“You start to live your life around your symptoms,” said Adrienne. “Three other doctors told me to just accept them. I knew that the quality of my life had changed for the worst, based on my lifestyle and the things I wanted to do. Even laying on my stomach was uncomfortable. I am a fitness trainer. I used to teach dance and it turned into fitness, and then later, heavy duty strength training. My trainers are all professional boxers. I’m also a nutritionist. It goes hand in hand, healthy inside and out.”
Adrienne is an extremely active woman who is up early every day to work with her clients starting at 5 or 5:30 AM, and her last client may be 8:00 PM. She also teaches her children in homeschool. Her active lifestyle was compromised by fibroids and a hernia.
“For about 10 years, I had the same OBGYN. I had a C-section for my son, and right about when he was 2, I started complaining about some things. She told me that this happens as you get older. I told her year after year, I was having pain and pressure. I looked like I swallowed a basketball. ‘Welcome to 40!’ is not an answer. I went home and cried and told my husband that I wasn’t getting any help. It had been going on four years. I had ultrasounds, but I don’t know what they were doing with the results. I had a group of doctors who never looked deeper. They just went off the other doctors’ notes. They were treating me for acid reflux and GERD. I knew that wasn’t what was wrong, so I never took the medication. Not once during those 4 years, did anyone say anything about a hernia or fibroids.”
“I had written a letter. I knew that the doctors weren’t giving me the care I needed. At that point, we were getting new insurance. All of a sudden I got a call saying that they looked at the sonogram, and that I needed a hysterectomy. I was scheduled to have a full hysterectomy in December before the insurance changed. That was the only option they gave me, and it was going to be another c-section procedure.
“I canceled that procedure. I found a new doctor and she was awesome, and went through the sonogram line-by-line with me, and told me things my other OB/GYN never told me in the 10 years I was with him. She also said I should have a hysterectomy, but she was only able to do it one way. She did recommended uterine artery embolization with another doctor, but I looked into it and it wasn’t something I felt comfortable with. I scheduled the hysterectomy. Right as I was about to have surgery, I had a back injury and had to cancel it. At this point, I’m actually grateful for my back injury. I feel like it saved me.”
Selecting the right treatment for fibroids can be overwhelming. Many women in their 20s and 30s who want to maintain fertility are often told that hysterectomy is their only option. It is often the case that the limitation is with the surgeon performing the procedure.
“One night I was up late, and was searching and found The Center for Innovative GYN Care. I was so happy, and teared up. This was a miracle. This was everything I had been looking for. I read about their philosophy, the procedures, and the patient stories.”
Adrienne booked a consultation right away.
“I had a consultation with Dr. Natalya Danilyants, MD and was ready to have the surgery that day. Everyone was so helpful and courteous. They explained everything. Dr. Danilyants gave me three options, and I felt so confident in her. She knows her stuff. She listened, and spent time with me, and was so patient. I wasn’t nervous, even with the risks of a myomectomy. Three other doctors told me that a myomectomy was not possible, and refused to perform the surgery.”
The LAAM minimally invasive fibroid removal technique developed by the minimally invasive GYN surgeons at The Center for Innovative GYN Care uses 2 small incisions, one 5 MM incision at the belly button, and another 1.5 inch incision at the bikini line. Using advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques, LAAM allows the surgeons to thoroughly remove all fibroids, no matter the size, location or number, and the uterus is repaired by hand. LAAM is an important development, as it allows the surgeons to feel all of the fibroids. This cannot be accomplished by a robot or with standard laparoscopy. CIGC patients return to themselves in about 2 weeks.
“I have other organs that I’ve had removed that altered my hormones. I’m anti surgery, but this was something so different. I read everything, and understood. I recovered in less than a week. The gas that is used to inflate the abdomen was the worst part, so the first day was hard, but after that, things moved pretty quickly. I’ve had other surgery before and the recovery was terrible. This was night and day! the incisions were so perfect. All of the symptoms after the surgery just vanished. My stomach is deflated, and Dr. Danilyants fixed my hernia. I’ve already sent some women to CIGC, because they are the only surgeons I trust.”
“The back injury was actually a saving grace. I am so grateful that I was up doing my research. I’m so glad I found Dr. Danilyants. I just can’t express my gratitude enough.”
“I beginning some new fitness challenges, a 30-day focus. I’m focused on your insides. Eating right and exercising. I’m about a month out now, and I’m doing beautifully. I’m able to train my clients, I haven’t pushed the limit on my core, but that will come in time.”
The CIGC state-of-the-art specialists are available at three locations in the DC metro area. Virginia patients can visit the Reston, VA location, and Saturday appointments are available. Maryland offices are located in Rockville, MD and Annapolis, MD.
CIGC is dedicated to providing information and materials for women to help navigate the complicated healthcare system. The CIGC founders, minimally invasive GYN surgical specialists Dr. Paul MacKoul, MD and Dr. Natalya Danilyants, MD, developed their advanced GYN surgical techniques using only two small incisions with patients’ well-being in mind.
Their personalized approach to care helps patients understand their condition and the recommended treatment so that they can have confidence from the very start. Our surgeons have performed over 20,000 GYN procedures and are constantly finding better ways to improve outcomes for patients.
Book a consultation today with Paul MacKoul MD or Natalya Danilyants MD.
Dr. Paul MacKoul Reviews: Vitals | RateMDs | Google | Wellness | UCompare
Dr. Natalya Danilyants Reviews: Vitals | RateMDs | Google | Wellness | UCompare
Schedule a consultation to learn more about how we can treat your condition today.
