can’t imagine the terror I’d feel with this kind of treatment. :mad: His only treatment left for me is to dope me up with an Opiate. He does hysterectomies, but doesn’t want to do that until there’s no other options. I hate these strong pain killers. They make me feel worse than I did before. I can’t believe I’ve exhausted the Napro Doctors “extensive” knowledge of Endometriosis, but I seemingly have. These doctors are held up on golden pedestals in the Catholic circles. I get bashed and berated for what I’m about to do, but it’s not like I haven’t exhausted all other options. So I’m biting the bullet. I’m going to a “secular” doctor. I got in immediately without question and their staff was incredibly nice and helpful. I’m going to probably be prescribed ABC Pills, and I’m going to take them. Come Hell or high water I’m going to find relief. Surely going on ABC is better than a complete removal of the ovaries and uterus. That I can’t get a darn follow up to the Napro doctor to get that process moving in the right direction.

I’m a practicing Catholic and I’m going to be on ABC. There I said it. I don’t like it but it’s what I’m doing. I have already received a stone throw from a “friend” at Church. My Spiritual Director will most likely be next. After that I refuse to let anyone else know. I’m already treated practically like a leper because of my mental illness, my infertility, and my mixed marriage. Its not happy fun times in my faith world. I have no support. Now I will have less. And to think of all the “have you tried Napro’s?” I’ve heard through the years. :rolleyes:
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You’re doing the right thing.

The people who are giving you a hard time are well-intentioned but ignorant.

Remember the story of the Good Samaritan–what if the wounded Jewish traveler had waited to have a fellow Jew to help him? He would have died by the side of the road.
 
I’m sorry for your pain. No one else lives in your body and I think it’s unreasonable for people to question a solution that is approved by the Church. Especially since you’ve tried everything else.

You deserve good medical care and I agree w/the poster who said it’s good you’re being seen promptly.

Opiate addiction is serious, and it’s easy to develop. Many people can take them safely but others have some trouble.

best of luck to you.
 
I’m sorry I don’t know much about your problem but I wish you strength, faith, peace, hope and love.

I’m sending prayers your way…

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
 
The Church doesn’t have a problem with ABC when it’s used for purposes like yours. But if you’re worried about people casting stones, don’t share the information with them. This is not their business.
 
Hi Fed Up,

I’m so sorry that you are going through this. Please know that I’m praying for you. You indicated in your post that you saw the one Napro doctor and pointed out that it’s mainly his office you have a problem with. By and large, you stated that as a doctor though, that he’s pretty good. To be clear, have you talked to any other Napro doctor? I wanted to give you some info that might help you and anyone else that may be suffering with something similar. It might be worth talking to another Napro doctor to get a second opinion just to see if you truly have no other options. There’s a number provided below that you can call for assistance. I copied and pasted the info from Jason Evert’s website. I tried to copy the link, but unfortunately it took me back to the main page. Please know that, I’m in no way judging you by giving you this info. I can tell that you are hurting, and I figure that it wouldn’t hurt to talk to someone else if you so choose. Please note that I’m aware that the question below might not deal directly with your situation, but the answer may be of some help. Here it is:

Q:I take the Pill for ovarian cysts and my friend uses it to regulate her cycle, but neither of us is sexually active. Is that a sin?

A: Although it is wrong to use the birth control pill in order to prevent conception, it has other medical applications. For example, it is often prescribed to treat such conditions as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, irregular cycles, and painful cramps.

It should be noted that these conditions often have alternative remedies without the adverse side effects of the Pill, including the contraceptive effect. If an alternative therapy exists that avoids these side effects, it should be preferred to the Pill. The Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction specializes in such alternatives, so you may wish to contact them at www.naprotechnology.com or by calling 1-402-390-6600. However, his practice is located in Nebraska. To find a doctor closer to you, click here. If there are no medical professionals on this list in your area, call Dr. Hilgers and speak to his nurses about the options for you.

You mention that your friend is using the Pill to “regulate her cycle.” She should know that technically the birth control pill does not do this. It may give what appears to be a regular cycle, but it is actually causing her to have a “withdrawal bleed” rather than a regular menstruation.

Here’s how it works: You’ll notice in most packages of birth control pills that some of the pills are of a different color. These are called sugar, blank, or placebo pills. Unlike the other pills, they contain no hormones. When the hormones are withdrawn from a woman’s body, it begins to return to normal, and her period resumes. If she never took the sugar pills but instead continued with a new pack of pills, her period would not return. But the scientists who invented the birth control pill figured that women would be more likely to use it if they still felt as if they were having their monthly period.[1] So they threw in the empty pills. The woman on the Pill is not having a normal cycle. Her body thinks that it’s pregnant three weeks of the month. She returns to normal for a week and then resumes the chemical pregnancy for three more weeks.

If your friend needs to menstruate regularly, there are other ways of accomplishing this, such as nutritional methods, which a doctor can recommend, or the use of progesterone. If your friend is using the Pill for medical reasons, she also should be fully informed of its side effects, risks, and potential alternatives. For more information on the birth control pill, click here.
 
You aren’t doing anything wrong so just R-E-L-A-X, dude.

Although something that I’ve learned is that unless you want to become part of the rumour mill then you need to keep your lips sealed. You’ve already told internet strangers and that is probably too much. 🙂 I always keep quiet around my wife’s church friends to make sure they don’t get any dirt on me.
 
Burt_Macklin said:
You aren’t doing anything wrong so just R-E-L-A-X, dude.

Although something that I’ve learned is that unless you want to become part of the rumour mill then you need to keep your lips sealed. You’ve already told internet strangers and that is probably too much. 🙂 I always keep quiet around my wife’s church friends to make sure they don’t get any dirt on me.
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Yeah.

