Friday, July 8, 2005

I am so sorry to hear of your loss Hope (stillborn).  I know that my situation was more difficult and emotionally painful than anything I had ever imagined.  When I heard other people speak of miscarriages and stillborn babies, I just didn't realize what a connection you create with the baby that develops inside of you. 

And yet, for all the pain and sadness because of the miscarriage, the pain existed only because the pregnancy was such a joyous time beforehand. 

I would not have missed being pregnant and seeing and feeling the development of my baby for anything in the world, even if I wasn't blessed with him afterward.  He will always be with me.  We had found out he was a boy at an ultrasound I had eight (8) hours before the miscarriage. 

At one of the earlier ultrasounds, because my uterus was large due to the fibroids, he had lots of extra space.  So he was swimming all around and I got to watch him enjoying life : )   It was so beautiful!! 

Thank you for the information on the book, "The Fibroid Book 2nd Edition".  The more I know, the better.  (Update from Switzerland -July 7, 2005) 

Thursday, July 7, 2005 

Can I make one suggestion concerning information for your web site? 

One of the links you gave me lead me to some wonderful advice that I wish I had read a year ago. 

On William H Parker, MD's web site he says:   "However, it is crucial that a pregnant woman with fibroids see her physician if she experiences pain or contractions.  Bed rest, heat, and pain medication will usually be prescribed, and medications to inhibit premature labor may sometimes be needed."   The information can be found at Dr. William Parker's web site URL:  http://www.fibroidsecondopinion.com/symptoms.htm 

I was pregnant last year.  For my five (5) month appointment my wonderful Dr. was on vacation.  I had to go to one of his colleagues.  The morning of my appointment I was experiencing "repetitive sharp pains".  He asked me, "Is the pain  intolerable."   I said, "It is sharp, quick and passes so I guess it is tolerable."   

He told me, "Well, that is a fibroid starting to die.  It is going to get worse so endure the pain as much as you can.  Try to ignore it, but if it gets worse we can take you into the hospital for pain control while the fibroid dies." 

Well he was wrong, they were mild contractions!   He was so preoccupied with my fibroids that he didn't even think or mention that I might be having contractions.   

I continued to have pains all day and did my best to ignore it.  After baby-sitting two of my young cousins at the lake for hours, I was walking up a hill carrying things back to the car, trying to ignore the "fibroid pain" and my water broke.   

I went to the ER and within an hour, once I was lying down, I never had a contraction again.  The baby was too young and I lost it.  Because it was my first pregnancy I didn't know I was having mild contractions.  I know now, but it is too late for me. 

So, I think that maybe, if the information was somewhere under “Pregnancy and Fibroids” maybe other women would know about this.  If you don't know you are having contractions, they have a little device that they can attach to you that can tell.  If I would have known about this test, I could have asked for it.  If I would have known the pain could be contractions I could have insisted to the Dr. that the pain needed to be checked to make sure it wasn't contractions. 

The idea never crossed my mind, since it was my first pregnancy, and the doctor never mentioned it.   Once the Dr. assured me it was a blood deprived fibroid I just believed him.  I guess that is why your first pregnancy is so scary, because things like this can happen and you don't know what is happening. 

Well, it was a very sad situation for me, but maybe someone else will be able to learn from it. 

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to write this.  (Update from Switzerland -July 7, 2005) 

Thursday, July 7, 2005 

Thank you for all of this information. 

http://www.hopeforfibroids.org/sitemap.htm#pre

Dr. Pron, Canada, has done studies on pregnancy, fibroids, & UAE.   http://www.hopeforfibroids.org/pregnancy.html

UAE:  Hope For Fibroids-1-4 Uterine Fibroids-Uterine Artery Embolization Procedure, IR

http://www.hopeforfibroids.org/faq2pg1-videoresearchandtreatments.html#uae  

I, unfortunately, live in Switzerland and they think I am a total freak for having so many fibroids and everyone is really pushing me to have an operation.  They are quick to have operations here, not just the doctors, but the Swiss people too.  They are very pro operation.  I guess it is because they have good insurance and their hospital rooms have views overlooking the lake and Alps so they have no problem just going in and trusting the doctors.  They don't believe in the personal responsibility or education efforts like the American patients do.  Plus it is like an insult to look for a second opinion, but I don't care I will do it anyway.  They probably think I am a pushy American. 

Five (5) years ago I moved here from the U.S.; my gyn had said to just monitor my fibroids.  So when I went to my first appointment here in Switzerland, the Dr., honestly, tried to get me to commit to dates for a hysterectomy and sent me off for an MRI.  When I told him I wanted a second opinion he gave me the number of a guy he plays tennis with.  Yeah, right!   

Luckily at the MRI, a wonderful doctor told me about UAE.  So I was able to tell the original doctor that I was not interested in a hysterectomy at 25.  My largest fibroid at the time was 7 cm and that original Dr. said it was the biggest fibroid he had ever seen.  Well that just means he doesn't have experience with fibroids, not that I am a freak. 

Then I found a very wonderful gyn after that.  He suggested that if the fibroids were not bothering me, that I did not have to treat them.  So I didn't until last year.   

Not all the doctors are bad, but there is a fair share. 

I have already learned so much from what you have on your site and what you provided me with.  – (Update from Switzerland -July 5, 2005) 

Tuesday, July 5, 2005 

Thank you so much for your web site.  Having access to so much information helps to be an equal partner when dealing with doctors, instead of being helpless and having to accept their decision about what they THINK is right for your body.  No one knows for sure, in the end, what is the best solution. 

Anyway, my question concerns fibroids and pregnancy.  I had the opportunity to meet one time with a visiting Dr. who had done extensive research with the African population in Paris looking at pregnancy and fibroids.  When every other doctor I went to treated me like a freak for having multiple fibroids, this doctor just calmly asked, "Have you tried to get pregnant yet?" 

I have nine (9) fibroids and he said he has worked with women that had up to thirty (30)!  Well I was not at a stage where I wanted to get pregnant at that time in my life; however, his calm has always stayed in my mind.  He had extensive experience with fibroids and he didn't think they were so terrible as long as they were not giving me problems.  My fibroids are numerous but asymptomatic (no heavy bleeding, pain, discomfort, etc.). 

Now I do want to go forward with a pregnancy.  The question, with or without treating the fibroids?  Once again I am surrounded with Drs. who think that I can't possible try without having an operation and I just disagree.  I am leaning toward UAE, but I do have questions about trying a pregnancy without treating the fibroids. 

Are there studies of success rates for women who do have pregnancies with fibroids?  Is there anywhere I can read more about pregnancy and fibroids?   - Switzerland