Things are looking up...Endo saga continued

[Convert_in_99]

I actually had a positive experience with the Napro Doctor today! My husband came and that seemed to help get things straightened out much more quickly. I’m going to have an abdominal surgery done by a GI specialist to remove all the Endometriosis from my bowels. They first have to do a simple colonoscopy to see if any Endometriosis has penetrated into the inside of my intestines, etc. I guess Endometriosis regrows in me at a much faster than normal rate (lucky me! ) Once they get me all cleared out of Endometriosis then they are going to suppress my cycles for six months with Lupron which ceases estrogen production. So it’s hormonal, but wont hurt potential unborn babies as it suppresses ovulation and gives my body a chance to heal without nasty estrogen getting reintroduced. (Being Napro, he says he normally doesn’t do this because it’s birth control, but he’s doing it in my case sense it’s so severe…now we’re cooking with petrol! ) Then in six months I’d go off Lupron and see what happens, as you cannot be on it longer for medical safety reasons. It’s going to be a long few months ahead of waiting for appointments and the colonoscopy, surgery, then recovery. It is probably going to be an open abdominal surgery which will take 6-8 weeks minimum to recover from. I wish there was something more they could do for the pain while I wait for all this to be finished. But I’m just so happy we finally have a real live plan and that it’s going to be carried out relatively soon! Praise God! :extrahappy:

Please continue to pray that this surgery be safe and successful with no complications. Also pray for my husband as he is going to be searching for a second part time job since I can’t work right now. Please pray he finds something soon that isn’t stressful (as his day job is.) He is such an awesome husband to go through all this craziness with me and work so hard to take care of me. He’s just absolutely wonderful!

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I actually had a positive experience with the Napro Doctor today! My husband came and that seemed to help get things straightened out much more quickly. I’m going to have an abdominal surgery done by a GI specialist to remove all the Endometriosis from my bowels. They first have to do a simple colonoscopy to see if any Endometriosis has penetrated into the inside of my intestines, etc. I guess Endometriosis regrows in me at a much faster than normal rate (lucky me! ) Once they get me all cleared out of Endometriosis then they are going to suppress my cycles for six months with Lupron which ceases estrogen production. So it’s hormonal, but wont hurt potential unborn babies as it suppresses ovulation and gives my body a chance to heal without nasty estrogen getting reintroduced. (Being Napro, he says he normally doesn’t do this because it’s birth control, but he’s doing it in my case sense it’s so severe…now we’re cooking with petrol! ) Then in six months I’d go off Lupron and see what happens, as you cannot be on it longer for medical safety reasons. It’s going to be a long few months ahead of waiting for appointments and the colonoscopy, surgery, then recovery. It is probably going to be an open abdominal surgery which will take 6-8 weeks minimum to recover from. I wish there was something more they could do for the pain while I wait for all this to be finished. But I’m just so happy we finally have a real live plan and that it’s going to be carried out relatively soon! Praise God! :extrahappy:

Please continue to pray that this surgery be safe and successful with no complications. Also pray for my husband as he is going to be searching for a second part time job since I can’t work right now. Please pray he finds something soon that isn’t stressful (as his day job is.) He is such an awesome husband to go through all this craziness with me and work so hard to take care of me. He’s just absolutely wonderful!

This is excellent news! And I am so happy that you at least have a plan of action. I also will say this again. I am also happy for you that your husband has the character he is showing through all of this. That he is not Catholic but is helping you through this and respecting your faith so much is indeed one of the most noble things anyone has posted about their husbands on these boards.

PS

I guess we can use you as an example when discussing napro doctors.

We are looking for one but their is not one within 5 hours of us…

 

[ejlo1]

Glad to hear you have a plan! I’ll be praying for you!

HD - I’m lucky to have my NaPro doctor only 5 min away. Can the Pope Paul VI institute help you at all over the phone/email?

 

[St_Francis]

How wonderful you have a plan and so can at least see an end to all this!

 

[tweedlealice]

I actually had a positive experience with the Napro Doctor today! My husband came and that seemed to help get things straightened out much more quickly. I’m going to have an abdominal surgery done by a GI specialist to remove all the Endometriosis from my bowels. They first have to do a simple colonoscopy to see if any Endometriosis has penetrated into the inside of my intestines, etc. I guess Endometriosis regrows in me at a much faster than normal rate (lucky me! ) Once they get me all cleared out of Endometriosis then they are going to suppress my cycles for six months with Lupron which ceases estrogen production. So it’s hormonal, but wont hurt potential unborn babies as it suppresses ovulation and gives my body a chance to heal without nasty estrogen getting reintroduced. (Being Napro, he says he normally doesn’t do this because it’s birth control, but he’s doing it in my case sense it’s so severe…now we’re cooking with petrol! ) Then in six months I’d go off Lupron and see what happens, as you cannot be on it longer for medical safety reasons. It’s going to be a long few months ahead of waiting for appointments and the colonoscopy, surgery, then recovery. It is probably going to be an open abdominal surgery which will take 6-8 weeks minimum to recover from. I wish there was something more they could do for the pain while I wait for all this to be finished. But I’m just so happy we finally have a real live plan and that it’s going to be carried out relatively soon! Praise God! :extrahappy:

