HOW I SURVIVED BATTLE WITH FIBROID FOR 7 YEARS AGO

TOKE MAKINWA REVEALS ORDEAL
+WHAT WOMEN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FIBROID

There has been many moments of ups and downs for popular radio personality,Toke Makinwa who has been in the news lately for sharing her survival ordeal after a successful fibroid operation she underwent recently. The controversial radio personality shared how she battled with fibroids for seven years.Anytime Toke has something personal to talk about, there is always a hint from many of her numerous post before she drops the real story and this was not exceptional as she did the same.
The television host, vlogger, and author who related her life history- her journey to ‘becoming’ in her bestseller, ‘On Becoming’ explained in a new YouTube video on how she tried to live with the non-fatal uterus growth but it became worse over time.

“I have been battling fibroid for 6 going on 7 years. I think I was diagnosed 7 years ago,” she said on ‘Toke Moments’, her YouTube vlog

“It’s been one hell of a ride. So I finally decided to do something about the situation this year because it was getting to the point where it was beginning to affect me. I was in a lot of pain. I couldn’t sit up properly. It was beginning to push against certain organs inside of me and it was just nasty and a total disaster.“Doctors would often tell you not to bother yourself about it if you are not experiencing excessive bleeding or backache or if they are not obstructing anything in there,” she said “From okay you have fibroids, to, it’s growing. From two, became four. From four, became five and then six. So I had to wear undergarments, body magic just to make sure that I don’t look bloated or don’t look pregnant because I didn’t want to have surgery,” she said.Trust me, I’ve been through church service(s), had all the communions and done all the fasting and prayer but it just didn’t get any better.
“You could literally see a size of a ball, it was just out there protruding. If you are like me and scared of going under, it can be quite a terrible experience but it was successful and I’m alive, I’m here.”Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb (uterus).
Recent studies have shown that the condition is almost three times as likely to occur in the bodies of blacks than in any other race of women in the world. The cause of fibroids isn’t well understood. Risk factors include a family history of fibroids, obesity or early onset of puberty.
“12 was the number of Fibroids I had taken out of me on the 3rd of April. Since I opened up about my surgery I have had so many people reach out to me with various questions, I have also read from so many people who have gone through the same procedure. It’s such a crazy experience, I don’t wish it on anyone. My road to recovery has been one of grace and I’m thankful for it all. God has really just done the most. Thank you all for the prayers, the lovely messages, they kept me going.
We all have bad days but it’s not a bad life, we all doubt ourselves and feel uncertain but the fact that you are still breathing, there’s a second chance being given. It’s hard because we’ve become a people who shame others for opening up and who ridicule others to hide our own insecurities but I had to share this because just because you think TM is strong and untouchable which she probably is, I let the devil in without knowing it. Once you lose the battle over your mind, once you accept the negativity and let the doubt in and begin to listen to those words, you let the devil win and he will take it all.”I know a lot of people are scared of surgery and most importantly scared of getting surgery of any kind done back home in Nigeria. I was one of them, It took me years to brave up, I managed and managed and things were not getting better, I’ll meet with my doctor, schedule an appointment and run away. Please note, not all cases of fibroids require surgery, it’s quite popular among black women and if it doesn’t bother you if it’s not obstructing anything pls don’t go the surgery route. I’m not a doctor, I only share my experience to help anyone out there dealing with it, first thing is to see your doctor, I’ve been asked questions like is it safe? It is only God that can guarantee our safety, but the good people at South Shore Women’s clinic where I got my surgery done did an excellent job.

Toke’s revelation has brought many comments on her social media page and it is one of the trending topics and issues battling women.Hence the need to sensitize women on what they need to know about fibroid.
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that grow from the muscle layers of the womb. These benign growths of smooth muscle can vary from the size of a bean to being as large as a melon.They are also known as leiomyomas and myomas.Fibroids affect around 30 percent of all women by the age of 35 years, and from 20 to 80 percent by the age of 50 years.
They usually develop between the ages of 16 to 50 years. These are the reproductive years during which estrogen levels are higher.

Fibroids are most common during the reproductive years.It is unclear exactly why they form, but they appear to develop when estrogen levels are higher.Most people experience no symptoms, but they can include lower backache, constipation, and excessive or painful uterine bleeding leading to anemia.Complications are rare, but they can be serious.Types of fibroids include Intramural which is the most common type and it is embedded in the muscular wall of the womb.There are others like Subserosal , Submucosal fibroids and Cervical fibroids:Around 1 in 3 women with fibroids will experience symptoms like heavy, painful periods, also known as menorrhagia,anemia from heavy periods,lower backache or leg pain,constipation, discomfort in the lower abdomen, especially in the case of large fibroids,frequent urination, pain during intercourse, known as dyspareunia.Other possible symptoms includes labor, pregnancy and fertility problems, repeated miscarriages, If fibroids are large, there may also be weight gain and swelling in the lower abdomen.Once a fibroid develops, it can continue to grow until menopause. As estrogen levels fall after menopause, the fibroid will usually shrink.When estrogen levels are high, especially during pregnancy, fibroids tend to swell. They are also more likely to develop when a woman is taking birth control pills that contain estrogen.Genetic factors are thought to impact the development of fibroids. Having a close relative with fibroids increases the chance of developing them. There is also evidence that red meat, alcohol, and caffeine could increase the risk of fibroids, and that an increased intake of fruit and vegetables might reduce it.Being overweight or obese increases the risk of fibroids.Childbearing lowers the risk of developing fibroids. The risk reduces each time a woman gives birth.

Treatment is only recommended for those women experiencing symptoms as a result of fibroids. If the fibroids are not affecting quality of life, treatment may not be necessary.

Fibroids can lead to heavy periods, but if these do not cause major problems, one may choose not to have treatment. During menopause, fibroids often shrink, and symptoms often become less apparent or even resolve completely.

When treatment is necessary, it can take the form of medication or surgery. The location of the fibroids, the severity of symptoms, and any future child bearing plans can all affect the decision.