The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fibroids

  • Surgical elimination of fibroid not a death sentence

    Surgical elimination of fibroids is not a death sentence if certain conditions are met, says the Chief Executive Officer, Hope Fertility International Clinic, Dr. Michael Ogunkoya, in this interview with Omolara Akintoye

    FOR the average Nigerian women of child-bearing age, the word, fibroid, is a no-no. In fact, the mere mention of the word sends shivers down the spines of millions, and more often than not, they follow with the phrase, ‘not my portion’ or ‘I reject it in Jesus name’.

    The reason for their dread is not far-fetched: Nigerian women, perhaps because of the poor state of the country’s medical system, fear surgery, which, unfortunately, has been adjudged the only remedy so far. However, as much as they dread the disease, it is a condition that has come to stay with African women, particularly women of the black race. Research shows that an estimated eight in 10 black women suffer from fibroid.

    Biola Akeju is one of such women. Married for seven years without getting pregnant, Akeju decided to seek medical advice and was told that the only solution was surgery.

    Same for Emmanuella Chikodi, who, now in her menopausal age, suddenly discovered she had fibroid and her gynaecologist told her the only way out was surgical operation. She however lamented that “My worry is, will I survive the operation because many of the women I know died in the process?”

    Fibroids affect the uterus of all women by the age of 35 years, and from  20 to 80 percentby the age of 50 years. They usually develop between the ages of 16 and 50 years. These are the reproductive years during which estrogen levels are higher. Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumours that grow from the muscle layers of the womb. These benign growths of smooth muscle can vary from the size of a bean to being as large as a melon.

    They are also known as leiomyomas and myomas. According to Ogunkoya, fibroids often do not show symptoms, they are usually diagnosed during routine pelvic examinations. “But birth control medication can be used to shrink fibroids.

    “Treatment is only recommended for those women experiencing symptoms as a result of fibroids. If the fibroids are not affecting quality of life, treatment may not be necessary,” he said.

    When treatment is necessary, Ogunkoya said it can take the form of medication or surgery. The location of the fibroids, the severity of symptoms, and any future childbearing plans can all affect the decision. “The first line of treatment for fibroids is medication, other drugs may be used, but they may be less effective when treating larger fibroids.”

    He, however, warned that severe fibroids may not respond to more conservative treatment options, and surgery may be necessary.

    Ogunkoya lamented that women dying of fibroid operation is as a result of carelessness.

    “Fibroid operation simply means removing fibroid from a woman’s womb. Fibroids are only associated with the womb not anywhere else; it is also associated with a woman’s inability to conceive on time. Fibroids does not kill, it’s people that kill.”

    According to Ogunkoya, “It’s not every fibroid that you have to remove but when you have to remove it, the doctor will tell you why; it might be because the bleeding is becoming intolerable or pain is intolerable or it is affecting your ability to achieve pregnancy. In other words, a lot more women with fibroid will find it difficult to achieve pregnancy than those with no fibroid. On the contrary, there are many women who have fibroids and don’t have problem getting pregnant.”

    So the question is if you have to remove fibroids for good reasons, why should people die from the surgery? “As far as I’m concerned, surgery of fibroid should be very easy for a trained gynaecologist, because it is assumed that he has done his/her homework. Those who are not gynaecologists have no business performing fibroid operations,” said Ogunkoya, a trained gynaecologist of almost five decades.

    He said whatever might have gone wrong might have occurred before, during or after the operation. “For instance, before you touch someone for surgery, you must have evaluated the person: is she fit for the surgery, is she anaemic, do you have blood ready, functioning generator, do you have a trained nurse, assistant surgeon, an anaesthetic, among others?”

    Ogunkoya pointed out that if all these are not on ground, there may be crisis, and can lead to death even after the operation. “If these things are not done pre, during and post-surgery, it can lead to death.”

    Ogunkoya also insisted that there is no proven natural treatment for fibroids. He however said keeping weight down through exercise and a healthful diet may help to moderate estrogen levels.

  • Surgery panacea for fibroids, says expert

    Surgery panacea for fibroids, says expert

    Women with fibroids need not worry any more. They  can be  assisted through laparoscopic surgery, Nordica Fertility Centre Medical Director, Dr Abayomi Ajayi, has said. He added that fibroid tumors in the uterus are common.

    According to him, fibroids have no effect on reproductive ability, but sometimes can cause infertility or miscarriage, adding that if a woman notices anything like irregular or heavy menstrual cycle, bleeding between periods, pelvic or abdominal pain, fever or night sweats and increased abdominal girth in her body she should notify her doctor.

    Ajayi added that if a woman, who is unsatisfied with her uterine health status, should seek medical assistance.

    Inability to get pregnant, the medic said, are normal in a woman with fibroid. He, however, said there is no excuse for the woman to accept her fate, or seek assistance where she cannot get help.

    Severe menstrual bleeding, prolonged pelvic or abdominal pain, dizziness, light-headedness, short breath, or chest pain from vaginal bleeding or vaginal bleeding from pregnancy or possible pregnancy, he said, are some of the symptons of fibriods.

    Another fertility expert, Dr Ifeoluwa Oyetunji, described fibroids as abnormal growths in or on a woman’s uterus, adding that  the tumors   sometimes get large and cause severe abdominal pains and heavy periods.

    Oyetunji explained that most women with uterine fibroids have no symptoms. “However, fibroids can cause some symptoms depending on their size, location within the uterus, and closeness to pelvic organs. These are most commonly abnormal bleeding, pain and pressure. So, fibroids are non-cancerous growths in the uterus that can develop during a woman’s child-bearing years,” she said.

