Fibroid Relief At Last Event Draws Record Crowd
Fibroid Relief conducted its third and most successful free public information event on uterine fibroids on April 27 at the Marriott Marina del Ray in Los Angeles. Over 125 women attended “Fibroid Relief At Last,” an interactive program featuring UCLA clinicians, a naturopathic doctor and well-known patient advocate, Erin. “We received very positive feedback from participants,” says Tina Krall, executive director of Fibroid Relief. “The audience asked a lot of amazing questions and many of them stayed after the program to engage directly with our panelists.”
Krall said one participant was so moved by the information she received that she planned to cancel an upcoming hysterectomy and explore treatment options discussed at the event.
“She had no idea that other treatments were available and might offer better outcomes for her,” Krall explains.
Fibroid Relief At Last events educate women about uterine fibroids and current treatment options, including focused ultrasound. Previous programs were held in 2009 in Chicago and London. The LA event was also the first to include a discussion of alternative medicine. “Fibroid Relief is a patient-centric organization. We added this topic because of the interest level indicated by questions submitted by patients to our website and Facebook page,” Krall notes. “Questions asked at the event indicate that women are interested in using complimentary and natural therapies in tandem with traditional medical treatments. Adding a naturopathic doctor to the program really rounded out the spectrum of treatment options available today.”
Click here to sign up to receive updates on the location of our next Fibroid Relief At Last Event.
Since the onset of my cycle in my early teens, I’m now 44 years old, I’ve have heavy flow and severe cramps. Over the last 10 years I’ve felt that there was something very different about my cycle and expressed these concerns to my doctor (general medicine). I told her that I had blood clots, severe cramping, long heavy cycles (7-10 days), tiredness, insomnia, hot flashes, hair thinning. I was told to take Midol for the cramps. My annual pap smear exams results always came back normal.
Three years ago I went to a different doctor (general medicine). Who immediately, after a consultation and a pap exam diagnosed fibroids. She had me take a pelvic ultrasound which confirmed her diagnosis. The doctor told me to take a multivitamin, calcium pills and iron tablets (feosal). She told me to exercise regularly and change my diet. She also arranged for me to see a gynecologist for fibroid treatment options.
After discussing the news that I had fibroids with my sisters and close girlfriends I found to my surprise that two of my sisters had had a hysterectomy to treat their fibroids. They told me if they knew there were other options they wouldn’t have gone through with the surgery. Both experienced horrific symptoms in the following months and years after their hysterectomy. One friend had the Lupron shots (didn’t like the sided effects). Other friends had the non-surgical procedures successfully i.e. abdominal myomectomy, laparoscopic myomectomy and the uterine artery embolisation. However, a few told me that their fibroids reappeared after two years. I’d also research fibroids and read extensively on the new procedures and was very much aware of the advantages, disadvantages, recovery period, complications, how it’s done and the types of fibroids each surgical procedure treats.
I met with the GYN that my regular doctor recommended. After a very brief exam which consisted of pressing down on and around my lower abdomen and pelvic (she didn’t take a specimen or examine the inside of my vagina), recommended a hysterectomy as treatment. The GYN appeared insulted when I questioned her recommendation and asked her about other options. She proceeded to tell me that at my age since I didn’t plan on having more children why not a hysterectomy? When I expressed to her that I preferred to keep my female organs intact. She stated, it’s just your ovaries that are removed. I politely told her that I would like to keep my ovaries. I asked if my husband who was patiently waiting in the reception room could be apart of the conversation. She appeared agitated, hurried and grudgingly said yes. During my research I had read how African American women were disproportionately recommended a hysterectomy to treat fibroids. I shared with her the information that I’d found on the internet and brought along with me concerning optional treatments. She told me that the only procedure that she would perform on me was a hysterectomy and nothing else. She then proceeded to terrify my husband with stories about the disadvantages of the other treatment options. I was treated very shabbily during the consultation and complained to my regular doctor since she recommended the GYN. My regular doctor was at a lost for words, seemed embarrassed and proceeded to brush over the incident and rushed me off the telephone. I was so put off by both doctors that I decided not to go through with any of the surgical or non-surgical procedures. I did however, change my diet, took vitamins and started to exercise regularly. I still have fibroids and suffer from the symptoms stated above. Especially, during my menstrual cycle. Some months are better than others.
I spent days on the internet researching fibroids and treatments. The information was good but too much to decide what was the best option for me. I also wanted to avoid a hysterectomy and other surgical options if I could. Is there any SPECIFIC information you can give me on diet (what to eat or what to increase or decrease) i.e. Herbal, holistic medicines,vitamins, plants etc? PLEASE BE SPECIFIC. The information on the internet gives very general suggestions. I am also interested in locating GYN’s in my area that also practice herbal and or holistic medicine. I live in a suburb of Chicago (Antioch, IL) but will travel for a GYN that specializes in herbal and holistic medicine.
Sorry about what you went thru. I’ve had fibroids and I think they are coming back, the only difference is that I’m not bleeding, I’m cramping with no bleeding in between my periods, and think it’s fibroids coming back. I have a doctors appt. next week, and am really interested to see what they have to say.
I also go to the chiropractor to ge relief, and she said that she has the same thing, and she went to a store called Naturally Yours here where we live, and she has been taking Magnesium, and it’s a powder that she puts in her water, and she said it has helped her cramps tremendously. I am going to try and check that out this weekend.
I hope that helps.
Regards, Becky