Uterine Fibroids Blog — An Expert Speaks Out

Shortly after posting Michelle’s story (below) and family picture she sent me the following note. I thought it best to share it directly.  — Paul Indman, M.D.

One correction that Dr. Indman may/not choose to make to the story (I think it’s important) is that I was not originally referred to him by my OB after a trip to the ER. My OB did not help me at all after that trip to the ER, so  Derek [Michelle’s husband] found Dr. Indman on-line (we wanted a second opinion from someone who was an expert on fibroids). I think it’s important because the doctor I was using at the time basically sent me on my way with bleeding so severe I couldn’t even stand up without losing large amounts of blood.  Dr. Indman not only immediately correctly diagnosed the problem, he helped me solve it while preserving my fertility options.

Thanks.

Michelle

Dr. Indman performed two procedures for me at the same time – a hysteroscopic myomectomy and an endometrial ablation. From the pre-op to post surgery, I did not experience any pain or a single cramp. I was back to work the next day and back on my regular workout schedule within two weeks. After three weeks, I went on a cycling vacation and rode 350+ miles over hilly terrain. I felt great! Without the surgery, there was no possible way I could have done this. For the first time in 1 1/2 years, I am not experiencing heavy bleeding and checking where the nearest bathrooms are.

My experience with Dr. Indman and his staff have been nothing short of fantastic. Dr. Indman is a warm, caring, highly skilled surgeon – with a fun sense of humor to boot! He is one of those rare gems in the medical profession today – someone who truly puts patients first. I found Dr. Indman while researching my symptoms on the Internet. The wealth of helpful information on his website gave me a lot of confidence even before I met him. His deep expertise and decades of experience are evident from his thorough examinations and explanations.  — S.K.

Comment:  S.K. had a submucous fibroid, which was treated by hysteroscopic myomectomy and endometrial ablation as an outpatient.  Here are actual pictures from her surgery.  The first shows the fibroid on the right side of the uterus, with the loop that will be used to remove it.  The second shows the fibroid having been removed, and the third is after endometrial ablation.  I do the endometrial ablation under direct vision to be sure that no areas are missed.

It is not unusual for women to resume most normal activities within a day or two.  Careful patient selection and utmost skill are required for a safe and successful procedure. — Paul Indman, M.D.

Update:  12/14/2010: S.K. came in for a 4 month check after her procedure, having recently run a marathon.   She said that she kept thinking that without the surgery running a marathon would have been impossible.

I suffered for many years with uterine fibroids and experienced very heavy bleeding during periods. I was very fearful about having the surgery, and was very concerned I may lose my uterus. I met Dr. Indman through a referral, and was very impressed with his professionalism, compassion, experience and successful track record with this type of surgery. I felt like he really cared about me as a person and cared about my concerns. Read the rest of this entry »

“My doctor detected a tumor as big as a softball, and he thought it was cancer….Well, old girl, my doc told me, you need a total hysterectomy.”

Read the full story… Read the rest of this entry »

Read about and see photos of Jan’s abdominal myomectomy

March 09, 2010 was the first time I met Dr. Paul Indman for a second opinion on fibroid treatment. I’d been searching for the specialist in this field in Bay Area since September 2009, when I was told by my general OB/GN doctor my fibroid was so big (11cm by ultrasound and my tummy as big as 16~18 weeks pregnant ) that I need to consider surgery. She talked about the rapid growth of my fibroid (in January 2009 it was 8cm) that would possibly be sarcoma (cancerous) that I would need to remove the whole uterus. I was not comfortable by this conversation and just replied that I need to find a second opinion before I make a decision (I don’t blame my general OB/GN doctor in any means, in fact she’s helped me all the time for woman issue and helped me on my childbirth with a C-section in 2006). Luckily in the beginning of this year, I found Dr. Indman’s website and read all the articles there and found they all make sense. So I made a phone call to his office for the appointment.

I was already very anemic at the time Dr. Indman first saw me. My hemoglobin was only 5 (normally 12 ~16). And he diagnosed me with ultrasound and confirmed the big fibroid. So he treated me in two steps: first, heal my anemia first by controlling my blood loss during menstrual period and second, do the surgery to remove the fibroid. When the second time I saw Dr. Indman in about a month, my hemoglobin has increased to 11.3. The first step treatment seems very encouraging so we scheduled the surgery.  May 10, 2010, I had my abdominal myomectomy surgery by Dr. Indman and I stayed in hospital for two days.  Now I’m home and it’s the fifth day after my surgery.

When I’m looking back what has happened in the last two months, my heart is filled with gratitude to Dr Indman and his staff team. I’m very satisfied to the outcome of the treatment and convinced with his expertise and skills, his truly caring to patients. I know surgery is not an easy decision to everyone. From my experience, my piece of advice would be to find the doctor that you think you’re really comfortable to work with.

Sincerely,

Jan F.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably suffering with issues related to uterine fibroids (heavy bleeding, cramping, Anemia, fertility issues, etc.). I’m writing this because I used to struggle with those same health issues. Today, I’m back to living a normal life, even though I never thought it would be possible again.

Read the rest of this entry »

When I first saw Dr. Indman in October 2009, I was seeking a second opinion. The gynecologist I had been seeing for about 10 years, and who had originally diagnosed my fibroid, told me that in her opinion I should have my uterus removed. She had been monitoring my fibroid by doing ultrasound exams every six months for about six years. The ultrasound images showed the fibroid had been growing slowing during that period.