    According to her, the cause of uterine fibriods are unknown. “Fibroids tend to run in families and affected women often have a family history of fibroids. Women of African descent are two to three times more likely to develop fibroids than women of other races, she said.

    She continued:“Fibroids grow in response to stimulation by the estrogen produced naturally in the body. These growths can show up as early as 20, but tend to shrink after menopause when the body stops producing large amounts of estrogen.

    ‘’Fibroids can be tiny and cause no problems, or they also can grow to  several pounds. Fibroids tend to grow slowly,” Oyetunji added.

    She listed causes of fibroids as overweight, obesity, nulliparity (described as never having given birth to a child), starting menstrual period at under 10 years and being from African-American heritage (occurring three to nine times more often than in Caucasian women).

    On the treatment for uterine fibroids, another fertility expert, Dr Funlola Biobaku, said it depends on the symptoms, size and location of the fibroids and age (how close the person is to menopause), the patient’s desire to have children  and the patient’s health.

    She affirmed that laparoscopy is  good for treating fibroid. “Laparoscopy is a way of performing surgery. Instead of making a large incision (or cut) for certain operations, surgeons make tiny incisions and insert thin instruments and a camera into an area, such as the abdomen, to view the internal organs and repair or remove tissue.

    “Laparoscopy was first performed in animals in the early 1900s, and the Swedish surgeon Jacobaeus coined the term laparoscopy (laparothorakoskopie) in 1901. However, better techniques were not developed until the 1960s, when laparoscopy was accepted as a safe and valuable procedure,” she said.

    Ajayi noted that laparoscopy, sometimes referred to as keyhole surgery, was used only to diagnose conditions. ‘’Then doctors began to perform surgeries such as tubal ligation in women, using laparoscopy. The technique has evolved so much that operations that once required doctors to make a very large incision, such as removing the gallbladder, can now all be done with this less invasive surgery,” she said.

    What merit does this have for patients? Ajayi said:“For patients, laparoscopy can often mean a faster recovery from surgery, less time in the hospital or outpatient surgery centre, and less trauma to the body. Doctors do not have to slice through large abdominal muscles to reach vital organs. And the service is available at Nordical Fertility Centres nationwide.”

  • Fibroids and infertility

    Let me start by sharing this testimony, though I hate to share peoples testimony especially those  close to me for some reasons. My younger sister (same parents) after having the first baby in her first pregnancy well over 3 years has not been able to conceive until recently. The story is thus; Precisely two months ago my wife and I invited her to my house so that I will find out if there is any medical issues. Reluctantly she opened up to us that  her menstruation is relatively excess, and that she experiences discomfort in her tummy. However, I asked her to see me in my office the following day. When I checked her I  discovered that she has an abnormally bloated abdomen. I sent her for scan and you know what, my suspicion was cleared. She has fibroids. I immediately referred her for medical tests such as urine culture, blood culture as well as h.v.s (higher vaginal swap and the results proved presence of bacteria infections. Of course the scan she did had already indicated she had P.I.D. (Pelvic inflammatory  diseases). She was on our fibroid remedy for two months and got pregnant while taking our herbal formular for fibroid as well as infection. She has spread the news in the village to her mother in law, my parents and all our relations close to her. She has volunteered to grant interviews on my page in future in order to encourage women facing same challenges. All to the Glory of God.

    The essence of this write up most importantly is to inform my readers about our new research in treatment and handling of fibroid cases. As a matter of fact and  according to research, women in their productive years between the ages of 25 years to 44 years are prone to have fibroids at different  time in their life, though the exact cause of fibroids is not known, but its believed that hormones such as estrogen and progesterone play a role in their development. However, some medical analysts also believe in their research that certain lifestyle among women especially women in their reproductive age can also cause fibroid to grow. They are 3 kinds of fibroids that have been  identified by medical experts such as intramural fibroids, sub serous fibroids and submucous fibroids. All these terms connote that fibroids can grow either inside the womb, outside the womb and on the wall of the womb. Intramural fibroids usually can lead to excessive bleeding or excessive menstrual flow which in very bad cases can lead to anaemia among women. My study about the processes and research done in most part of Asia, and South America  showed that certain herbs are effective in helping to fight fibroid growth. However, our experience relying on those studies  conducted in those countries showed high success rate in our practice of natural  medicine.

    We have recently advanced our  fibroid remedies and they are indeed very effective in dissolving, and shrinking excessive fibroid growth and thereby helping women to even conceive where conception becomes a challenge due fibroids. It is important to note that due to astringent action of  some of the herbs, excessive bleeding or menstrual flow can be controlled in matter of days while the patient is on the remedy. We have on record many testimonies of women who took our herbs and eventually conceived  apart from the herbs helping to fight the fibroids, it is also useful and effective against ovarian cysts and other kinds of growth.

    For treatment and delivery, enquiries call Dr. Paul Torty, The C.E.O of the Saints Herbals, and The Saints Medical Foundation. Phone Nos.  08037140368, 08038824033, 08051625888, 08038824033, and  08083860575. Presently we are in Lagos, and Enugu, call now. Distance is no barrier wherever you are in Nigeria. Integrity, Honesty and Trust are our watchword  Email: paultorty@yahoo.com.

    Website: www.drpaultorty.com.

