Guest guest Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 In a message dated 5/3/2004 9:35:50 AM Pacific Daylight Time, jmoss3@... writes: > It has been my experience that it doesn't matter whether the doctor is male > or female when it comes to suggesting hysterectomy as a form of treatment > for fibroids. It is all about their training and background. Either they know > (and are skilled) at alternative treatments - or they are not. Their > suggestions for treatment are generally based on their knowledge and skill level. > I think you have hit the nail on the head. Here is something to think about - going to a YOUNGER gynecologist. Someone who was possibly never even taught to think hysterectomy first. I'm scheduled for an abdominal myomectomy on Thursday. My doctor is in her mid 30s and will try anything to avoid hysterectomy (unless that is something the patient truly wants). I'm 42 - she considers me a " young woman " not someone who is just about ready for menopause anyhow. I originally couldn't even imagine surgery for something that wasn't really harming my body, so I tried controlling my debilitating heavy periods with birth control pills (2 types over more than a year), but it didn't help. After an extremely frightening night of the heaviest flow I could imagine, I called the doctor (who said had I called her during that night, she'd have sent me to the emergency room!) and started rolling on the myomectomy. I have never felt anything less than extremely comfortable with anything she has said or done during this long treatment of my symptoms. I can't wait to get this surgery over with and reschedule my trip to Paris that I had to cancel out of fear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 I know we have touched on this issue before, but I have just read a couple of emails from my sister LOLs regarding their experiences with doctors of different genders. I am 47 and have been to see my share of doctors - and certainly my share of gynecologists. It has been my experience that it doesn't matter whether the doctor is male or female when it comes to suggesting hysterectomy as a form of treatment for fibroids. It is all about their training and background. Either they know (and are skilled) at alternative treatments - or they are not. Their suggestions for treatment are generally based on their knowledge and skill level. I remember the very first reaction of my male doctor after the discovery of my fibroids. I was 40 years old at the time and he suggested that it really wasn't all that important to keep my uterus since I was not planning on having any more children, and after all, I was " getting up there " in age. Needless to say, I dropped him like a bad habit. Be careful not to blame the gender of the doctor for their suggested treatment options. Joyce Original Message ----- From: Amy Brown To: uterinefibroids Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 7:03 AM Subject: RE: Update My female Gyn told me I had to have a hysterectomy and removal of both ovaries, one had an endometrial cyst. The male doc I saw next was wonderful and caring and wanted to see me save my organs, because that is what I wanted. --- Dorothy Wigwe dorothywigwe@...> wrote: > One would think that a gyn of our gender would be more > understanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 I would rather not discriminate a doctor based on age either. The female gyn who decided that years of heavy bleeding is normal also could not notice from the pap smear tests that I had a huge fibroid. The same woman later told me hyst was my choice. She looked like she's in her 30s. I had my myo from an excellent surgeon who is a male doctor, and looks like he is in his late 50s. If he did not have time to see me and made arrangement for me to have an emergency surgery, I very likely would end up with a hyst because I had been bleeding heavily for 20+ days nonstop. So I am very grateful to an old man who saved me from doing something that is against my will. I select doctors based on their skills and on how they treat their patients, not on their age or sex. Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 I don't believe age NOR gender plays a role. I think its more skill and education. My dr is almost 60 yr old male RE and has been practicing for over 30yrs. Recommedation was a myo. He did pre-med at Princeton Univ, Med School at UPenn, and Universtiy of Vienna, Austria. We just have to find the dr's that enjoy the challenge instead of the easy way out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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