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THE H WORD
THE H WORD discusses the common reasons hysterectomy is recommended, the diagnostic studies that should be performed to obtain a diagnosis, alternatives in treatment, and strategies to help women cope with the lifelong aftereffects of removal of the uterus and ovaries. It revolutionizes our understanding of female anatomy and the important lifelong functions of the female organs, while revealing a solution to the complex problem of hysterectomy performed without the information that is necessary for informed consent. The HERS Foundation¹s 51-city, 51-week Protest & Play tour provides the backdrop for THE H WORD, which takes an unflinching look at the environment of hysterectomy in America. THE H WORD empowers women with information that gynecology doesn¹t want you to know about 100 years of hysterectomy in America, as experienced by women in every state of the country. Give this book to a gynecologist.
448 pages, 6x9 soft cover
First published April 2, 2009
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17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 4, 2009
Health Care Fraud Endangers Women
Unnecessary hysterectomy costs the U. S. medical system $17 billion per year. That’s Billion, with a B. This does not even begin to tally up the costs of caring for women damaged by hysterectomy, oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) and related procedures. These findings are explained in The H Word, by Nora W. Coffey and Rick Schweikert. Coffey is the founder of the HERS Foundation, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Schweikert, a playwright, wrote and directed un becoming, a play depicting a the needless hysterectomy of a woman.
Hysterectomy and oophorectomy are offered as the only option to women with problems from heavy bleeding from fibroids to uterine cancer. Frequently, these operations occur without the woman’s consent, when she is under the knife for exploratory surgery. In 98% of these cases, the pathology comes back normal, meaning that the woman’s reproductive, sexual, and endocrine organs were removed for no reason. The toll in the Delaware Valley is the same as if the Wachovia Center was filled twice a year, every year, with women who were then surgically wounded!
Anna (not her real name) met the un becoming protest tour in Denver, Colorado. Her experience is more the norm than the exception: “The first of Anna’s three suicide attempts came in the first year after her hysterectomy, but she said that was due to depression related to her complicated childhood. After the surgery she was diagnosed with manic-depression, had back surgery, and began sleeping in a separate bedroom from her husband.” If 49 out of every 50 hysterectomies could be avoided at a savings of $17 billion, and the operation leaves women with permanent postural, neural, psychological, and sexual changes, why does the medical establishment still promote it? Coffey and Schweikert take on the AMA, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, hospitals, medical schools, and even Congress. The H Word is a must for any intact or hysterectomized woman of any age. It is also a major contribution to the national health care debate.
The H Word is available at
www.thehword.org
www.hersfoundation.org
HERS Foundation
422 Bryn Mawr Avenue
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Phone: ( 610 ) 667-7757
April 7, 2021
Every woman and man + teenagers should read this book. It doesn't just affect women. The sad part is that many ladies are in denial about the long term side effects. The two doctors I had (Dr. R. Estape and Dr. Eric Schroder from South Miami Baptist hospital in Miami, FL) both lied to me. They actually said there were no side effects to this surgery.
I was in shock reading this book. It's well written for the lay person but scientifically valid. Nora has all the reference material you need. Show your doctor his own "science".
My personal story is - I have been the "alternative" ever since that dermatologist gave me antibiotics for three years. This is long before anyone spoke about candida much. I became vegetarian and I eat very healthy. And yet, the alternative community has let me down. We have not discussed this surgery at all. The only topic is menopause not hysterectomy. The real truth about it. Why not? Our "system" of medicine has been around for thousands of years and it is valid - though not as profitable as a drug company. Ask your doc what the ingredients for his drug are. You'd be surprised how many plants are concentrated into them.
There are other websites run by the OBGYN people. You have to be very careful these days and ask "who's paying for this website".
Anyway, back to Nora's HERs Foundation website. She is honest. Always ask yourself about any professional - are they honest. Do not ask if you can "trust" them.
Back to my story in Miami, FL. I was verbally berated by the doctors at South Miami Baptist. They refused my medical records and a second opinion. Be a smart client and review the public records about any facility. These days I google the name plus lawsuit.
