September 19, 2009

If you’re looking for a miracle Endometriosis Doctor, look no further than 150 East 55th Street. I found Dr. Kanayama in March 2008, after 2 endometrial surgeries, a failed IVF and hope for having my own child had been lost. My first endometriosis systems started about 15 years ago; I only recently started experiencing severe endometriosis symptoms in late 2006. For years I was treated with birth control pills to suppress the endometriosis systems which were thought to be just heavy menstrual cramps.

Later, it morphed into ovarian cysts and colon and intestinal complications. After being disregarded by my own OB/GYN’s due to my problems involving colon issues, I was referred to a GI specialist and went through numerous colonoscopies, until one of the colonoscopies detected a large mass which the doctor researched and though it may have been endometriosis.

This doctor had never actually seen this in a patient, so I was then sent to a proctologist. From there, the proctologist found nothing (due to the timing of menstruation and the visibility of the mass), so i was sent away with still no answers.

I started doing my own research and found that all the symptoms I was experiencing appeared to be associated with severe endometriosis (including endometriosis of the colon). I called my OB/GYN and requested a laparoscopy to be done, and sure enough, she found that it was very severe and she couldn’t treat me.

I was then referred, to a specialist that was supposed to be amazing with the laparoscopy and who would preserve my reproductive organs, due to my desire to have children. I had my second laparoscopic surgery in April 2007, and was diagnosed with stage IV Endo. I was told my 8 hour surgery was a great success and I could start trying to have children...with one catch, I needed fertility assistance. I turned down the treatment because I was under the impression that having this surgery should just less complicate my chances in conceiving.

Months went by with no success along with the return of my painful menstrual cramps and colon troubles, so I decided to seek fertility assistance. I was told by the previous surgeon that if I didn’t conceive in 6 months after my surgery, the chances were very slim that I would ever have children. I ended up seeing two fertility specialists, one of them wanted to treat me with Lupron, and the other IVF. At this point, I was convinced by the fertility specialist and the FSH level tests they had done that my time for children was about to run out, and IVF would be my only chance for a child of my own. I was told that my odds with IVF would be about a 25% success rate (but it was better than nothing at all). This brings us to February 2008, my rock bottom. I was in the middle of my IVF cycle when I was told they were going to cancel the IVF because my ovaries weren’t responding. They switched me IVF to Artificial Insemination, and now my chance of any success was lowered to 5%. At the end of the cycle, I started having my worst endometriosis pains ever due to all the fertility drugs.

I became really depressed when I later was told there were no more chances for my own child; if I wanted a child, I would need a donor egg w/IVF. I couldn’t believe the news, and thought how can this be happening, why did I go through all of this pain for nothing. I decided to do something about it. I went on the web to seek out a top endometriosis specialist. I came across Dr. Kanayama’s name as one of the top 5 Endometriosis doctors. I continued my research and found his website and read through the testimonials and was amazed at how many people took the time to share their experiences with Dr. Kanayama and how similar their horror stories were to mine. I shared my findings with my husband because I was a little hesitant of traveling out of state for a doctor and never imagined being in a situation like this. We ended up convinced that this man with the great credentials had to be what we were looking for. I called the next day and spoke with Sabrina who was very attentive, informing and compassionate about my problems. I was able to get an appointment in a week (which is unheard in Pittsburgh for a specialist). When we arrived at the office, the staff was so caring and kind that I felt like I had been a patient there for years. Dr. Kanayama was able to quickly point out all of my endometriosis, and I had no doubt that this is where I needed to be and wanted the surgery immediately. I had my surgery at Greenwich Hospital (which like the other testimonies, it does feel like you are visiting at 5 star hotel). The hospital staff was exceptional, and I received the best care. My surgery was about 8 hours and instead of the norm of being hurried out of the hospitals, I was even asked if I needed to spend the night. I received the finest care the entire extend of my stay. The next day I visited Dr. Kanayama in NYC, and he went over the extent of my endometriosis, and gave me a bunch of photos for my records. He told me that he had removed several years worth of untouched endometriosis (my previous surgeries were pretty much worthless) and he was able to remove about 95% of the Endo. I still have some remaining Endo in my colon, which due to the extent of the colon surgery required to remove, and my desire to have children, it was best to wait until we tried for a child first.

With Dr. Kanayama’s approval, we started trying to have children in June 2008, and I am very happy to say I now have a 3 month old healthy, happy baby boy. I feel extremely blessed. I am very thankful for this opportunity to have my own child and for meeting Dr. Kanayama. To go from never being able to have my own child to 6 months later becoming pregnant is truly unheard of to me, but this man is a miracle doctor in my book, and I will forever what he has done for me and my family.

Leilani S.