Please continue to pray that this surgery be safe and successful with no complications. Also pray for my husband as he is going to be searching for a second part time job since I can’t work right now. Please pray he finds something soon that isn’t stressful (as his day job is.) He is such an awesome husband to go through all this craziness with me and work so hard to take care of me. He’s just absolutely wonderful!

Remember to ask about scar tissue in your vagina that they may free up during surgery.
Lord, rejoicing that surgery is ahead that will resolve so much discomfort of this child of yours. Thank you for her having a healthy, blessed future.

in Christs name
tweedlealice

 

[pianistclare]

Praying for you dear one.
Clare

 

[pensmama87]

Prayers!!

 

[underacloud]

Once they get me all cleared out of Endometriosis then they are going to suppress my cycles for six months with Lupron which ceases estrogen production. So it’s hormonal, but wont hurt potential unborn babies as it suppresses ovulation and gives my body a chance to heal without nasty estrogen getting reintroduced.

I think you have either misheard or misunderstood regarding the side effects of Lupron. It is known to cause fetal abnormalities when taken while pregnant. It *should *supress your cycle effectively, but if you became pregnant while on it, there are certainly risks for the child.

I know we’re not meant to give medical advice and I’m not suggesting you don’t listen to your doctor here, but I couldn’t let this slip through unchecked. You can google the info for yourself.

Being Napro, he says he normally doesn’t do this because it’s birth control, but he’s doing it in my case sense it’s so severe…

Yeah, this pretty much sums up the moral confusion of many Napro doctors. It is not “birth control”, it is a legitimate medical treatment. If he really thinks it’s birth control, it would not matter at all how severe your case, would it? It would be an intrinsic evil and never permitted. He has contradicted himself.

I hope all goes well nonetheless.

 

[tawny]

Continued prayers for your health & recovery & successful surgical outcome.

 

[oldgraymare2]

I wish you and your DH all of the best. Prayers said for the both of you, that everything goes well. Hang in there! :hug1:

 

[alphawoman]

Prayers coming your way!

 

[kptrs]

:hug3: So glad to hear things are going well! God bless!

 

[Convert_in_99]

This is excellent news! And I am so happy that you at least have a plan of action. I also will say this again. I am also happy for you that your husband has the character he is showing through all of this. That he is not Catholic but is helping you through this and respecting your faith so much is indeed one of the most noble things anyone has posted about their husbands on these boards.

PS

I guess we can use you as an example when discussing napro doctors.

We are looking for one but their is not one within 5 hours of us…

Thanks so much! Yes my husband is a keeper for sure!

I used to live in Indiana too, and was too far away from the nearest Napro doctor.

Glad to hear you have a plan! I’ll be praying for you!
Thank you so much! God bless you!

Thanks! God bless you!

How wonderful you have a plan and so can at least see an end to all this!

Thanks! God bless you!

Remember to ask about scar tissue in your vagina that they may free up during surgery.
Lord, rejoicing that surgery is ahead that will resolve so much discomfort of this child of yours. Thank you for her having a healthy, blessed future.

in Christs name
tweedlealice

What a sweet prayer! Thanks so much!

The GYN will be there during the surgery too to remove any Endometriosis that has regrown on/in the reproductive organs.

Praying for you dear one.
Clare

Thanks so much Clare! God bless you!

Prayers!!

Thank you so much!

I think you have either misheard or misunderstood regarding the side effects of Lupron. It is known to cause fetal abnormalities when taken while pregnant. It *should *supress your cycle effectively, but if you became pregnant while on it, there are certainly risks for the child.

Yeah, this pretty much sums up the moral confusion of many Napro doctors. It is not “birth control”, it is a legitimate medical treatment. If he really thinks it’s birth control, it would not matter at all how severe your case, would it? It would be an intrinsic evil and never permitted. He has contradicted himself.

I hope all goes well nonetheless.

