103. San Lucas: Fibroids

Fibroids, or leiomyomas, a common subject here.  Benign muscular tumors of the uterus. Ana, 36, Aura, 47, and Irma, 43, all have symptomatic fibroids.  Symptomatic means pain or abnormal bleeding.  No medical treatment for fibroids, just surgery, usually hysterectomy, which is usually not difficult but does have increased risk of bleeding (see previous post).  Ana and Aura have low blood count, so probably would do best taking iron supplements for a few months before any surgery.  But that leaves Irma (whose fibroid seems to be a pain issue), and Leticia, who has abnormal bleeding and an enlarged though non-fibroid uterus, as surgical candidates.  Two out of five, not bad, all things considered.

Enter anesthesia.