Buxbaum, Audrey, Md - Downtown Womens Ob/Gyn

Caution for women seeking treatment at Downtown OBGYN

Caution for women seeking treatment at Downtown OBGYN: Two years ago, a surgeon in the Downtown OBGYN practice conducted my surgery to remove fibroids; during the procedure my fallopian tubes were severed from my uterus which has resulted in permanent infertility.
The surgery was supposed to be fairly routine and I was assured that the doctor had over a decade of experience doing these same procedures. At the time of the surgery, it was discovered that I had endometriosis, which the surgeon was completely unfamiliar with. Following the procedure, the surgeon advised that she had not been able to remove all of the fibroids due to her unfamiliarity with treating endometriosis. She advised that she worked and worked and manipulated my organs to attempt to remove the fibroids but couldn’t. It’s likely that during this process, my fallopian tubes were detached. Now that I know the symptoms of endometriosis, I realize that I was a classic case and any doctor who was truly experienced and thorough in their evaluation would have anticipated the case and advised on measures for further diagnosis and/or preparation for the condition during surgery. Endometriosis is a condition where cells from the lining the uterus instead grow on the exterior of the uterus, the ovaries, and in some cases even on non-reproductive organs such as the bladder.
About two weeks after the surgery, I developed extreme pain in my abdomen which was exponentially more severe than any of my already painful menstrual cycles or the symptoms of endometriosis. I sought treatment from the doctor at Downtown OBGYN who performed the surgery and was advised that I should wait a few more weeks for the pain to go away. After several weeks of severe pain and additional time lost from work, I ended up in the emergency room where I was advised that another surgery was needed to remove both the remaining fibroids and the scar tissue from the endometriosis. This time, I sought treatment from a doctor with much greater experience and who was more thorough. I also did my research so I was better informed about the treatment I should be seeking.
Four months after the first surgery, I had a second surgery during which the doctor removed all the scar tissue and several more fibroids. Due to the success of the second surgery, I haven’t had pain from endometriosis or my menstrual cycle in over a year. For the first time in my life, I have normal periods without excessive bleeding which had led me to become dangerously anemic.
My advice to all women is to do your research, seek multiple opinions, ask lots of questions, if there is a difference in diagnosis and treatment offered then keep seeking advice until you get some consistency, ask outright whether the doctor is prepared for worst case scenarios, and trust your gut - don’t listen to doctors who dismiss your symptoms or concerns.
I’ve come across other reviews about the rudeness of the front desk staff and how the practice is quick to charge you a no-show fee if you’re late or cancel an appoint in less than 24 hours. I’ve had those experiences as well and they are all important considerations. However, having experienced what it’s like to be truly ill and having my symptoms overlooked and being told that I was in experienced hands while classic symptoms were ignored and now dealing with permanent infertility, I can’t help but stress the knowledge of the doctors and their thoroughness above everything else and hope you will too.