Sometimes, the third time truly is the charm, particularly when it comes to finding the right OB/GYN.
Two years ago, Yajaira Roman, 45, began feeling sharp pains in her abdomen. It would often cause her to double over in pain, alarming her 4-year-old daughter. As time went on, the pain increased and lasted longer, sometimes five hours.
“The only thing I could do was pass out and try to sleep through the pain,” the Bergen County resident describes. “I was in the fetal position because it hurt so bad.”
The first OB/GYN practice she visited performed a few tests, revealing that her uterus was enlarged due to a combination of fibroids, cysts and polyps. Scarring from IUDs further complicated her condition. However, the gynecologist said he wanted to wait a year before treating it, thinking that the growths would resolve on their own.
Dissatisfied with that plan, Yajaira sought a second opinion at an all-female practice. An ultrasound performed 90 days later showed that Yajaira’s uterus had gotten even larger. A dilation and curettage (D&C) was performed to biopsy tissue from her uterus, and no cancer cells were found. Still, the pain persisted. The doctor told Yajaira that she had two options: get a hysterectomy or take hormones to shrink the fibroids. Yajaira opted for surgery, but the physician partners couldn’t agree on a plan of care.
“One wanted me to take medication, the other said I could have surgery,” she says. “I didn’t want to add anything to my body that I didn’t need. I don’t want more children, so I went for a third opinion, and that’s when I found Holy Name.”
Yajaira saw OB/GYN Shonda Corbett, MD, who thoroughly reviewed her medical records and test results, performed an exam and spoke with Yajaira about her symptoms. Agreeing that Yajaira was a good candidate for surgery, she referred her to Eric Liberman, DO, director of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery at Holy Name.
“Dr. Liberman was very understanding and patient,” Yajaira says. “He supported my choice to have a hysterectomy and explained a third option – uterine fibroid embolization – that no one else had mentioned. I felt like I was finally at the right place.”
After two weeks of careful consideration, Yajaira decided to have a robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy– a minimally invasive surgery to remove the uterus. This method typically results in less bleeding, quicker healing, less pain and smaller scars compared to traditional open surgery. She kept her ovaries, so she will not need hormone medication.
“From the surgical staff to the nurses and nursing students to the recovery team and food service staff, everyone at Holy Name was exceptional,” Yajaira says. “Everyone was attentive, kind and helpful during my stay.”
Now, Yajaira is enjoying life without pain. She’s back to dancing at concerts, exploring wineries and cheering on her favorite sports teams.
“People say I’m a different person because I’m smiling again,” she says. “After two years of pain, tests and no answers, Holy Name was a godsend.”
