FIBROIDS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
Donation protected
INTRO:
80% of women will most likely develop uterine fibroids at some point or another in their lives. For some women, the signs and symptoms may be prominent, and in other women, they may not. It is therefore important for women to be aware of their status and have a head start battling against fibroids. Fibroids are considered benign or noncancerous but can make life quite painful and unbearable for any woman.
I am one of those who had fibroids and was unaware. The experience was painful and unpleasant. Thankfully, today I am fibroid free. It is for this reason that I am raising funds to give back to my community of women like myself who are unaware of their apparent condition by offering them the opportunity to a free scan (ultrasound scan). This will help the doctors determine if or not they have fibroids and the next action. Most women in these communities do not have access to such medical services. This fundraiser will give them this access and opportunity.
WHAT HAPPENED TO ME:
Back in 2017, I had a miscarriage, and this was the genesis of my problem. I started gaining weight and it was so out of control, especially in my stomach regions. Many people would see me and immediately call me pregnant, then go ahead to ask how many months along, when in fact I was hurting and depressed from the loss of my baby. I visited a Gynecologist and after my check-up, he assured me I will be fine and have lots of babies in the future. He mentioned I was just going through a phase of hormonal imbalance. Way back from my teenage days, I always had a very weird menstrual cycle. I will sometimes have my periods three times in one cycle and for many days than the usual three days. I had very heavy flows and extremely painful menstrual cramps. During the stage of “hormonal imbalance”, everything was heightened. My weight gain was a constant struggle. I will lose weight only to regain it twice. I have always been small stature and skinny but this time it was quite noticeable that I was excessively big especially in the stomach area. I had people make comments about my weight and some about me being pregnant etc. This went on back and forth from 2017 up until 2019. I did lots of research about my apparent condition but could not pin it on fibroids, because I had no prior knowledge of fibroids. Fibroids were something I watched people talk about on TV, but I had no deep knowledge about it. In 2018, I visited my GP in Dubai because I was very worried at this point. I had bought and tried all kinds of slimming and detox teas for my very fat belly, tried all kinds of YouTube home exercises, and everything I tried was not working at all.
After my doctor`s visit, she diagnosed me with chronic gastritis and H-pylori and loaded me with all kinds of medication to treat this apparent gastric ulcer issues. I was on drugs for months with no improvement. At this point, I got fed up because I was looking heavier than a pregnant woman. I could barely walk without feeling tired, nausea, back, and headaches. The gastric ulcer resulted from not eating as my entire tummy had been occupied by fibroids and I barely had space in my stomach for food. My mum expressed her concern about my physical appearance, and she was genuinely worried. Without much ado, I booked an appointment with another Gynecologist. I was set up with a nice Doctor at NMC HOSPITAL Dubai. The moment I walked in, the doctor said to me tell me your story and I explained my journey, then he said to me, “you have fibroids”. I was stunned and he said, “I can tell just by looking at you, but I will do an ultrasound for confirmation”. He did the ultrasound and confirmed to me that I had multiple fibroids. He estimated about 30 but requested an MRI scan for clarification. The next few days after my meeting with Dr. Simon, I went in for blood tests, several other tests, and the "MRI scan". I remember lying in that Scan Box and feeling so scared and alone, trying to understand how I got there in the first place. After completing all the scans, ultrasounds, and tests, the doctor informed me, without a doubt a surgery had to be performed and quickly too. From the scans, he picked up more than thirty or so fibroids sitting on top of my womb and compressing it out of shape.
