Hysterectomy Hysteria

At the tender age of 17 I visited a highly respected gynecologist who matter-of-factly recommended a hysterectomy to ease my excruciating uterine cramping. After hormone therapy, pain killers and then double strength painkillers, he had simply run out of suggestions. There was no serious diagnosis: only suspected endometriosis and definitive dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation).

I was devastated. At that moment, sitting across his enormous wooden desk I thought to myself this is not happening to ME! His words swam in and out of my consciousness like daggers, and most piercing was the doom of his suggestion: “Of course a hysterectomy is always an option”. An option? How could he be so calm and casual about my precious life giving uterus? How could he talk so casually about ending my dream of motherhood? I couldn’t help but notice numerous beautiful photographs of his three blond daughters decorating his walls. How dare he?

My entire life I had dreamt of being a Mother to many children even though I was practically a child myself at the time. I did not know where my life path would carry me. I didn’t know if I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher or a child psychologist but I had always known I wanted to work with children and have some of my own.

An image that has always remained with me was a picture I drew with crayons in first grade. Playing house was my favorite pastime, and I remember clearly drawing me as a Mommy with my twelve children. Yes, twelve! I had two set of triplet babies and twin toddlers and an older son and daughter. The triplets were always wrapped tightly in their baby blankets. This was the image I portrayed of myself at age 6. I was a Mommy and a very fertile one at that. The image I portrayed of myself at 17 was a little more realistic, but not far off.

I knew the doctor was wrong. A hysterectomy was NOT an option for me. After the appointment, I cried, of course and then I left.

So, I suffered. I cramped three weeks out of four only to find my self writhing on the bathroom floor from nausea and pain searing through my ovaries and uterus and thighs like a blade just prior to menstruation. The pain took my breath away. I felt crazy. It was as though I had a small terror accelerating through my vulnerable body destroying my thoughts and my dignity. I dry-heaved, I moaned, I wept, I ached, I slept, I bloated (2 sizes up), and I sweated profusely through the pain for two days rocking back and forth, pounding my lower abdomen until finally I bled. This cycle continued every 28 days for 7 years. Miraculously I forgot most of the suffering once it passed. Small bits would linger, dangling in the foreground of my memory. Each time my cycle approached, I thought, maybe it will just get better. Everyone said it would AFTER I had a baby. But at 17, a virgin and unmarried that prospect was years away.

I changed physicians ten times, all responding identically. “Let’s try some hormones. Okay, now here are some pain killers.” Double strength was a joke- it did nothing for me but give me a penetrating stomach ache burrowing into my upper abdomen. Most shrugged their shoulders and said “that is all I can suggest for you. I don’t know what else to do.” None of them recommended the endometriosis association or Resolve or a therapist or an acupuncturist or a nutritionist. None. One doctor did recommend 400i.u. of vitamin E for breast tenderness. Seven out of my ten reputable OBGYN physicians suggested I cut my uterus out. Get rid of it all together. Forget it ever existed. Relinquish my dream of being a mom. No way.

Interestingly enough, people kept suggesting acupuncture. I thought they were just as insane as my physicians. I was afraid it would hurt and I distinctly remember thinking “Yea, right, little tiny needles are going to help my complex medical problems? I don’t think so.” So, I continued to suffer until one particular visit with my aunt and uncle at their mountain cabin. We hiked, biked, skied and always laughed. Yet, somehow for several months in a row this mini-vacation were perfectly timed with the on-set of my period. After watching me suffer time and time again and they flat out said, “Kristen, you cannot live like this anymore- you must go see our acupuncturist.” So, reluctantly after seven years of suffering, I went.

The experience was a turning point. When I returned home from the mountains, I sought out their acupuncturist who was also a Traditional Chinese Herbalist. I changed my dietary habits by eliminating coffee to reduce my bloating and pain. All unhealthy fats were avoided and that included my addiction of french fries. Instead I drank green tea and took a potent pre-natal multi-vitamin and evening primrose oil. I ate eggplant the week before my period to remove blood clots from my uterus and again help alleviate the excruciating pain. Surprisingly, she suggested eating less salads and more steamed vegetables to improve my digestion, reduce bloating and increase warmth throughout my body. I obliged. Daily I lowered my stress levels by practicing deep abdominal Qi Gong breathing. I added ginger to my water and omitted ice to reduce my unbearable feeling of cold and cramping in my low abdomen. Every instruction and recommendation was followed precisely. In three months, my entire health changed and it didn’t hurt a bit. I was cured. No more severe pain, no more emotional terror, no more hopelessness. This medicine was a lot more than just little needles. It was powerful.

