Woman who had uterine fibroids removed urges others to self-advocate at the doctor | GMA

Erica Chidi, co-founder and CEO of Loom, a women’s health education platform, said doctors discovered the uterine fibroids through testing and imaging.

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#GMA #ericachidi #loom #uterinefibroids

[banzy]

Yes…please speak up for yourself. The first doctor I went said to me “well a lot of people have them”, as if to basically just deal with it. I was like everyone has headaches, but that doesn’t mean I want one.” It’s a good thing I decided that comment was enough for me and went to see another doctor. This 2nd doctor was so compassionate and even prayed with me before we went into surgery to remove my fibroids and my quality of life is so much better now.

[kylaarmstrong-benjamin]

It's difficult when we're not listened to, taken seriously, or believed when it comes to our own bodies and health!!!

[famshars]

Advocating for yourself can be scary. But speak up even if your voice trembles. Everybody deserves health care.

[MrsAriEllow]

I have fibroids and painful ovarian cyst that sent me to the emergency room. I still feel pain now after three months. I saw an obgyn that basically blew it off saying nothing to worry about. It’s scary because I lost my mom a year ago to ovarian cancer. After watching this I must get a second opinion.

[sunnyg.]

If you’re bleeding non stop and it’s because of fibroids, please force the doctor to remove them! Fight back! Be your own advocate ! Doctors simply don’t care! I was almost dead until they decided they should remove my fibroids .. my quality of life was so bad, I was severely anemic, and I’m sure I could have died. Thanks for the stupid doctors who didn’t care .. and kept giving me birth control to control my bleeding which made it worse. Take care ladies !!

[gamuiceyt]

I always had very painful periods since I was 14 and I was told by all the women in my life including my mum who is a nurse that it was normal. 10 years ago I started bleeding heavily ontop of my painful periods causing me to be severely anaemic.
Every doctor that I had plied me with narcotics until a Pakistani new GP referred me for a scan and my whole reproductive system was covered in fibroids and my uterus was so narrow it went all the way to my belly button.
Last summer, I had 30 fibroids weighing 3kgs removed via an open myomectomy AKA C-Section, and the biggest one was the size of a cantaloupe. My whole life has changed since surgery. Fibroids was so debilitating so DONT SUFFER IN SILENCE LADIES

[jenniferakufo]

This is such an overlooked issue among women, especially women of color. I can relate so much to what she went through. I had a myomectomy back in 2020 during the pandemic shutdown and the journey to getting here was long overdue. I always had painful periods growing up since I was in junior high but doctors I would see for check ups would say it was normal to have painful cramps & my mother unfortunately wasn’t educated in that area, so she just assumed the same as the doctors (she herself had a hysterectomy in 2018 from fibroids affecting her menopause) and I always was given painkillers to help reduce the pain I would experience.

Fast forward into my 20’s, my periods became more heavier, I bloated a lot more, the cramps were so bad that painkillers was starting to not help as much. Started taking the combo birth control in early 2020 and I for some odd reason I experienced excessive bleeding because of it and didn’t know why, to the point where I had to go to the emergency room because the bleeding became excessive & I was becoming weak, and I was given an emergency transvaginal ultrasound & that’s where I found out that I had 4 fibroids. Fast forward to several ultrasounds & then being referred to a gyno surgeon, he was adamant about me getting a myomectomy in July of 2020 because of the fibroids’s sizes & location. Results from the surgery showed 7 fibroids that were taken out and I was diagnosed with endometriosis. 2 years later, although I’m not exactly where I want to be, but I am 10x better than where I used to be and I am eternally grateful.

Women, PLEASE be your own advocate and don’t ignore your body. It’s not normal to have painful periods and bloat like a full term pregnant women. It may not be fibroids, but whatever it is, seek help and don’t let any physician dismiss your feelings.

[nazingaphelan]

Literally I almost cried when she was speaking, I felt like someone finally gets it!! I’ve been suffering with this for probably 2 years now and I can honestly say it’s not a way to live, the pain and discomfort I get can be so unbearable on some day, it makes me feel like giving up, my stomach is so swollen you can easily feel how big my fibroid has gotten by lightly touching it. I’m still waiting for my doctor to set the date to my surgery, but I’m scared, anxious and excited at getting it done. I just want to feel like a human being again!

