My OBGYN who performed my 1st Laparoscopic surgery for Endometriosis had died in a skiing accident, so I needed a new one. Michael Lawler was recommended to me, so I went to see him. On my visit where he diagnosed me with Stage 3 Endometriosis he was a bit rough with the exam, especially with his rectal exam, which brought me to tears after he left the room. I was a bit wary, but I thought that if he was a good surgeon and able rid me of my pain it would be worth his rough bed-side manner. Before the surgery I told him of my family's history of problems with internal scar tissue and my preference for him to cut as little as possible. I asked that he get the approval of my domestic partner (now husband) if he needed to do more than the one incision (through my belly-button) as I had received in my 1st surgery. When I awoke I had 4 incisions! He never talked to my Husband about it, and though he claimed it was necessary, I'm not convinced of that, and neither have other OBGYN's I've talked to. Unfortunately, the incisions have caused me considerable problems with pain and muscle weakness since the surgery. For years I was in more pain after the surgery than I was before it! Recovery was hard, I was very badly bruised like I had been kicked in the gut, and was practically unable to walk for over 2 weeks, rather than the few days of recovery I had from the 1st surgery. After the surgery, when he was taking out my stitches he pulled them out with little regard to the pain it was causing, enough for my non-confrontational husband to tell him to be more gentle. When I asked him why he used such a thick stitch that it was causing pain to take out and that they would cause scars (my 1st surgery the other OBGYN used a thinner stitch), he said, "Why do you care? It will be under your underwear." I was shocked at his lack of concern for my body! Needless to say I never went back, and I regret ever seeing him. He may be fine for an annual exam, but be careful who cuts into you, ladies!
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