syndicated columnist needs a bit of education....

December 21, 2003

This syndicated columnist needs to be educated about uterine

fibroids...anyone on this list group " game " for writing her the

letters she truly needs to read?

scroll down to read the second letter in her sydicated column:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/lifestyle/150620_joyce19.html

December 22, 2003

> This syndicated columnist needs to be educated about uterine

> fibroids...anyone on this list group " game " for writing her the

> letters she truly needs to read?

>

> scroll down to read the second letter in her sydicated column:

>

> http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/lifestyle/150620_joyce19.html

Carla,

When I get back from my holiday break, I'll probably write the doc a

letter. I'm astonished that she doesn't give the writer the

knowledge that she has other choices than having a hysterectomy.

Here's a great opportunity to educate the public at large that don't

know that a woman has other options available to her in dealing with

fibroids. To many women fall prey to doctors who recommend

hysterectomies in the drop of a hat. To say that sexual loss can be

handled by medication is sickening. Medication is not such a simple

solution. Why not suggest to the writer to look at other options in

getting rid of fibroids where she doesn't have to worry about even

the possibility of loosing her sexual drive. The problem with

answering a question in a column is that the replier doesn't have

enough space to answer a question properly and thereby can give trite

answers. In something as complex as one's uterus and saying go ahead

and having it removed and that sex in some women is better after its

removal is very bad medicine and very bad advice from a well known

doc that should show more carefullness in this very serious situation.

JenD.

December 22, 2003

The worst part is that Joyce Brothers is so widely syndicated and well

respected.... " shut up and do what your doctor and husband tell you to

do " ??? My a**!

My response:

December 22, 2003

Dear Dr. Brothers,

You are a widely read, well respected psychologist. To tell this woman

that she needs to go along with what her doctor is telling her, and that

her husband would surely agree, is irresponsible. The decision she makes

must be based on more than what her doctor seems to be telling her: that

she has " some kind of tumor " and therefore " should have a hysterectomy " .

There are three things this woman needs to do before submitting to a

hysterectomy. The first is to find out what kind of tumor she has; not all

tumors are cancerous or life threatening. The second thing she needs to

do, once she knows what kind of tumor she has, is research - this will give

her the tools to ask her doctor the questions she needs to ask. The third

thing she needs to do, especially if she is uncomfortable with the answers

her doctor is giving, is to get a second, third or fourth opinion. This is

a major operation, with some possibly major physical and emotional

consequences. When a patient does not know or understand what sort of

condition he or she is dealing with, and what the treatment options are, it

is impossible to make an informed decision. Too often we see our doctors

as gods, when, in fact, they are only human, whose knowledge and skills may

be limited.

There are up to 40% of women dealing with " some kind of

tumor(s) " in their uteri. These are fibroids. Many of us have gotten the

" you have to have a hysterectomy " from our gynecologists and through

thorough research have discovered that there are less drastic treatments

available; that we do not have to have parts of our bodies removed; many of

us do not even need major surgery to remove the fibroids, or to alleviate

our symptoms.

I, myself, need a major operation - a Myomectomy - this surgery will remove

the tumor while leaving my uterus intact. My own gynecologist, not an

advocate of hysterectomy, was uncomfortable doing this kind of surgery, and

was afraid I could lose my uterus if she operated. Because I had already

done so much research about my condition, I knew that this was not

necessarily the case, so I found a surgeon who is comfortable with the

surgery and I fully expect to wake up February 2 with my tumors gone and my

uterus intact.

Except in the case of true emergency, patients need and deserve to know as

much information as possible before undergoing surgery.

Sincerely,

Lee Jeannette Ridley

ljridley@...

--On Monday, December 22, 2003 4:36 AM +0000

uterinefibroids wrote:

> Message: 9

> Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2003 15:22:06 -0000

>

> Subject: syndicated columnist needs a bit of education....

>

> This syndicated columnist needs to be educated about uterine

> fibroids...anyone on this list group " game " for writing her the

> letters she truly needs to read?

>

> scroll down to read the second letter in her sydicated column:

>

> http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/lifestyle/150620_joyce19.html

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Lee Jeannette Ridley

Population Studies Center Library

1070 Institute for Social Research

426 St.

" And I hope that, you know, things do change

so I can go back to writing chick songs. "

--Steve Earle

December 22, 2003