Working as a nurse on the PACU floor of the Avera Surgery Center, Dani Koedam is used to helping patients get ready for surgery; as well as helping them handle their new normal post procedure. Even with all that added context, going into her own surgery was a jarring experience.
“It's so different being on the other side!” explained Koedam.
Dani has suffered with uterine fibroids for several years. The large growths caused constant pressure and pain, especially during her monthly cycle. She used medications to help decrease the pain and also to help slow the bleeding, but no pill helped shrink the fibroids pressing on her uterus and surrounding organs. In order for Dani to find relief from that fibroid, she had a myomectomy to remove the fibroid from her uterus. A procedure that preserves a patient’s fertility, but because it involves cutting into the uterus, any future pregnancy requires a C-section.
That first experience going under the knife, provided relief for a while, but it didn’t last as new fibroids began growing. Given her history with Dani, Molly Uhing, MD, FACOG, knew another operation to attack the fibroids was necessary. Only this time, there was a new tool in her arsenal.
“So when I was able to have this new procedure, I actually, she was one of the first people I thought of.” Said Dr. Uhing.
It's called Acessa and it’s a Laparoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation, a minimally invasive option for treatment of uterine fibroids. A laparoscopic ultrasound guidance system as well as a radiofrequency needle are inserted into the abdomen to deliver heated energy to the fibroid. This procedure allows doctors to have the best views and detection of fibroids by bringing ultrasound directly to the uterus and address the problem quickly and effectively.
“You can use the energy from the radio frequency to heat up the fibroid. It essentially breaks down all the little proteins that make the fibroid a fibroid. So it kind of shrivels and shrinks it up,” said Uhing.
Dr. Uhing says after an ablation from the radiofrequency, the consistency of the fibroid goes from a leathery hardness of a baseball, to the squishy-pliable feeling of a marshmallow. Unlike previous treatments, the process is also proving to be a stop-gap solution so the fibroid does not come back in the same spot again, which is the first of many benefits for patients.
“The reason I'm loving this is because it allows women to still have fertility in the future and they're not subject to a C-section, which is amazing. Typically we've never had anything to offer those women before,” said Uhing.
Another added benefit is the uterus is not being removed, so the physical restrictions afterwards are reduced to a few days of gentle post-operative-type recovery. Avoiding hysterectomy is also key to maintaining health and wholeness from what would otherwise be a very disruptive operation.
As for Dani, she’s living her best life and living it without constant pain and pressure. Fibroids aren’t an easy topic to discuss amongst friends and family, but they are a serious disruptor that no one should suffer with in silence.
“I hope that when you notice something wrong with your body that you're having abnormal pain or pain that's more than usual or abnormal bleeding or something that you just don't think is right that you should get into your OB doctor, your GYN doctor and get some stuff figured out because there could be something wrong. I put mine off for a little while and I wish I wouldn't have because it's helped me so much,” said Koedam.
“That's probably one of the best parts about my job is like the long-standing relationships with people. But also like when you have said, when you've already tried all the things for people and you get something new and it works, it's so rewarding. It was such a big win for her and for me - and I think for Avera in general, that we're offering it now,” said Dr. Uhing.
Dr. Uhing says every patient’s case is different, but having more options allows doctors to find the best course of treatment and use them in conjunction with one another to provide patients the most favorable outcomes.
