Did you get a second opinion?

I did get a second opinion. The first gyn I went to kept deciding things in my treatment and not telling me or discussing them with me. Also I wanted to do the Da Vinci surgery due to the shorter recovery time. I found another doctor that I trusted more and who had a considerable amount of experience with DaVinci procedures. So I went with the second doctor and I'm glad I did. My surgery turned out to be more than expected due to the fact that my largest fibroid turned out to be a tumor on my left ovary but I feel that I got the better care by going for another opinion.

Sandra, Age 47
TAH/LSO
May 12, 2009

I got a second opinion because my doctor seemed surprised to find that I had fibroids and endometriosis. It's not that I didn't think I didn't need the hysterectomy, but once I started to wonder about my doctor, I didn't feel comfortable having her operate.

My ob/gyn wanted to do a hysterectomy for the symptoms (anemic, loss of large pieces of tissue, sudden flood of blood down entire leg to feet and puddle on floor with dizziness and lightheadness, severe pain and cramping during and between cycles) in 1999. I wasn't ready at the time. Every doctor I went to would tell me that I could not have endometriosis that bad and still get pregnant. I began saving the tissue pieces and taking them to the doctor when I was told to have a hysterectomy. My doctor worked with me on trying to control the symptoms until I was ready. God works miracles because while I was on birth control to control the symptoms and never skipped a pill, I got pregnant with my daughter and completed my family. I could not have anything done and had to relocate closer to a children's hospital for my daughter. When she was 3 my symptoms returned with a vengeance. I had a new doctor because of our relocation and he recommended a D&C ablation instead of a hysterectomy. He came out of surgery after 2 1/2 hours and said that he tried the best he could it was more extensive than the 30 minutes he had thought it would take. He also said that he did not think it would work and was projecting a hysterectomy within the year. It gave me 3 years so it was very much worth it. Now, I am looking at a hysterectomy. I went for a second opinion with all my test results and copies of ultrasounds with the same opinion as my first physician. I also go to the city (Dallas) for any procedure and testing. I live in a rural area and have had so many misdiagnosis and incorrect information from physicians in our area. I feel that in the larger hospitals they are more up to date on newer procedures and keep their staff trained and informed. I attended nursing school and chose teaching special needs kids as my profession. But I feel that I have an understanding of what sounds reasonable as explanations.

Wishing you the best of luck and health on your hysterectomy.

Tophatt10

The ONLY reason the second opinion did not matter was because of my test results from the first ovary removed. There really was no other option.

I had been dealing with Menstrual issues for 10 years. The last straw was two months after a DNC I had a cycle that lasted for 3 months!

I didn't get a second opinion because I could see the prolapsed tissue and was having incontinence too, I felt like I had to convince the doctor to do it...I wanted it done yesterday

I think sharing my story just might help others:

In April 2009 a mass was discovered on my right ovary as an incidental finding to an unrelated CT Scan. My GYN initially diagnosed a Dermoid Cyst based on the radiology report. She scheduled laprascopic surgery to remove the right ovary and tube. Once inside the GYN removed the ovary and tube but changed the diagnosis to "endometrioma". My pathology report came back with atypical cells and was sent to the University of Florida for a second opinion. The report came back changing the diagnosis to Serous Tumor - pre-cancerous. My GYN referred me to a GYN Oncologist to receive "proper explanations" as to my condition. Both my GYN and the GYN Oncologist insisted that I wait for 5 years "to see what will happen". During those 5 years I was to be seen every 3 months and have CA125 blood work, CT Scan and exam. The oncologist then decently diagnosed me with Ovarian Cancer, therefore red-flagging me with insurance companies for the rest of my life and sent me on my way with a follow up appointment.

I left that appointment with more questions than I went there with and was completely confused. Thankfully my husband has a client that is a 30+ year OB/GYN. He contacted her and asked if she would review my case for a second opinion. She did and that changed everything! She asked one very important question: are you trying to preserve future fertility? My answer (considering my age of 36 and having no children) was no based on a decision my husband and I made over 8 years ago due to unrelated health conditions on my part. She then said that I had indications for a complete hysterectomy and I should return to the oncologist and request the surgery. She told me that waiting for 5 years would do nothing more than increase my risk and make treatment more difficult. I followed her advice and had my surgery on June 4th. Two weeks later the pathology report came back showing that the left ovary (which I had been told was completely healthy) was in fact not and was filled with endometriosis. My uterus was filled with fibrosis which would have definitely caused problems within the next 5 years. Thankfully, the cancer had not spread and was not found in any lymph nodes.

The moral to my story is to follow your own instincts as well as get a second opinion. I left my initial consultation with the oncologist upset and confused. I told her that I wanted a complete hysterectomy because I was not willing to take the risk of waiting 5 years to see if anything would develop. She said that I should not do that but could not offer me any rational reasons as to why not. As it turns out, her approach was far too conservative and had I not demanded the surgery I'm not sure where I would be in 5 years! As women we all have that "6th sense", "little voice" or "gut instinct". Be sure to listen to them, 99% of the time they are right!

I'm 4 weeks post-op from my robotic hysterectomy and am in the midst of hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia and fatigue but it sure beats full blown cancer! I'm pleased with my decision and will take the rest one day at a time.

Hope this helps,
Becky

Becky,

Thanks! That is almost EXACTLY what happened in our case. Second opinions can make the difference between life and death. Not tom mention that depending on a patient's office setting second opinions are almost instantaneous - and quite refreshingly, the doctors within a group do not always just "go along", with the first doctor's diagnosis. Again, thank you for sharing your story with us. I know it helped me feel much more secure about all my questions. Hope you recover fabulously!

I had 3 opinions, I went with gyn #3.
Why did I choose #3, because he had a good attitude and did not make me feel as though I annoyed him. He explained everything and even drew diagrams and he did not rush through a visit,
he listened to my concerns and answered all questions.
I'm so glad that I had more than one opinion!