  • Fibroids and infertility (2)

    The Prostate gland is the organ that helps in the production of simen, and it stays beneath the bladder surrounding the urethra, the tube that drains urine from the bladder, when it becomes enlarged, the Prostate can put pressure on the urethra and cause difficult urination and  also leads to the following symptoms:

    Weak Urine, stopping and starting while urinating, dribbling at the end of urination, straining while urinating, frequent need to urinate,  increased frequency of urination at night, urgent need to urinate, not being able to empty the bladder, blood in the urine, urinary tact infection, back and lower abdominal  pains.

    In Africa, the rate of prostate enlargement and cancer is presently high.

    Let me  quickly mention that we have developed a herbal remedy that is certified by NAFDAC. The product is known as PROSTALYN herbal a quality herbal preparation that helps to normalise urination where it is excess or difficult, Prostalyn also relieves urinary retention, frequent and urinary  urgency. It is important to note that prostalyn regulates P.S.A where the PSA is excessively elevated. An elevated PSA can lead to prostate cancer. Fpr cases of infections and STDs we have also developed remedies that have been certified by NAFDAC one of which is BATULIN a quality herbal preparation that fights infections, improves the blood, boosts the immune  system and there for effective for general well being.  Batulin is effective against symptoms such as weak erections caused by long term infections, itching, abnormal discharges,  and internal body hotness.

    A week ago, i had  driven out of the office on my way home when i received a call from my secretary that there was an emergency. A man was brought to my office simply because he could not pass out urine naturally. He was under serious pain. I could hear the man screaming in pains even as my secretary spoke to me on phone.

    Immediately i suspected that he had just been hit by prostate enlargement a health condition that can start by blocking the urine passage, causing excess urination and difficulty, as well as urinary urgency and retention. Thank God, ourherbs are ready -made. i asked my secretary to immediately open one of the already made herbal preparation for prostate enlargement which she did and the man took out of it.

    Amazingly, within the next one hour after they got home, the man urinated, however i was told that the pains seized within 10 minutes after he took the herbs.

    When tests was done the following day, i was proved right that his prostate is enlarged. He is presently doing well with our treatment. Once the prostate is enlarged, a lot of pressure can be placed on the leading to difficult or excess urination. Other sysmptoms that can follow are; dribbling urination, inability to empty  the bladder while urinating, stopping and starting urination, abdominal and waist pain, NORMAL P.S.A is 0-4.0ug/l. Prostate specific antigen higher than 4.0 ug/L measurement is said to be elevating and should be monitored to avoid prostate cancer.

    According to U.S Prostate and Cancer Research Institute, in every 6 men, 1 one person will have prostate cancer. Considering this type  of researched information on prostate, i believe the issue of prostate enlargement and cancer should not be taken lightly. It is a serious issue, I write to involve  urologists and other interested health professionals to try out our herbs on their patients and  be able to documents fact and figures  about our herbs especially, where I am  convinced that human lives will besaved. In the past one year we have been able to reach even our elites in this country who  actually took our prostate herbs and confirm that indeed they are very effective. I have on records today that some science  Professors from the nations University took our herbs and testified of its effectiveness. Besides, we have reached other eminent Nigerians who have testified to the originality and effectiveness of our remedy. There are other outstanding testimonies in th areas of infertility/hormonal imbalance, endometriosis, low sperm count , STDs, staph, ecoli, clamydia and other bronchial and pulmonary  Infections, fibroids, prostate enlargement, hypertension, diabetes, ulcer, hepatitis, asthma, constipation and pile problems etc.

    FOR TREATMENT and DELIVERY, enquiries call Dr. Paul Torty, The C.E.O of the Saints Herbals, and The Saints Medical Foundation. Phone Nos.  08037140368,08038824033,08051625888, 08038824033, AND 08083860575. Presently we are in Lagos, and Enugu, call now. Distance is no barrier wherever you are in Nigeria. Integrity, Honesty and Trust are our watchword  Email: paultorty@yahoo.com.

    Website: www.drpaultorty.com.

  • Fibroids and infertility (2): Prostate enlargement and urinary problems in men

    Let me start by sharing this testimony, though I hate to share peoples testimony especially those  close to me for some reasons. My younger sister (same parents) after having the first baby in her first pregnancy well over 3 years has not been able to conceive until recently. The story is thus; Precisely two months ago my wife and I invited her to my house so that I will find out if there is any medical issues. Reluctantly she opened up to us that  her menstruation is relatively excess, and that she experiences discomfort in her tummy. However, I asked her to see me in my office the following day. When I checked her I  discovered that she has an abnormally bloated abdomen. I sent her for scan and you know what, my suspicion was cleared. She has fibroids. I immediately referred her for medical tests such as urine culture, blood culture as well as h.v.s (higher vaginal swap and the results proved presence of bacteria infections. Of course the scan she did had already indicated she had P.I.D. (Pelvic inflammatory  diseases). She was on our fibroid remedy for two months and got pregnant while taking our herbal formular for fibroid as well as infection. She has spread the news in the village to her mother in law, my parents and all our relations close to her. She has volunteered to grant interviews on my page in future in order to encourage women facing same challenges. All to the Glory of God.

    The essence of this write up most importantly is to inform my readers about our new research in treatment and handling of fibroid cases. As a matter of fact and  according to research, women in their productive years between the ages of 25 years to 44 years are prone to have fibroids at different  time in their life, though the exact cause of fibroids is not known, but its believed that hormones such as estrogen and progesterone play a role in their development. However, some medical analysts also believe in their research that certain lifestyle among women especially women in their reproductive age can also cause fibroid to grow. They are 3 kinds of fibroids that have been  identified by medical experts such as intramural fibroids, sub serous fibroids and submucous fibroids. All these terms connote that fibroids can grow either inside the womb, outside the womb and on the wall of the womb. Intramural fibroids usually can lead to excessive bleeding or excessive menstrual flow which in very bad cases can lead to anaemia among women. My study about the processes and research done in most part of Asia, and South America  showed that certain herbs are effective in helping to fight fibroid growth. However, our experience relying on those studies  conducted in those countries showed high success rate in our practice of natural  medicine.