[CanCanHikes]

I also had a huge fibroid removed. My husband and I called it Timmy the Tumor because it was infant sized. A couple things I think are important: if you are trying to get pregnant, please visit your OBGYN to make sure you’re healthy and able to get pregnant. There’s no way I would have carried a baby to term had I not had the fibroid removed before. There simply wasn’t enough space in my uterus for Timmy and a baby. Also, I was told that removing the fibroid can sometimes mess with your hormones. My doc told me if we wanted to conceive, I should immediately start trying after healing from my fibroid removal (3 months, or so). I did get pregnant about 5 months after and delivered a healthy baby at 37 years old. The downside is that I think the fibroid removal eventually resulted in early menopause because by 40 my hormone tests revealed full menopause.
So my advice is to 35+ ladies who have fibroids and want to get pregnant is to definitely get the fibroids removed and immediately start trying to get pregnant. You may not have a huge window of time to wait, or enough time to have multiple pregnancies.

[EmpressofLight]

I had this same thing happen and had emergency surgery to save my life. It had been a few days of me walking around in pain. I finally decided to go to E.R.. Listen to your body ladies .💙💜

[linkedinlove]

OMG. Tears and prayers for Erica and other women with this horrible condition.

[anonnnymousthegreat]

I work as an ultrasound tech and i tell my patients all the time to speak up if they feel they need or not need a test or anything else done. Because where i work, doctors half the time rush and the patients tell me that they feel the doctors don’t listen enough.

[AprylGunnSherrod]

I am experiencing this currently. Thank you for sharing so those of us suffering know we aren’t alone💖

[araineacutebrownnurse]

I had a myomectomy with 22 uterine fibroids removed June 14th. I initiated the surgery after being offered several options. I feel like a new woman

[mabella]

You are such a beautiful thoughtful woman to share this!!! The world is a better place because of you!! I had a fibroid cyst on my breast years ago. However, currently I am now 60 years old facing surgery!! I am bone on bone on both hips sockets and I am so anxious afraid of the surgery!! I lost my job 2 years ago so staying home make me more of a wreck!! Had 2 emergency C Sections so there is not waiting time!! GOD bless you pretty lady!!!!

[BloomOfLife]

I had 3 fibroids. 14cm in the lining of my uterus, 7cm behind my uterus and a 4 cm fibroid on the inside of my uterus and my open myomectomey was considered, an “ELECTIVE” surgery. ELECTIVE!!! I couldn’t eat a whole apple without being full, I couldn’t have intercourses, I couldn’t sit down without pain, couldn’t wear tampons, I peeped every 30minutes because it was impossible to fully empty my bladder and holding my pee was not possible (I peed myself countless of times), I stayed constipated, I looked 5 months pregnant, my hair fail out from malnourishment but some how my surgery was considered “ELECTIVE”…

And to top it all off, my surgeon was horrible. She couldn’t care any less about me. She was just chasing a check.

I left that hospital mentally defeated … worse experience of my life…

[SC.......]

Girl I feel this. I just had a total hysto. It was absolutely horrible before that. Fibroids, bloating, bleeding etc. I am so glad you made this video. I felt like wow why is nobody talking about this. I hope you recover well.

[MyFitgirlLifestyle]

Watching this after undergoing myomectomy just last week. The surgery went well and I'm still in recovery.

[TubnQT]

Yes! I am an RN. In the end, I decided on a hysterectomy, something I thought I would always avoid. I agonized over my decision, but it was the best thing I have ever done! I had no idea my fibroids had grown so large, as my previous doctor had implanted a progesterone IUD to shrink them. But I felt and looked five months pregnant, and had begun bleeding extremely heavily even though I was in my 40s. My insurance had changed, so I was going to a new OB, who had not told me the lump was my growing fibroid. I switched OBs again, and he felt them immediately. After considering many options, I decided on the hysterectomy. It was such a scary decision, but looking back, I wish I had done it far sooner. The recovery was a breeze. (At least compared to giving birth naturally a couple of times).

[lavishladyt]

I so can relate to her journey. I suffered with fibroids for years and they grew larger, my pain level was excruciating, bleeding excessive and my stomach was so bloated that I could barely fit any of my clothes anymore. I knew I had to get surgery but I was afraid to take time off from work so I continued to just suffer until one day I could barely walk.

Im happy that I finally came to my senses and had my surgery to have them removed. So many of my friends have now or have had fibroids and I’m glad to see other women speaking out on the issue. I cried when I saw this video and read some of the comments. Continue to be strong women and make good decisions for your body. Don’t live in pain and agony. We deserve better. Love & Light