IC Patient Successfully Sues For Mistaken Hysterectomy

***icnmgrjill*** · 02-07-2006, 03:45 PM

IC patient Angela Burch, wife of Army Major Daniel Burch, was awarded $2 million by a federal judge earlier this week, resulting from medical malpractice case relating to her diagnosis of IC. Ms. Burch had been a pelvic pain patient for several years. In a situation that we believe is quite common, her physicians disagreed on the source of her pain. Her urologist believed that she had interstitial cystitis while her internist and OB-GYN suspected that she had endometriosis. Regrettably and inappropriately, a hysterectomy was performed despite the fact that her uterus was perfectly normal.

We have received numerous reports from patients who have had a hysterectomy for the treatment of their pelvic pain only to discover, after the fact, that their pain came from the bladder rather than uterus. Some were quite young, such as former ICN Assistant Manager Diane Manhattan-Lopresti. Given the outstanding diagnostic methods we currently have today, such as the PUF questionnaire, this simply should not be occurring. Our hearts go out to Ms. Burch and her family. We applaud you for your courage in bringing this legal action and in telling your story!

http://www.marinetimes.com/story.php...25-1519620.php

**hollipop** · 02-08-2006, 02:28 AM

Wow!

***kadi*** · 02-08-2006, 02:35 AM

I went to see a new gynecologist about a year ago. The first thing he said when I told him I had IC was that I should have a complete hysterectomy. I asked why, he said that it would heal my bladder. I asked him how removing other organs could heal an inflamed one and his next question was "Why do you want useless organs if you are not going to bear children?" I got up, told him he was not the doctor for me, and walked out. I'm just sorry I didn't ask for my copay back.

I am so glad he was not the first doctor I saw for my IC pain....

This probably happens more often than we know.
Kudos to Ms. Burch for being courageous and tenacious enough to bring this to light.

**Casi** · 02-08-2006, 02:39 AM

It must have taken a lot of courage to go thru all of that. I know after my hysterectomy everything got much worse than it was before the surgery, and like most women I was having the surgery to feel better 2 years later, still struggling...
Thanks for posting that!

***ICNDonna*** · 02-08-2006, 04:03 AM

I also applaud for Angela Burch! I also had an unnecessary hysterectomy --- and I developed IC almost immediately after the surgery. That was 32 years ago.

Donna

**patricia1** · 02-08-2006, 04:54 AM

I to had an uneeded hysterectomy. I started suffering in 1996 after my c-sect. I then started seeing my gyno for the pain and all the other bladder stuff. In 1999 we dec to try the hystrectomy to see if this would help my pain. Nope it did not. It was 2 yrs later I got my diagnose. I have always felt and said that IC cost me to lose a body part that I did not have to lose. I was only 28 at the time of the hystectomy.

**dancemomof2** · 02-08-2006, 05:00 AM

Good for her!!!!

***Sarojini*** · 02-08-2006, 05:10 AM

I haven't undergone a hysterectomy but I did have a doctor (a GYN) say that if I would get pregnant and have kids, all my IC symptoms would disappear. Uhhhhhh....

I don't know why these gyn's think doing something, anything to the uterus is going to help the bladder. I applaud Ms. Burch and I am glad things worked out in her favor....

**Janie Miranda** · 02-08-2006, 05:32 AM

I was told to have a hysterectomy by one of the first doctors I saw for my IC problems. Thankfully, I had already found the ICN message board here and had figured out on my own, what my problem was . . . then all I had to do was find a doctor who could diagnose and treat me. After finding that doctor (Thank you, Dr. Wiygul) and getting on the right meds and the diet I began to steadily improve. . . and thank the Lord, I didn't go through with the hysterectomy. Dr. Wiygul told me, "what ever you do . . . don't let anyone do surgery on you. It will only make you worse". I've taken her advice to heart and the only way I will ever permit surgery is if I have cancer.

***icnmgrjill*** · 02-08-2006, 12:36 PM

Thank you everyone! I would really love to hear from other patients who were also told to have hysterectomies. We need to do a story on this BIG TIME and put some pressure on various medical associations to prevent this from happening further.

Jill

**Judy777** · 02-08-2006, 12:54 PM

I think some of the OBGYN's think they can solve everything with either a birth control pill and if that won't work how about a Hysterectomy.

I was diagnosed with IC and Endo last year in July. I had the Endo lasered off. This did not help with the painfull periods/ovulation and pain during intercourse in fact if anything it has gotten worse. I was told having a Hysterectomy would get rid of my Endo. I even asked for my Urologist's opinion and how having a Hysterectomy would affect my IC and he said it sounded like a great idea and that he would recomend it. He said he has seen where some patients bladder problems just disappeared after having a Hysterectomy.

**Babs RN** · 02-08-2006, 01:42 PM

I have been part of the military health care system as a child, active duty, and as a spouse. While I a found a few truly professional caregivers overall, I am usually pumped full of pain meds, operated on, pumped full of meds...well you get the picture. Throw in a wife whose DH is gone and you are just plain

Hugs,
Barb

***kadi*** · 02-08-2006, 01:46 PM

Hmm, gynos... If the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail?

**hollipop** · 02-08-2006, 02:50 PM

Kadi - did you come up with that "If the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail?" thing by yourself?

I need to remember that quote....you are so witty!

**tigger_gal** · 02-08-2006, 02:56 PM

you know that is so sad.. My doctor removed my apendix, thinking that was where my pain was.. and after it was removed I still had pain, and was told it was in my head, or it was flank pain..... maybe I should have looked more into this.. my apenix was taken out 10 years ago..
I am happy she won her law suit.