The doctor was quite concerned about the wellbeing of my womb and he assured me that his primary focus during the surgery is to preserve the womb. This came after he had asked if I was married with or without kids and whether I was interested in kids, to which I confirmed yes. He suggested that the best two routes for my situation were:
A hysterectomy (which entails the removal of the womb) or a myomectomy. He said he would go for the myomectomy since I was still young and wanted kids. He however pointed to me that due to the type, sizes, and the number of fibroids I had, if the need arose he will take out the womb, and I had to agree to sign this in the forms before surgery. You can imagine my fear, and I kept praying "Lord Jesus, you will give me children". On July 27th, 2019, myself and two close friends went to the hospital settled in, and got prepared for the surgery. We had been told it is a simple procedure and it will be over in two hours. My dear friend was outside the surgery room for five hours before the doctors came out to say it was a successful surgery. I was rushed to ICU because I lost so much blood. They managed to take every single fibroid out, 41 in total, of various shapes and sizes. The biggest one the size of a human baby`s head. I got discharged after almost 7 days in total at the hospital, 4 in ICU, and 3 in recovery. Upon discharge, I got home, and I was still unable to walk without assistance and I had a blood bag attached on the right side of my tummy for drainage.
Fast-forward to 2020, I am fibroid free. I am working on my mental and physical health, my weight, and other aspects of my life. I had been advised by my doctor to wait a year before attempting to conceive, as my cut was so big and I'm still healing so hopefully by next year, I should be blessed by God with children of my own.
I like to encourage every sister out there to check themselves. Study and listen to your body and make sure to seek help as soon as possible. I was ignorant but hopefully, this story can inspire someone to stop suffering in silence and receive the help they need.
RECOMMENDED TREATMENT:
The Gynecologist suggested a myomectomy for my case, which was effectively done. But before that, I had to do multiple scans and tests to be able to better understand the actual nature, size, and positions of each fibroid or cluster of fibroids.
The gynecologist was very thorough. He verified my entire medical history and referred me to all the specialists, for instance: (anesthesiologist, the ENT doctor, physical therapist, dietician, etc.). Also, I had to go in for blood work and lab tests.
Before Surgery: I wasn`t on any specific oral medications, but I was advised to keep a healthy diet and take as much rest as not to stress my body before surgery.
Post-Surgery: I was heavily medicated and was on a lot of pain relief medication, most of which I can`t remember now as I was in ICU and mostly heavily sedated.
Nowadays, as per case to case basis, there are several recommended options for treatment:
-Contraceptive Pills and Progestational Agents.
-GnRH Agonists (Lupron, Synarel, Zoladex).
-Intrauterine Devices (IUD).
-Myomectomy. (This could be mildly invasive or abdominal surgery)
-Hysterectomy. (A major procedure, entailing the removal of the uterus entirely, this has proven to be the most permanent solution. It is, however, a very invasive and major surgery.)
-Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE). (This technique can be effective in shrinking fibroids and relieving the symptoms they cause. It however entails, injecting small particles (embolic agents) into the arteries supplying the uterus, these cuts of the supply of blood to the fibroids causing them to shrink and die.)
*Holistic approaches:
- Regulate Your Diet. One of the most important changes is to reduce or eliminate red meat and ham as well as processed meats from your diet.
-Reduce Stress.
-Drink Herb Teas.
The various procedures or approaches have shown to be effective. However, it is important to get your firsthand diagnosis by a doctor who can better advise you on which route is best suited for your case.
HOW SOON ARE FUNDS NEEDED AND HOW WILL YOUR FUNDS ASSIST?
The Fundraiser Campaign will run the entire month of July given July is Fibroids Awareness Month. Women will have their ultrasound scans done in August after the fundraiser.
€2000 will assist at least 50 to 100 women in the South West and North West regions of Cameroon, with the free ultrasound scan and consultation with the doctor. This should give them a knowledge of their status and in those diagnosed with fibroids, a head start on their journey to a solution, recovery, and a better quality of life.
We would be giving a young lady the opportunity to a healthy life, being a mother, living their best life, etc. No lady should become a prisoner to her own body.
Your support no matter how large or small will go a long way in helping towards providing this basic but very vital firsthand diagnosis for these women.
THANK YOU:
I am very grateful and I feel very blessed by you all. I thank you for your kind contributions towards this project and I know for sure it will go a long way. Thank you now and thank you in advance.
