If it ain't broke/watch and wait

[Guest guest]

Re:Leonie's post on 'if it ain't broke/watch and wait':

Amen. I couldn't agree more.

[Guest guest]

The latest bee in my bonnet, as some of you who have read my posts this year

will know, if about " watching and waiting " . One of the drawbacks to simply

watching and waiting WITHOUT educating ourselves is that we may wait so long

that when we finally ask our GYNs about our options, we find that it's too late

for one or more options that could have solved our problems fairly simply, and

instead now hear that hysterectomy is the only viable option left.

To the ladies here who have been advised " not to fix it if it ain't broken " ,

i.e., if you're not having symptoms, simply wait til you do, I'd like to offer

some suggestions.

First, EDUCATE yourself about your fibroids. Read NUFF's excellent info on our

site, www.nuff.org. Read Carla Dionne's book, " Sex, Lies and Uterine Fibroids " .

Continue to read our list group. Learn about things like side- and after-effects

of each procedure, risk of regrowth of fibroids in the future, etc.

LEARN through the Internet, books, and this group about the various options

available for treating fibroids. Learn about things like advantages, side- and

after-effects of each procedure, risk of regrowth of fibroids in the future,

chances of conception following each procedure, etc.

And then TALK to your GYN about what options he/she sees as appropriate for you

when the need arises. Find out under what conditions your insurance will cover

which procedures. Listen to your GYN's opinion as to why certain procedures may

not be appropriate for you, and weigh this against what you've learned yourself.

Learn what options he/she performs and see if he/she recommends only options

he/she can perform, or is willing to tell you about other options.

Some procedures are only useful if your fibroids/uterus size is under a certain

limit. Be sure to ask your doctor what she (sorry, I can't keep this he/she up

any more) considers the outside limit in size for various procedures.

Then FOLLOW UP regularly (yearly is what I did) with ultrasounds to keep track

of fibroid growth, location and approximate number. And keep READING and

LEARNING about new procedures that appear.

As far as when is the appropriate time for treatment, that is a matter between

each woman and her doctor. If size is the only issue but that is impacting your

life, then that is a symptom. Just balance how much distress that is causing

you against the risks of each treatment. Make your own decision.

Best of health to you all,

Leonie

--

" Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground "

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[Guest guest]

OK....once and for all...I meant to say, watch, wait, 'til you educate!

Alot of us have been manipulated and pushed by fear to move more quickly to our

detriments. It is all

situational. If you have horrid symptoms, than full speed ahead....but just to

react out of fear

before feeling completely comfortable with your INFORMED decision is problematic

for me.....speaking

from hind site. gg

JEAlbrecht@... wrote:

> Re:Leonie's post on 'if it ain't broke/watch and wait':

>

> Amen. I couldn't agree more.

>

>

>

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