Fibroids
After doing copious research of OBGYNs within my insurance network in the Los Angeles area, a friend recommended hers at a well-established and reviewed facility in Beverly Hills. I made an appointment. To my surprise they could see me that week – I wasn’t quite ready for that speedy service. Fast forward 3 days and I’m sitting opposite (let’s call him) Dr. Davids, having a consultation. He’s instantly lovely and kind and personable and I feel comfortable, phew! We chat briefly about medical and family history all of which is pretty clear and straightforward. He asks if I’m planning on starting a family anytime soon. I tell him I’m recently married so it’s on the cards but not immediate. Then we get into the nitty gritty of why I’m there. Yes. It’s time I got an OBGYN but primarily I had a pelvic ultrasound which came back showing an ovarian cyst and “lesions consistent with fibroids” and of course, the heavy bleeding during my period. He says “Okay, first things first, let’s get you in for another ultrasound now. I’ll be there with you and we’ll see what’s really going on. Chances are it’s nothing and the cyst has passed” Again, I was surprised at the efficiency of all this. “Okay great!” and I followed him into one of rooms where I was left to strip from the waist down and wait for him and the nurse to come back. I hadn’t even thought to bring my husband with me today, this was supposed to just be an initial consultation to see if I vibed with the doctor but hey, I’m here now so I guess let’s get on with it and rule some stuff out! Dr. Davids and the ultrasound technician entered the room and I scooted down the bed and turned my head so I could see the monitor. The technician got started. 18 seconds passed before she let out a concerned “Oh…” and pointed to something on the screen. Just what you want to see and here. Dr. Davids leaned in for a closer inspection “Hmmmm. Ah. Okay….”
WHERE THE FUCK WAS MY HUSBAND? I suddenly felt like I shouldn’t be alone for what I was about to hear. The doctor took a seat at the bottom of the bed and the nurse turned the machine off. “So, you said you wanted to have children in the future. At the moment, with the current state of your uterus, that’s not likely.” My heart started pounding and I could feel sweat gathering under my armpits as the words just seemed to hang there echoing in the room. He continued “You have at least 3 fibroids, maybe more from what I can see and they are located within your uterus. One of them is unfortunately located right at the entrance of your cervix essentially blocking anything getting in or out of there. That’s what’s causing the heavy gushing during your period. Another one is right up against your uterine wall which would prevent implantation there. (Why had my school education failed me so…I had no idea what he was talking about) The good news is the fibroids can be removed with a surgery and you should be all set.” SURGERY?! WHERE THE FUCK WAS MY HUSBAND? “It’s called a hysteroscopic surgery. No incisions. I’ll go in through the vagina and with the help of a camera and ultrasound, I’ll remove the fibroids from the uterus” I sat there for a moment just staring at Dr.Davids before I mustered up the courage to let the whirlwind of questions come toppling out of my mouth “So what you’re saying is I can’t have kids? I’m like one of those women from the olden days in the village that everyone refers to as ‘barren’ and just wouldn’t be able to get pregnant and wouldn’t know why? (Lorca’s Yerma comes flooding back to me) All those morning after pills I took, the contraception I was pumping into my body were all for nothing? Is that what you’re saying? I mean, when you say I can’t get pregnant what percentage are we talking about here?” He smiles. I appreciate his kindness and that this isn’t new for him and that he’s just trying to be reassuring. “Well” he answers, his eyes kind and empathetic “First of all, thankfully, we aren’t in the olden days and with modern science and medicine we can identify & treat these problems and remedy them quickly. Secondly, I don’t like to ever use the word impossible but in your case we are looking at a less than 1% chance of you getting pregnant with the fibroids where they are. Thirdly, this is very common in women your age. Over 65% of women in their 30’s have fibroids. Most don’t realize it until they are pregnant and their doctor tells them and in the majority of cases they don’t cause any issues. It all depends on where they are located: outside the uterus, inside the wall of the uterus or inside the uterus itself. You, well, you’ve just won the fibroid lottery….BUT….we can fix that and get you back in the game in no time. Is surgery something you feel comfortable with?” Sure, I’m over the moon….in reality it seemed like my only option. “Yes, I guess so” With that, Dr. Davids stood up and motioned the technician towards the door “ I know it’s a lot to take in so we’ll give you some time now. When you check out, they will give you details on how to schedule the surgery and let’s set up a follow up appointment for next week”. He touched my shoulder and closed the door behind him. I sat on the bed and pulled out my phone to call my husband. He answered. “Hey, how’d it go?” I started to sob. “Oh, Babe”, I said “We can’t have babies right now. I’ve got to have surgery.”