Fitness trainer Adrienne W. from Waldorf, MD is an extremely active woman. She starts working with her client as early as 5 or 5:30 AM, sometimes until 8 PM, while also teaching her children in homeschool. For several years Adrienne struggled with large fibroids, which compromised her active lifestyle. Her doctors were telling her to accept the symptoms, but she could feel the quality of her life was worsening.
“You start to live your life around your symptoms. I knew that the quality of my life had changed for the worst, based on my lifestyle and the things I wanted to do. Even laying on my stomach was uncomfortable. I am a fitness trainer. I used to teach dance and it turned into fitness, and then later, heavy duty strength training. My trainers are all professional boxers. I’m also a nutritionist. It goes hand in hand, healthy inside and out.” said Adrienne. ADRIENNE’S SYMPTOMS WERE DISMISSED FOR YEARS For years, Adrienne’s symptoms were dismissed as common. She felt like no one was willing to address her concerns and really look at what was causing her health to deteriorate. “For about 10 years, I had the same OBGYN. I had a C-section for my son, and right about when he was 2, I started complaining about some things. She told me that this happens as you get older. I told her year after year, I was having pain and pressure. I looked like I swallowed a basketball. ‘Welcome to 40!’ is not an answer. I had ultrasounds, but I don’t know what they were doing with the results. I had a group of doctors who never looked deeper. They were treating me for acid reflux and GERD. I knew that wasn’t what was wrong, so I never took the medication. Not once during those 4 years, did anyone say anything about a hernia or fibroids.” “I had written a letter. I knew that the doctors weren’t giving me the care I needed. At that point, we were getting new insurance. All of a sudden I got a call saying that they looked at the sonogram, and that I needed a hysterectomy. I was scheduled to have a full hysterectomy in December before the insurance changed. That was the only option they gave me, and it was going to be another c-section procedure.” “I canceled that procedure. I found a new doctor and she was awesome, and went through the sonogram line-by-line with me, and told me things my other OB/GYN never told me in the 10 years I was with him. She also said I should have a hysterectomy, but she was only able to do it one way. She did recommended uterine artery embolization with another doctor, but I looked into it and it wasn’t something I felt comfortable with. I scheduled the hysterectomy. Right as I was about to have surgery, I had a back injury and had to cancel it. At this point, I’m actually grateful for my back injury. I feel like it saved me.” FINDING THE RIGHT TREATMENT FOR FIBROIDS Getting diagnosed is often only the beginning of the journey as finding the right doctor and treatment can be challenging. Many women in their 20s and 30s want to maintain fertility and are often told that hysterectomy is their only option. Many times the limitation is with the surgeon’s inability to perform fibroid removal with preservation of the uterus. Women should never hesitate to get a second opinion if they feel like their questions and concerns haven’t been fully addressed. “One night I was up late, and was searching and found The Center for Innovative GYN Care. I was so happy, and teared up. This was a miracle. This was everything I had been looking for. I had a consultation with Natalya Danilyants MD and was ready to have the surgery that day. Everyone was so helpful and courteous. They explained everything. I wasn’t nervous, even with the risks of a myomectomy. Three other doctors told me that a myomectomy was not possible, and refused to perform the surgery.” A SAFER MYOMECTOMY WITH LAAM LAAM is Laparoscopically Assisted Abdominal Myomectomy and it is a fibroid removal procedure that preserves the uterus for fertility. With this approach any size or number of fibroids can be removed, even fibroids deep in the muscle and in the cavity of the uterus. Only 2 small incisions are used, and recovery is very fast: 10-14 days. You can learn more about the technique here: LAAM: An Innovative Laparoscopic Myomectomy “I have other organs that I’ve had removed that altered my hormones. I’m anti surgery, but this was something so different. I read everything, and understood. I recovered in less than a week. I’ve had other surgery before and the recovery was terrible. This was night and day!” “The incisions were so perfect. All of the symptoms after the surgery just vanished. My stomach is deflated, and Dr. Danilyants fixed my hernia. I’ve already sent some women to CIGC, because they are the only surgeons I trust.” Adrienne said.
BOOK A CONSULT
If you would to discuss your options for minimally invasive fibroid removal, with or without preservation of the uterus, call 888-SURGERY or contact us online to schedule an appointment. CIGC physicians Dr. Natalya E. Danilyants MD and Dr. Paul J. MacKoul MD use advanced surgical techniques for laparoscopic myomectomy and laparoscopic hysterectomy procedures. CIGC has offices in Rockville, MD, Annapolis, MD and Reston, VA. Patients who reside outside the Washington DC area can look into our travel program. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Natalya Danilyants MD on LinkedIn | Paul MacKoul MD on LinkedIn Natalya Danilyants MD on Facebook | Paul MacKoul MD on Facebook Natalya Danilyants MD on Twitter | Paul MacKoul MD on Twitter
1 Comment
Claudine Spaulding
9/1/2016 09:37:51 am
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