My sister

I need your help. My youngest sister probably has endometriosis. I'm making it my own personal mission to make sure she gets help now (and the right help) and I'd like to see what all of you think.

So she has been having painful cramping since she was a teenager and, at that time, her doctor put her on birth control for it.

Well, a year or so ago (she's now 27), she started to have extremely painful episodes exactly like my endometriosis attacks. Like identical. It happens on the day before or the day of starting her period and it's debilitating. She describes exactly what used to happen to me. Terrible pelvic pain, thinking you might die. I told her right away about the only solution - taking four advil and using a heating pad - and it works. And, like me, it doesn't happen every cycle. It's probably only happened two to three times total. And, for what it's worth, she also developed a sensitivity to caffeine around this time, at the same age that I did.

I knew the first time she told me about it what it was. I mean really, what else could it be? And no matter what it is, it should be dealt with.

For the past year or so I've been encouraging her to go to the doctor. I've told her all about NaPro and finding a good surgeon, and I've stressed how important it is to get it taken care of as soon as possible. She's not yet married, but I've told her over and over how I would be doing her a great disservice if I let her wait until six months after her wedding day before seeking help. Not only would that cause her unnecessary heartache, but the endometriosis could also have gotten progressively worse.

Today she saw her ob/gyn. I encouraged her to take that first step, since it was small and doable and because I thought going to see Dr. S in PA might be too overwhelming right off the bat. I prepared her for the appointment, made sure she mentioned that her older sister had stage IV endo, and that she didn't want to only go on Lupron.

Well, the one thing I didn't think of was the one thing the doctor suggested - a stronger birth control pill to suppress the endo (which she agreed it most likely is). The one that gives you only four periods a year.

Now obviously I told her this isn't a good idea, but I wasn't exactly sure of the reasons why. I am not an advocate of birth control, and obviously don't support it for moral reasons, but I am not very knowledgeable on the medical reasons behind not using it. I know pumping your body full of chemicals isn't a good thing, and I imagine that using something to suppress a problem doesn't solve it, right? The last thing I want is for her to just ignore the endo for the next couple of years until she goes off of it when trying to conceive.

Her doctor also told her that surgery doesn't always fix it and that she'd hate for her to go through all of that and not get rid of the endometriosis. But, as I told my sister, a good surgeon will get rid of it, or at least get rid of it for several years. I know surgery doesn't cure us (obviously, since mine came back), but it's the best option, right?

So her next step is deciding whether to fill the prescription for the strong bc pill. She also has an appointment for an ultrasound (although the doctor did tell her that it can't totally diagnose it, which I was glad to hear she said) which she's going to go to. And I'm really encouraging her to call Dr. S's office and make an appointment (I told her that the bloggers are now scheduling into March). I gave her the number this afternoon and hopefully she'll call. If she decides not to, or if he doesn't take her insurance, she could end up having it done around where she lives. If that is the case, what are the important things to ask the surgeon to make sure they are doing it the correct way?

She is obviously very upset and overwhelmed about all of this. I'm so proud of her for going to this appointment today and making a step in the right direction. Now I hope she gets in with Dr. S and can have surgery with him.

It must be scary to have to deal with this before you're even married, but I know I wish that I had done that. I just want her to get it taken care of before it ends up causing her years of heartache. If I know I can do something to prevent her from going through what I have, I'll do it. I think I look at her kind of like me in the past, and I wish someone had grabbed ahold of me and diagnosed me correctly years earlier. I feel like it's my duty to help her.

So I know I'm preaching to the choir here about all of this, but I am interested to just hear your opinions, especially on why the stronger bc pill wouldn't be a good idea. Also, would it be bad if she just fills the prescription for the new bc and takes it until she sees Dr. S?

I'm going to have her read your comments, so please leave some for her!