Re: Dr. Zena Levine; trusting a surgeon

[Guest guest]

I don't know anything about either of the Drs you mentioned, but it seems to me

that if a hysterectomy was her first option for you, that she may not be very

skilled at a myo. I left my Dr that suggested a hysterectomy and I found a gyno

who specialized in fibroid surgery and he was in my insurance. It was very hard

though to find who would do these types of surgery. It seems to be a well

guarded secret, unfortunately. someone on this list recommended I look for a

Reproductive Endocrinologist and that was a start for me. I also looked on the

AAGL website to find a good surgeon. You may want to ask the ladies on this

list about some recommendations for Drs in your area. I also used that route

and I think I found a good surgeon at last. I'm still muddling throught this

though and I really know what you are going through.

Good luck in your search.

Marsha H

kathyomail wrote:

Hello,

I am new to this site, but have been reading about myo vs. hysterectomy, &

also went to an excellent lecture by Dr. Indman.

Dr. Zena Levine is the surgeon in my HMO. She immediately recommended

a hysto rather than myo - including removing ovaries since I had breast

cancer 4 years ago - , & also said she might have to do a vertical incision.

She is supposed to be a good surgeon for hysto-s, but ...

[Guest guest]

My own personal opinion - if you CAN use Dr. Indman, who guarantees what you are

looking for, that would be the way to go. But $2000 seems rather low - what

about the hospital charges as well? The impression I get is that Dr. Levine,

during the procedure - when you are " out " and unable to consult - may just say

" oh - it's too hard to do a horizontal incision, I'm not going to bother " or " I

could always say that I HAD to do a hyst " , etc. She doesn't seem too convincing

to me. Personally, if I lived near Dr. Indman, I would go with him. Good luck

in whatever you do.

P.S.: I am 49 and holding out on the myo/hyst for as long as I can, having no

SIGNIFICANT symptoms other than bladder pressure and tummy bulge, with an 18

week-sized uterus. Strange coincidence is that I too had a " Dr. Levine " here in

upstate NY whom I left when she immediately insisted on a hyst!! Must be the

name - LOL! Edie

[Guest guest]

I don't think it's too much to ask for – a request for more

information on the reasons for the choice (from your surgeon

who intends to make a huge vertical incision and take away your

uterus with major surgery).

Levine is a surname I've come across before on the forums and

/or in books on fibroids, so try doing a key word search and see if

they are the same Levine's. It may be a common name?

I've seen Dr, Indman's site, liked it and recommended it to

people looking for information on fibroids.

I would do this:

1) Get in contact with Dr. Levine again, ideally face to face with

pre-prepared questions for a freindly diplomatic conversation.

Ask him/her what their reasoning is for advising a hysterectomy

and vertical incision. What do they think about the breast cancer

in relation to the fibroids?

2) If you're not sure after that, examine the points they raised with

someone else who is an expert.

3) If the reasoning is not given or is unsatisfactory, (For instance

if they re disrespectful to you in their manner) go with Dr. Indman.

He already sounds like the better choice to me, but for peace of

mind, it'll be good to know why Dr. Levine was thinking a certain

way. You'll also want to be sure there wasn't something

important to the treatment decision you mentioned to Dr. levine

and forgot to mention to Dr. Indman.

Good luck!

Az

[Guest guest]

If you do not trust your Doctor RUN RUN RUN or maybe

you will be here a year later wondering how YOU got in

this mess

Been there done that don't you join the party

GET ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED FIRST

go camp in her office until she talks to you, bug her

nurses until you have answers

and if you don't like the answers get out of it

find a new Doc

[Guest guest]

I would definately go with Indman, or another doctor that SPECIALIZES

in fibroids/myo. My understanding is that the myo procedure involves

great skill to have complete success (ie removal of all fibroids,

minimal or NO blood loss, and minimal or no adhessions developing in

future). If you are in the No Cal area, there are other excellent

docs here too. I met with one that is associated with stanford and

does research on fibriods. Her name is Dr. Bertha Chen. Another doc

who a woman on another board used is named Dr. Carmen Nezhat who is

also associated with stanford. Nezhat pioneered surgical techniques

in laproscopic removal of myo. If it was me, I would not go with the

doc that recommended a hyster. Hyster requires minimal surgical

skill and the fact that she made a recommendation for a hyster and

removing ovaries makes me suspect.

Good luck,

suz

[Guest guest]

KO:

I would consider using the surgeon who supports your choice to keep your uterus

at the outset. I don't know anything about Dr. Indman, but it sounds like he is

on board with your desires. One question to ask Dr. Levine is whether or not

she will ask you to sign a release for her to do a hysterectomy, if during the

surgery, she feels your myo is not going well. If she tells you that she will

ask for your signed permission to do a hysterectomy before she agrees to do the

myo - well - run... run like the wind. It may be better to be on a tight budget

for a while (with the outpay of the additional $2,000) than to lose your uterus

and ovaries to a doctor who may be hell bent on proving she was right, by

performing the hyst after all.

Good luck!

Joyce