Oh I realize it could pose risks to baby if I got pregnant on it, I meant it doesn’t have the abortifacient component that many ABC pills do have. Also I misspoke. The doctor said it wasn’t birth control, but rather it will put me into pseudo menopause for six months. He said he doesn’t normally administer it, my guess is due to the suppression of fertility. My apologies.

Thanks for the prayers!

I wish you and your DH all of the best. Prayers said for the both of you, that everything goes well. Hang in there! :hug1:

Thank you! God bless you!

Prayers coming your way!

Thanks so much! God bless you!

 

[Maximilan_Kolbe]

I came expecting this:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

I leave relieved and my faith restored.

 

[underacloud]

Oh I realize it could pose risks to baby if I got pregnant on it, I meant it doesn’t have the abortifacient component that many ABC pills do have.

It has essentially equivalent “abortifacient” effect as typical ABC pills. Lupron will supress ovulation and thin the uterine lining - which is precisely why it is being prescirbed here. This is basically the same mechanism as the combined oral contraceptive or the Shot or the Rod. All are legitimate treatments for endo and morally permitted.

I just think you should consider that the treatment option being prescibed now is really no different than being on the Pill for this. I certainly hope and pray it works for you, but if the endo returns (which if often does post surgury) then I would put it to you that the use of Lupron has already opened the door for the use of hormonal treatments that have “contraceptive” and even possible “abortifacient” effects and that moving on to the Pill (or whatever) is morally no different. Just something to consider…

 

[Xantippe]

It has essentially equivalent “abortifacient” effect as typical ABC pills. Lupron will supress ovulation and thin the uterine lining - which is precisely why it is being prescirbed here. This is basically the same mechanism as the combined oral contraceptive or the Shot or the Rod. All are legitimate treatments for endo and morally permitted.

I just think you should consider that the treatment option being prescibed now is really no different than being on the Pill for this. I certainly hope and pray it works for you, but if the endo returns (which if often does post surgury) then I would put it to you that the use of Lupron has already opened the door for the use of hormonal treatments that have “contraceptive” and even possible “abortifacient” effects and that moving on to the Pill (or whatever) is morally no different. Just something to consider…

Right.

It might be helpful to get a list of your medical options, the advantages and disadvantages, and get somebody at the National Catholic Bioethics Center to give you an answer.

The problem is that while the NaPro doctors may have valuable medical ideas, some of them may be weak on the ethics side. So, they may not have a strong grasp of what the particular ethical issues are for each different medical approach.

Here’s the contact information for the NCBC’s individual consultation services:

ncbcenter.org/page.aspx?pid=1172

 

[Trident_H]

Well this is good news Convert. I know you’ve been a bit stressed on this score. Glad it has a resolution!

 

[pianistclare]

Well, I have to admit, that I don’t know much about any of this. But the treatment sounds pretty harrowing.
Also I have not followed the entire saga, beyond offering prayers for you.
Has this Doctor got a good track record with previous treatments?
Have you gotten a second opinion?
I really feel for you, and I worry about you.
Offering many prayers dear.
This is not a popular opinion around here, but I think sometimes you have to trust that God is merciful.
Peace to you.

 

[Convert_in_99]

Thank you all for your concern. You are so sweet! No I can’t guarantee this is the right path, but it’s the one we are most comfortable and at peace with. We have a final plan/option if this fails (oophorectomy/hysterectomy) but we are nervous about that surgery’s effect on my emotional/mental health, which is why we aren’t doing it all at once. Honestly I’d like to get it all over with in one surgery, but my husband and the doctor both think it’s best to do this one last thing first. Since he’s got to live with any negative side effects, and believe me there could be, I’m letting the him and the doctor make the final choice.

Please continue to pray for me!

I’m a little miffed that I haven’t heard from the GI doctors office to make a consultation appointment. I have a feeling this process will be slow and drag on.

On happier news I did finally get my period back…after a 52 day cycle!

 

[pianistclare]

Thank you all for your concern. You are so sweet! No I can’t guarantee this is the right path, but it’s the one we are most comfortable and at peace with. We have a final plan/option if this fails (oophorectomy/hysterectomy) but we are nervous about that surgery’s effect on my emotional/mental health, which is why we aren’t doing it all at once. Honestly I’d like to get it all over with in one surgery, but my husband and the doctor both think it’s best to do this one last thing first. Since he’s got to live with any negative side effects, and believe me there could be, I’m letting the him and the doctor make the final choice.

Please continue to pray for me!

I’m a little miffed that I haven’t heard from the GI doctors office to make a consultation appointment. I have a feeling this process will be slow and drag on.

On happier news I did finally get my period back…after a 52 day cycle!

Am certainly praying hard!
But you make your decisions for yourself dear one.
No one else, just you.
God bless.