My first post-surgery entry back online has to be a thank you. Yes, I had major surgery six weeks ago (the main reason for my long silence). Since I owe my improved health to a single outstanding man who himself was aided by another exceptional man, I need to thank them. And, to do this properly, I need to give you a little background.
I was scheduled to have a hysterectomy. My own trepidation at having agreed to go through with it, and the urgings of a smart friend (“second opinion?”) caused me to search the internet and find Dr. Michael Toaff. I’m not exactly sure what caused him to pop up in my Google browser list, but you can find him eventually if you search on “alternatives to hysterectomy.” On his site he has, for example, a section that offers explanations as to why a woman might need her uterus for more than just holding a baby. (He argues, for example, that if you’re at higher risk of dying at a younger than normal age from heart failure, maybe you simply need it to prevent that. And that some women have uterine contractions during orgasm, so maybe you’ll need it for that! We’re all grownups here, so I have no qualms about saying: “Hey, he’s right. We need those orgasms!” Smart man, eh?
Dr. Toaff is a decent, funny, caring, supremely intelligent man. He invented 17 years ago the adenomyomectomy, the surgery required to fix painful tumors in the uterine muscle that most MDs/GYNs solve by cutting out the uterus and throwing it away. (Dr. Toaff reserves hysterectomies for cancer cases only.) He carves out the tumors no matter how many – and in some cases they can number in the hundreds – then he reconstructs the uterus, leaving you as whole as possible. In my case, he called in Dr. M. Gaafar El-Mallah to aid him, and together, they performed my surgery *with heparin* (a blood thinner) coursing through my veins in order to prevent a recurrence of the pulmonary embolism I once suffered, while they painstakingly removed over 30 of the tormenting tumors.
Why am I writing about this here, in this blog? Well, Toaff’s Israeli, El-Mallah’s Egyptian, and I’m African American. These two men traveled the planet from their home countries, devoted their professional lives to the study and practice of improving the condition of women, and ended up in Bryn Mawr, PA where they added me to the list of women they offer a quality of life we could never have otherwise. And they act like this work is the most natural thing on earth – in fact, they’re KIND and GRACIOUS when they speak to patients.
Do you know how many times I hear from scholars and students that it’s “only natural” that people from different cultures/nations/races/sexes/whatevers have difficulty connecting? That difference is what keeps us apart? I’d much rather put my faith in the idea that men like Dr. Toaff represent the way the world really is, for they make the world a better place in more ways than can easily be counted.
Wow! Much love to you and warm wishes for a wonderful recovery. I had no idea!
Thanks, Amanda! I was pretty tight-lipped about it, except at work where I had to let them know, of course. It’s been a long recovery (I had a complication) but thank goodness I’m getting better every day. I hope you’re doing well also!
How fortunate for us that you share your experience. My husband and I met with Dr. Toaff on Thursday. I have severe adenomyosis. I’ve never had surgery before so I am nervous, especially about the recovery time and my absence from work. Do you mind sharing the details of the complication? I appreciate your kindness.
Lisa Hoffman
Hi Lisa! Thanks for your comment. I’ve had a lot of questions about my complication, so I’ll just answer it publicly here. I had a hematoma. I had a history of pulmonary embolism, and in trying to control the clotting factor, I think we went a little too far the other way and I bled a lot as a result. I doubt that most people would suffer such a thing, so what happened to me should not at all add to your worries!
Hi Vilna
Came across your link for your blog on Dr Toaff’s website/testimonials and delighted to hear that you are recovering well.
I live in Scotland and have been trawling the internet to find out a way to preserve my womb after countless doctors want to chop it out and throw it away. I have Endometriosis and Adenomyosis and all doctors are talking about hysterectomies.
Well done for listening to your instincts! My instincts are on overdrive and I was lucky enough to have recently found and researched HERS (Hysterectomy Education Resources Services) Foundation and read their book which was incredibly educational and informative. It is a shame that doctors don’t tell all women all the negative after effects BEFORE their operation. After some 20 years I now understand what happened to my own Mother.
So I am considering flying from Scotland to Philadelphia to meet with Dr Toaff and wondered what your experience was like with him (and if you dont mind me asking what your complication was?).
I am so glad your operation was a success and I wish a continued recovery to full health! By gosh we take it for granted when we have it!
Hello Wendy! I highly recommend Dr. Toaff, and of course he can tell you more, but I know he has a great deal of experience with the two conditions you mention in your comment. I’m happy to give more details about my own experience if we correspond directly. Would you email me at differenceindifference@gmail.com? I’ll answer all your more intimate questions there!