Dr. Recommendation for Endometriosis?

[Anonymous]

Can anyone recommend a doctor in the area (I'm in Montgomery County) who treats endometriosis? I do not have issues related to fertility - but other problems related to it. Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

My doctor is Rafat Abbasi of Mid-Atlantic Fertility in Bethesda. She did my laparoscopy to treat the endo. She did a great job and I like her frank and forthright attitude.

[Anonymous]

You are not going to like this, but there is not a single endometriosis specialist in the DC area. I was diagnosed this past summer and the whole thing has been hellish. Up until a few weeks ago my concerns were not fertility related at all. Here are two pieces of advice for you:

-Don't waste your time trying to find a specialist here. There isn't one. Either fly to Atlanta to be treated by the CEC if you can swing the cost (they do not cover insurance) or drive/fly to Durham NC to see Dr. Patrick Yeung (he does take insurance).

-If you are not worried about fertility, get on constant birth control so you do not have a period. I did this and it really improved my symptoms and cut down on the pain. Of course I had to get off it to TTC but it was great in the meantime.

One other thing- I'm sure you have heard this before, depending on how much research you have done, but regular gynecologists just do not know what they are doing with endo. They go by myths, inaccuracies, etc. If you go to 5 different doctors, it is totally possible that you will get 5 different opinions and methods of treatment. Whatever you do, avoid lupron like the plague. I hope this helps. I have found the "endometriosis support" msg board on babycenter really helpful too.

[Anonymous]

I've had a good experience with Dr. Danilyants from the Women's Surgery Center. She did my laparascopy to remove endo.

http://www.womenssurgerycenter.com/

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for your comments. I have really had trouble finding a doctor who knows just about ANYTHING about endometriosis. It is really incredibly frustrating.

I may look into CEC or Dr. Yeung. Endometriosis is already frustrating enough without having to deal with doctors repeating myths (pregnancy will cure you, etc.) as truth. I agree about online support groups - they have helped me immensely as well. I am on continuous birth control which does help control much of the pain - but not a lot of my other symptoms. It seems like most of the doctors around here are just for laps - which I don't really want right now. Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised at PP's comments. I got excellent endometriosis treatment from Dr. Abbasi, both in terms of laparascopic treatment and resulting fertility issues. She was extremely current on the implications of endo on fertility -- this was a number of years ago so thinking may have changed, but there were some effects of endo on egg quality and implantation issues that she was very current on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't waste your time trying to find a specialist here. There isn't one.

Totally agree with this. Don't waste your time with any of the doctors here. I had a hard time believing at first that there couldn't be an Endo expert in a metropolitan area of this size, but it's true.

I've seen Dr. Abbasi, by the way. While she knows a lot about some of the auto-immune aspects of endometriosis and their impact on fertility, she didn't seem to know anything about beta-3 integrin issues when I asked (yet another major side effect of endo that can significantly impact fertility).

Try Dr. Perloe in Atlanta.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered alternative health options? Perhaps acupuncture?

[Anonymous]

I know you said you aren't concerned with fertility issues, but be very careful. I had endometriosis surgery locally a few years ago and my ovaries were ruined. My FSH skyrocketed and, as a result, I'm entering menopause quite a few years earlier than I should be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know you said you aren't concerned with fertility issues, but be very careful. I had endometriosis surgery locally a few years ago and my ovaries were ruined. My FSH skyrocketed and, as a result, I'm entering menopause quite a few years earlier than I should be.

What happened?

[Anonymous]

OP here -

Thanks so much for all of your comments. I too couldn't believe such a large area as DC doesn't have a real endometriosis specialist - but I guess it is true. I have not been able to find anyone who really knows a LOT about it beyond a basic laparoscopy, etc. It is just frustrating because I have a lot of back pain and GI issues among other issues related to endometriosis but nobody seems to know enough about it to really help. I have started an endometriosis diet (gluten-free/dairy-free) and it seems to be helping a lot. As far as fertility, the only reason I mention not being concerned with it is because I already have a DC and so many doctors only deal with the fertility aspects of this rather than the other ways it impacts my daily life with chronic pain. Thanks again for your help - please keep me posted if you have any other suggestions.