Erica Chidi Cohen Instagram – a year ago, just before my period, i noticed a large lump in my lower abdomen, tender to the touch • i immediately texted my dear friend obgyn @askdrsuzanne to get in for a transvaginal ultrasound • during, i asked the tech if she saw anything, she replied “yep—fibroids, the largest is the size of grapefruit.” tears flowed as symptoms i’d experienced for years, and addressed separately, suddenly made sense: cramps when i wasn’t on my period, heavy bleeding when i was, mild bloating, recurring uti’s and bladder retention •
i had 10 fibroids and my uterus had stretched to the size of an 18 week pregnant womxn • @askdrsuzanne suggested a myomectomy, a surgery to remove large fibroids • she shared that most women will have 1 fibroid by age 50, but they disproportionately affect black women • i was stunned to learn of my higher risk, though following my diagnosis, i heard from other black women with fibroids almost daily • funny how that happens, right? •
as i researched, i learned: myomectomies require uterine incisions stitches, which means i’d have to have a cesarean birth, which didn’t bother me (all birth is natural™) but with current maternal health outcomes for black women, i was hesitant to limit my autonomy, or increase interventions, in labor • plus, the recovery was 6-8 weeks and, at my age, i had a 30% chance of repeat surgery within 10 years because the smaller fibroids that would remain after the surgery would eventually need to come out • deeper research led me to @acessahealth, a minimally invasive procedure using radio-frequency to destroy fibroids laparoscopically, without uterine incisions stitches and just 1 week of recovery • serendipitously, the inventor, @drbrucelee practiced in la and after a warm 90 minute consultation, i knew @acessahealth was the way to go • on july 8, i had my surgery, recovery was uneventful—just me, a buckwheat heating pad, homemade bone broth from @radiantwoman_ congee • within 24 hours, i was tender but walking • my 2 periods since are the first in recent memory that i didn’t have to change my cup, tampon or pad every hour, wake up to bloody sheets, or bleed through my clothes… more in the comments | Posted on 17/Aug/2019 21:30:17
