January 4, 2008

By the time I had crossed the threshold of the NY Endometriosis Center, I had just about given up hope. Quickly, that changed. As I looked around the waiting room I saw award upon award to Dr. Kanayama – including Best Endometriosis Specialist 2005, 2005, 2007. My confidence was building.

I heard the Office Manager Sabrina talk with several patients and I could tell how empathetic she was; Sabrina routes and rallies for each patient – not only dealing with insurance companies to get the most coverage, but she genuinely cares how each patient is feeling. The waiting room was full of women actually smiling as they discussed Endo. Now I was optimistic. Now I was thinking that maybe there is a possibility I might be free from Endo after all these thirty years.

I had become desperate. I had become distressed. I had become despondent. Why? Because I’d tried everything to eliminate my Endo. Birth control pills, five previous laparoscopies from regular GYN’s, Lupron injections for six months (horrible), continuous birth control pills, Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, hypnosis (like it was all in my head), visualization, and then, finally, a radical hysterectomy taking uterus, cervix, both tubes, both ovaries, and “removal of some Endo”. If you heard that Endo is over after hysterectomy, it is absolutely incorrect. At this point I’m depressed and miserably in pain. I googled and found this fantastically apropos quote Dr. Kanayama had on his website:

“Come unto Me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden.
And I shall give you Rest.” (Matthew, 11:3)

Bingo! I found the right doctor! Laparoscopy shows Endo Stage IV in abdominal cavity (which had just had Endo excised by eye, not through Dr. Kanayama’s special tiny tube), Endo in my bowels and intestines too. He told me he could have saved my uterus, my ovaries, my everything. If only I had found him earlier, I would have gotten my life back years ago. It saddens me to think of all the events I could have attended, of only I had found this miracle-working Endo Specialist and my personal hero, Dr. Kanayama.

But that was then, this is now – two weeks post-op. And for the first time in thirty years of silently suffering I am finally able to say, “I am not in pain. I feel healthy.” I will sing praises of Dr. Kanayama from here to eternity.

Regina S.