USA Fibroid Centers’ Ambassador Coach Ella Destiny, a fibroid survivor and advocate, appeared with Holly Morris on FOX 5 Washington during Fibroid Awareness Month. Coach Ella’s mission is to raise awareness about fibroids and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.
Coach Ella was diagnosed with fibroids in her late teens. She experienced severe symptoms, including heavy menstrual bleeding, anemia, and pelvic pain. “My cycles were probably 20 to 30 days, or longer. I didn’t know that wasn’t normal.”
Her symptoms continued to progress. At the age of 24, she underwent a hysterectomy. The surgical complications nearly took her life. “I ended up spending a week on life support. I’ve had 11 abdominal surgeries. I have no feeling in my stomach, and I have a scar from hip to hip as if they cut me in half,” Destiny said.
Destiny is now sharing her story to help other women with fibroids.
“Okay, so fibroids are non-benign tumors, non-cancerous tumors that sit on the uterus,” Coach Ella said.| They sit in different parts of the uterus and vary in size. It could be the size of a lemon or a watermelon. It could be the size of a small seed. It just all depends on where they sit and your body.”
The certified life coach now advocates for uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), a non-surgical treatment option for fibroids with a much lower risk of complications than surgery.
Destiny’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for fibroids. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of fibroids, contact one of our fibroid specialists. Early intervention can help to prevent serious complications.
For more information about fibroids and UFE, please visit the USA Fibroid Centers website or schedule a consultation with one of our specialists today.
Watch the News broadcast here
Read the transcript:
Holly Morris
In this morning’s Health Watch, Steve, July marks Fibroid Awareness Month, calling attention to this issue that impacts up to 80 percent of women. I’m joined by coach Ella Destiny today to teach us how to be our own best health advocates and to just learn how to have the conversation.
Ella Destiny
Absolutely. So glad to be here.
Morris
So glad you came in, thank you.
Coach Ella
Thank you so much for having me.
Morris
You know, for people that aren’t familiar, let’s talk a little bit about what fibroids are.
Coach Ella
Okay, so fibroids are non-benign tumors, non-cancerous tumors that sit on the uterus. They sit in different parts of the uterus, and they vary in size. It could be the size of a lemon or a watermelon. It could be the size of a small seed. It just all depends on where they sit and your body.
Morris
What would be some of the symptoms someone might have?
Coach Ella
You might have lower back pain, fatigue, anemia, painful sex, and longer than normal menstrual cycles. All those things are signs and symptoms of fibroids.
Morris
If you’re experiencing that, you need to go to your OBGYN or at least a doctor and bring it up.
Coach Ella
Absolutely. Ask questions and have conversations. A lot of times we don’t know. They tell us, oh, that’s normal. It’ll go away and that’s not the case. My cycles were like probably 20 days, 30 days, or longer. I didn’t know that wasn’t normal, so I just went with it.
I started getting sick. I started getting tired all the time. They put me on iron pills. It was just, oh you know, it’ll go away. Make sure you’re asking questions.
Morris
It’s interesting. When a woman starts menstruating or a young girl starts menstruating unless you talk about it with your mom or your grandma or even your doctor or whatever, it’s what you said. You just think this is how it is. This must be normal. Because you have no frame of reference. What happened then for you?
Coach Ella
So, for me when I had my fibroids, they started getting worse.
When I had my oldest son, they told me, you have to have a blood transfusion or you’re not going to make it through this delivery. After that, the fibroids got worse.
I had a partial hysterectomy and when they did my hysterectomy, they severed my intestines. I ended up spending a week on life support. I’ve had 11 abdominal surgeries. I don’t have a navel anymore. I have no feeling in my stomach, and I have a scar from hip to hip as if they cut me in half.
Morris
When did all this happen to you?
Coach Ella
My fibroid issue started when I was in my late teens/early 20s.
Morris
Then you ended up having the partial at what age?
Coach Ella
I was 24.
Morris
24? So obviously this is more than just a physical ailment. There has to be a mental health connection here.
Coach Ella
Absolutely. When I had my hysterectomy, I was married. I couldn’t have any more children. I’m being completely transparent. My then-husband had a kid with someone else. If that was the reason or not, I don’t know. Mentally, I just felt like I wasn’t a woman anymore. I felt like I wasn’t whole.
When I started dating again, it was like, “Are you going to cheat on me?” Are you going to have kids? I can’t have any. What are we going to do? Mentally, it took a toll on me. Also having all the surgeries. You can’t walk. You can’t take care of yourself. People have to feed you. They have to do all of these things. It was really tough.
Morris
You know, it’s interesting. I was talking with her ahead of time. My mom had fibroids and had to have a hysterectomy at a young age. I was in college. I came home to help take care of her. Obviously, she’d had her kids. But she had those same feelings of “I don’t feel like a woman anymore.” What’s your goal here and what are you doing to raise awareness?
Coach Ella
My goal is to make sure that women know that there are options out there. You don’t have to have a hysterectomy and ask questions.
My dad always said the dumbest question is the question not asked. So, ask questions, ask a million questions. If it’s something that you’re not sure of, ask someone else. Have the conversations.
A lot of times we talk about hair. We talk about relationships. We talk about clothing. We don’t talk about our cycles enough. We don’t talk about; I’ve been bleeding for 30 days. Is that normal?What are your cycles like? What are you going through?
Morris
You have an event coming up.
Coach Ella
I am a part of USA Fibroid Centers, and we are having an event in New York. It’s called Fifty Shades of Purple. Fibroid Fighters Foundation is having the event and USA Fibroid Centers is hosting it.
Myself, Cynthia Bailey, Shay Johnson, Kim Lee King, Eugene Buie, a lot of us. We travel the world bringing awareness. So that ladies know they have options. USA Fibroid Centers specializes in a procedure called UFE or uterine fibroid immunization. You don’t have to have a hysterectomy. It’s minimally invasive. The recovery time is way less and, you know, you get back to life.
Morris
Well, you know what? You’re doing good work. A lot of those names you mentioned are good friends to our show. Thank you, Ella, for coming in and for sharing your story.
Coach Ella
Thank you so much for having me.
Morris
Keep on keeping on.
Coach Ella
Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
Morris
You’re helping a lot of women.
Coach Ella
Thank you.
Morris
If you want more information, please check out Ella’s social sites. She can help get you the help that you might need. You might not even know you need it.