    We have recently advanced our  fibroid remedies and they are indeed very effective in dissolving, and shrinking excessive fibroid growth and thereby helping women to even conceive where conception becomes a challenge due fibroids. It is important to note that due to astringent action of  some of the herbs, excessive bleeding or menstrual flow can be controlled in matter of days while the patient is on the remedy. We have on record many testimonies of women who took our herbs and eventually conceived  apart from the herbs helping to fight the fibroids, it is also useful and effective against ovarian cysts and other kinds of growth.

  • Untold Story of Nkechi! The Lady that Got Rid of Fibroids Without Surgery

    Untold Story of Nkechi! The Lady that Got Rid of Fibroids Without Surgery

    fibroid

    Sponsored Post

    About three years ago I passed out at work and was rushed to the hospital. At that time, I was on my menstrual period and had very heavy bleeding. My periods were very heavy for the first three to four days and I would have to wear both pads and tampons at the same time. The bleeding was so bad that I had to change both of them every 2 hours.

    I normally stay at home on the first three days of my period but on this particular day I needed to be at the office to sign some very important paperwork. About thirty minutes before leaving for the day I fainted. My co-workers rushed me to the hospital. While there the doctor told me that I lost a lot of blood and he wanted to give me a blood transfusion. I declined that treatment. I declined the blood transfusion because I didn’t need it since I wasn’t dying,

    I was just anemic from having heavy menstrual periods. The doctor was not pleased with my decision but he didn’t force the issue and I was sent home later that night with some drugs.

    My Struggle with Fibroids

    The reason my periods were so heavy at that time was because of the three fibroids I had in my uterus. I first found out about them back in 2012 and in 2013 I had them removed with surgery. Two years later they came back even bigger. My doctor wanted to schedule another surgery but if it didn’t work the first time why would I go under the knife again for a second time? So I decided to just deal with the pain and heavy bleeding and search for a natural way to get rid of them FOR GOOD!

    Searching for natural ways to get rid of my fibroids was not easy. I saw several advertisements of all kinds of treatments to shrink fibroids. I was a little skeptical but I was desperate to get rid of the fibroids so I tried one in particular which didn’t work. I was still having heavy painful bleeding with lots of clots. I noticed that the soreness in my breast was gone, but after going for another scan, I was told that my fibroids were still there. I was so discouraged that I scheduled an appointment with my doctor to discuss other possibilities for removing the fibroids.

    About two months later, while surfing on the internet I saw a post on Facebook talking about how to get rid of fibroid naturally without surgery. I was very skeptical about it. I didn’t even bother to follow the link in the post to read more. Two days later, as I sat alone in the sitting room feeling hopeless about my fibroid, I decided to go on Facebook and see if I can still access the post I saw two days earlier, thank God I was able to get it. I reluctantly gave the Natural product a try …it just made sense. On September17 of 2015, I began the Fibroid Shrinking program as seen on this website here =>http://bestwellnesstherapy.com.ng/fib.html

    2015: The Turning Point
    after being on this program for about 2 and half months, my period was no longer heavy as before. Usually my periods would last 8 days, with 3 – 4 days being very heavy. I would also spot a lot in between my periods but the spotting stopped, with 2 days of heavy bleeding and my cycle lasting for only 5 days. Once this happened I cancelled my appointment with my doctor and stayed loyal to my program

    The Final Results– Like I said earlier,I had 3 fibroids. One was growing inside my uterus and the other two were inside the walls of my uterus. The largest fibroid was the size of a grapefruit. When I got my results back from a scan I went for, the result shows that I only had one fibroid inside the wall of my uterus and that it was the size of a small apple.  So two fibroids completely dissolved away and the largest one was the size of a small apple instead of a grapefruit. Since I wasn’t having any problems with my periods and 2 out of the 3 fibroids were gone, I decided to just continue with the program and go on with my life.

    Fibroids Completely Gone

    Two months later, I went for another scan and to my surprise and that of my doctor, my fibroids were gone. My doctor kept going over and over the scan result to make sure she was reading it correctly. She couldn’t believe that all of my fibroids were gone without surgery. My uterus was back to its normal size and my periods are now 3 days long. She asked me what I did to make them go away and I told her “I did what I should have done back in 2013. There are not enough words to explain the happiness I have now. I wish I knew about this program when I first had fibroids but as the saying goes “Things happen for a reason”.
    I am so thrilled with my experience that I inspire others to experience for themselves the profound transformation this fibroid treatment program offers.

    I strongly recommend you visit http://bestwellnesstherapy.com.ng/fib.html in case you know someone who has fibroid.

    It has changed my life and now I’m free!

  • Untold Story of Nkechi! The Lady that Got Rid of Fibroids Without Surgery

    Untold Story of Nkechi! The Lady that Got Rid of Fibroids Without Surgery

    About three years ago I passed out at work and was rushed to the hospital. At that time, I was on my menstrual period and had very heavy bleeding. My periods were very heavy for the first three to four days and I would have to wear both pads and tampons at the same time. The bleeding was so bad that I had to change both of them every 2 hours.

