When I was diagnosed with Fibroids in 2000, and was informed I would need a myomectomy, I pored over the internet looking for as much information as possible.
I joined a message board that dealt solely with fibroids. Too much information.
I searched for videos of myomectomy procedures. I watched the videos over and over again. Too much information.
I searched and searched for all the topics I could find about fibroids and myomectomies. Too much information.
I had nightmares of the risks (death, excessive loss of blood, recurring fibroids) again, Too much information.
When I look in my son's eyes, all I can think of was the first doctor that suggested a hysterectomy. Can you imagine if I would have accepted his diagnosis and NOT sought a second opinion?
October 21, 2004 would NEVER have been a reality for our family.
Can you imagine NOT seeing this smile every single day?
Yeah, I can't either.
Every single year on my son's birthday, I send a thank you card and a recent photo of my son to the doctor that saved my baby making parts!
Because of his patience (and ya'll know he was patient with me) I took him through it. He made the mistake of giving me his pager number. Yes, pager number! And you know I used it any time I had a question. Funny how that number is out of service the last time I tried to call it. LOL
When we go back to Monterey to visit, you best believe I will be taking my son to meet the doctor that had a hand in making his life possible. I'm so glad my husband doesn't take ALL the credit for his soldier work. Again, too much information I know!
I am sitting here today thinking of the blessings that have come our way and as much as I get choked up about our son, I am more happier I sought a second opinion. I can't even imagine if we would have dealt with a situation of not being able to have our son. He is truly a blessing directly from above.
Ladies, if you are going through whatever you are going through (medically, physically, etc.) and you have doubts about the treatment and diagnosis, you are receiving, always, always, seek a second, third, 50th opinion. First and foremost seek out a doctor that will just LISTEN. It's YOUR right.
I am so happy I didn't listen to that first doctor. You're 30, your daughter is a teenager, are you really planning to have more children (with that snide remark in his voice) a hysterectomy would be your best option. To be honest, I was so done with all the pain I was going through month after month, the soaking of the garments, the unbearable pain which rendered me bed ridden a few times, I felt like a hysterectomy would be the all to end all.
I am so glad I walked out of his office and NEVER looked back. Funny enough, I was so upset and after speaking to the receptionist, she gave me a list of a few doctors in the area that might be a better match for me. Turns out the doctor she highly recommended, turned out to be the doctor that SAVED my life.
I have a good mind to send him a photo of my son and say NOW LOOK AT WHAT I NEVER would have if I listened to your quackness!
I did call to thank her for the referral and she said, don't mention it. LITERALLY. LOL!
And yes, while too much information might be too much information, you can never have too much information.
Inform yourselves and always get a second, third, 15 millionth opinion. It's YOUR right.
This was on my mind and thought I would share.
May 2009 Update:
For those of you new to my blog, I would also like to share that we gave birth to a baby girl which thrills us beyond the moon. Not only were we able to have our son in 2004, we were able to have our daughter in 2009 WITHOUT any complications. Our family were very blessed to have amazing doctors during BOTH pregnancies that listened to our concerns, worked with us to assure the best possible outcome for our situation and always had an OPEN DOOR POLICY.
Despite what anyone has to say NEGATIVELY about Military Doctors and Hospitals, we had the most AWESOME experiences BOTH times. I am still in contact with our doctors and they read my blog and know how grateful we are to the special care they showed towards our family.
We thank GOD everyday for our blessings and pray that if you're experiencing any complications with giving birth that you will find comfort in knowing that whatever has been planned for your life is what GOD has intended.
Good Luck and much blessings to your family and the journey you're going to embark in these coming years. I personally feel everyone on this planet that genuinely want to have a baby should be blessed with that joy. It's always left up to GOD above for the final say and I take comfort in that.
May 2009 Update:
For those of you new to my blog, I would also like to share that we gave birth to a baby girl which thrills us beyond the moon. Not only were we able to have our son in 2004, we were able to have our daughter in 2009 WITHOUT any complications. Our family were very blessed to have amazing doctors during BOTH pregnancies that listened to our concerns, worked with us to assure the best possible outcome for our situation and always had an OPEN DOOR POLICY.
Despite what anyone has to say NEGATIVELY about Military Doctors and Hospitals, we had the most AWESOME experiences BOTH times. I am still in contact with our doctors and they read my blog and know how grateful we are to the special care they showed towards our family.
We thank GOD everyday for our blessings and pray that if you're experiencing any complications with giving birth that you will find comfort in knowing that whatever has been planned for your life is what GOD has intended.
Good Luck and much blessings to your family and the journey you're going to embark in these coming years. I personally feel everyone on this planet that genuinely want to have a baby should be blessed with that joy. It's always left up to GOD above for the final say and I take comfort in that.
16 comments:
Long time lurker, first time commenter.....
Thanks for this post! I am facing some medical issues and I went to one doctor and was not satisfied with his professionalism and service. After my appointment I walked out and never looked back. It's important to have a doctor who is professional and has your best interest in mind. Thanks for sharing your story! God Bless You!
P.S. I know you didn't post that picture on Monnie's site :)
Good advice! I don't want to stereotype, but my experience has been that kind of advice comes from male doctors that don't understand the importance of preserving one's body parts as much as possible.
