Letters

• Dealing with endometriosis

Dear Dr Rainford

I disagree with your article 'Dealing with endometriosis'. Endometriosis is not a life-threatening disease but it can be devastating nonetheless. It is the kind of disease that can lead a young fertile woman to beg for the removal of her reproductive organs. It is also the kind of disease that delays or prevents a woman from having the child that she so desperately desires. The information is incorrect. Endometriosis can be life threatening and fatal.

http://youtu.be/Uu8MIOwrjcE

Glynis D. Wallace DMD

Author: Living With Lung and Colon Endometriosis Catamenial Pneumothorax

www.catamenialpneumothorax.org

Dear Dr Rainford,

I am a 20-year-old female with stage 4 endometriosis, adenomyosis and many other auto-immune diseases. I have started a support page for women in my state in my country. I am frequently involved in many support groups online.

I also frequently observe new news articles online, what I find frustrating is the fact that actual doctors write this stuff, and I have to constantly scan to make sure it is medically correct!

"Research suggests that there is a hereditary component to this condition" - really? Because I've seen six doctors and no one can give me that information. Every time I bring it up, it's dismissed. Could it have something to do with the fact I'm finding more and more women, including myself, who are the first in their family to have this disease? Or is it because all these women never present with just endometriosis but one or more other auto-immune diseases?

Sure I won't deny having someone else in the family with the disease, a mother, a grandmother increases the risk, what about the rest of us? We make up a huge portion. This is misleading information.

"Surgery is the best way to diagnose endometriosis although in some instances an ultrasound, a CT scan or an MRI may be helpful." - Surgery is the ONLY way to diagnose a disease like this. Biopsies must be taken. Ultrasounds show adhesions or endometriosis sticking organs together, not the endometriosis itself. Adenomyosis may be detected by the others but it's not a sure thing.

"Removing her uterus and ovaries may be the best option for permanent pain relief" - Endometriosis has its own oestrogen supply, so removing her reproductive organs gives a woman some chance but not the 'best' chance. Endometriosis has frequently been seen in women post-hysterectomy, either stimulated via oestrogen in HRT or its own supply.

No, I'm not a doctor, I'm a woman who has had the last almost 12 years of her life riddled with this disease. I'm not a doctor, but I know more than your general gynaecologist about my own diseases.

Please, go study this before you write about it. I'm sure your response will be that you have. But you haven't because I shouldn't be telling you this.

Kind Regards,

- Woman who suffers with endometriosis"

• 50 and fabulously healthy

Dear Dr Williams-Green,

I just read about the doctor in today's Gleaner and, though I wish to be more healthy, there is no way I would take on a regime like that! I am over 50, not fat, but that's too rigorous and I am told I don't look my age so I take comfort in that. I know I snack on the wrong stuff, don't love veggies but I am enjoying my life. Interesting article.

- Dawn

Send questions and comments to our health specialists at Your Health, c/o The Gleaner, 7 North Street, Kingston; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com. Unless otherwise indicated, letters and the specialists' responses are usually published.