|
Post by Kayla on Oct 12, 2006 10:07:26 GMT -5
Per the request of Ouchy, I will post about my experience with Dr. Redwine. First of all, for those of you who don't know, he does not accept most insurance, if any, (I can't remember), so you have to pay in cash. So that's kind of a downer. I was 17 when I went to there to get my surgery, so I was able to stay in the Ronald McDonald house, VERY friendly people! Dr. Redwine's office staff is very polite, and understanding, not something you see very much with other doctors. I went there for my pre-op, and I sat down with him to discuss the surgery. He was very polite, made sure I understood everything. When surgery day came, I was pretty nervous. But he met with me and assured me that everything was fine. After I got out of surgery he met with my mom and calmed her and told her that he found a significant amount of endo and they removed as much as they could. Unfortunately, he did warn us that I may be too young to actually completely remove all traces of endo, and that it may come back, and it has. (Which is why I'm now facing the decision of a hysterectomy at 19). If you have any specific questions feel free to ask, I couldn't think of what to write exactly, so if I forgot something and you ask, I'll answer as best as I can! I didn't have any bad experiences with Dr. Redwine or his staff.
|
|
apple
Full Member
Posts: 214
|
Post by apple on Oct 12, 2006 13:23:41 GMT -5
Kayla, I remembered my family doctor mentioning Dr Redwine and he is quite famous about the endo patients here as well. I am from Canada and I know that some women went there for the surgery. I do not know any of them personally but I met a girl that she knows some people from her town that went there and are quite happy. But he is quite controversial as well, some doctors as the endo specialist that I am saying do not agree 100% with his technique. Is there any possibility for you to go back and see him? since he knows already about your case and you had a good experience before. Also after the surgery were you totally pain free for 2 years? Anyway it seems to soon for the pain to come back...I heard that he usually does not prescribe any drugs, but did he give you any prescription drugs as well after the surgery?
|
|
|
Post by Kayla on Oct 12, 2006 14:14:35 GMT -5
Yes, he gave me prescription drugs. I actually just got my med records faxed over to me from the surgery I had with him. The first year I was completely pain free, but I think that with the stress of the Marine Corps, that's why the pain started to come back. What kind of controverstial stuff did you hear about? I would LOVE to go see him again for another lap or excision. I have absolute no complaints.
|
|
|
Post by erzulie on Oct 12, 2006 19:45:01 GMT -5
What I would like to know is, did he contact you later to find out if the endometriosis had returned? I know his website reports that it only comes back in 20% of cases, and I have wondered what he's basing that on. Unless he tracks down every one of his patients years after the surgery to find out how they are doing I don't think he can say that.
|
|
|
Post by ouchy on Oct 12, 2006 20:01:55 GMT -5
I think he'd actually have to perform an exploratory follow-up lap to absolutely confirm his 20% stat!
|
|
|
Post by ouchy on Oct 12, 2006 20:02:16 GMT -5
Kayla, thanks for posting this!!!
|
|
|
Post by Kayla on Oct 13, 2006 7:58:00 GMT -5
Well, he never contacted me personally to find out if the endo had returned. But I think ouchy is correct, he'd have to do an exploratory lap to get the true statistics. I contacted his office yesterday to get my medical records and Kate Porter (his assistant/receptionist), emailed me back and forth all day and was very comforting with my situation. She helped me out a lot.
|
|
|
Post by erzulie on Oct 13, 2006 16:43:14 GMT -5
If he doesn't contact people to find out if their symptoms have returned, I would guess he came up with that statistic because only 20% of his former patients come back, and assuming that the other 80% never came back because they're all feeling fine. That's stupid of course because as expensive as it is, most people can't afford to go back, and may not be able to make the trip a second time. Also, if your symptoms return you may decide to go to someone else next time or to just give up since excision is supposed to be the best treatment. My guess would be that it returns in far more than 20% of cases. That's a bit depressing but i guess it's good to know the truth, and anyway the statistics are still much better than when the endometriosis is being lasered away.
How long did it take you to start having symptoms again?
|
|
|
Post by ouchy on Oct 13, 2006 17:05:29 GMT -5
^ I agree. I think erzulie is probably right on how Dr. Redwine derives his statistics.
|
|
|
Post by lawdawg19 on Oct 16, 2006 7:14:05 GMT -5
It had been almost exactly a year when the pain started coming back, but it was only a little. Definitely not as bad as before. When the docs put me on lupron because they're idiots, (or maybe I am for agreeing..), that's when the pain got terrible.
|
|
apple
Full Member
Posts: 214
|
Post by apple on Oct 16, 2006 16:27:35 GMT -5
Well lawdawg19 to answer your question, some doctors find his technique quite extreme and risky and not to efficient as he promotes since the endo usually comes back. My doctor mentioned to me that he conducted a study where he came out to the conclusion that surgery in general is not as an optimal option as many doctors as Redwine promote and drug treatments maybe more effective (he is VERY convinced that drug treatment are more effective)proving that endo usually comes back afterward. Anyway this are his words and not mine, since the drug treatment he put me on did not work as expected either. Anyway I read about Dr Redwine and also he is quite famous with the endometriosis association, this year he went to their annual event (my doctor went there as well) and I know that there was a topic about surgery vs drug treatment and he was the one defending the surgery side, It would be nice to get the tape since they usually tape those events. Since all I read about Dr Readwine (I even considered about going to see him if I had the money) I though that the pain free period would be longer that a year so I am kind of surprise of your case, since you are pain came back that soon.
|
|