Girl it me who was the crazy one when I was dealing with the endometriosis and the fibroids. I was so done with the pain that I practically begged my doctor to just take it all out. EVERYTHING! Thank God he looked at me like I was crazy. I had no kids and as far as I "thought" would never want any. I could not imagine life without these crazy children.
This is REALLY good advice. I too had fibroids removed through a myomectomy. The first doctor that I went to was at U.CONN Medi.cal Center. I really think that I was impressed with the fact that he seemed to know so much and talked a good game. My problem was as a man he thought it was perfectly fine to suggest that I have a hysterectomy at 29/30 years old for a grapefruit sized fibroid. FYI at the time I was single, no kids, no husband. He also suggested LUPRIN which has "hot flashes as a side effect" during a time that my family was going to be in Aruba. Well obviously I told my mother about my doctor's visit to get her opinion. My mom wasn't even having it, when she heard his recommendations she wanted to meet with him as well and asked him a million questions that I would never have thought of. He was unable to answer them so of course we left there quick fast and in a hurry. And by the way the fibroid wasn't the size of a grapefruit. There was one the size of a tennis ball and 4 smaller ones.
A few weeks later a lady that I know referred me to the best OBGYN in the world who performed my surgery and treats me like gold. I will never forget her bedside manner. She is always available when I had questions, needs, concerns, and even encourages me along the way. My surgery was a smooth success and even when I had to have a D&C a few weeks later, she was right there again making sure that all went well. To this date, she personally knows my story and is ready and willing to give attention to any need that I have. I agree that getting other opinions is HUGE. You have to be satisfied. Thank you for posting and sharing your story.
I am so glad you got that second oponion! DJ is a beautiful boy who is going to great things in this world!
Wow, I skimmed this the other day and read it this morning. A power testimony to the fact that knowledge is power. I am so glad you got the information you needed to go on and have a beautiful little boy. This was a powerful message that I am glad you shared.
This is such good information! I truly believe you did the right thing....A second opinion is so important. Hyterectomies often lead to a whole new set of problems anyway. It's like trading one problem for another. I am glad you waited and got your bonus child in the process!
I'm glad you shared such an extremely powerful message. Thanks for sharing and I'm glad you got the information you needed.
The things u went through Tanyetta... your story reminded me of what my aunt went through as well. For years she had a fibroid that caused her untold agony everytime her period comes. Her gyneacologist told her that the growth is not dangerous and just eating pain killers should be enough.
The pain became so unbearable before she seek a 2nd opinion. The new doctor was shock to know that she had been bearing the pain for so long with just pain killers! Upon check-up, the doctor told her that the fibroid was a parasitical type, and had stored too much blood and on the midst of rupturing, which may cost my aunt's life!!!!! The very next day she was scheduled for hysterectomy. She had no choice by then as the fibroid had grown too big, encompassing almost her whole womb.
If only she received 2nd opinion sooner, she could have avoided total removal of the womb.
So i totally agree with you Tanyetta, that a 2nd opinion is VERY CRUCIAL... if not a 2nd, a 3rd, a 4th opinion...
Even with the pain of fibroids, the pain would have been greater not having the choice to have more children. Glad that you were prompted to seek another opinion.
Moreover, the world is a better place with DJ! :D
*whistles* *claps*
Encore! Such a lovely story! You should link this on your sidebar for all the newcomers!
I am just getting around to reading this story now. I had fibroids too and just had them removed in February.
My doctor did not suggest hysterectomy (younger than you and don't have any children) but like you I was terrified out of my mind.
Thanks for sharing your story here.
This is a really good post! Everyday I talk to patients who are taking pills and they have no idea what they are for. I always ask them "why would u put something in your body if you don't know what it is?" They respond, "the doctor told me to take it." SCARY!
1. Doctors are stupid and they make mistakes.
2. It's your body--take charge of it. No one will ever care about your body than you. Be informed!
Never let someone cut on you without at least a second opinion, what's done can't be undone.
I am happy that you took charge of your condition.
Girl you're about to make me cry. I can't believe that after all these years, Doctors are still suggesting hysterectomies to remedy Fibroids.
My mother discovered she had tumors shortly after my birth. More than 25 yrs ago, they gave that same advice to my mother. When I asked her why she and my Dad never had more children together, that was the reason. She never had the surgery, but I know she was terrified of never being able to carry to full term again.
Thanks be to God, I never experienced this, although my mother and ALL 3 of her sisters have.
I came by to thank you for commenting on my blog, and found some much needed information.
This is one of the reasons why EVERY woman should have an OB-GYN, and not just a general practitioner. A general practitioner told me I had an enlarged uterus while doing an exam, and sent me for an ultrasound. But she couldn't tell me about symptoms or treatments.
That was a few years ago, and it's been a long journey for me doing research and trying to decide what action to take to stop the discomfort. I'm 40. My children are 18, 20, 22 and 23. And although I don't plan to have more children, a hysterectomy is not an option. To me that's just a sign of a lazy doctor who's not willing to invest time and patience into his patient.
What a touching story. I have been lurking for while and just recently found you again.
Now to play catch up.....
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