Guest guest Posted June 8, 2000 Report Share Posted June 8, 2000 I think by becoming involved in this egroup we are all doing our part to help women educate themselves and their doctors. By what I hear in your emails, women are going to their gyn's armed with information. And let's not forget to thank technology for allowing access of information at our fingertips. I, for one, feel more powerful since I know what is available for the treatment of fibroids. Of course, like most of you, I'm not satisfied with the options, but at least I can make a reasonable decision based on what I read and hear online. Without this support group I wouldn't have had the courage to seek out other doctors. I would have accepted what my gyn said and assumed the " doctor is always right. " Now I know that being a doctor is a job. And like any other job, there are some who are better than others, some who are willing to go the distance, and some who rest on their own laurels and stick with the tried and true. Because of this group and Carla Dionne's recommendation I am seeing Dr. Broder next week at UCLA for a consult on my fibroid and the possiblity of UAE. I will continue to be part of this group, even afterwards, because I would like to impart my experiences to others who are in need of help. Hale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 8, 2000 Report Share Posted June 8, 2000 " , Barbara " wrote: > I obviously missed all of this stuff because I only found out about UAE when > I was looking for alternatives through the Internet. I have not seen one TV > show or magazine or news show (and I watch them) that talked about UAE. If I > hadn't been computer savy enough to get on the Internet (and some folks > still aren't) I would have never known about UAE. And it seems many folks If your " radar " isn't turned on and receptive to looking for information on this topic, you may turn the page and bypass it all together. If you haven't been diagnosed with fibroids yet, aren't symptomatic, aren't concerned about getting treatment just yet, or aren't concerned with finding another option other than hysterectomy (for whatever reason), then you would probably turn the page and never read the article. Hence, new people coming onboard all the time who are just now beginning to look for options. Perfectly understandable. Gyns, on the other hand, do this for a living. I think a different set of criteria applies to them for what they do or don't know about treatment options for uterine fibroids. carla Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 8, 2000 Report Share Posted June 8, 2000 > " Carla " wrote: > > If your " radar " isn't turned on and receptive to looking for > information on this topic, you may turn the page and bypass it all together.<snip>? You're right. Although I was having problems, the Depo Provera was working for me over the long run so I didn't 'pay attention' to other alternatives. It was when the fibroids grew and started break-through bleeding that I started searching for alternatives. > > Gyns, on the other hand, do this for a living. I think a > different set of criteria applies to them for what they do or don't know about > treatment options for uterine fibroids. I understand and agree with your assessment. Barbara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 8, 2000 Report Share Posted June 8, 2000 > > > Let's not condemn, even though > > we're angry, lets keep educating. > > I'm not against every thing and every doctor. And, at this point, " angry " > doesn't describe me. " Disgusted " with the status quo is a much better > description. > > I don't intend to give too much slack to gyns on this one because I've seen the > ACOG programs from the last 3 years. I've also spoken to ACOG District reps on > this issue. Oh, they know about this procedure all right. It's been " abuzz " > since it was presented 3 years ago. In addition, it has been reported in every > national newspaper in every major city across the U.S.. > All I'm asking for is a glimmer of recognition in their eyes and a willingness > to look into it if a patient asks about it. Unfortunately, that's not what's > happening in a great many cases. > My thoughts on this discussion: 1) UFE/UAE is a fairly recent development in the treatment of uterine fibroids. If an OB/GYN opts to wait for more data/trials/etc before recommending UFE to his patients, could this be interpreted as being prudent? (Benefit of the doubt here.) 2) What is the 'typical' time frame for a medical procedure to move from 'experimental' to wide acceptance. How many published papers? How many trials? What organization makes that decision? 3) Does mass media recognition of the development of UAE/UFE constitute medical acceptance? 4) Look at the history of women's health treatment. Not enough research, not enough information made available, a whole lot of BS, and not enough respect for women's needs. Can we change this picture through an exchange of information/needs in a respectful manner between all parties involved. 5) I too am disgusted at the status quo. But what is the best way to change it? Ann P.S. Had my UFE done last Friday. Am recovering nicely. My OB/GYN was intially not supportive of this procedure -- hyst was his recommendation. Once I decided on UFE as my preferred option, I gave my OB/GYN my reasons for choosing UFE. Then I gave him the choice of following me after the UFE or me choosing an OB/GYN recommended by my IR. I told him whatever his decision was I would respect it. He chose to follow me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2000 Report Share Posted June 11, 2000 Leonie, The response that I seem to hear from patients is; " My GYN told me he could just do a hysterectomy and while he was in there, he could remove my ovaries too. Then I wouldn't have to worry about uterine or ovarian cancer. " My response usually consists of one or more of these statements; " O.K., if you are going tothink about it that way, why doesn't he do bilateral mastectomies and/or remove a lung, less chance you will get breast or lung cancer to. " Or, " So tell me when is your doctor going to have that radical prostatectomy to prevent prostate cancer. " I confess 98% of the time I bite what is left of my tounge, but sometimes I just can't help myself when I hear some of the things women tell me their doctors say to them. I actually had a women call me last week who was AFRAID to call her GYN's office for a refferal, because she didn't want him to become angry with her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also know that these stories, although unfortunate, are the exception and not the rule, there are plenty of open-minded OB/GYN's out there who will not partake in obstructing a patients right to explore her options, and as physicians they are allowed to voice their opinions to their patients. They are not however, allowed to pass judgement on a patient who inquires about options and/or voices a desire to explore those options. They may merely state their opinion and direct their patients to the appropriate resources. Just my thoughts. A. Meo, R.N. Department of Interventional Radiology Albany Medical Center Hospital Albany, New York Re: Doc's Ignorance > Candace, loved your post. My favorite response to being told I don't need my > uterus if I don't intend to have children is " If [insert diety of your choice] > had intended women's uteri to be disposable, they would shrivel up and fall out > at menopause. Since we know they don't do that, I have to assume that there's a > purpose to keeping my uterus. " > > Anybody else have some good responses to share? Maybe we can do a page of them > for women to pick from before they see their GYNs. Leonie > > > > ______________________________________ > This message, together with any attachments, is intended only for the > use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain > information that is legally privileged, confidential and exempt from > disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby > notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this > message,or any attachment, is strictly prohibited. If you have received > this message in error, please notify the original sender (or the WSPR > Help Desk) immediately by telephone () or by return > E-mail and delete the message, along with any attachments, from > your computer. Thank you. > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > beMANY! has a new way to save big on your phone bill -- and keep on > saving more each month: Our huge buying group gives you Long Distance > rates which fall monthly, plus an extra $60 in FREE calls! > http://click./1/3821/7/_/4009/_/960480030/ > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2000 Report Share Posted June 11, 2000 In a message dated 6/11/00 9:30:42 AM US Mountain Standard Time, lvpameo@... writes: << Just my thoughts. A. Meo, R.N. Department of Interventional Radiology Albany Medical Center Hospital Albany, New York >> I for one thank you for being a woman in the medical profession who speaks up. I am sure there is pressure to " go along " or not " cause trouble " . We need more like you...... - Candace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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