Darlene and Stephanie talk about their treatment of uterine fibroids with ExAblate which uses MR guided focused ultrasound to non-invasively treat fibroids. They were treated as out-patients, returned home the same day and returned to their normal acitivites quickly.
Prior to my Exablate procedure, my uterine fibroids were causing terrible back pain. My cycles were very heavy with painful cramping. It was hard to continue my day-to-day activities as a Real Estate Agent, but taking off 4-6 weeks for treatment would have created a significant loss of clients and income. Having a hysterectomy and prolonged recovery wasn’t an option for me. Thank goodness I heard about Central Texas ExAblate! My ExAblate procedure was performed in the evening, and when I awoke the next morning, I could not believe that I was pain free for the first time in months. Now my cycles have become normal again without any cramping. My life is pretty much back to normal.
V.P., Round Rock, TX
I live and work in a rural area on a farm, and have always enjoyed good health and a physically active lifestyle. My favorite way to spend time is outdoors, exercising my five energetic Labrador Retrievers in the fields and hills around our home. My doctor identified a fibroid tumor in my uterus a few years ago during my annual physical. He did not recommend any course of treatment.
I read that many women have fibroids that do not cause problems and that they are almost always non-cancerous, so I did not worry about it. Unfortunately, that changed. For the past nine months, I have experienced a variety of symptoms that were steadily increasing in intensity and causing me a great deal of discomfort and distress. My lower back ached almost constantly. My abdominal area felt bloated and became so distended my clothes became uncomfortable and did not fit properly. The feelings of pressure were very intense when I had my periods and the bleeding became heavier. I never had trouble before with cramps in the past, but now I had cramps that woke me up at night. If I bent over quickly, I felt as if I had run into a fence or been punched in the stomach. My bladder and bowel habits were also changing. I suspected the fibroid had grown, but I was totally surprised with my doctor now estimated it to be the size of a softball! I was absolutely shocked when he recommended a full hysterectomy as soon as possible, before the fibroid grew any larger.
A second doctor I consulted made the same recommendation, but the more I read about the risks of major surgery and the long term negative effects of a hysterectomy, the more reluctant I was to proceed. I was very worried about a long absence from work, the financial consequences of being unable to work, and how I would care for my animals and myself during the recovery period. I was also afraid that I had no other choice. I then found information on the Internet about ExAblate – the focused ultrasound treatment for uterine fibroids. The treatment was not available in my geographic area, but I felt this was so important it was worth traveling to explore this alternative to traditional surgery. Leslie Preston, R.N., the Clinical Director of Central Texas ExAblate, spent a great deal of time reviewing my situation with me, making all the arrangements, and explained what to expect during the pre-screening scan and ExAblate treatment.
The procedure was painless for me and I found the high-tech equipment and the medical staff who operated the equipment to be amazing. Leslie gave me the printed MRI copies of my fibroid before and after the treatment – I was shocked to see that the fibroid filled my entire pelvic cavity! Dr. Akin, the Medical Director of Central Texas ExAblate, indicated that 95% of the fibroid was destroyed, making it unlikely to recur. Incredibly good news! I felt fine after the procedure, with nothing more than a brief spell of dizziness and a few aches and pains similar to menstrual cramps.
I was full of energy the next morning and was able to drive myself home (approximately 700 miles), visiting friends and family along the way. I returned to work as soon as I arrived home, and am once again enjoying all of my animals and everyday activities. My period began a few days following the procedure, and I am now able to sleep through the night without painful cramping or multiple changing of tampons and pads. I am also bending over freely for the first time in several months! I am thankful that I did not have to undergo traditional surgery and the long recovery period that follows. I am very grateful to Dr. Akin, nurses Leslie Preston and Sean Sullivan, and everyone else at Central Texas ExAblate for making this treatment for uterine fibroids available. I would strongly recommend it to any woman suffering from fibroids!
D.H., Syracuse, KS
I am a very active woman. I love to go to yoga, take walks around our lovely Town Lake, rise early and greet the birds and take trips with my husband. All of those activities have been increasingly compromised over the last 7 years, sometimes severely, because of my large and growing uterine fibroids. I have been unable to attend my regular exercise class at any point during my monthly period due to an incredibly heavy flow. Walks around the lake weren’t fun for anyone anymore because I couldn’t go very far – I’d need to hop in the car and run back to the house to use the restroom.
My 3 very large fibroids were all pressing on my bladder. Trips with my husband became less and less adventuresome, because I was always on the lookout for a Starbucks to provide a quick pop-in to allow me to use the bathroom facilities. My bladder was almost completely giving out. Because I had to get up so many times in the night to urinate I woke every morning exhausted and quit greeting the day with joy or any energy. My doctor was really at a loss for treatment, as she’s not a big believer in hysterectomy or uterine artery embolization due to the pain involved and lengthy recovery times. However, she had heard of ExAblate and explained the procedure to me.
I carried out considerable internet research on my own and became convinced that, of all treatments available, this would be the one I’d be most willing to try. I made an appointment with Leslie Preston, R.N. at Central Texas Exablate who carefully walked me through the steps involved in the procedure. I had an MRI to determine my exact condition, and it revealed that my fibroids would be easily treatable by the ExAblate procedure. It’s now one month after my procedure and I’ve just returned from a trip to visit my daughter in San Francisco. She made many remarks while we were together about how “different” I seemed. I wasn’t searching for bathrooms all the time; I could be calm and enjoy our time together. I don’t experience terrible bloating before my periods anymore. I feel that my body is slowly knitting itself back together. I’m not a believer in overnight change, and I’ve never been a very quick responder to treatment. I’m pretty sure that over the next few months I’ll begin to notice more and more changes as I carry out my daily routines.
My yoga practice is already back to where it was many years ago. And, next month I leave for a trip with my husband – we’ll see how that goes!
L.A., Austin, TX