Doctor Will See You Now, Second Edition

Tamer Seckin, MD, is a Board Certified gynecologist and laparoscopic surgeon in private practice in New York City, practicing at North Shore LIJ/Lenox Hill Hospital. He specializes in treating women with endometriosis. He is an internationally known specialist in minimally invasive advanced (laparoscopic) surgery, and is among a very limited number of gynecologic surgeons in the United States who is exclusively committed to the Deep Laparoscopic Excision of endometriosis.In 2009, Dr. Seckin founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EFA), the first research and advocacy foundation of its kind organized by a private physician to raise awareness and emphasize the critical value of surgical excision of endometriosis. Under his guidance as Medical Director, the EFA strives to increase disease recognition, provide advocacy, facilitate expert surgical training, and fund landmark endometriosis research.

“This comprehensive text, as the author hopes, is likely to raise awareness among other physicians and among general readers, particularly women who will now have the knowledge necessary to become powerful self-advocates.” —Publishers Weekly“An empowering, pro-women look at an often misdiagnosed condition that can cause infertility and devastating pain.” —Booklist“As people, but especially as women, we have to be our own medical advocates. Whether it's my friends making their way through the birth industrial complex or the ones deciding how to handle a chronic illness like Lyme, educating ourselves is power. Plus (and I'm a broken record on this), our pain — especially if it's located between belly button and ass crack — is often not treated with the seriousness we would hope. My particular journey to navigate has been endometriosis, and Tamer Seckin's The Doctor Will See You Now: Recognizing and Treating Endometriosis, written with sensitivity and spirit, is an amazing primer if you or someone you love is suffering. In a world where information is everywhere yet answers are hard to come by, Dr. Seckin offers comfort and guidance.” —Lena Dunham“The book’s inspiring text is purposefully crafted so that every reader can relate and understand endometriosis not only medically, but also emotionally.” —National Pain Report“One of the best endometriosis surgeons is Dr. Tamer Seckin, a premier gynecologist specializing in endometriosis. Throughout my practice and teaching career, I have personally observed numerous top surgeons, both in Europe and North America, performing difficult endometriosis surgery in their operating rooms and, without hesitation, I can recommend Dr. Seckin as one of the best of the best.” —C.Y. Liu, MD, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee, College of Medicine. Director Emeritus, Fellowship Program in Minimally Invasive Gynecology, Chattanooga, Tennessee. Past President, American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL)“Dr. Seckin blends his knowledge and surgical skills with compassion and understanding of patient concerns. His many years of hands on experience and patient interaction combine to make this book a very worthwhile read.” —Harry Reich, MD, First U.S. gynecologic surgeon to use the laparoscope to excise deep endometriosis of the ovary and rectum“In this moving and informative book, Dr. Seckin provides an important resource for women with endometriosis - a common, widely misunderstood, and understudied condition. Recent research has revealed a major genetic component to endometriosis; now is the time for the scientific community to put serious resources into better understanding this complex inflammatory disorder. Targeted research can lead to earlier diagnosis, improved treatments, and eventually, preventative care to put an end to Endo.” —Peter K. Gregersen MD, Professor of Molecular Medicine, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine; Head, Robert S. Boas Center for Genomics and Human Genetics, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research“Endometriosis cripples women without a proper diagnosis. Dr. Tamer Seckin’s The Doctor Will See You Now sheds light on this painful condition and advances the fight to help women with endometriosis through personal accounts and his breadth of knowledge. I’ve worked with Dr. Seckin’s co-founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America, Top Chef star, Padma Lakshmi, to help women understand that there is hope and I know this book will do the same.” —State Senator Jeff Klein

• A Note to ReadersForeword by Bindi IrwinForeword by Alexis Roderick JoelForeword by Amy SchumerIntroduction: A Letter to You from Dr. SeckinThe DiseaseChapter 1: You’re Not CrazyChapter 2: The Road Less TraveledChapter 3: Endo What?Chapter 4: Pain and its Effect on PersonalitySymptomsChapter 5: From Early Endo to a Frozen PelvisChapter 6: The Taboo of PeriodsChapter 7: Debilitating CrampsChapter 8: Painful SexChapter 9: Painful Bowel MovementsNEW Chapter 10: Struggling to BreatheChapter 11: NeuropathyNEW Chapter 12: Sciatic Nerve (Leg) PainChapter 13: Four Miscarriages…and a BabyChapter 14: FatigueChapter 15: GeneticsMisdiagnosesChapter 16: Unnecessary SufferingChapter 17: IBS: A “Dump Diagnosis”Chapter 18: Hysterectomy: BadChapter 19: AppendicitisChapter 20: Ovarian CystsPhoto ReferencesEffectsChapter 21: Those Who Suffer with ThemChapter 22: Living Just to WorkChapter 23: You Learn Who Your True Friends AreChapter 24: A MiscarriageAlternativesChapter 25: Alternatives, Not SubstitutesChapter 26: PainkillersChapter 27: AcupunctureChapter 28: Good NutritionChapter 29: Birth Control PillsChapter 30: Pseudomenopause and MenopauseChapter 31: Hysterectomy: Not So BadChapter 32: Freezing Your EggsThe Care You DeserveChapter 33: Your First Visit: What to ExpectChapter 34: The Gold StandardChapter 35: When Surgery Doesn’t Go as PlannedNEW Chapter 36: The Truth About Re-OperationChapter 37: New Lives (Literally) After SurgeryNEW Chapter 38: Miracle Pregnancies Beyond ExcisionChapter 39: Laser Surgery and ElectrosurgeryChapter 40: Robotic SurgeryChapter 41: A Possible Link to Ovarian CancerSupport: Now and in the FutureREVISED Chapter 42: The Endometriosis Foundation of America (EndoFound)REVISED Chapter 43: ENPOWRing the Young GenerationChapter 44: Educating DoctorsNEW Chapter 45: Advocacy and Policy: When Medicine Meets MissionREVISED Chapter 46: Research and a CureREVISED Chapter 47: Support GroupsChapter 48: Finding the Right DoctorChapter 49: InsuranceEpilogueResourcesAcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorEndnotesIndex