7 days post myo

[Guest guest]

Hi all. I have belonged to this group for some time and have read

from your posts far more often than I have contributed. I have never

really felt qualified to answer questions with as much authority as

some of you can, but have learned so much from the answers you have

provided to me and so many others.

After very much research into treatment options and doctors to

perform those treatments, I decided to have a myomectomy to remove my

11cm subserosal fibroid that was giving me all of the kinds of

symptoms that we discuss here. I scheduled an appointmet to have it

done with a doctor that I felt very qualified to do the treatment.

She suggested Lupron due to the size and placement of my fibroid, but

told me the choice was mine and I didn't have to go on it if I didn't

want to. Since my research led me to believe that Lupron was not the

correct drug for me, I was incredibly relieved. When I called to

advise her of my decision not to take Lupron she became VERY stern

with me and all but threatened a hysterectomy and was now VERY

strongly suggesting that I go on it. I was devastated. I truly

thought that I had found the right doctor. Everything else until

that point had been perfect.

At the end of this phone call I looked over to my desk and saw my

copy of the Hysterectomy Hoax sitting there. I reread the book and

payed special attention to the Lupron part. Dr. West mentioned only

one set of circumstances that he would put a patient on it. I

decided to call him and ask if he would recomend it for my case. I

never imagined that I would actually get to speak with him. My best

hope was for someone in the office passing a note to him and

hopefully a return phone call with a message from the doctor.

Imagine my surprise when he called me back personally and spent 30

minutes with me on the phone answering ALL of my questions. At the

end of this call I knew I had really found the correct doctor.

I fully realize that I probably didn't have to go to NYC to have this

done, as I'm know there are plenty of qualified physicians in the

Chicago area, but when I spoke with him I knew that I wanted him to

do it. The time he spent with me on the phone was more than any

other doctor had given me, even those that charged a consultation fee!

I'm writing this to say that it was because of this group and the

dedicated women in it, that gave me the courage to question doctors

and to take control of my own health. I had two procedures prior to

this one that I went through with far less information as a weapon,

and I have to tell you that this one (even though the most invasive)

was the one I felt the most comfortable having. I have learned not

to accept everything a doctor tells you at face value and to find the

answer that is right for you.

I am recovering very nicely and have started cooking a little bit and

doing some tasks around the house. I'm still sore and slow but

moving along pretty well and very much looking forward to returning

to the gym to resume my workout routine, that I learned from you all

would help me out(even on my worst symptom days some time at the gym

would really help give me back some of my quickly fading energy).

I'm sorry this is so long but I wanted to say thank you to this group

for helping me find my way through this crazy world of fibroids to a

solution that worked for me. So, thank you to Carla for your

unending efforts (and the tidbits you send!), and the rest of you for

your generous support in helping women all over. I hope to someday

be as valuable to others as you have been to me.

Sincerely,

Giselle