Popular Nigerian music video director Kemi Adetiba took to social media to share her story on dealing with and treating uterine fibroids.
“Fibroids are muscular tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus (womb). Another medical term for fibroids is “leiomyoma” (leye-oh-meye-OH-muh) or just “myoma”. Fibroids are almost always benign (not cancerous). Fibroids can grow as a single tumor, or there can be many of them in the uterus. They can be as small as an apple seed or as big as a grapefruit. In unusual cases they can become very large.
About 20 percent to 80 percent of women develop fibroids by the time they reach age 50. Fibroids are most common in women in their 40s and early 50s. Not all women with fibroids have symptoms. Women who do have symptoms often find fibroids hard to live with. Some have pain and heavy menstrual bleeding. Fibroids also can put pressure on the bladder, causing frequent urination, or the rectum, causing rectal pressure. Should the fibroids get very large, they can cause the abdomen (stomach area) to enlarge, making a woman look pregnant…” ~WomensHealth.gov
It is an encouraging story for those who may be struggling with the health condition.
Read her story:
“I battled with an extreme case of Fibroids in secret for many years. When I say extreme, I mean EXTREME. From being rushed to the ER where the intense PAIN wouldn’t even allow me cry, to being dangerously close to death because of anaemia, to the physical changes, the mental and emotional roller coaster it takes not only YOU, but your loved ones privy to the information.
I alluded to my battle in a recent interview while speaking on something else, and since then I have had an avalanche of msgs from every avenue possible. Women going through the same thing needing more information. How I handled it. It’s amazing how many women live with this everyday yet have NO information on how to get better, or manage the symptoms pending surgery.
Even with all the resources available to me, it was difficult making the right choices. I had one doctor in NY tell me that I would have to take out my ENTIRE womb, that my case was THAT bad. Smh. I was like Errrrmmm I haven’t had kids yet. I got a nonchalant “sorry” and a Kanye-shrug.
Things I endured Ehn??? SMH Thank God I found a doctor who thought that was rubbish… And he was a Nigerian… In Nigeria!!
It’s definitely something I would love to speak about, hoping that it helps someone out there. I won’t talk about anything other than MY experience. It’s been 6 months since I had the surgery. Even post-surgery is another whahala, but I’m fully healed now and it’s like I have a new lease on life!! As you can probably tell from my instagram I kept quiet about it initially as it was a very personal experience that forced me into an extremely fragile mental and emotional space. I wasn’t ready for it to be public. Now that I am healed (by God’s Grace ) I would love to share my story hoping that it would help someone. Maybe a blog, or a video… Not sure yet, but I will do it for you guys. Thanks for all the messages and questions. Keep them coming. I’ll try to answer all that I can, and know you are not alone.
For more information on Uterine Fibroids, visit WomensHealth.gov.
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