Re: Checking out a surgeon for a myo

[Guest guest]

I went to the HERS conference in Cambridge and Dr. Levine was there. He is a

big proponent of conservative surgery, that is saving what is ours. I can't

tell you if HERS is a good source of referrals. The conference had a panel

of women who had very bad experiences with hysterectomies and there was a

professor discussing anatomy aside from Dr. Levine who fielded questions. I

am from Mass and would like to know of recommended surgeons as well. Was he

your only local referral? I am also interested as you are in really knwoing

how you check out a Dr/Surgeon. As if they would ever say they are not so

great at certain procedures such as myomectomy.

This was Levine right?

Checking out a surgeon for a myo

Hello all,

I am a return visitor to this group after a year's absence. Didn't say much

the first time but learned much that was extremely helpful. My question is:

how do you go about checking out a surgeon's credentials/skills? I am

considering having a second myo (1st one 12 years ago) and was referred to

a Dr. Levine in Arlington, Mass by someone in this group. She told me that

he was a HERS referred doctor. Is HERS a good source for referrals? Has

anyone else had any experience with him?

[Guest guest]

I'm from Mass to and this group has been so very helpful to me! I have been

dealing with knowing I have a 10 cm fibroid outside my uterus after I

miscarried in June 2002. I met with Dr. Levine who came highly recommended by

this group. I also met with Dr. from Brigham and Woman's

Hospital who was also highly recommended by this group. I'm seeing Dr.

again on April 6 and trying to build up courage to Book my myo. She

answers all my questions and I am really satisfied with her just afraid as

many are of having surgery.

Take Care,

Lynette

[Guest guest]

Yes, Levine. I've been in contact with HERS and will be

speaking with them next Monday (a tel consultation) about how they go

about referring doctors and to get other names as well. In the

meantime, they gave me a website to go to www.abms.org to check out an

MD's board certification. I'll be happy to let you know what I find

out.

I'm in Westford, where are you?

Yolanda

[Guest guest]

One more thing - yes, he's the only referral I have right now.

[Guest guest]

Lynette,

I'm curious as to why you decided to go see Dr after seeing

Dr. Levine. How would you compare them? Gosh, this makes 3 of us in

Mass looking for a good myo surgeon!

Thanks,

Yolanda

> I'm from Mass to and this group has been so very helpful to me! I

have been

> dealing with knowing I have a 10 cm fibroid outside my uterus after

I

> miscarried in June 2002. I met with Dr. Levine who came highly

recommended by

> this group. I also met with Dr. from Brigham and

Woman's

> Hospital who was also highly recommended by this group. I'm seeing

Dr.

> again on April 6 and trying to build up courage to Book my

myo. She

> answers all my questions and I am really satisfied with her just

afraid as

> many are of having surgery.

>

> Take Care,

> Lynette

[Guest guest]

> Another excellent ob/gyn surgeon in boston area is Dr. Sandhya Shah

in Brookline. Anyone interested, feel free to ask me questions. she

did my myomectomy in september, never urged me to choose hysterectomy

over myo, and i'm 50.

> Robin

Hello Robin,

Thanks so much for your offer of answering questions! I guess the

tough part is - now that I have the names of 3 good surgeons in the

Boston area, how do you choose? Was this your only referral and you

were happpy and stopped looking or were there other factors that

entered your decision-making? Where does Dr Shah operate?

I too am approaching the big 50 - I'll be 49 in a couple of months

and fully expect this to be my last myo ( my first was at 36).

Thank you!

Yolanda

[Guest guest]

Hi Faryl,

How long ago did you have your surgery? How old were you? Have you

had any recurrence of fibroids? I'm trying to figure out if I should

get it done now and be done w/ it or wait.

Thanks,

> When I had my first and only surgery I was worried about many things,

including the competence of the anethesiologist. I demanded to meet him/her and

I did and was reassured, and spent about 20 minutes discussing my concerns.

[Guest guest]

Sbdubrow@... wrote:

> Otherwise, I had a great OB/GYN in Manhattan Beach, who since moved to

> Los

> Angeles--I think she's at St. 's in LA now. You may want to

> call her

> and ask for a referral. Her name is Dr. Louise Connolly. I thought

> she was

> brilliant. Wishing you the best!

Sheila,

Did Dr. Connolly actually do any surgery on you? If not, what is the

basis for your " brilliant " assessment?

Gentle reminder to the group: please keep referrals for

doctors/surgeons limited to your own first person experiences with the

doctor AND elaborate a bit more in your posts so that one can truly

assess what you're basing your comments upon.

Sheila, I note in your case that you delayed care with Dr. Connolly and

then finally sought treatment from Dr. Indman. Hence, my question about

your actual surgical experiences with Dr. Connolly. Elaboration on your

prior care & treatment with doctors outside of Dr. Indman would help us

all better understand your choices along the way of your fibroid

journey.....

Finally, I wish that office based experiences equated to surgical

skills/experiences, but they don't. A lot of charming docs out there

who couldn't slice butter properly without creating a mess in the

process......do be cautious in keeping surgical referrals to others on

this list group to first person experiences and not heresay or

supposition based on office visits.

--

Carla Dionne

Executive Director

National Uterine Fibroids Foundation

1 (877) 553-NUFF

mailto:carla@...

http://www.NUFF.org

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uterinefibroids

Author, " Sex, Lies, and the Truth About Uterine Fibroids "

Questions are the window of opportunity. Sometimes, just sometimes,

answers allow our souls to see beyond the shade of darkness and let the

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