    I normally stay at home on the first three days of my period but on this particular day I needed to be at the office to sign some very important paperwork. About thirty minutes before leaving for the day I fainted. My co-workers rushed me to the hospital. While there the doctor told me that I lost a lot of blood and he wanted to give me a blood transfusion. I declined that treatment. I declined the blood transfusion because I didn’t need it since I wasn’t dying,

    fibroid

     

    I was just anemic from having heavy menstrual periods. The doctor was not pleased with my decision but he didn’t force the issue and I was sent home later that night with some drugs.

    My Struggle with Fibroids

    The reason my periods were so heavy at that time was because of the three fibroids I had in my uterus. I first found out about them back in 2012 and in 2013 I had them removed with surgery. Two years later they came back even bigger. My doctor wanted to schedule another surgery but if it didn’t work the first time why would I go under the knife again for a second time? So I decided to just deal with the pain and heavy bleeding and search for a natural way to get rid of them FOR GOOD!

    Searching for natural ways to get rid of my fibroids was not easy. I saw several advertisements ofall kinds of treatments to shrink fibroids. I was a little skeptical but I was desperate to get rid of the fibroids so I tried one in particular which didn’t work. I was still having heavy painful bleeding with lots of clots. I noticed that the soreness in my breast was gone, but after going for another scan, I was told that my fibroids were still there. I was so discouraged that I scheduled an appointment with my doctor to discuss other possibilities for removing the fibroids.

    About two months later, while surfing onthe internet I saw a post on Facebook talking about how to get rid of fibroid naturally without surgery. I was very skeptical about it. I didn’t even bother to follow the link in the post to read more. Two days later, as I sat alone in the sitting room feeling hopeless about my fibroid, I decided to go on Facebook and see if I can still access the post I saw two days earlier, thank God I was able to get it. I reluctantly gave the Natural product a try …it just made sense.On September17 of 2015, I began the Fibroid Shrinking program as seen on this website here =>http://www.evergreenhealthcare.com.ng/fb.htm

    2015: The Turning Point
    After being on this program forabout 2 and halfmonths, my period was no longer heavy as before. Usually my periods would last 8 days, with 3 – 4 days being very heavy. I would also spot a lot in between my periods but the spotting stopped, with 2 days of heavy bleeding and my cycle lasting for only 5 days. Once this happened I cancelled my appointment with my doctor and stayed loyal to my program

    The Final Results– Like I said earlier,I had 3 fibroids. One was growing inside my uterus and the other two were inside the walls of my uterus. The largest fibroid was the size of a grapefruit. When I got my results back from a scan I went for, the result shows that I only had one fibroid inside the wall of my uterus and that it was the size of a small apple.  So two fibroids completely dissolved away and the largest one was the size of a small apple instead of a grapefruit. Since I wasn’t having any problems with my periods and 2 out of the 3 fibroids were gone, I decided to just continue with the program and go on with my life.

    Fibroids Completely Gone

    Two months later, I went for another scan and to my surprise and that of my doctor, my fibroids were gone. My doctor kept going over and over the scan result to make sure she was reading it correctly. She couldn’t believe that all of my fibroids were gone without surgery. My uterus was back to its normal size and my periods are now 3 days long. She asked me what I did to make them go away and I told her “I did what I should have done back in 2013. There are not enough words to explain the happiness I have now. I wish I knew about this program when I first had fibroids but as the saying goes “Things happen for a reason”.
    I am so thrilled with my experience that I inspire others to experience for themselves the profound transformation this fibroid treatment program offers.

    I strongly recommend you visit http://www.evergreenhealthcare.com.ng/fb.htm in case you know someone who has fibroid.

    It has changed my life and now I’m free!

     

  • Fibroids

    Fibroids are tumors of the womb, consisting of muscle and some fibrous tissue. They are benign and are the most common of all uterine tumors. It is called fibroma when the growth or tumor is composed chiefly of connective tissue, while it is called myoma when the growth is composed of muscle element. Its other names are fibromyoma and leiomyofibroma when it consists of mixed tissues. However, myoma is most appropriate, since they rarely contain much fibrous material and consist almost entirely of smooth muscle.

    It is usually discrete, round, firm and often multiple. They can be as small as an orange seed or as big as the head of a newly born baby. They can be totally symptomless or can be so worrisome as to become an emergency. Based on its anatomical location, it may be classified as intramural (within uterine muscle), submucous (within the inner lining of the womb), subserous (in the outer lining) intraligamentous (within the ligaments holding the uterus), or cervical (in the cervix).

    Fibroid has been a major cause of infertility and the various pregnancy related deaths. It may grow silently and progressively over a period of 5 to 10 years; and may be so big in the abdomen that it may be mistaken for normal pregnancy.  Many women have carried such fibroid for many years, regarding it as pregnancy and seeking for help in spiritual and instant healing homes! However, some women with fibroid still get pregnant and some even deliver successfully with the fibroid.

    Clinical evidence suggests that the development of fibroid is related to the action of estrogen, a hormone produced by the ovary. Fibroids arise during the period of menstrual activity. They do not originate as a new growth once menstruation has ceased (menopause). Non-utilized and under-utilized uterus in the productive age, as well as use of oestrogenic contraceptive pills would enhance the occurrence of fibroids.

    Smptoms of myomas include; increased abdomen, frequent urination, painful menstruation (dysmenorrhoea) and heavy bleeding (often with anaemia and fainting). They can give rise to severe lower abdominal pains and headaches. There may be multiple menstruations in one month, which may be accompanied by the passage of blood clots. Fibroids can be detected accidentally by the physician either during physical examination or via ultrasound scan for infertility or related abdominal ailments.

