they did a segment on the evening news which was a highlight from the larger piece on 20/20.
I missed 20/20 but I saw the evening news.
This segment was focused on fibroids and hysterectomies. It was all about how women who have fibroids, really, only about 1-5 percent should have hysterectomies. HOwever, the percentage of women who GET hysterectomies is far greater.
The reason. One, money for doctors. HMOS, insurance in general pays more for hysterectomies. And two, if you simply have the fibroids removed women still may not feel satisified or comfortable. They may still have spotty periods, bloating uncomfotable in general and the doctor will continue to get phone calls from the patient. But if they get the hysterectomy...less 'annoying' phone calls.
It was pretty scary piece and in my case pretty timely.
About two months ago I went to the NY/NJ tribes here on mothering and posted that my friend needed a new gyno. The reason why, is she had a very large fibroid and when she went to the doctor the doctor said, "yeah, you should get your head around a hysterectomy." My friend was schocked and called me. I was schocked. I have had a couple friends who have had fibroids removed. Not the uterus, the fibroid.
I encouraged her to go to another doctor for a second opinion. She did and that doctor said the same thing and she should also get her head around it might be cancer.
This was even more horrible and mind you again, this sounded so strange to me and to my friend. So many of my girlfriends have had fibroids and NEITHER of those things have been said.
My friend felt that the doctors were pushing for hysterectomies since my friend is 50. And I agreed.
I posted for a doctor whom someone thought would not say hysterectomy out of the box. I got some postings and I gave them to my friend.
Yes, someone brought up HERS. And Beverly Johnson's experience. And some other doctors who are much friendlier and more willing to do the surgery of the fibroid not the uterus.
In the meantime my friend did more research and I asked a friend of mine's father who is a gyno.
Here is what we both learned. As you get older the fibroid will start to shrink because the hormones will start to lower and the fribroid gets some of its growth from the hormone.
My friend has also been taking some kind of supplement which was made from soy and that too was making the fibroid grow.
That by the way, has pretty much taken care of soy for me...but that is another story.
Anyway, she ended up going to one of the doctors that mdc moms recommended and she went to an chinese acupuncturist and a herbalist.
Long story short.
The fibroid has already began to shrink since her first appointment at the end of may where the doctor said, "I'll perform a hysterectomy."
This doctor who is well known for being more conservative about surgeries said that the fibroid will continue to shrink and that it did not seem like anything that needed to be removed. He also said there is nothing to suggest cancer and was shocked that other doctor said such.
in the meantime, my friend quit her job and broght down the stress which both the doctor and the acupuncturist felt was a good thing.
Stress activates hormones which adds to fibroid.
anyway, that was my personal experience via a friend about this very supject matter.
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