# Endomitrial Biopsy: What The FUCK! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 29, 2006, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/endomitrial-biopsy-what-the-fuck/362623 "2006-06-29T13:07:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2006, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/endomitrial-biopsy-what-the-fuck/362623/61 "2006-06-30T13:16:44Z")
Here is an article from JAMA in 2000. Evidently my doctor let her subscription lapse: [http://www2.rpa.net/~lrandall/standard.html](http://www2.rpa.net/~lrandall/standard.html) ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2006, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/endomitrial-biopsy-what-the-fuck/362623/62 "2006-06-30T13:45:46Z")
I don’t know how I feel about that ten-point pain scale. When I was asked about my level of pain in the ER last month, I had to think about it for a minute, finally deciding that my personal “10” would be the time I needed an emergency root canal and passed out when the dentist touched my tooth. That worked for me. And then I told the nurse that I was at about a seven … and they sent me back out into the waiting room for another three hours without so much as an aspirin. To be perfectly fair, though, when I finally got to see a doctor and told him I was being treated for a four-centimeter cyst on my ovary, he was absolutely _flabbergasted_ to discover that my gynecologist hadn’t given me anything for pain. Then he sent a nurse in with a big needle that made me feel _much_ better, and he sent me home with both vicodin and naproxen. (And like **Opal** , I’m hoarding the remainder of that prescription for a rainy day.) > [@mischievous](#): > > Next time a doctor causes pain to the point “to the point where I was near screaming”, I recommend screaming. At the top of your lungs. They’ll probably give you pains meds just so you stop scaring the other patients. At worst, they’ll ask you to take your business elsewhere (small loss), but they’ll almost certainly give you pain meds first. That’s brilliant. I more or less did this when I went to follow up with my doctor after the ER visit. Which was when he said “Okay, I think maybe you have appendicitis.” Because gods forbid it be something _he_ could help me with. And yes, I have since found a new gynecologist. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/endomitrial-biopsy-what-the-fuck/362623/63 "2006-06-30T14:00:13Z")
From Gaudere’s cite regarding the Boiled Uterus ablation technique: > [@](#): > > Most women are able to go home within an hour after the an endometrial ablation. **There may be mild cramping, which can usually be relieved by ibuprofen.** Occasionally stronger medicine may be needed. It is normal to be tired for a few days, but most women are able to return to most normal activities in a day or two. I find this hard to believe. Wait…no I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2006, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/endomitrial-biopsy-what-the-fuck/362623/64 "2006-06-30T14:10:04Z")
OK-that bit about work etc is complete BS–I had LESS pain post abortion and tubes tying I had 6 years ago. The ablation was last May ('05) and I can still remember that pain. Shit, childbirth was easier–and I had pain control. The linked article (I’d copy and past but haven’t figured out how on my new laptop), states that 1 in 4 surgical pts has inadequately controlled pain. I wonder if that is inpt or outpt or both. I have to say that my inpts, post-op–well, the vast majority of them have PCA pumps (pt controlled analgesia) which, at the push of a button, injects a tiny amount of pain killer into the bloodstream via an IV. Some are set up to constantly deliver a small dose, with the button giving the pt a bit more. We do ok with pain management on inpts (at my hospital anyway). I think it’s oupts who get the shaft. (of course, it is possible and does happen that inpts also don’t get treated, but most procedures talked about here are outpt) I would love to do a study on female pts and pain control vs men and what they get. 30 days worth of Vicodan? WTH? Vasectomy pain shouldn’t last that long. :rolleyes: Query: did he get 30 pills or 30 days worth? If the pill is prescribed to be taken as needed, say every 6 hours-that’s a max of 4 per day. A 30 day supply would be 120 pills! ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2006, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/endomitrial-biopsy-what-the-fuck/362623/65 "2006-06-30T14:17:38Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > OK-that bit about work etc is complete BS–I had LESS pain post abortion and tubes tying I had 6 years ago. The ablation was last May ('05) and I can still remember that pain. Shit, childbirth was easier–and I had pain control. > > The linked article (I’d copy and past but haven’t figured out how on my new laptop), states that 1 in 4 surgical pts has inadequately controlled pain. I wonder if that is inpt or outpt or both. I have to say that my inpts, post-op–well, the vast majority of them have PCA pumps (pt controlled analgesia) which, at the push of a button, injects a tiny amount of pain killer into the bloodstream via an IV. Some are set up to constantly deliver a small dose, with the button giving the pt a bit more. We do ok with pain management on inpts (at my hospital anyway). I think it’s oupts who get the shaft. (of course, it is possible and does happen that inpts also don’t get treated, but most procedures talked about here are outpt) > > I would love to do a study on female pts and pain control vs men and what they get. 30 days worth of Vicodan? WTH? Vasectomy pain shouldn’t last that long. :rolleyes: > > Query: did he get 30 pills or 30 days worth? If the pill is prescribed to be taken as needed, say every 6 hours-that’s a max of 4 per day. A 30 day supply would be 120 pills! The only time I’ve ever seen 30 days worth prescribed was for a friend who suffered a near-death motorcycle accident. he bought vicodin by the _cannister_. Every time I’ve had it, it’s been enough for a week, tops. Which would be roughly 30 pills. Still MUCH more than I would think would be standard needs for a vasectomy. I’m not trying to dismiss pain men feel from this procedure, but I’ve never heard of a man who needed narcotics for a full week afterwards. Anyone have experience contrary to that? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/endomitrial-biopsy-what-the-fuck/362623/66 "2006-06-30T19:50:05Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > (I’d copy and past but haven’t figured out how on my new laptop) CTRL + C for copy, CTRL + V for paste. Or use the Copy and Paste options from the “Edit” menu at the top of the window. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/endomitrial-biopsy-what-the-fuck/362623/67 "2006-07-03T18:40:53Z")
For anyone who is interested, the results of the Gulag Torture Biopsy came out negative. My uterus is doing absolutely nothing, which is exactly what it’s supposed to be doing. I’ve been given the OK to go back on the HRT patch (WOOHOO!) and once again, all is well at Kasa Kalhoun. Kinda puts a new spin on “Independence Day”, doesn’t it? _See ya, Fertility_! ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/endomitrial-biopsy-what-the-fuck/362623/68 "2006-07-04T01:58:30Z")
That’s great news **Kalhoun.** I’m sorry you had to go through all of that to find out, but the results were worth it, right? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/endomitrial-biopsy-what-the-fuck/362623/69 "2006-07-04T02:05:01Z")
That’s great news, **Kalhoun**. **Opalcat** -thanks; I learned that very skill today at my personal tutorial at the Apple store. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/endomitrial-biopsy-what-the-fuck/362623/70 "2006-07-04T10:38:08Z")
My sister, who was just issued her MD at the ripe old age of 49, has the following theory re: doctors who don’t adequately control pain: for the most part, med students are healthy young people who have had few, if any, “procedures” done and therefore can not relate to folks in pain. Couple that with medical literature saying “should not be too painful” or “mild cramping” or what have you, and cautions about “drug-seeking” and you have the current situation. She said there were numerous times in her medical education when one of her fellow students either downplayed a patient’s pain or accused them of being drug-seeking and she said “No - I’ve had that done - **IT HURTS** ”. In my own life, I’ve found doctors who’ve experienced “procedures” themselves tend to be much more aware of pain complaints and better at pain control. In particular, the guy who drained the abcess on my face had been in a terrible accident at one point (You think it’s odd seeing a dentist with bad teeth? How about a plastic surgeon with serious visible scarring?) and was VERY good with the pain control from beginning to end. Not just “are you in pain” but also asking how I was sleeping, eating, resting, working… Seems to be of the school that if you treat the pain _up front, immediatley_ you wind up using less over the course of the entire healing process. I want a gyno with multiple C-section scars and a history of menstrual problems, followed by a hysterectomy and early and sudden onset menopause with hot flashes from hell, with a low pain threshold. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/endomitrial-biopsy-what-the-fuck/362623/71 "2006-07-04T13:03:33Z")
The doctor told me that if I have any more bleeding, they’ll watch it for six months, and I would possibly have to have the procedure done again. Well THAT ain’t gonna happen. Not without pharmaceuticals, baby. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/endomitrial-biopsy-what-the-fuck/362623.md?page=3)