    In Holistic Lifecare, it is strongly advised that women (or ladies) should avoid the abuse of contraceptives and unnecessary delay of pregnancy for too long a period during the reproductive age. They should take proper care of venereal diseases and avoid frequent and excessive abortion (especially with D and C). The use of phytoestrogenic contraceptives (plant-derived oestrogens) is highly recommended, as may be prescribed by experienced herbal scientists.

    Actually, with the use of safe and potent herbal remedies, through the oral route, it has been confirmed that the fibroid tissues dissolve gradually. They are absorbed by the body and finally eliminated through the various excretory routes. However, it is necessary to ensure that the remedies come from a very good and dependable source. A good ultrasound scan detailing the site(s), size(s) and number(s) of the fibroids should be done before treatment. This should be repeated 3 months later, to determine if the remedies are working or not.

    The holistic natural remedy being advanced for the control and evacuation of fibroids is a combination of natural extracts of Ricinus communis, Aframomum melegueta, Cocos nucifera and Xylopia aethiopica.

     

    For further information and consultation on Holistic Lifecare research and services, especially on Blood Infections, Infertility, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Chronic Debilitating Conditions as well as mental and social problems, please call  on: 0803-330-3897 or visit: Mosebolatan Holistic Lifecare Centre, Adeyalo Layout, Ogbere-Tioya, Off Olorunsogo Express Bridge, Ibadan. Website: www.holisticlifecare.com. Distance is no barrier, we can send remedies by courier if need be.

  • Womenfolk and the fibroids challenge

    Womenfolk and the fibroids challenge

    For ages, fibroids tumour have posed a serious impediment to the wellbeing of African women, torturing many to no end and denying many the joy of beholding their fruit of the womb. To make matters worse, a lot of myths, fear and terror have been built around it, giving it a rather gargantuan image. Gboyega Alaka attempts an unraveling of the disease.

    Oghenetegha is 45 years old, married, with a 13-year-old lonely daughter. ‘Tegha (as she is called for short) had Onome in the very first year of her marriage with her husband, John, but has not been able to have another child since then. She revealed that she and her husband tried several times for another child without success, with a couple other successes ending in miscarriages. At a point, she sought doctors’ opinion and was soon told that she had fibroids growing inside her. That, she said, in a way explained why her stomach was growing and why she sometimes felt some movement in her stomach.

    The doctors advised for prompt surgery to clear out the unwanted occupant, but Tegha would not hear of it. Operation? Go under the knife and get herself killed? No! According to Tegha, she had heard enough news of women dying in an attempt to clear out the fibroid growing in their tummy, that she’d rather look for other alternatives. So, no, she thanked the doctors, and rebuffed all attempts by her husband to convince her. Instead, Tegha embraced other touted alternatives of local herbs, Indian herbs and concoctions, to no avail.

    Late last year, she met a doctor relative of hers who told her to come over to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja. She later found out that the reason for the invitation was for her to see how women come in for the operation and come out thanking God for a successful process. The relative doctor, her cousin, explained to her that the mortality rate for such operations is now very low and that women rarely die anymore. August 2014 was therefore a month of joy for her, as she successfully had the unwanted occupant of her innards removed. Mercifully, her womb was also left intact, and as you read this report, Tegha is about six months pregnant.

    If Tegha has a beautiful story to tell at the end of the day, maybe not quite so for Munirat yet. Mercifully, she has two issues already, a boy and a girl, who are now both in the university. But that’s the much she can recall in terms of marital bliss. For 17 years, she hasn’t had sex – not with her husband, though not divorced; and not with any other man at that. Munirat’s husband, Adewale, travelled to Europe in search of a better life right after they had their second child in 1998. At the time, it was good news to the family and hopes were high for a soon better life. But after two years rolled into ten and now approaching two decades, without any chance of Munirat joining her husband in Europe, all the hope eventually petered out. Adewale hasn’t been able to get a work/residency permit or citizenship, and so can neither step out of the UK nor travel home to see his family. Any attempt would mean forfeiting all he has achieved in that country; as he would not be able to get past the immigration guys again.

    About a decade after her husband left, Munirat began developing a protruding abdomen and having some growing sensation in her tummy. Eventually doctors diagnosed that she had fibroid. They recommended some drugs, to no avail. In her desperation, she also tried herbs and other local stuffs; but without any remarkable success.

    As you read this, the fibroid has so grown to a stage where she sometimes bleeds really badly and is sometimes forced to branch in any nearby house to clean-up and re-pad. She recalled a certain occasion when she had to branch into her in-laws house around Iyana-Ipaja after the bleeding became unbearable and uncontrollable. “I just noticed that passers-by were taking a second look at me in a curious manner. Apparently, they thought I was menstruating and was one of those careless women who couldn’t keep a tab on their time. But I still didn’t understand until a certain lady moved close to me and whispered in my ears that I had blood stains all over my backside!”  You can imagine how embarrassed I was. That is my fibroid story. And could you believe this is all because of my husband? Doctors told me it has been able to grow so uncontrollably because I haven’t been having sex, and that regular sex could have suppressed it.

    “To make matters worse, my husband, for whom I am carrying this cross has gone to take another wife and is in fact, raising another family in the UK now. He apparently got tired of trying to get me a passage over, and being a man, he eventually succumbed to the emotional urge to get himself a woman. In truth, I may not be able to totally blame him, but nevertheless, it is painful.”

    Asked why she hasn’t gone for a surgery to evacuate the unwanted tumour, Muninat screamed “No! You don’t want me to witness my children’s wedding and nurse my grandchildren? My best friend died while trying to remove her fibroid through an operation. You want me to suffer the same fate?”

