RE: Fibroids - a bit off topic

[Guest guest]

--- " A. " wrote:

> & Maureen,

>

I have a fibroid that is pressing against my bladder.

It's pretty small right not, but it did make for extra

stops on the drive to Florida <sarcastic smile>

I have cysts on my ovaries, not a problem now, but in

the past created pretty big problems.

Since I'm one of those " unwilling celibates " , the

likelihood of having more kids (and the saying, I'd

rather be 40 than pregnant applies, too). The fibroid

is doing all those stereotypical things that make life

really " pleasant " ...I don't know, that hysterectomy is

sounding better and better...

Ellen

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

i don't regret my hysterectomy for one second, and i sure don't miss

menstruation... BUT my decision, as i said, was a grueling one. i never

wanted to look back and, in retrospect, wonder whether or not i'd made the

" right " decision. i educated myself, read books, consulted with

specialists, did lupron injections for three months prior to the surgery...

all while finishing my degree and doing the mommy track, yikes. for ME, the

right decision was yes to hysterectomy, no to myomectomy, no to arterial

embolization, NO to oopherectomy, YES to keeping my ovaries.

at the risk of sounding like a flaming feminist, EVERY women should be

encouraged and empowered to make the " right " decisions for her... and BOO to

the docs who don't work with their patients in the decision-making process.

in fact, this applies to every physical ailment: e.g., those with PSC should

be surrounding by a caring medical profession who encourages patients to

make the " right " decisions about his/her care.

personally, although many women can live with being fibroidal, i think

fibroids are just plain EVIL, as in straight from hell! mine steadily grew

and grew and i swear it drove me halfway loop-the-freaking-loop. sure, you

CAN live with them... but who in their right mind would want to live with an

8-lb one? (for those not in the know, visualize a " permanent " eight-month

state of pregnancy, bleeding like a stuck pig, exhausted from anemia. ok,

i'll shut up now.)

maureen