It’s crucial to go to your doctor appointments as prepared as possible. Unfortunately, we have to be our own advocate even when we feel awful. To me, this means having a list of illnesses you have, a list of medications you’re taking (prescriptions, supplements, etc.), a list of questions to ask your doctor during the appointment, researching endometriosis and treatment options (or the illness and treatment options you are going to see the doctor about), a list of your symptoms, a list of tests or procedures you think would be helpful in getting you closer to the answers you need to feel better, what treatments you have tried that didn’t help, specialists you’ve been to, as well as any other information you think would be helpful.

​Here is an example of what I took with me to my doctor appointment regarding endometriosis before I had my hysterectomy in 2014:

Current illnesses
• Endometriosis
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Osteoporosis
• Vitamin d deficiency 
• Interstitial cystitis 

Medications
• Progesterone cream
• Biest cream
• Metformin
• Vitamin d 5000 units
• Probiotic

Questions
• What do my blood test results mean?
• Based off of what I’ve tried for treatment of endometriosis, what treatment options do I have left to try?

Symptoms 
• Irregular periods
• Heavy periods
• Pain all the time that worsens with period
• Increased pelvic pain with standing 
• Ovarian cysts
• Can’t wear tampons because of pain

Possible tests and procedures
• Bone scan due to Lupron and bone pain
• Excision surgery 

Treatments already tried
• Birth control (Ortho Tri Cyclen, Natazia, Necon, Seasonique)
• Lupron
• Ablation surgery (2010, 2012, 2013)
• Colonoscopy (2010)
• Celebrex, Cymbalta
• Percocet, Ibuprofen, Tylenol 3, Ponstel
• Pelvic floor physical therapy
• Bio identical hormones
• Gluten free/dairy free diet 

Specialists
• Gynecologist
• Urologist
• Gastroenterologist 
• Pelvic floor physical therapist 

It is okay to question what your doctor is telling you. It’s your body and your right to refuse a treatment you don’t want to put into your body. 

You can find out more in my book Living with Endometriosis: The Complete Guide to Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Treatment Options.

Take care,
💛Samantha 

​Have you heard of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, but not sure what it is?

• Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a protein that the liver makes that helps the lungs function properly.
• If your body doesn't make enough of the protein, you have alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

How do you get diagnosed with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency?

• Your doctor, mos likely a pulmonologist (a lung specialist), can order a blood test to see how much alpha-1 antitrypsin protein your body has. Depending on your level that comes back and your genotype (MZ, ZZ, etc.), you could be diagnosed with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Once your doctor gets the results back, the may order a CT scan and lung function test to determine how your lungs look and are functioning. This will allow them to establish a baseline for you and repeat these tests in the future to see if there is a decline in function and appearance.

What are signs and symptoms of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency?

• Shortness of breath
• Decline of lung function in short amount of time
• Year round allergies
• Chronic bronchitis and/or chest colds and producing phlegm for a long period of time
• Wheezing
• Unable to exercise for a long period of time

Treatment options for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

• ​Augmentation therapy: weekly infusions of alpha-1 antitrypsin protein
• Inhalers and other medications for breathing
• Supplemental oxygen

You can learn more about alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency from Samantha’s upcoming book Living with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, which details her mom’s/family’s journey of the illness along with medical information. It will be published by Hatherleigh Press and distributed by Penguin Random House on August 27, 2019 and you can preorder today!

Take care,
💜Samantha Bowick