    Munirat would therefore rather bear the pain and ignominy, than take any ‘life-threatening risk.’

    As for Patience, 55, who lost her husband about four years ago, the greatest gift her late husband bequeathed on her was paying for her fibroid surgery. She was married to her husband for about 25 years without a child; looking back, she regretted that she didn’t undertake the operation earlier, to take out the tumour, as her husband took ill and died months after he had assisted her in evacuating the tumour. Had she been able to summon courage early enough, she imagined that she could have had more time with her husband and maybe carried a pregnancy successfully to have a child. So for now, she remains childless and not sure of her chances anymore. But she looks onto God with hope.

    Scary statistics

    Until recently, the mortality rate for fibroids operation in Nigeria was scary. More of the time, the stories were always of fatality: of patients bleeding to death, not coming back to life after the operation; or in the more benign yet grave alternative, the woman’s womb had to be taken out. Whatever the outcome, it was more like a cul-de-sac option.

    But should treating come with so much terror and horror?

    Online journal, Web MD in a piece titled: Fibroid Tumors: What Every Woman Must Know states that; “There probably isn’t a woman alive who doesn’t feel a wave of terror, when her doctor mentions the word tumour. But when it’s a fibroid tumour, experts say there is little to fear. There is virtually no threat of malignancy – and there are a number of excellent treatment options…”

    The above statement is credited to Steve Goldstein, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology of the New York University (NYU) Medical Centre, who is by all means an authority in the field; but from the stories of the African (Nigerian) women told above and the grave fears exhibited, it might appear that his statement is based solely on the American society and its excellent medical facility and personnel.

    That piece also describes fibroid tumours as being “composed of renegade muscle cells that come together to form a fibrous “knot” of “mass” within the uterus.”

    It also categorised fibroids, based on their locations; hence the Submucosal fibroids, located just under the uterine lining; Intramural fibroids, which lies between the muscles of the uterine wall; and the Subserol fibroids, which extends from the uterine wall into the pelvic cavity.

    It also explains that “fibroids most commonly occur between ages 30 and 40, with black women at greatest risk.” And that, “at least one genetic link has been identified, indicating that fibroids may also run in families (be hereditary).

    For some women fibroids cause no symptoms, but when they do, doctors say problems often ‘involve heavy menstrual periods and prolonged bleeding;’ and sometimes ‘abdominal pain or swelling and increased urination.’

    Dr A. A.Adewunmi, Senior lecturer/Hon. Consultant, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos corroborates the part about women of black race. He said: “Not all women are susceptible to fibroid, but majority of the women are susceptible to fibroid- particularly women of the black race. For instance, it is more prominent in black women than white women; and when we talk of prominence, we’re talking about between 7 to 8 out of every 10 women.”

    He also explained that a lot of women have fibroids and hardly know until it has become troublesome or began to show symptoms of science. He also corroborates the part about the tumour not being malignant, putting the probability of it being malignant at 1 to100,000.

    Dr Adewunmi however said the cause of fibroids, like cancer is not known, and that also accounts for the reason why it has no known cure yet – except hysterectomy, which is the removal of the womb.

    He said fibroids tumour is occasioned more by lack of use of the uterus. “The womb is supposed to be carrying a baby, and if the womb or uterus is not carrying a baby for a long period of time, something else will grow there because – as he put it: “nature abhors vacuum.”

    He explained that this is unfortunately more like an indictment of the good girls who choose to live the chaste life. “That’s why it is usually said that ‘bad girls have babies, while the good girls have fibroids’ – the good girls are keeping their body because they’re not yet married, so that place is left empty…” And by the time they get married maybe around 30 or 35, they may discover that they already have fibroids.

    7 out of 10 women would rather try alternative medicine first

    As a quick survey, this reporter spoke to ten women randomly within Lagos metropolis on whether they would immediately consent to undergoing surgery to take out troublesome fibroid tumours. Most of them amazingly said they would rather go for local herbs, sounding rather confident that there are herbs that can take care of it, hence they cannot go and take any life-threatening risk in the name of surgery. In all, seven out of the ten women spoken to denounced the surgical process. One even swore that she knows a trado-medical practitioner who does it without stress.

    ‘We’ll make her deliver deliver the fibroids like a baby’- Herb dealer

    Alhaja Shakirat Okegbenro, a senior dealer in herbs and other local therapy stuff in Ikotun market, Lagos, says traditional medicine is capable of taking care of fibroid tumours. Contrary to persistent debunking by orthodox medical practitioners’, she said they would put the patient on local herbs medication, known in Yoruba as ‘agbo’, and after sometime, “she would deliver the fibroids as if she is delivering a baby.”

    She dismissed in strong terms the claim that the only definitive treatment for fibroids is surgery. There are herbs that we administer in addition to other stuffs that we burn and ask them to take with hot drink.

    Asked how long a patient would use the local herbs before she is eventually delivered of the fibroid tumour, Alhaja Okegbenro said, “that varies depending on the individual’s body system and resistance or adaptability to the herbs. But surely, she would be delivered of it.

    She however would not reveal the type of herbs they use, whether in part or whole, arguing that “that is our own trade secret.”

    Interestingly, traditional herb dealers seem to agree with orthodox medicine that fibroids are present in most, if not all women. She said any woman, who does not have fibroids may not be able to have a child of her own.

    It’s all lies

    But Dr. Adewunmi vehemently debunks this claim, saying most of the time they are causing more harm than good.

