I happened across this story regarding a young teenager's struggles with Endometriosis. [CLICK HERE for the FULL STORY.] In addition to surgery, birth control pills will be required until which time she wishes to have children.
After her first period at age 13, this young woman began suffering from excruciating abdominal pains. The pain was so severe, she missed a total of 3 months of school, and was forced to drop out of all her scholastic sports. After $16,000 of out of pocket medical expenses in less than two years, the young woman was finally (correctly) diagnosed with adolescent endometriosis. After undergoing surgery to alleviate the condition, she is now required to remain on hormone pills (i.e. birth control pills) until she wants to have children. In the meantime, she will continue to suffer some abdominal pain, but not to the poing that she is crippled, sidelined her from life.
Excerpt from the story: "Now, Emily takes hormone pills that prevent her from getting her period until she wants to have a baby. To control her pain flare-ups, Emily continues to do physical therapy, and visits the Children’s Hospital pain clinic three times a week. Her regimen also includes Reiki, a technique for stress reduction, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and acupressure. “I think all of this does help, because it relaxes her body, and allows her to better deal with the pain,” her mother says. “But it’s a brutal disease.”
One comment from a reader about this story (presumably a doctor who, understandably, reacted somewhat defensively to another reader's criticism of the many doctors who were unable to diagnose the cause of Emily's problems):
"Please note that one of the doctors suggested birth control pills. And what are birth control pills recommended for? Endometriosis! And now? She takes 'hormone pills' that suppress menstruation. In other words... birth control pills.
The fact is that this poor girl came down with endo at the earliest possible age. It shouldn't be surprising that doctors didn't have this condition at the top of their list.
And this: "And because it falls under the rubric of “women’s troubles” — even worse, teenage-girl troubles — it can take patients and their families years to get the right doctor to pay attention."
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Apparently -- and fortunately -- this young woman's parents were able to afford the $16 K spent diagnosing the problem. No readers of this story have, as yet, commented on the possible need for health care coverage for the birth control pills that will be required for years to come. Perhaps Rush Limbaugh would like to invite her to be a guest on his talk show. And perhaps he might apologize to her, as well as Sandra Fluke. And all women who require birth control. If there is one thing that should be supported by both Republicans and Democrats it is the need to make female birth control available to all those who need and/or want it. Perhaps the cost can be covered by requiring men to pay for their Viagra out of pocket. Clike HERE for a significant news summary of the Limbaugh/Fluke incident. I was disappointed that Romney would say only "those are not the words I would have used." I agree with the remark that Romney's reaction was "not exactly Profiles in Courage."
I do hope more Republicans, along with anyone else who may oppose abortion, have the courage to endorse the need for female birth control to be covered by any and all health care providers.
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