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Uterine Fibroids - A Hysterectomy is not your only option

Michelle - posted on 05/14/2010 ( 3 moms have responded )

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Hi...I'm an RN who works with Interventional Radiologists. Ladies, please know your options when it comes to treating uterine fibroids. A hysterectomy should be your absolute last choice. Great options for uterine fibroids are Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) or an ablation. The UFE is a non-surgical option that keeps your uterus intact, recovery is less than a week and the adhesions that can develop after a hysterectomy do not even come into play.

There are many educated gynocologists that support UFE and offer this as an option to their patients. However, there are still several gynocologists living in the Dark Ages who will not recommend UFE and say that it is too painful or too experimental, or that it doesn't work. This is because a hysterectomy pays their bills.

I have had a total abdominal hysterectomy for Endometreosis. This means they made a 'bikini cut' incision to remove my uterus, ovaries and cervix. A year later I was bent over in agonizing pain and had to go to the ER for morphine. No CT scan, MRI, Xray, Ultrasound could detect anything was wrong but this pain kept occuring every 1 to 2 months without warning. The only thing that helped the pain was morphine and Correctol to help with a bowel movement, then the pain would go away. The ER nurses began to think I was a drug addict and that is when I begged a General surgeon to please just take a look. Sure enough, she found an adhesion (scar tissue) attached to my intestines which was causing a partial blockage from having had an abdominal hysterectomy. My muscles have never been the same in my abdomen either.

Please remember that a hysterectomy is not a benign surgery. Many complications can arise after the surgery and recovery takes anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks; depending upon vaginal or abdominal approach.

To take a more in-depth look at UFE, please go to www.drjohnthomas.com for more information or give me a ring at 210-616-7780. I'll be happy to talk to anyone about uterine fibroids.

Shelly, RN

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3 Comments

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Christina - posted on 07/06/2012

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I didn't want my uterus taken out for the reasons you site here and for other reasons too. Decided on UFE and it was the best thing I could have done. They kept me under for about 12 hours after so I wouldn't feel the pain that comes from the fibroids dying. UFE cuts off their blood supply. What a blessing UFE has been for me. I highly recommend it and have not had any complications and it's been about 5 years.

Monica - posted on 05/15/2010

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I agree! I had a UFE about 8 years ago. It was so much better than the other option. I had fibroids they couldn't get to. So of course my doctor suggested a hysterectomy. My inner voice told me NO! With having the UFE, it cut off the blood supply to the fibroids, so they shrunk and a died off. Basically they were starved to death. Very easy and non-evasive procedure.

Amanda - posted on 05/14/2010

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I agree! I had a myomectomy when I was 27 to remove my fibroids. I had a great doctor who left everything but the fibroids intact. At 41, I delivered my first child, a healthy baby girl. I am so thankful that my doctor was educated and believed that I should have a chance to have a child. (I had no trouble getting pregnant like I thought I would...I just didn't meet Mr. Right until I was in my late 30's!)

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