Is it necessary

I too have fibroid tumors. I am going to have surgery on Nov. 30th. The dr. says the tumor is about the size of a 5 month pregnancy. I have considerable back aches, and frequent nightly visits to the bathroom. The dr. says the fibroids are attached to the lining of the uterus. Do you think the surgery is necessacy or would FAS be the way to go. I noticed the tumor sometime in May and when first diagnosed it was about 4 inches long and 3 inches around. It grew pretty fast and has now almost doubled in size. Your advise will be nice to have.Barb

Dear BH-
We do not advocate hysterectomy for any fibroid tumor condition. I have never had to remove a uterus when treating fibroids, no matter where the location, or the size of the tumor(s). This disease most definitely needs surgical treatment, especially when the tumors are growing rapidly. I recommend FAS because it offers women an option to sterility, with no adverse complications. Many women post hysterectomy experience a plethora of problems, not commonly discussed. (Please read the website section on hysterectomy complications.) There is no way to know pre-operatively if you will fall into this category of negatively effected women. FAS is safe and very effective, with minimal recurrence. Please call my office if we can help you.

Are there any doctors in the Tulsa, Ok. area that perform this particular surgery? Will medical insurance cover it? Thank you

Dear Majortc-
FAS is only available in Los Angeles California.We do not have physicians in other states.
Most private insurance plans cover our surgery. Patients may have some out of pocket expenses after insurance coverage, but we do our best to advise you prior to surgery of any financial committment.
Please contact my office directly, if you would like more specifics.

I’M 32 YEARS OLD AND WAS TOLD LAST MONTH AT MY GYN. OFFICE THAT HE FOUND A TUMOR ON MY LEFT SIDE. HE SENT ME OVER TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A PELVIC ULTRASOUND AND THAT TEST SHOWED I DID HAVE A FIBROID TUMOR. MY DOCTER BASICALLY GAVE ME NO OPTIONS BUT A HYSTERECTOMY. AFTER MY SURGERY HE SAID THE PATHOLOGY REPORT CAME BACK AND NO TUMOR OF ANYKIND WAS FOUND. THE DR. SAID MY UTERUS WAS LARGER THAN NORMAL. MY QUESTION IS NUMBER ONE: HOW COULD THE ULTRASOUND NOT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN A LARGE UTERUS OR TUMOR AND TWO HOW COME MY DOCTER DIDN’T EXPLAIN THAT IT COULD BE SOMETHING ELSE AND LETS DO SOME MORE TEST!!! i WOULD NEVER HAVE PUT MY BODY THROUGH MAJOR SURGERY.

Dear TTOFTN-
This is a very sad story.
Ultrasounds are very non-specific tests and do not always give exact information. Interpretation is only as good as the health care provider reading the test.
Your case is a very good example of why we always recommend that patients get a second opinion prior to any form of surgery. The more informed you are, the better able to make the appropriate decision for yourself.

Then basically dr’s perform hysterectomies because its just an easier process. Can the size of the fibroids cause damage to any other part of the organs?

Dear Still thinking-
Basically, that is correct-hysterectomies are a very simple procedure.
Fibroids do not “damage” the organ but can create scarring.