I found Dr. del Junco Jr. by accident. I had been looking for alternative methods to remove fibroids. The technique I was researching involved using MRI to dissolve tumors. I called The Institute for Female Alternative Medicine asking if they performed this technique. They did not but I spoke with the nurse, who is a wealth of knowledge, and she explained what they do and how it differs from a typical myomectomy. Rather than trying to convince me that surgery was the best option, she instead brought up key points that I should look into regarding the MRI method. In doing so, I discovered it would only shrink, not dissolve the fibroids, which completely defeated the purpose. I was also not willing to risk the possible side effects.
After realizing that surgery was my best option, it would mean this would be my 3rd surgery dealing with cysts and fibroids. My last myomectomy took place 7 years ago. At the time I was in my late 30s and told my surgeon I still wanted to have children. Although I truly didn’t, I knew if he thought this he would do his best to save my uterus. Women should not have to lie. It’s a shame I had to take these measures to safeguard my uterus but I know how quickly and easily some doctors will recommend a hysterectomy. He was able to remove some but not all of the fibroids. He convinced me that it would take several years for the remaining fibroids to grow large enough to be a problem but the likelihood of that happening was slim. He was wrong – very wrong.
I went back to Dr. del Junco’s website and read about his alternative surgery. I also had several conversations and emails with the nurse. According to my last ultrasound, I had 6 fibroids and there was a very good chance I also had adenomyosis which I only learned about after speaking to the nurse and reading the website materials. I had never heard of adenomyosis prior to that nor had ANY doctor mentioned it as a possible reason for my endless and extremely heavy bleeding. The only cure for adenomyosis is surgery so it only made sense to go through with it.
The nurse was invaluable in helping me prepare for the two week trip to Los Angeles. During our appointments, Dr. del Junco sat with my husband and I for quite a long time. He explained everything in such great detail and answered all of our questions. We never felt rushed or confused by medical jargon. Dr. del Junco is so personable and we trusted him implicitly. Looking back on the experience, from the moment I walked into Dr. del Junco’s office to leaving the hospital and now 4 weeks after the procedure and feeling like a new person, it was absolutely worth every single penny.
The entire Mission Community Hospital staff was amazing and treated me wonderfully. At all times I was guided to where I needed to be and the nurses were extremely attentive. I greatly appreciated having a private room and my husband was able to stay in the room with me, which was comforting and quite helpful.
After the surgery, I found out that I actually had 65 fibroids – baseball sized, egg sized and seedlings and the adenomyosis was confirmed. How the multitude of fibroids were not detected on the ultrasound taken in New York still baffles me but it confirmed to me that no other doctor would have taken the time to remove every fibroid, nor would they have been able to. Without using Dr. del Junco’s bloodless laser technique, any other surgeon would not have risked the blood loss. After my last surgery, I required 2 blood transfusions. I’m convinced any other surgeon would have taken the “easy” route – a hysterectomy. And I would have been subjected to a lifetime of hormone replacements.
I was fascinated by the fact that the surgery was recorded and Dr. del Junco advised me to watch it once I was feeling up to it. My husband was able to watch the surgery on a television in my room as it was being performed. I wasn’t sure that I would want to see it but after speaking to my husband and hearing his experience while watching it, I decided I needed to see it as well. Seeing the surgery gave us both an understanding of what had happened and why I had suffered so much. I needed the validation that my pain was real. I consider myself to be strong person but the painful fibroids, anemia and endless bleeding had left me house bound for weeks at a time. I felt weak, defeated and I was no longer myself.
My other doctors tried to convince me that the fibroids were not the cause of my bleeding for 30+ days straight for numerous months. I was told that birth control pills would help when I knew that was a Band-Aid not the cure so I ignored that advice. I was taking over 20 natural supplements a day with zero improvements. I finally tried natural hormones that ended up making my condition even worse. I had to search for my own cure because none of the doctors or naturopaths I dealt with had the answers. By the grace of God I found Dr. del Junco Jr. and he gave me my life back. Being on the other side of this there is no doubt in my mind that I made the right decision.
NMM
New York
