The Decision.....

No, I'm not taking my talents to South Beach....


After careful thought and prayer, I've decided to write about an issue that has plagued me for more than 10 years.  Through this discovery, I've learned of many others who have had a similar issue, including some very close friends.

You see, I have uterine fibroids, which are non-cancerous growths that can wreck havoc on a woman's menstural cycle.  For me, fibroids have caused extreme cramping, heavy bleeding, and extreme fatigue.  They caused me to miss out on great times with family and friends because I simply didn't feel well or comfortable using the restroom in a public place.  They were a serious quality of life issue for me.  They made me hate being a woman...at first. 

Once I learned more about fibroids I was able to make medical decisons based on what I thought would be most beneficial for me and my lifestyle. 

At this point, I wasn't seeing my current doctor, a fibroid specialist, but in 1999, I had my first surgical procedure to treat my fibroids; a myomectomy.  A myomectomy is essentially a c-section only I had fibroids removed and not a baby!  My than doctor told me the fibroids removed were the size as if I were 3 months pregnant!  Crazy, right?!  After that, I felt great and more energized and I was no longer anemic.

Fast forwarding a few years, the heavy bleeding, cramping, and fatigue returned.  I knew there was a problem.  My doctor (who performed my 1999 surgery) immediately suggested another myeomectomy.  I didn't like the sound of that, at all.  It was a very painful recovery and there was just no way I could do that, again.  It made me wonder: how can new mom's care for a baby after a c-section?  Ouch!

My mom found an article in the paper that highlighted a fibroid specialist at UCSF.  I held onto the article for a few months maybe even a year before I finally called for an appointment.  Once I called, made an appointment, and met Dr. Alison Jacoby, I asked myself, 'what took you so damn long!'.  I was in love with my new doctor.  The 'special' doctor who would take care of my 'lady-girl' parts.  Dr. Jacoby is tops in her field of fibroid care and is up on all of the latest technology and procedures.  The best part that I LOVE about her-she listens and lets me make my own decisions about my care.

I knew my fibroids would grow back and the problems would resume, but I didn't know when.  I soon began to call my uterus a 'fibroid garden' because of the amount of procedures I've had to be rid of them.  I can't even begin to mention the types of procedures I endured to determine the location of my fibroids, size, and shape of them, etc.  Suffice it to say, I thought I was being filmed for a medical documentary!  You can't be modest through this process, let me tell you.  I've had a total of three different procedures, all of which were band-aids. 

Ultimately, the final way to rid myself of the fibroid issues would be to remove my uterus; a hysterectomy.  While I have known for many years I would not have children, I shied away from that procedure because the amount of time required to heal, the pain, and that's just not what I wanted.  I had marathons to train for, vacations to take, and I plain old didn't want to deal with that type of procedure. 

Dr. Jacoby explored various options with me, but always allowing me to make my own decisions.  As previously mentioned, I've have three procedures.

With much thought, prayer, more thought and more prayer, I've finally decided to move forward with the hysterctomy. 

I must say, once I let Dr. Jacoby know that I've made the decision, I felt a huge relief, a sense of calmness.  I thought about the amount of money I'd save by not buying sanitary napkins or refilling ibuprofen perscriptions needed to provide relief from the cramping.  I thought about not being grumpy or feeling like was 20 months pregnant! For real!!  I also thought of the vacations I could plan without counting the calendar.  I thought about the family/friend events I could attend without feeling crampy, swollen in my belly, or fatigued.  I thought about no longer being anemic.  I thought about no longer talking to my uterus like a person and calling 'her' mean names.  I dare not say what I call 'her' because it upsets my best friend and I know she'll be reading.  

The thoughts of possiblities became endless.  The more things I thought of the better I felt about my decision.  I strategically planned to have enough recovery time to resume marathon training! 

I have my first post-op mini-marathon at the San Jose Rock n Roll and of course, the big mama of marathons, Nike Women's Marathon; both in October.  

The count down is on....And I look forward to the possibilities.


Resources that may help if you or someone you know has fibroids:

http://coe.ucsf.edu/coe/fibroid/index.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001912/