Kathy: Debunking Fibroid/Myo/UAE MYTHS

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In a message dated 5/24/2004 1:22:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

myrtle9e6@... writes:

2. I'm not sure where you found information on the " 12-week rule " but

it is a tall tale. There are women that uteri the size of a 9

month/full term pregnancy that have had sucessful myomectomies.

3. If you are allergic to the materials used you need the staff to be

aware of this so you won't have the allergic reaction problems that

you fear to occur. Communication w/a skilled dr will ensure your

safety....and his/her's from a lawsuit as well.

Hi, Kathy L:

Shaunah is right. That " twelve-week rule " IS a " tall tale " !

Well, actually I think they used to actually teach the " twelve-week-rule " in

medical schools. Fortunately, in time, most doctors saw the foolishness of

this arbitrary number. Because there was no real medical basis for this

" convention. " We all know the SIZE of a uterus doesn't necessarily correlate

with

degree of symptoms.

Shaunah is also correct in stating that myomectomies have been

*successfully*performed on women whose uterine size equals that of a nine month

pregnancy.

Size of the uterus, nor number of fibroids shouldn't doesn't dictate need or

limit treatment options with myomectomies.

UAE & PVA SAFETY

Your concerns about UAE and immunity are understandable, but, fortunately for

those of us with immune problems, PVA just isn't a concern.

That's not my opinion-- it's a medically documented fact.

No allergic reactions or adverse reactions to PVA have been reported in over

thirty years of use. I'd say, that's a truly astonishingly positive and very

reassuring safety record..

There are many of us on this board with allergies and or other autoimmune

disorders ranging from seasonal allergies to thyroid problems to more complex

and

rare conditions of the immune system.

I myself have my share of mundane allergies (including an allergy to

hypoallergenic allergic tape! :-(() and I have had two very serious rare and

debilitating autoimmune disorders, considered to be " orphan diseases " , because

so few

people contract them, there's not much research being done. (One of these

autoimmune disorders I still have).

In light of my " eccentric " medical history, I wasn't about to take any

unnecessary risks with possible adverse reactions.

However, I discussed this possibility in depth with my Interventional

Radiologist. I also sought the opinions of the specialists in my " medical team " .

None

of them expressed any trepidation about me pursuing UAE.

Oh, by the way, the contact lenses that many of us have worn every day for

YEARS, without a second thought.....are made of ....guess what?......the same

PVA material that is used in UAE.

Here's a blurb on this subject that is part an outstanding UAE Q & A on a

site presented by the NY United Hospital Medical Center.

-Roma

" Q: What about rejection and allergy issues? These plastic particles are

foreign bodies after all, and typically anything foreign induces an immune

system

response.

A: It is true that PVA particles are " foreign bodies. " However, many

substances - not native to the body - are used in surgery every day.

" Good materials " share one common property - the body has a minimal reaction

to their presence. This is a characteristic of the metals used in hip

replacement, the mesh for arterial grafts, PVA particles and others.

Though the studies that are conducted over short periods of time give a clue

as to how " non-reactive " these substances are - it is the long term experience

that gives us more assurance they will not be harmful. The long term

experience with Titanium Metal (as in hip replacement) has been good. The long

term

experience with silicon (which I believe is why you asked the question) has a

major liability in inducing immune problems - and hence is no longer used.

Fortunately, there is a " long term experience " with PVA (since 1970), and in

that time no such adverse allergic or immune reactions have been reported. "

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For more info: refer to:

http://www.fibroiduae.com/fibro5.htm