So she was alarmed when she compared the ultrasound she did in March 2009 to the one she did in September 2009; she saw that my fibroid had been growing quickly during that six months. At her direction, I had an MRI. When she received the results of the MRI, she felt she couldn’t “rule out cancer.” That’s when she called me to recommend a hysterectomy.  I immediately phoned my husband. I was still in shock, and my husband asked if I wanted to get a second opinion. Indeed I did!

The idea of having my uterus surgically removed did not sit well with me for many reasons. Although having children was no longer an issue, I recoiled at the idea of having surgery that might not be necessary. From what I knew of fibroids, I didn’t think it was very likely that this was cancer. I felt extremely healthy and had no pain or other symptoms. I also wanted to prevent the trauma to my body and to my sense of self that I knew would come with a hysterectomy. And lastly, I am self employed, so if I don’t work I don’t make money. The recovery time would have been a period of zero income for me.

The day I was told I needed a hysterectomy, I hopped on the Internet and learned as much as I could about fibroids, treatment, the aftermath of a hysterectomy and the possibility that what I had could be cancer. I learned a great deal from one site, www.myomectomy.net. What I read there educated me and also validated some of the things I was already thinking.

That web site provided information about Dr. Indman, and I was surprised and happy to find out that his office is only a half-hour drive from my house. I called his office the next morning and made an appointment to see him that same week. I was told to bring the recent MRI results, radiologist’s report, and ultrasound results with me. At that first appointment, Dr. Indman talked to me; conducted a thorough physical examination, including an ultrasound; and studied the MRI results, radiologist’s report, and previous ultrasound results. He explained that based on statistics, the chance of my fibroid being cancerous was quite slim. We agreed that I would come back for another ultrasound a month later. The results of that exam  showed no growth of the fibroid.

In a follow-up ultrasound with Dr. Indman six months later, he found that the fibroid was actually a little smaller than it had been. I was delighted when he finished the exam and said, cheerfully, “Another hysterectomy bites the dust!”

One last thing about Dr. Indman. In addition to his professional abilities and his many years of experience, he has a very pleasant manner with patients. I greatly appreciate the respect with which he treats me. He wants me to be involved in my own care, and he listens—really listens—to what I have to say. And he answers my questions thoroughly. I’m very glad I went to him for my second opinion.

— Kate

My gynecologist had discovered a large mass during my annual physical and was quite alarmed by the size of the mass and its rapid growth.  I was stunned.  I had none of the classic symptoms of a fibroid; no heavy bleeding, no changes in my period, no anemia, no pressure.  The ultra sound and CT scan revealed the mass was the size of a small melon.  I was advised I needed a hysterectomy and the dreaded “C” word was mentioned.  Suddenly I was faced with the possibility of being plunged into premature menopause when I was years from having to deal with those types of changes.   Or worse, that I had cancer!  This just couldn’t be happening.   I’m too young to have a hysterectomy!  I’m too healthy to have cancer!!

Unable to sleep, I found myself on the internet aggressively researching “rapidly growing fibroids.”  What a relief to find Dr. Indman’s website and to learn there were alternatives to having a hysterectomy.  At 2:00 a.m. I emailed a brief description of my situation to his office.  By 10:00 a.m. that same day I received a reply from Dr. Indman’s staff.  INCREDIBLE.  I’ve never experienced such rapid response from a doctor’s office.  I thought, “WOW, these are the people I want to take care of me!”  It was just the beginning of a wonderful, healing experience.

His staff worked so efficiently to make the arrangements for my surgery and to ensure that I had all the information I needed to feel comfortable and be prepared for the procedure.

I traveled four states and almost 1,000 miles to have an abdominal myomectomy performed by someone I had never met.  It was without a doubt the best decision I could have made.  From the minute I met Dr. Indman, he put my mind at ease.  After reviewing the MRI he ordered, I was relieved to hear that he felt the mass was not “large” for what he deals with, that it was very unlikely it was cancer, and best of all, that I was a candidate for a procedure that would remove the tumor and likely leave my uterus and everything else intact.  Hearing him say “it looks like just a run-of-the-mill fibroid to me” was music to my ears.  (And counter to what I had been initially told!)

I was thrilled to wake up in recovery to hear that the tumor, AND ONLY THE TUMOR, was removed.  I continued to experience outstanding service by Dr. Indman when he took the initiative to call the pathologist to learn if the tumor was cancerous.  On his day off, Dr. Indman called me at 5:15 p.m. to share the news that the tumor was in fact, just a “run-of-the-mill fibroid”.  When I mentioned how unusually it was to hear from him on his day off his response was “well, while you are under my care, you are like my family.  And I wouldn’t want a member of my family having to wait one minute longer than necessary to hear they don’t have cancer.”  That’s exactly how I felt the entire time I was being treated by Dr. Indman and his staff….LIKE FAMILY!

I’m happy to report that I am two weeks post surgery and doing fantastic.  I highly recommend the myomectomy procedure performed by Dr. Indman.  I was in very little pain even immediately after the surgery and I was so well prepared for post surgery conditions by his staff, that my recovery has been a breeze.

Thank you Dr. Indman and all your wonderful staff (Wendy, Roxanne, Eileen, Robin).  I only hope others in my situation are fortunate enough to find their way to this website and to the treatment options and expertise you offer.

Read about and see photos of her surgery.