Evangelia’s Story

Almost four years ago, in fall 2005, Dr. Tamer Seckin performed a 4½ hour surgery. I am looking at the report as I write this and I am providing an excerpt from the surgical report: “Extensive lysis of adhesions and rectal lysis, rectovaginal septum excision, complete cul-de-sac excision, left and right endometrial excision, bilateral ovarioplasty, resection of the diaphragm…” It goes on with medical terminology I had to look up. In layman’s terms, the endometriosis was removed from areas as distant as my diaphragm, liver and dangerously close to my heart. My reproductive organs and bowel were freed after years of being held immobile by scarring and adhesions from the endometriosis. My ovaries were cleared of the large endometriomas which had ballooned to 6 centimeters. Dr. Seckin had skillfully and successfully removed every last vestige of endometriosis he found and left all of my organs intact. He later told me my case was one of the worst he had ever seen. During the dark days, before I had the good fortune of finding him, I was convinced that I was going to be the first woman to die of endometriosis. Being that the disease was approaching my heart, I still wonder if that might have been my fate.

My recovery from the surgery was fast and easy and I had no scars to speak if. A week after surgery, I began to feel deliriously well. The absence of pain had me feeling almost euphoric.

I am still a regular patient of Dr. Seckin’s. Four years later, I have NO symptoms or pain. NONE. My ovaries are normal. My menstrual cycles are unremarkable (so THIS is what a normal period is like!) and most importantly, I have my life back. Endometriosis is no longer controlling me — it almost seems as if that defeated person I used to be was someone else. Endometriosis is no longer even a thought – until I meet someone who might be suffering from it — and when I do, I give them Dr. Seckin’s contact information and tell them they don’t need to go anywhere else.

Dr. Seckin asked me to write this testimonial in support of the Endometriosis Foundation of America which will be headquartered here in New York City. To this day, I feel that this physician, exceptionally talented surgeon, and extraordinary humanitarian saved my life — and I am grateful. I am once again thriving in my career and have the energy to pursue the things that bring joy and contentment to me.