AboutHeather Guidone Expertise Surgical Program Director, Center for Endometriosis Care / Member, Executive Board of Directors, Endometriosis Research Center / Foundation Liaison to Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Center for Gynepathology Research / Extensively published woman's health writer & consultant to many gynecologic surgeons, biotech, health and clinical research corps. AORN Certified.
Experience Surgical Program Director at the Center for Endometriosis Care, a specialty practice serving the global Endometriosis population. Also currently hold voting seat on Executive Board of Directors of the international Endometriosis Research Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation. Currently a consultant to the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EFA), a non profit organization founded by celebrity Padma Lakshmi and renowned gynecologist surgeon Tamer Seckin, MD. Also serving as EFA Liaison to the newly launched Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Center for Gynepathology Research, housed within MIT's School of Engineering. Other clientele include countless leading biotech, medical device and clinical research firms. Diverse works involve OR rotations; health coaching/patient advocacy; authorship of CME content, monographs, investigational case studies and more; strategic planning and patient relationship optimization with concentration in satisfaction measurement and improvement response; implementation and administration of novel programs designed to improve delivery of patient-centric women’s health care; planning and oversight of industry-related symposia; and more. Author, countless Endometriosis and woman’s health materials in both the consumer and professional sectors, most recently contributing to the best-selling book by leading Endometriosis surgeon, David Redwine, MD, "Endometriosis: 100 Questions & Answers." Also a recent guest in multiple segments on Endo for a popular national radio health program. Continuing to serve as interview subject in such varied media sources as the NY Times, Health magazine, Pregnancy Today and others. Personally have battled Stage 4 Endo, Adeno, infertility and fibroids for nearly 25 years. Will NOT offer or address ANY questions asking for medical advice, but am delighted to share professional and personal perspectives.
Organizations Endometriosis Research Center
Endometriosis Foundation of America
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
International PAX Society
World Endometriosis Society
World Endometriosis Research Foundation
Publications Journal of Gynecologic & Obstetric Investigation; APGO; AAGL; proceedings of the 9th World Congress on Endometriosis; Journal of Informed Medicine; Insider Reports; Life Tools for Women; Bella Gynecology; OBGYN.net; America Online's Health Network; Galaxy of Health; Discovery Health TV; the Health Channel; Association of Professors of Gynecology & Obstetrics; Valeo Medical; Jespersen Associates; Women with Disabilities Task Force; Covidien Corporation; ValleyLab; Cytyc Corporation; PortaScience; MammoSite; MedPond; Dr. Jennifer Ritchie-Goodline; Endometriosis Research Center; Associated Content; Comcast Media; Thrive@Health; Health Frontier; New South Wales Endometriosis Association of Australia; National Women's Health Information Center; Menses United Kingdom; Equus Sanctuary; Season Magazine; RedBook Magazine; Cosmopolitan Magazine; Pregnancy Today; Nurses World; Coping with Endometriosis" by Glenda Motta, RN, MPH and Robert Phillips, Ph.D.; "Living well With Endometriosis" by Kerry-Ann Morris; "Endometriosis: 100 Questions & Answers" by David Redwine, MD; the "Letter from Survivors" (a poignant insight into the life of the Endo patient which has received international acclaim and been extensively reprinted in innumerable resources and presented on the steps of the Lincoln Monument in Washington, DC); "Real People, Real Stories: How the Internet is Touching Lives;" countless others.
Education/Credentials Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses-AORN Certified: Perioperative Standards & Recommended Practices, Certified, Operating Room Protocols. Certified, Exposure to Bloodbourne Pathogens Standards (OSHA).
Rutgers University, School of Continuing Adult Ed-Certified: Women's Health Educator, Med-Surg/Operating Techniques, Certified, Anatomy & Physiology, Certified, Patient Exam Techniques.
Columbia University, School of Professional Continuing Education-Certified: Journalism for Business, Certification/Professional Writing, Certification/Creative Writing & Marketing.
Sacramento State, College of Continuing Education-Certified: Healthcare Management.
Awards and Honors 20th edition of "Who’s Who among American Women"
10-term judge by invitation for National Health Information Resource Centers "World Wide Web Health Awards" Program
Highly sought-after woman's health personality
Past/Present Clients Proprietary and confidential. Samples provided upon private request.
Question This would be my third surgery in the past three years. The first was a laparotomy and the second a lamparoscopy, in both cases doctors decided for the surgery because they found big cysts (more than 8cm). The first time I used danazol for six months to prevent the endometriosis to grow again but after a few months i stop using danazol endo was ther again. A cyst bigger than the one they found the first time, they used the laparoscopy and endo was gone. Only to grow again less than a year later.
Now I have a 6,7cm endometriosic cyst, my OBGYN says that a cyst of more than 6 cm of diameter needs to be removed. But I really don´t wan´t to go under surgery again, specially because of the adhesions. The fact that I've had two surgeries before and they didn´t really helped makes me beleve that surgery is useless. I know it's not normal to have a mass this size in my body but is ther any chance that i could just live with it. I'm not so sure about the risk of leaving it as it is, my doctor says it can burts and cause and infection but it's unpredictable. Would it really hurt me to keep the cyst? Is it a risk for my health? What could really happen if I don´t get removed?
Right now I'm on an acupunture treatment for the pain and on Yazmin to prevent the cyst from growing. So far the pain part is managed but the cyst kept growing almost 2cm in two months even with BC.
I've seen so many doctors and used diferent treatments in the past two years that i'm so consufed... I really don´t know what to do or to expect with this endometriosis.
There's also one thing when I was diagnozed with endo the second tiem they also found I had hypothyroidism. I started the treatment with Euthyrox since then around the same time they found this new cyst they found that my THS was up to 14 even taking the euthyrox. They put up my dozage and we're waitng to see of it gets to the right levels. Doctors say ther's no connection between Hypothyroidsm and Endo, I'd like to now if it's true.
Answer Hi Isa, and thanks for writing!
First, the easy answer. YES, there is absolutely a connection between thyroid (and other autoimmune diseases) and Endometriosis. Your doctors are wrong. There have been extensive studies into this link over the past few years and are readily available in the academic journals for your doctor's reference. Encourage them to become current on the disease so that they may better treat their patients with it. For one brief example, refer him/her to http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/442245.
As for the cyst, it depends on what type of cyst. I am unclear is this is an endometrioma, but will assume so. That being the case, the gold standard for treatment of an endometrioma is, in fact, surgery. Endometriomas do not respond well to medical suppression or watchful waiting, and if they rupture, cause excruciating pain as well as the spillout of the contents into the pelvis (contents which can cause adhesions, inflammation, and other problems). If you cyst is growing at the rate you indicate, it sounds like a very aggressive Endometrioma that you would definitely benefit from the removal of.
I would suggest, however, that you undergo the surgery with a true specialist - someone who can meticulously excise the disease and corresponding endometriomas. For examples, visit the CEC, Dr. Redwine or Dr. Robbins' websites:
They offer records review and evaluation and you may wish to seek their opinion for free and possibly travel to one of those specialty centers for definitive care.