80% of women will most likely develop uterine fibroids at some point or another in their lives. For some women, the signs and symptoms may be prominent, and in other women, they may not. It is therefore important for women to be aware of their status and have a head start battling against fibroids. Fibroids are considered benign or noncancerous but can make life quite painful and unbearable for any woman.
I am one of those who had fibroids and was unaware. The experience was painful and unpleasant. Thankfully, today I am fibroid free. It is for this reason that I am raising funds to give back to my community of women like myself who are unaware of their apparent condition by offering them the opportunity to a free scan (ultrasound scan). This will help the doctors determine if or not they have fibroids and the next action. Most women in these communities do not have access to such medical services. This fundraiser will give them this access and opportunity.
WHAT HAPPENED TO ME:
Back in 2017, I had a miscarriage, and this was the genesis of my problem. I started gaining weight and it was so out of control, especially in my stomach regions. Many people would see me and immediately call me pregnant, then go ahead to ask how many months along, when in fact I was hurting and depressed from the loss of my baby. I visited a Gynecologist and after my check-up, he assured me I will be fine and have lots of babies in the future. He mentioned I was just going through a phase of hormonal imbalance. Way back from my teenage days, I always had a very weird menstrual cycle. I will sometimes have my periods three times in one cycle and for many days than the usual three days. I had very heavy flows and extremely painful menstrual cramps. During the stage of “hormonal imbalance”, everything was heightened. My weight gain was a constant struggle. I will lose weight only to regain it twice. I have always been small stature and skinny but this time it was quite noticeable that I was excessively big especially in the stomach area. I had people make comments about my weight and some about me being pregnant etc. This went on back and forth from 2017 up until 2019. I did lots of research about my apparent condition but could not pin it on fibroids, because I had no prior knowledge of fibroids. Fibroids were something I watched people talk about on TV, but I had no deep knowledge about it. In 2018, I visited my GP in Dubai because I was very worried at this point. I had bought and tried all kinds of slimming and detox teas for my very fat belly, tried all kinds of YouTube home exercises, and everything I tried was not working at all.
After my doctor`s visit, she diagnosed me with chronic gastritis and H-pylori and loaded me with all kinds of medication to treat this apparent gastric ulcer issues. I was on drugs for months with no improvement. At this point, I got fed up because I was looking heavier than a pregnant woman. I could barely walk without feeling tired, nausea, back, and headaches. The gastric ulcer resulted from not eating as my entire tummy had been occupied by fibroids and I barely had space in my stomach for food. My mum expressed her concern about my physical appearance, and she was genuinely worried. Without much ado, I booked an appointment with another Gynecologist. I was set up with a nice Doctor at NMC HOSPITAL Dubai. The moment I walked in, the doctor said to me tell me your story and I explained my journey, then he said to me, “you have fibroids”. I was stunned and he said, “I can tell just by looking at you, but I will do an ultrasound for confirmation”. He did the ultrasound and confirmed to me that I had multiple fibroids. He estimated about 30 but requested an MRI scan for clarification. The next few days after my meeting with Dr. Simon, I went in for blood tests, several other tests, and the "MRI scan". I remember lying in that Scan Box and feeling so scared and alone, trying to understand how I got there in the first place. After completing all the scans, ultrasounds, and tests, the doctor informed me, without a doubt a surgery had to be performed and quickly too. From the scans, he picked up more than thirty or so fibroids sitting on top of my womb and compressing it out of shape.