    “That’s where we get most of our terrible cases. They would claim anything.” He explained that as a result of the things they give the women to insert in their vagina and the corrosive effects and scar it leaves behind; most marriages have had to break up because the couple can no longer enjoy the pleasure of sex, because penetration has become near impossible. “I operate fibroids on a weekly basis here and if I tell you what I see….  A lot of cases are so hopeless, because the women have gone round and round. Some have even lost their marriages because they can no longer have sex; hence the pleasure of marriage is no longer there. I mean, when you insert a corrosive into her vagina that would burn it off, chances are that the penis may not even be able to go into the woman up to half way, and so the man abandons the woman. I have seen several cases like that, not ten, not twenty!”

    Thanks to the activities of these so-called ‘medical practitioners,’ he said it is hard to really assess the mortality rate of fibroid operation in this present day, because the women would have patronised them and made a very terrible case of a bad situation.

    Almost in a fit of anger, Dr. Adewunmi said, “Somebody cannot have a tumour and then you turn around and say she should just rub something and it would disappear. Most times, what they see and claim to be fibroids coming out of the women’s private part are clotted blood. I’ve been practising medicine for over thirty years, so I should be able to tell you certain things categorically!”

  • I carried my fibroids for 12 years – Stella Edmund

    I carried my fibroids for 12 years – Stella Edmund

    Stella Edmund, a freelance journalist, who bore pain and embarrassment of the unwanted tumour for twelve years tells her story

    At what point did you decide to take out the fibroids in your tummy?

    You won’t believe it; I battled with that thing for twelve years. Initially when I discovered that I had it, I was using Indian herbs. I have a friend in India, who used to send me the herbs from India, but I found that the more I was using it, the more the tumour was increasing in size. Each time I went to the hospital, the doctor would tell me that it had increased from its former size. In truth, I never wanted to go for surgery, because in a way, I was scared of it; but when it dawned on me that if I didn’t do the surgery, it would affect my womb, I had to summon courage and take a decision. The professor in charge of my case at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Prof Albert Adu insisted that I must do the surgery, because, at that time, it had degenerated so much that I was dripping. What I mean dripping is that I was always bleeding, so much so that I couldn’t even differentiate between when I was on and when I was not on. At the same time, I was dripping water; and that means it had gotten to the last stage. I was told that if I didn’t remove it, it would burst and affect my womb. So really, I had no choice.

    You said you had it for 12 years, did you notice when it started growing or at what point exactly did you discover it?

    I actually went to see a doctor for another health issue, when he told me to go and do a scan. It was the scan result that showed that I had fibroids.

    Did they tell you if it posed any threat to your life, if it burst?

    Not exactly; just that it would affect my womb; and that means I would not be able to have children of my own. Besides that, I was no longer comfortable with myself. You could tell it was affecting me psychologically.

    Were you afraid of going for the operation or what?

    Not that I was afraid of the operation, but the impression I’d got from those who had undergone it was that it was a 50-50 chance and that you may be lucky and come through clean with your womb intact, while some say you may not. Some even say one may die – depending on the doctor or team of doctors who handle it. I for one didn’t want any operation that would hurt me in anyway; besides, I didn’t want to die too.

    Did the fibroid come with pain as well?

    Oh yes. It came with pain. You would be feeling uncomfortable: the thing would be moving as if you have a baby inside of you, and then you cannot lie face down.

    Did it affect your social life as well?

    Yes; because you couldn’t wear what you want. I couldn’t wear trousers or trouser suit. If you saw me in the last days before I travelled for the surgery, you would notice that I was protruding. In fact when I came back home after the surgery, my neighbours in Port Harcourt where I had gone to have the surgery, were asking me: ‘Where is the baby’. It was so embarrassing! All along, they had seen me as a heavily pregnant woman. Some people got so curious that they’d even be gossiping me right in my presence and asking each other: “When is this lady going to deliver this pregnancy? Her pregnancy is taking too long o…” And so on and so forth.

    How did it affect your relationship life?

    No, it was I who decided to get into any relationship and face the problem squarely.

    How was your surgery experience?

    I did the operation on the 9th of June at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. The head of the team that operated me is Prof Charles Granville. To the best of my knowledge, their facility is okay – at least I had a successful surgery there. Besides, they say it is up to UNICEF Standard. I think for them, UNICEF is the benchmark standard for such treatment. The only snag is that a patient has to buy virtually everything she needs. Before I did my surgery, I took 25 pints of blood at N8,500 per pint; and I had to pay for it all in cash. If you saw me then, I was as white as chalk. The doctors said I didn’t have any blood in me because of the persistent bleeding I was experiencing.  In fact, they put me under observation for three weeks before the surgery.

    How prepared were you for the surgery mentally?

    I just said to myself, ‘If I come out of it alive, fine; and if I don’t come out alive, to God be the glory.’ But before that day, while I was under observation, I was seeing a lot of women who had undergone the operation, coming out alive. There was even one that I saw that really got me scared, but they were able to successfully carry out the surgery on her. The only minus was that they had to take out her womb. Thankfully, she’s a married woman and already has three children.

    What was the feeling like when you woke up after the surgery?

    Well I did not wake up immediately; I was in coma and placed on oxygen for about 13 weeks.

    What message do you have for those facing this kind of problem and are afraid of going for a surgery?

    I will suggest that they summon courage and go for the surgery. The Professor made me understand that the earlier you do it, the better. Just that, when you do it earlier, you’ll have to be taking things that will suppress it so that it doesn’t grow again. You need to see the fibroids when they had been removed. They filled a big bucket of paint and even had to be pressed down as they were almost spilling out.

    So how do you feel now?

    I feel relieved, I feel great!