The Most Basic Advice

If any doctor or specialist diagnoses you with any one prolapse (bladder, rectal, vaginal), it is critical that you not allow a single prolapse repair. First find an ob/gyn who is experienced in evaluating and treating pelvic prolapse (which views the entire condition of the pelvic organs).

If the single prolapse is due to a weakened pelvic floor condition or another pelvic issue, other organs may be impacted and the surgery may lead to the next prolapse. A trained ob/gyn will decide in which order the prolapse(s) needs to be repaired. Having a single repair and then learning of the pelvic prolapse can cause complications.

It's your body. Take charge and get a second opinion from a board certified ob/gyn who has adopted viewing any organ prolapse as potentially pelvic prolapse.

6.10.2011

The Missing Cyst

In August 2007 I had surgery to remove an ovarian cyst but was told post-surgery that no cyst could be found. The surgeon proceeded with the next surgery a few weeks later...see previous post. At the point Dr. McKenna casually mentioned "except for the cyst on your ovary", I felt so many feelings flood me at once. Shock, betrayal, fear. What had I allowed this incompentent doctor to do to me.

Dr. McKenna was kind to refer me to the head of Micro-Invasive Surgery in the Hershey Medical Center ob/gyn department. Dr. Harkins thought death had walked into the room when I arrived at his office. He ordered the correct imaging to see what was going on. He identified several issues from the test in addition to everything that had been identified in the previous analysis sent to Dr. DeLeo.

Dr. Harkins recommended a hysterectomy as he believed that particular issue should have been done first and may have avoided the other two prolapses. Hindsight is everything. In October 2007, the hysterectomy was performed. We had decided ahead of time to keep my right ovary if it was viable. He planned to remove the fallopian tubes, the left ovary and the cyst. However, he told me post-surgery, that he could see right away through the laparoscopy scope that I had a "frozen pelvis".

A "frozen pelvis" is when endometriosis has wrapped itself in and around the uterus as well as organs outside of the uterus. I was a mess. He spent a long time removing the endometriosis and found beneath it a healthy pink right ovary. There was no way a trained surgeon could possibly have missed what he found. Dr. Harkins showed me the video of his procedure. I was stunned. Thank goodness I was led to him. The irony is I was terrified of a male ob/gyn yet it was a women who caused harm and a male who saved me.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

How can I contact you?????? I know someone who is in the process of having her license revoked and went through the same thing with his wife, and she ended up passing away!

Grace said...

I am so sorry I didn't see a comment was pending here. The doctor who did this is in Lebanon, PA and her license is still in tact, unfortunately. I had filed a complaint with the State Board to no avail.