The doctor was quite concerned about the wellbeing of my womb and he assured me that his primary focus during the surgery is to preserve the womb. This came after he had asked if I was married with or without kids and whether I was interested in kids, to which I confirmed yes. He suggested that the best two routes for my situation were:
A hysterectomy (which entails the removal of the womb) or a myomectomy. He said he would go for the myomectomy since I was still young and wanted kids. He however pointed to me that due to the type, sizes, and the number of fibroids I had, if the need arose he will take out the womb, and I had to agree to sign this in the forms before surgery. You can imagine my fear, and I kept praying "Lord Jesus, you will give me children". On July 27th, 2019, myself and two close friends went to the hospital settled in, and got prepared for the surgery. We had been told it is a simple procedure and it will be over in two hours. My dear friend was outside the surgery room for five hours before the doctors came out to say it was a successful surgery. I was rushed to ICU because I lost so much blood. They managed to take every single fibroid out, 41 in total, of various shapes and sizes. The biggest one the size of a human baby`s head. I got discharged after almost 7 days in total at the hospital, 4 in ICU, and 3 in recovery. Upon discharge, I got home, and I was still unable to walk without assistance and I had a blood bag attached on the right side of my tummy for drainage.
Fast-forward to 2020, I am fibroid free. I am working on my mental and physical health, my weight, and other aspects of my life. I had been advised by my doctor to wait a year before attempting to conceive, as my cut was so big and I'm still healing so hopefully by next year, I should be blessed by God with children of my own.
I like to encourage every sister out there to check themselves. Study and listen to your body and make sure to seek help as soon as possible. I was ignorant but hopefully, this story can inspire someone to stop suffering in silence and receive the help they need.
RECOMMENDED TREATMENT:
The Gynecologist suggested a myomectomy for my case, which was effectively done. But before that, I had to do multiple scans and tests to be able to better understand the actual nature, size, and positions of each fibroid or cluster of fibroids.
The gynecologist was very thorough. He verified my entire medical history and referred me to all the specialists, for instance: (anesthesiologist, the ENT doctor, physical therapist, dietician, etc.). Also, I had to go in for blood work and lab tests.
Before Surgery: I wasn`t on any specific oral medications, but I was advised to keep a healthy diet and take as much rest as not to stress my body before surgery.
Post-Surgery: I was heavily medicated and was on a lot of pain relief medication, most of which I can`t remember now as I was in ICU and mostly heavily sedated.
Nowadays, as per case to case basis, there are several recommended options for treatment:
-Contraceptive Pills and Progestational Agents.
-GnRH Agonists (Lupron, Synarel, Zoladex).
-Intrauterine Devices (IUD).
-Myomectomy. (This could be mildly invasive or abdominal surgery)
-Hysterectomy. (A major procedure, entailing the removal of the uterus entirely, this has proven to be the most permanent solution. It is, however, a very invasive and major surgery.)
-Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE). (This technique can be effective in shrinking fibroids and relieving the symptoms they cause. It however entails, injecting small particles (embolic agents) into the arteries supplying the uterus, these cuts of the supply of blood to the fibroids causing them to shrink and die.)
*Holistic approaches:
- Regulate Your Diet. One of the most important changes is to reduce or eliminate red meat and ham as well as processed meats from your diet.
-Reduce Stress.
-Drink Herb Teas.
The various procedures or approaches have shown to be effective. However, it is important to get your firsthand diagnosis by a doctor who can better advise you on which route is best suited for your case.
HOW SOON ARE FUNDS NEEDED AND HOW WILL YOUR FUNDS ASSIST?
The Fundraiser Campaign will run the entire month of July given July is Fibroids Awareness Month. Women will have their ultrasound scans done in August after the fundraiser.
€2000 will assist at least 50 to 100 women in the South West and North West regions of Cameroon, with the free ultrasound scan and consultation with the doctor. This should give them a knowledge of their status and in those diagnosed with fibroids, a head start on their journey to a solution, recovery, and a better quality of life.
We would be giving a young lady the opportunity to a healthy life, being a mother, living their best life, etc. No lady should become a prisoner to her own body.
Your support no matter how large or small will go a long way in helping towards providing this basic but very vital firsthand diagnosis for these women.
THANK YOU:
I am very grateful and I feel very blessed by you all. I thank you for your kind contributions towards this project and I know for sure it will go a long way. Thank you now and thank you in advance.
Co-organizers (3)
Nehawa Ngundam Ep Abam
Organizer
Benalmádena, AN
Abimeh Wuwih
Co-organizer
John Abam
Co-organizer