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This is the third installment of my geeky science series on the abstracts and posters presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology’s 32nd annual Scientific Meeting held March 1 – March 6, 2007.
Pregnancy after MRgFUS for Uterine Fibroids: First Experiences
This is the second in my series of geeky reports on the abstracts and posters presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology’s 32nd annual Scientific Meeting held March 1 – March 6, 2007.
Post-Embolization Syndrome: Leukocytosis after Uterine Artery Embolization
The Society of Interventional Radiology held its 32nd annual Scientific Meeting from March 1 – March 6, 2007. Multiple abstracts and posters were presented. I’ll try my best to discuss as many of the fibroid-related ones as I can. Yes, this is (hopefully) the first in a series of very geeky reports.
A Prospective Randomized Comparison of Partial to Complete Uterine Fibroid Embolization
Received an email message from a visitor who wanted to pass along this information about the additional ExAblate 2000 approvals by the FDA. Thanks for the update!
From the email message:
The FDA approved new software that allows the ExAblate 2000 incisionless surgery procedure to be performed more efficiently by permitting more sonications during the same treatment window. This means that women with fibroids can be treated faster and women with larger fibroids may now be eligible for the outpatient procedure. The greater the area of the fibroid that a physician can treat, the greater the symptom relief. The agency is also allowing the system to be used with a more powerful open MRI machine, which means the physicians will have an even more precise view inside the woman’s body.
You can click the links to view the full press releases on Insightec’s web site but I included excerpts…
That would be my Interventional Radiologist (AKA Batman). I had my 6-month post-UFE MRI on last Wednesday. Stay tuned for that post because the experience was pretty funny. Remember my first MRI? Much better this time.
So, I saw my IR on yesterday. The rest of this post is taken directly from a comment I left on one of my update posts in response to Aly Fibroids who just HAD to know my results:
I was so excited because I KNEW everything had to be smaller. I feel so well. Things just must look better inside.
Received an email request for a thread on post-Abdominal Myomectomy questions to ask during a follow-up visit. I have a previous post that list questions to ask a fibroid doctor but most of those deal with information you need pre-op. I’ll tweak a few from that post and stick them here for you to ask post-op: Read the rest of this entry »
Continuing my series on fibroid doctors with this final post. I am fortunate to have many contributors here who add helpful comments. A good one on questions to ask a uterine fibroid doctor was left by fibroid free. I’ve edited them slightly to apply to all surgeries or procedures.
This is the second post in a series on fibroid doctors. Once you find a doctor, it is vital to feel comfortable with that professional. Medical knowledge is important but never underestimate good communication skills. Medicine is both a science and an art. Make sure your doctor practices both.
PBS is airing Remaking American Medicine. I am impressed by the amount of information there including this great list on evaluating a doctor: Read the rest of this entry »
This is the first in a series of separate posts on fibroid doctors. Finding a good local medical professional is key to getting the best fibroid care you can. I’m the first to admit that locating a doctor can be difficult. Hopefully, this will assist in that process.
The second of my post-UFE appointments was on Thursday. This time, I saw the Interventional Radiologist for a brief meeting to discuss my health over the past 2 weeks. I felt great. Hadn’t experienced much pain. Bleeding was limited. The only problem was the constipation and that lasted about a week.
Happy to discover that the doctor had visited the site. Extended the invitation after my UFE and he stopped by. That was cool. Not sure how many of my blog posts the IR actually saw because he was still talking to me and seemed impressed. 
Thanks, Doc. You are in the right place at the right time doing the right thing. Your dedication to helping women by performing this Uterine Fibroid Embolization procedure is much appreciated.
So, does the “debonair fibroid doctor” remind me of a comic book hero?
Yes. Batman. Definitely. He’s intelligent, extremely focused, and plays with gadgets.
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Related Posts:
How do I find a good local fibroid doctor?
How do I evaluate or rate a fibroid doctor?
What questions should I ask my fibroid doctor?
The debonair fibroid doctor
Although I forgot to ask for a commemorative photo from my Uterine Fibroid Embolization, it seems as though I did get to leave with a parting gift. The Interventional Radiologist used the StarClose® Vascular Closure System to close my femoral artery after the procedure. Wasn’t crazy over the idea of a permanent nitinol clip being left in there but I visited the web site and this thing is small (4mm) and really cool. You have to view the slick MTV-type video demonstration.
High marks in the geeky category and the star/flower shape of the clip appeals to my “new age hippie” side. Nice.
A shot of Demerol jump-started this episode of my sit-com life. I was transported from my room to the Interventional Radiology Suite but had to wait in the holding area because I still needed a shave. This gave me the opportunity to get a very good look at the procedure room well before I had to enter. Although I’m pretty adaptable to environmental changes, I liked having the luxury of time.
The Interventional Radiologist appeared with words of encouragement. I was not worried about the UFE and knew everything would be fine but it was still great hearing it from my doctor. Doc, two thumbs up in the bedside manner department.
Time for my shave. It’s a groin thing so hair removal produced a strip (stripe?) right down the middle. I personally think this “UFE cut” will be the next new hot fashion trend. The groin shave was comical and the nurse kept me laughing through the whole process.
So, I entered the suite with a huge smile. The room was larger than I thought and filled with monitors. Noticed additional nurses and really started to think that this whole adventure should have been televised. I found everything the nurses did before the procedure hilariously funny. Moving me to the table. Wiping me down with what I assumed was some type of iodine solution. Connecting me to the monitoring equipment with those circular adhesive patches. I could not stop giggling. By the time they started covering stuff with clear plastic, I was a basket case. For some reason, that plastic triggered some weird Saturday Night Live skit scenario in my mind:
Nurses finish preparing me for the procedure. Doctor comes in and cuts into my flesh but I do not bleed. The medical staff look at each other and then all simultaneously realize that I am not human. Horror quickly gives way to amusement when something zany like Cheez Whiz sprays out of my body and saturates the plastic-covered equipment.
Yes, I agree. A warped brain on drugs is a peculiar thing indeed.
What do I remember right before my Uterine Fibroid Embolization?
By now, the drugs had really kicked in. Saw the nurses moving around but I couldn’t hear a word they were saying. Figured this was an indication that I probably would not remember any of this. The inquisitive geek in me found this moderately disappointing. Looked to my right and the “debonair fibroid doctor” was standing there just about to start. Not such a bad last memory to have.
Wish I could fill this page with objective observations of my UFE. Unfortunately, I remember nothing. I don’t even recall the doctor making the small incision at the very beginning of the procedure. I can say that I felt no apprehension or stress. My brain shut off and my faith took over.
Look who’s talking about fibroids