In addition to the bi- weekly acupuncture treatments my practitioner added specific herbal remedies for my individual diagnosis and constitution. These herbs carried with them thousands of years of wisdom and healing. They smelled intense and earthy. After the first several weeks of treatment I started to feel as though I couldn’t live without acupuncture. The therapeutic warmth from the lamp over my abdomen penetrated a deep sense of healing within my body. Tears ran down my cheeks as portions of hidden stories in my past left my mind and body. I always felt less burdened when I left my acupuncture sessions. My acupuncturist’s gentle needle technique and the inherent power of the medicine often lead to an incredibly restful sleep while on the table. It was a depth I had never experienced before. Layers of stress and memories unfolded naturally allowing my sense of self to breathe again. I did not understand the medicine but I intuitively knew it was right.

After only 12 weeks I became a new woman. I was no longer suffering. I had to pause and remember how terrible I used to feel- it quickly dissipated into the distant past. The healing that took place significantly increased in my potential to conceive! Becoming a mother was possible. My ultimate dream was finally within reach. For the first time in seven years I felt whole. I had a sense of balance and calm. My life was more even and controlled. I felt empowered. My acupuncturist gave me tools to enhance my health and prevent future imbalances. She actively participated in my whole health addressing all physical and emotional symptoms associated with my excruciating menstrual cycles.

Endometriosis is treatable with Traditional Chinese Medicine. Dysmenorrhea is treatable with Traditional Chinese Medicine. Most gynecological problems are treatable with acupuncture and properly prescribed Chinese Herbs. Why did it take me seven years, ten doctors, and persistent persuasion from a close relative for me to find this successful medical treatment? Why would doctors recommend a surgery that would forever alter my life, prevent me from having children, and dramatically affect my overall health without first exhausting all other options? These questions facilitated a new found passion in my life. How can I help others find this medicine? I contemplated becoming a lobbyist on Capital Hill to promote acupuncture and then I had an epiphany.

During my next OBGYN appointment my diagnosis was this: absolute health. I was so moved by this seeming medical miracle that I applied to Traditional Oriental Medical School, and after four grueling years of graduate work and passing the notoriously difficult California state board examination, I became an acupuncturist and herbalist. My passion throughout my training was always women’s health. I was eager to help other women, like me, to reduce their suffering. I wanted other women to know they have options that can address serious medical conditions. This complete system of medicine is not just about reducing stress it is about healing the patient, completely.

I founded an integrative health center along with my husband where we treat women and men holistically. We treat women with endometriosis, high FSH levels, dysmenorrhea, ammenorrhea (no menstrual cycle), Poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), hypo-thyroidism, endocrine disorders, imbalanced hormones, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts and the frustrating diagnosis of unexplained infertility. We treat profuse bleeding, irregular menstrual cycles, PMS, depression, anxiety, high stress levels, and early onset of menopause. For men we significantly change the quality of their sperm by improving morphology, motility and overall sperm counts. We bring balance and babies to those who feel healthy and are considered “normal” from a western medical perspective yet, they were unable to get pregnant through conventional medicine. We can see into the body and understand it’s disharmony in a way that is foreign to other systems of medicine. We treat the hopeless, the desperate, and the doomed often times with the end result of a baby even when they were told they never could.

Although my experience left a lot to be desired regarding Western Medicine I always remain respectful. Western medicine has a lot of powerful tools and many physicians are phenomenal healers. I recognized early on in my training the power of combining the best of both worlds. Now we are a part of integrative medicine receiving referrals from the top fertility specialists, internists, OBGYN’s, psychologists, and general practitioners that acknowledge the strength of Chinese Medicine and have witnessed success after success with our treatments. We treat patients at the most prestigious fertility centers in San Diego, California while they are undergoing In-vitro fertilization (IVF). In some cases our involvement increases their chances of a successful pregnancy by fifty percent!

It is imperative that we educate the women in our lives that they do not need to suffer unnecessarily. We must teach the men in this world that they have options too. You have the power to heal. Never give up on yourself. Never give up on the ones you love. Never give up on your dreams even if “experts” along the way say they are impossible.

As for my babies, the picture I drew has come true. I do have babies*, dozens of them. This year alone we have helped create numerous babies for the ever evolving family of fertility patients. My husband and I, thanks to acupuncture and Chinese Herbs, are grateful for the option of being parents ourselves and that is enough for now.   

*Since writing this story we have two beautiful baby boys conceived naturally and easily with Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine.


A True Story written by Kristen Burris, L.Ac., M.S. founder of American Acupuncture Center, Inc. in Eagle, Idaho www.americanacu.com (208) 938-1277