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Female trouble
You won't hear about them on "Lipstick Jungle," but uterine fibroids plague a surprising number of women, especially those waiting to have children until later in life.
By Rebecca Traister [2008-02-27]

  • 15 years ago

    when I was diagnosed with a fibroid as big as a normal 9 month pregnancy the only articles I could find about non-hysterectomy alternatives were from Israeli and French Medical journals...though I found two good articles on removing them from horses.

    My first doctors insisted hysterectomy was the only option and that I had to immediately have surgery in case it was really cancer...due to the fact that it appeared within two months and was so big. I was stupid and did not get a second opinion. I did have my Mom come and supervise - she's an RN - and refused to sign consent for hysterectomy unless it was cancer. My husband also stood his ground along with my Mom and made sure that the Docs stuck to the agreement. It was not cancer - it was a gigantic external fibroid around my right fallopian tube and ovary. Instead of removing the fibroid, the Docs did a great deal of damage due to its location and their 'fear' that I would bleed to death if they removed it. In the end they closed up the wound which did not heal well - it stretches from above my belly botton to below my pubic bone. I was pressured to seek counselling to get over my neurotic desire to maintain my fertility among other rudenesses. I was very close to suicide when an acquaintance, an older sensible woman who was a french literature professor, told me to go to University Hospitals and see Doctor Sogor. He did his damnedest to repair the damage... plastic surgery for the interior, removed the fibroid - I did need transfusions - and tried to repair the wound. Everything but one fallopian tube came out looking fine and apparently working. We tried getting pregnant beginning as soon as I healed completely. Dr. Sogor sent a letter and a video of the surgery to my previous Docs explaining to them how this should have been done and offering to assist them further in their education. We were not able to get pregnant after many attempts and options but at least we had the chance. At least one Doctor felt that a woman's fertility was not a frivolous or neurotic choice.

    Thank heavens he's educated a whole new generation of Docs with brains and hearts.

    -- DianeKovacs
    [Read DianeKovacs's other letters]
    Tuesday, February 26, 2008 07:34 PM
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