do i have a case?

What is the name of your state? What is the name of your state?
Illinois

3 years ago i was at work & suffered from extreme pain in my lower abdomin & i was taken to the er for pain. Right hand side next to the pelvic bone. Was given a perscription & told to go see my gyno. Next day went to gyno, said that it may be endometriosis. Was perscribed ortho cyclen for 6 months was told to go to another gyno, he was to retire. 6 months later went to another doc. Said it was an UTI, perscribed cipro. Pain still remained. Was perscribed ortho cyclen again. Pain was still there. Said the only "true" way to diagnos endometriosis was through a laparoscopy. Had it done. I was still in pain. Perscribed ortho trycyclen. was still in pain. Was told that i needed to go on Lupron Depot. I did, very little relief from pain. The med stopped my menses. Was on for 6 months. 9 months later my menses started again, as did the pain, was told that i needed to go on danocrine, danazol. I seeked out a second opinion. At this point, may 2002, I recieved my med records from previous doc. I obtained my post op report which stated clearly "no evidence of endometriosis was found" I also found out that I had a D&C, but was not informed that prior to surgery. I suffered for 3 years. When I went to the new doctor he said that the symptoms that i had was NOT endometriosis. I had trigger point injections which helped tremendously. He then referred me to a physical therapist who in turn treated me for a muscle spasm. It helped, & now I'm as good as new. My question is this, do i have any recourse from the doctor that was treating me for something I never had? Does my pain & suffering, both mental & physical, amount to anything?

[ellencee]

zmargi
I do not see any cause for a claim against any of the physicians. First, the second physician validated the original physician's diagnosis by treating you for the same condition. Secondly, it can be argued that the medications you were given, the orthocyclen, orthotryclyclen, did their job and reduced the endometriosis, which would explain no endometriosis visualized by laproscopy. Thirdly, laproscopy can not see each and every location that endometriosis can be, especially when already reduced by hormone treatment. Fourthly, the d & c is covered under the op permit's 'and all other procedures deemed necessary at the time of surgery'. It was not an inappropriate procedure. Fifth, and last, if what you had been experiencing all along was nothing but trigger point pain, it would not have stopped with Lupron Depot and returned 9 months later with the onset of resumed menses; it would have continued despite the cessation of menses.
Is the trigger point pain related to the previous abdominal discomfort? most likely.
Did any of your physicians misdiagnose you? I don't think so; but even if it had occurred, the five reasons I have listed above would, more likely than not, successfully defend against your claim. Add the testimony of an expert witness who will attest to the inherent difficulties of diagnosing and treating endometriosis, and it's a definite success for the defense against your claim.

hi ellenc

First off, let me thank you for your reply. However, you got a couple of things wrong. 1st the second doctor did NOT validate the first doc's claim. He said that it was NOT endometriosis. Secondly, you do NOT treat endometriosis with trigger point injections, they would not work. And LASTLY what I had was a muscle spasm all along, not trigger point pain.

Once agian, I would like to thank you for your reply, I do not know if you are a doc or lawyer, but please next time get all the facts straight before you reply.

Thanks!

[ellencee]

1st MD exam:

3 years ago i was at work & suffered from extreme pain in my lower abdomin & i was taken to the er for pain. Right hand side next to the pelvic bone. Was given a perscription & told to go see my gyno.

2nd MD exam:

Was perscribed ortho cyclen for 6 months was told to go to another gyno, he was to retire.

3rd MD exam:

. 6 months later went to another doc. Said it was an UTI, perscribed cipro. Pain still remained. Was perscribed ortho cyclen again. Pain was still there. Said the only "true" way to diagnos endometriosis was through a laparoscopy. Had it done. I was still in pain. Perscribed ortho trycyclen. was still in pain.

4th MD exam:

Was told that i needed to go on Lupron Depot. I did, very little relief from pain. The med stopped my menses. Was on for 6 months.

return of pain with onset of menses:

9 months later my menses started again, as did the pain,

do i have any recourse from the doctor that was treating me for something I never had?

Answer: NO, for reasons stated in first answer.

"Does my pain & suffering, both mental & physical, amount to anything?" It does not amount to any financial gain or claim of malpractice.

You did experience some improvement with hormone treatment; it is possible that early edometriosis was resolving at the time of the laproscopy; it is possible to have urinary tract involvement with endometriosis; and if your problem had only been this one trigger point area, caused by work or other normal activity, the pain would have increased during the times you were aggravating the area and you would have been able to isolate what was causing the pain.

I am simply saying your claim is easier to defeat than to win.

You didn't get the answer you wanted; you reacted very rudely and your behavior is unacceptable.

I will not read or answer any further post from you on this forum.
Good luck with your future of blaming others for your problems and being an insulting and rude individual.

edited to include information on trigger point pain issue.

to ellenc

first off let me same that i am sorry if i came off rude, that was not my intent. secondly, i was not "looking" for any specific type of answer, just opinion. and lastly "and if your problem had only been this one trigger point area, caused by work or other normal activity, the pain would have increased during the times you were aggravating the area and you would have been able to isolate what was causing the pain." Which is exactly what i have been going through for 3 years. But my doc insisted that it was endometriosis. For what its worth, living with supposed endometriosis for three years almost ruined my life, it actually did for those three years. I understand that you have a right to post your opinion, so thank you & good day!

[ellencee]

zmargi
I accept your apology. I realize you have been through three years of pain and frustrating attempts to resolve the situation.
I also realize that if a man had left work and gone to the ER with right-sided abdominal pain, he would have received a more thorough evaluation than having his reproductive organs examined, but that's a soapbox speech for another time.
My point is, endometriosis is one of those areas in health care that is too easy to defend against claims of misdiagnosis, failure to treat, etc. You would be wasting your money and your time, most likely.
I learned from this exchange between us and hope I can apply what I learned to future responses.
Thank you,
EC

ellenc

hey--thanks for understanding. My fustration has been overwhelming. I thought that I could get some help from this post. I thank you for your advice.