My Visit with Dr. Boardman

[Guest guest]

Today I had my appointment with Dr. Lori Boardman, a noted vulvar

specialist in the New England area (Rhode Island). She is fairly

young, and I liked her so much better than Dr. who I had gone

to several times last year. The attention I got from Dr. Boardman

couldn't compare to the barely any attention I got from Dr. .

I could barely walk this morning and had trouble getting to her

office. I was overwhelmed at the size of the complex she is in (many

large medical buildings, hospital). Thank goodness there was a big

garage to park in and my husband held on to me when we got out of the

car as we had to walk about two very cold windy blocks. I saved my

breakthrough pain med and my Valium, and took them just before I got

out of the car (boy was I glad I did). I was overwhelmed (again) when

we got to her office as I am use to one small office (Dr. Conway's),

in a strip mall and this office was huge, with at least 50 (some very

pregnant)women coming and going with babies, children.

Anyway, after check-in I waited about 15 minutes before I was called.

After being called, I got undressed and then the nicest young woman

came in and introduced herself as a third year resident that works

with Dr. Boardman. She spent at least 45 minutes going over every

item on the 20 page questionnaire that they had sent me when I made

the appointment and I had returned to them beforehand by mail. She

was just so nice and caring, she will make a wonderful doctor. She is

going to be a woman's oncologist doctor, but said that chemo causes

vulvar pain and she wanted to know how to treat it. I asked her if

she had had any training/teaching in med school on

Vulvodynia/Vestibulitis - and she said none. Also no mention of PN

either. It was just information you possibly picked up if you

interned or as a resident on a GYN floor in the hospital or worked

with a GYN specialist doctor.

And then Dr. Boardman came in. We talked for awhile and then she

wanted to take a peek. I was lying on my side, which is the only way

I can lie in any comfort. I was so relieved that she didn't want to

do a pelvic or poke around. She told me to just stay on my side and

raise my leg as much as could so she could take a peek (her words).

After a long discussion, the conclusion was what I expected. There

really is no help for vulvodynia/vestibulitis that I hadn't already

tried. She saw a teeny evidence of LS, but not much. We had a

discussion about Botox - she has read all the recent articles about

it, but had not used it, and was not certain that she wanted too,

until there were more positive results. She is concerned on what it

may do to the rest of the body. So finally, at the end of the

discussion we decided that maybe more trigger -point injections might

help. And to have a series of them every 2-3 weeks in hopes of

deadening the vaginal area and eventually get it out of the pain

cycle. I decided to take her up on it as my injections were not paid

for with Dr. Q as he is out of network, and Dr. Boardman is on my

plan. Although I don't think they have given a lot of them as she had

trouble deciding on what size needle to use.

Also, during this whole time the resident stayed in the room and took

notes. When it came time for the injections, we decided on four right

around and at the entrance to the vagina (Oh, am I glad I had taken

my meds - thank God for the Valium). I didn't have to move at all,

stayed on my side, I just took my finger and felt around for some of

the worst spots and she (the resident) stuck the needles in (ouch).

Dr. Boardman hovered over and told her what to do. And then we

decided to try some lidocaine suppositories that they will have their

pharmacy compound and send to me. Next time maybe I will talk to her

about Valium suppositories. She also mentioned Capiscan (sp) cream. A

cream that burns the area in hopes of stopping the pain cycle.

I was getting the feeling that the questions I was asking were

challenging her knowledge and that I was far from her usual patient.

So we agreed for me to come back in three weeks for more injections,

and I made an appointment with her secretary. I looked at the clock

and couldn't believe it was 12:15pm. I had gone in there at 9:30am.,

and I had never been left alone that whole time. When I got back to

the busy waiting room, I found my husband sitting in a corner (I

think he was intimidated by all the pregnant woman), reading his book

he had brought along. He said he was just getting ready to ask

someone what happened to me as he was getting very worried as I had

been gone so long.

So I don't know what I am going to do about the Botox injections. I

have to find someone who treats pain in the sitz bones and the

piriformis. And I don't know who that would be. I still have my

appointment with Dr. Q. as I have to go monthly to get my

prescriptions, but I don't think I will have any Botox as was

originally scheduled. I had an appointment with Dr. Conway at the end

of April, but moved it to the middle of June. I know he can't do

anything for me, except time and patience as he always tells me - and

maybe I just have regenerating nerves like he also has mentioned,

plus it is a half a day off from work for my husband to get to Dr. Q

and Dr. C's office. My thought now is why go, unless they (the

doctors) can be of some help. So for now, I will search for someone

to help with my periformis pain, put the Botox injections on hold,

and go to see Dr. Boardman every three weeks for trigger point

injections, plus my weekly PT.

nne

[Guest guest]

Hey nne, I am so glad to hear that Lori and those working with her were so nice. Even if she didn't know 'exactly' how to help, the fact that she listened and is willing to 'try' can go a long way. You know I'm routing for you all the way. I think it makes sense to get trigger point injections from her, since hopefully they will be covered by your Insurance. Don't give up! Many Hugs, Chelle