Customer Reviews

The Other Choice: A Comprehensive Guide for Women with Uterine Fibroids

5 star:		(2)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"The Other Choice" does contain some very useful information, and I am entirely in agreement with its sentiments about unnecessary hysterectomy and doctors who fail to inform patients about alternatives to hysterectomy. However, it is heavily skewed, in my opinion,in favor of surgery other than hysterectomy - primarily myomectomy - and against other treatment alternatives. The valuable information in this book is readily available, without the prejudices, in at least a dozen other publications. Another reviewer here has mentioned several of those volumes.

All things considered, I really don't like "The Other Choice" much. In fact I find it arrogant in places. Examples of the types of things that led to my feelings follow:
(1) This book criticizes doctors who recommend hysterectomy due to the fact they don't do myomectomies themselves; then it goes on to praise myomectomy (a procedure performed by one of the authors - a gynecologist), and to criticize another procedure, Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE), largely on the ground that it's performed by radiologists and not by gynecologists (in other words NOT performed by the author). To me this is a real double-standard. It's like saying, it's bad for other doctors to say stupid things about procedures they don't offer; but it's fine for me to say stupid things about procedures I don't offer!
(2) It lists "dangerous" side-effects for UAE without mentioning that most of the same side effects apply to myomectomy - side effects of UAE seem emphasized to the hilt, while side-effects of myomectomy appear to be down-played or glossed over. In other words, it is not even handed.
(3) It repeatedly reinforces the misconception that fibroids can "grow back" - when in fact the old ones don't grow back - though you could get NEW fibroids.
(4) The last 45 - 50, of it's approximately 110 pages consist entirely of what I consider to be advertising for Dr. Bartsich and a few other docs, sort of a big infomercial which you have paid to be subjected to.

Additionally, I find this book to be poorly referenced. While there's a little bibliography at the end, I can't tell what sources (if any) the authors are depending on for which information. Even when possibly based on scientific evidence, "The Other Choice" does not seem to me to be at all even handed about weighing that evidence. I like solid evidence to support my medical facts not emotion or theory or hearsay or wishful thinking - or the popular "professional" opinion/argument of the moment (which may or may not be supported by actual scientific evidence). I expect to hear from professional authors what the basis is for their statements. I think that would be the "professional" way to do it. I do not feel that was done here.

This is a tiny book which skims over things in my view - and which I feel is not worth paying for. I think you can get a lot more and better information for a lot less money. Much of "The Other Choice" seems to me more like propaganda than anything.

I've read nearly a dozen books about fibroids over the past two months, and this book has been the least helpful. It's not worthless because it does encourage women to get a second (or third or fourth) opinion about treatment for fibroids. However, "The Other Choice" is not terribly well-written, not altogether factual, and at times is rather sensationalistic.

In my opinion, there are quite a few other books about fibroids and treatment options that are much better than this one. I encourage women seeking information to read "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Fibroids" by Goodwin & Broder, "The First Year--Fibroids: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed" by Johanna Skilling, "Uterine Fibroids: What Every Woman Needs to Know" by Nelson Stringer, and "Sex, Lies, and the Truth About Uterine Fibroids: A Journey from Diagnosis to Treatment to Renewed Good Health" by Carla Dionne, as well as a more general book about women's health, "A Gynecologist's Second Opinion" by William Parker.

Don't forget that knowledge is power!

"The Other Choice" is a well written, intelligent, and straight to the point book that tells you all you need to know about uterine fibroids not only on a surgical and medical level (not excluding the financial level either!) but also by giving women an emotional and psychological perspective to what it really means to have and to have to deal with these fibroids. Ms. Bartsich's exquisite style of writing is refreshing for those who are tired of trying to make sense of all the jargon found in most medical books. Before she even begins to go into any medical explanations and/or facts, Ms. Bartsich thoughtfully prepared an index for all important and relevant terminologies used in the medical field in regards to fibroids by including a comprehensive definition for each term. I highly recommend this book for all women to read and to discuss with other women who might have had this problem or are currently going through the dilemmas of trying to make a choice in regards to what would be best for them! not their doctor.

All I will say is this...I have struggled with fibroids for years and Dr Bartsich is a gift...he is the best doctor/surgeon you can ever ask for. If you struggle with fibroids he is the doctor you want.