Choose your battles. That is my health tip for the month. People get surprised that I still visit doctors. They think due to many years, of my being in the natural health field and downing lots of herbs and supplements, that I should be the equivalent to the Bionic Woman by now and never need health care or advice from a doctor. Wrong, I do seek health advice. We have the best diagnostic tools and abilities in this country. I take advantage of them, but I also weigh my options.

Here is an example. I had a hysterectomy last month. Gasp from the crowd. Yes, I allowed my vulnerable body to be cut open and the offending organs to be cut out, and I am proud to say I am no longer the carrier of a stinky, dysfunctional uterus, among other things.

I used natural products successfully for years, to reverse damage from endometriosis, fibroid tumors and alleviate pain, but when the challenge rose againI decided this time I had had enough.

There was too much in my life that depended on me and when I took inventory of what I could control and what I could not, this was an area of my life I could control.

I wont say it was easy or that it wasnt emotional. It really was an emotional decision, for me. After all, it is an irreversible decision, not like changing your hair color. I remembered and took strength from how my mother handled her hysterectomy twenty- five years before. She said So what? They took out the baby factory, but left me the play pen. Too much information, Mom, but now I get it.

My uterus served me well. I have four beautiful children that would not be here, without its help, but it also caused me years of pain, discomfort and really slowed my game down, if you know what I mean.

I put this off for years and argued my case for keeping my ovaries and cervix. I lost.

I think my doctor wanted to convince me I made the right decision, when she read me the lab report after surgery. You should see this report! Everything inside you was damaged.

Well, Ive had four kids. You try keeping things nice with kids around. Then she tries to top herself by telling me even my cervix was irritated. I thought why the heck was my cervix irritated? Was the uterus getting on its nerves?

Okay, so the surgery is done. No turning back but I am NOT taking HRT. I am handling this naturally. Here is the part where you have to be really firm in your stance with the medical community, to honor your right to choose what is best for you.

Conversation with my doctor:

DR: So, I put an estrogen patch on you after surgery (even though I told her not to). Do you want me to send you home with a patch or pills?

ME: I dont want synthetic hormones. I plan to handle this naturally.

DR: Yeah, but I want you to use something for you bones. Do you want the patch or pills?

ME: I dont want synthetic hormones. I plan to handle this naturally.

DR: Yeah, alright, but I want you to use something at least for a couple of years. Okay? Do you want a patch or pills?

ME: I dont want synthetics, Ill handle this naturally.

DR: Oh, okay. Do you want me to prescribe something plant based?

ME: Yeah, go ahead.

I am still trying to find my new female balance. I use a natural progesterone cream, made from Wild Yam and supplements of Soy & Black Cohosh. I also take Calcium and other regular supplements of vitamins & minerals.

I am sure the pharmacy will get tired of holding that prescription. She did do a great job of helping me shed unwanted organs. Thank God for doctors!

Copyright 2004 Elodia Tate all rights reserved Permission to reprint granted with full article reprint, author credit and a link back to my site.

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