Once you share information, you lose control over it, and it’s bound to undergo strange mutations in transit.

Share sensitive information only on a need-to-know basis.
 
I’m sorry you’re suffering, both from your medical problems and issues with people casting stones. There’s nothing wrong with taking medication to prevent or treat an illness, even if it has infertility as an unintended side effect.

If you’re feeling up for it, I would encourage you to write to your NAPRO doctor to let him know why you’re leaving the practice. Long wait times, urgent medical issues that don’t get prompt attention, lack of acceptable alternatives for treating a medical condition, etc are absolutely valid reasons to leave a medical practice and it may be cathartic for you to express your disappointment to your doctor in writing.
 
Thank you all for the encouragement, support and prayers! It means a lot. 🙂
 
Evania said:
Hi Fed Up,

I’m so sorry that you are going through this. Please know that I’m praying for you. You indicated in your post that you saw the one Napro doctor and pointed out that it’s mainly his office you have a problem with. By and large, you stated that as a doctor though, that he’s pretty good. To be clear, have you talked to any other Napro doctor? I wanted to give you some info that might help you and anyone else that may be suffering with something similar. It might be worth talking to another Napro doctor to get a second opinion just to see if you truly have no other options. There’s a number provided below that you can call for assistance. I copied and pasted the info from Jason Evert’s website. I tried to copy the link, but unfortunately it took me back to the main page. Please know that, I’m in no way judging you by giving you this info. I can tell that you are hurting, and I figure that it wouldn’t hurt to talk to someone else if you so choose. Please note that I’m aware that the question below might not deal directly with your situation, but the answer may be of some help. Here it is:

Q:I take the Pill for ovarian cysts and my friend uses it to regulate her cycle, but neither of us is sexually active. Is that a sin?

A: Although it is wrong to use the birth control pill in order to prevent conception, it has other medical applications. For example, it is often prescribed to treat such conditions as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, irregular cycles, and painful cramps.

It should be noted that these conditions often have alternative remedies without the adverse side effects of the Pill, including the contraceptive effect. If an alternative therapy exists that avoids these side effects, it should be preferred to the Pill. The Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction specializes in such alternatives, so you may wish to contact them at www.naprotechnology.com or by calling 1-402-390-6600. However, his practice is located in Nebraska. To find a doctor closer to you, click here. If there are no medical professionals on this list in your area, call Dr. Hilgers and speak to his nurses about the options for you.

You mention that your friend is using the Pill to “regulate her cycle.” She should know that technically the birth control pill does not do this. It may give what appears to be a regular cycle, but it is actually causing her to have a “withdrawal bleed” rather than a regular menstruation.

Here’s how it works: You’ll notice in most packages of birth control pills that some of the pills are of a different color. These are called sugar, blank, or placebo pills. Unlike the other pills, they contain no hormones. When the hormones are withdrawn from a woman’s body, it begins to return to normal, and her period resumes. If she never took the sugar pills but instead continued with a new pack of pills, her period would not return. But the scientists who invented the birth control pill figured that women would be more likely to use it if they still felt as if they were having their monthly period.[1] So they threw in the empty pills. The woman on the Pill is not having a normal cycle. Her body thinks that it’s pregnant three weeks of the month. She returns to normal for a week and then resumes the chemical pregnancy for three more weeks.

If your friend needs to menstruate regularly, there are other ways of accomplishing this, such as nutritional methods, which a doctor can recommend, or the use of progesterone. If your friend is using the Pill for medical reasons, she also should be fully informed of its side effects, risks, and potential alternatives. For more information on the birth control pill, click here.
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I don’t mean to be rude, but did you not read my post? I’ve exhausted this Doctor’s Napro knowledge! How is finding a new Napro doctor going to improve the situation? :confused:

I’m not seeking to regulate my cycles, they are usually quite regular. I’m seeking to lessen or even cease my periods. So the Endometriosis adhesions quit bleeding into my body. It is not a trifling disease, even though, thankfully, it isn’t life-threatening.
 
Convert_in_99 said:
I don’t mean to be rude, but did you not read my post? I’ve exhausted this Doctor’s Napro knowledge! How is finding a new Napro doctor going to improve the situation? :confused:
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To be fair, I think Evania did read your post and understand your message and was just trying to point out that Napro doctors, like all doctors, vary in their knowledge and experience with endometriosis. I realize that it’s not always (often?) possible to get a second opinion from a specialists, thought.
 
nodito said:
To be fair, I think Evania did read your post and understand your message and was just trying to point out that Napro doctors, like all doctors, vary in their knowledge and experience with endometriosis.
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Okay, I’m bad with social situations and am sorry if I sounded mean. There aren’t many Napro doctors out there. I was lucky to have this one. I think part of the problem is he is very new in his practice too. Late twenties/early thirties. This is his first Medical practice. Over time he will probably be better able to treat these diseases. He will grow in knowledge and experience. So in 10-15 more years or so he might be much better equipped and have more treatment options. I just need help now, not later. His office staff on the other hand…they just need help…lol! :o
 
Convert_in_99 said:
Okay, I’m bad with social situations and am sorry if I sounded mean. There aren’t many Napro doctors out there. I was lucky to have this one. I think part of the problem is he is very new in his practice too. Over time he will probably be better able to treat these diseases. He will grow in knowledge and experience. So in 10 more years or so he might be better equipped. I just need help now, not later. His office staff on the other hand…they just need help…lol! :o
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That sounds super frustrating. I hope you find your new practice to be helpful, encouraging, and quick to respond, and capable of treating your illness.
 
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