diagnosed today with endometriosis

[Nesmani]

i wanted to read some previous posts but it's getting too late... lol
i have a few different concerns. a few are legal.
in the beginnning of July 08 i had an extremely sharp pain in my abdomen. i instantly knew something wasn't right. i had never felt anything like it. i am uninsured so i hate to go to the doctor for anything. my boyfriend (now fiance) said he was more concerned about my health than a doctor bill. so i went to the ER on July 8th. they did a blood test, urine test and a pelvic exam. nothing came up. doctor said it was painful periods and i told him that was different. it was not a cramp. he sent me home.
i was bleeding between periods and still having pains. July 27th i went to a different ER. they couldn't get my records from the other so they did a blood test, urine test, and a pelvic exam. again nothing came up. we had discussed irritable bowel syndrom. he sent me home.
meanwhile i'm still bleeding and having pain. it's spotty bleeding and the pain comes and goes. i set up an appointment with a clinic which specializes in women's health. that was August 13th. i showed her the records i had been writing down and the printout form the second ER visit. she did a urine test, told me i wasn't pregnant and i wasn't anemic. then sent me home. with instruction that if i was still having pain in a month to come back!!! i felt like they rushed me out because i was uninsured. now i have hospital bills and they didn't even help me! is there any way to not have to pay?
also because of my pain and doctor visits i missed work. that in turn made them cut my hours. it seemed that since i couldn't get a diagnosis they treated me as if i was purposely missing work. i was getting 1-2 days a week. in a grocery store... i was searching for a new job then i began having panic attacks because of the tension at work. (i've had panic attacks since high school)
i had to quit. i've heard that if you quit you cannot collect unemployment. i haven't worked since october and cannot find a job. i feel like everbody thought i was faking the pain
well my mom convinced me to go to the gynecologist cuz i was still having pain and bleeding. they discovered the endometriosis and i have another appointment in 3 months. they want me to get on health insurance because without it the surgery is $12,000-$14,000. and after the surgery i will be on Lupron Depot. does anybody have any recommendations for health insurance?
i'm 22 and i will be 23 in may.
this is all so confusing to me..
i'm also scared about my fertility because my fiance and i were just discussing having kids. he's in the proccess of joining the army national guard and we're planning on getting married after he gets back from basic training.
thank you to anybody who takes the time on me. i'd greatly appreciate any feedback about anything!

[FLgirl]

Sorry about all your trouble! I don't have any answers for your legal/employment problems, but I'll be happy to share what I've been going through regarding endometriosis.

I'm 26 and was diagnosed with severe endo. The doc said it was so bad that the surgery that's offered to go in and remove the tissue wouldn't even help. The endometrial tissue that's been building is also so much that it actually pushed one of my ovaries behind my uterus! It's all been very stressful.

I had the same pelvic pain and the docs thought I needed an emergency appendectomy. And when my appendix was removed is when the endo was discovered. Perhaps you actually do need your appendix removed? It's worth looking into since nothing else has helped.

As far as Lupron goes, I'm not going to do it. The more I read on the internet and talk to other women about it, the more I am leaning to not taking it. I've heard so many horror stories about it. There are some women who swear by it, so you never know. Everyone is different.

I am also worried about my fertility. I would like to have children one day, too. I am going to start taking birth control pills. I'm not a fan of them. Heck, I'm not even sexually active! LOL But my doc said if I start taking the pills and skip the sugar pills, continuing onto the next month's, that it will stop my period. And that's the goal.

I was told when we have our period it's what triggers the endo and the endo pain. Endometrial tissue thrives off estrogen (that's why Lupron works, it stops estrogen), so with no period it should weaken.

Well, I hope this helps! I wish you the absolute best!!! Oh, if you get married and your husband is in the military, shouldn't you get insurance? Good luck, hun!

[Nesmani]

my doctor said that birth control pills are a good way to lessen the pain and bleeding. you should definitely look into that for yourself. she gave me a starter pack of Yaz. so when i start my next cycle i can start the pill.
i was hesitant about being on birth control again cuz i'm starting to really want my own kids. my sister just found out she's pregnant. i'm happy for her but inside it kinda hurts. she has a 6 year old girl already. i would like to adopt someday too but i always wanted my own first.
i'm nervous about the Lupron Depot too. the side effects resemble menopause. hot flashes and bone loss. i gues there is an add-back therapy called norethindrone acetate 5mg which is supposed to increase bone and bring the hormone levels back up.
apparently each case of endo is different. they can't tell how bad it really is. some women have severe endo with extreme pain and some with low pain. and vice versa. plus it sux they are not completely sure what causes it. my mom had severe endo but hers didn't show up until her 30's after she had three kids and a hysterectomy and was still bleeding so that's when they found hers.
my boyfriend is in the army national guard but he hasn't gone to basic training yet. he will be inactive for 6 months so we won't get full benefits. after he signs on full time active duty then we can receive benefits. but that could be up to a year from now and i need to do something sooner.
my main concern now is finding the right health insurance and researching all that i can!
thanx and good luck to you too!

[CHANDLERS WISH]

Ask your Doctor whom diagnosed the problem to write a letter advising that you were un-fit to work any hours during that period.

Take that to the un-employment bodies and advise that the employer had to replace you...

Talk to your ex-employer and advise them that you have a certificate for the time that you were off work due to the pain, including the days that you would have worked and that you are seeking assistance through the Government for income whilst you get better. Provide them with a copy of that letter, therefore, they can verify if contacted.

This should solve one problem.

I don't think you will succeed, but you can write a letter of complaint to the Hospitals and enclose the verdict from the Doctor and state that you do not see why you should be paying the account and wish for an answer.

Unfortunately, not all verdicts are found from tests, did this new Doctor do a different test? Why did he/she confirm this as the problem, in-other-words,if he/she conducted the same tests and established this where other's didn't then you may have a case.

Good luck with it all.

CW

[Nesmani]

thanks for the advice CW! i'm definitely going to check with the unemployment.
when i went to the gynecologist on feb. 24th i explained to her what had previously happened and that i was still having pain and bleeding. all she did was a pelvic exam and felt a nodule (spelling?) then a laparosopy (?i think that's right?) and she could see it. she had another doctor check it and he agreed. he recommended the surgery. my next appointment is the end of may for a checkup.
both ER's did a pelvic exam, blood test and urinalysis. the clinic just did a pregnancy test. i'm not sure how many different ways there are to detect endometriosis.

[CHANDLERS WISH]

Well seems taht your gynocologist took a bit more stance, such as laparosopy which wasn't done at the Hospitals... I would ask her to provide you with the findings and use that in querying the costs involved at the Hospital.

I mean when I get mad, I threaten New Idea or something haha, not really but......

Seems that your last Doctor wanted answers and went beyond what the other's had done and I'm pleased that you at least got a result.

Also when you go back discuss your concerns about operations and ask if there are other methods first that you could try.

Good luck..

CW

[jmsturdy]

You posted that your fiancee was going into the National Gaurd? As much as active duty is not desirable, the health care for families, even with pre-exsisting conditions is. I am former military and my husband is active duty. I recently was diagnosed with PCOS and being on tricare has been a money savior. With all the test they do and doctors and specialize doctors I will have to see, and any meds they give will be reduced or at least be reduced significantly.
In your case any surgery you need will be covered also. I know that most people don't look at the military favorably but with health care in the position it is in and the cost even after the bill not looking favorable, it is an option you and your fiancee might want to seriously consider.
Good luck. Prayers are with you.
Jennifer