I deeply regret that I have to give up my privacy to write this review but I'm not going to be shamed nor silenced anymore. Women need their organs their whole life. I have more to say soon. In the meantime, ask your doctor in writing before any surgery or medication for all of the side effects and the ingredients of any drug you take. It's just being smart. There is nothing wrong with questioning your doctor. If she/he can't handle answering questions - run. If they are worth their salt, they should know their stuff and be happy to answer any and all questions. If they don't know it, they should say "I can look that up right now". I have only come across one doc who has ever said that.
Be well, stay healthy, and remember that if you think education is expensive - try ignorance.
I was in shock reading this book. It's well written for the lay person but scientifically valid. Nora has all the reference material you need. Show your doctor his own "science".
My personal story is - I have been the "alternative" ever since that dermatologist gave me antibiotics for three years. This is long before anyone spoke about candida much. I became vegetarian and I eat very healthy. And yet, the alternative community has let me down. We have not discussed this surgery at all. The only topic is menopause not hysterectomy. The real truth about it. Why not? Our "system" of medicine has been around for thousands of years and it is valid - though not as profitable as a drug company. Ask your doc what the ingredients for his drug are. You'd be surprised how many plants are concentrated into them.
There are other websites run by the OBGYN people. You have to be very careful these days and ask "who's paying for this website".
Anyway, back to Nora's HERs Foundation website. She is honest. Always ask yourself about any professional - are they honest. Do not ask if you can "trust" them.
Back to my story in Miami, FL. I was verbally berated by the doctors at South Miami Baptist. They refused my medical records and a second opinion. Be a smart client and review the public records about any facility. These days I google the name plus lawsuit.
I deeply regret that I have to give up my privacy to write this review but I'm not going to be shamed nor silenced anymore. Women need their organs their whole life. I have more to say soon. In the meantime, ask your doctor in writing before any surgery or medication for all of the side effects and the ingredients of any drug you take. It's just being smart. There is nothing wrong with questioning your doctor. If she/he can't handle answering questions - run. If they are worth their salt, they should know their stuff and be happy to answer any and all questions. If they don't know it, they should say "I can look that up right now". I have only come across one doc who has ever said that.
Be well, stay healthy, and remember that if you think education is expensive - try ignorance.
December 13, 2022
Every woman must read this book. It isn't easy to read. I have to admit as much as I do not care for the medical profession (my personal experience) this was worse than expected. I am also dismayed at the women who still insist that a hysterectomy is great. My experience was similar to most women in this book. I was lied to and bullied and NOT in my right frame of mind. I only got this book after the fact and everything she lists as an adverse effect is absolutely true!!!!!
I hope that as women we stop calling ourselves cursed or derogate comments about our natural physical processes. I do have empathy for those with serious issues but there are many alternatives to hysterectomy. Honestly, there is NO going back. I have to buy supplements forever due to this surgery just to work and feel almost normal.
Please take this book seriously.
I hope that as women we stop calling ourselves cursed or derogate comments about our natural physical processes. I do have empathy for those with serious issues but there are many alternatives to hysterectomy. Honestly, there is NO going back. I have to buy supplements forever due to this surgery just to work and feel almost normal.
Please take this book seriously.
April 10, 2009
I have read several other books about hysterectomy, but none of them covers as much ground as THE H WORD.
It's really two books in one. The backdrop of THE H WORD is the HERS Foundation's nationwide campaign to educate the public in 51 cities, in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, in 51 weeks. This odyssey, then, is the memoir-style backdrop for the book, with alternating chapters from the two authors--the legendary Nora W. Coffey (president and founder of the HERS Foundation) and playwright/political activist Rick Schweikert.
Each person Nora and Rick come in contact with throughout the country provides a vehicle for talking about every aspect you can think of, relating to hysterectomy. This more clinical side of the book discusses fibroids, PMS, PCOS, endometriosis, endometrial ablation, HPV, uterine artery (fibroid) embolization, ovarian cysts, cancer, fibromyalgia, hormones, hyperplasia, the devastating consequences of hysterectomy, ways of coping with the adverse effects, invitro fertilization, heavy menstrual bleeding, how to tell when to expect menopause, and many, many other related topics all told from the perspective of women in every corner of this vast country. The crescendo of the book is the unveiling of HERS online video "Female Anatomy: the Functions of the Female Organs" and a legislative solution to hysterectomies performed without informed consent.
I consider this book to be a must-read for all women. It's an empowering education into all the things you never learned in sex-ed.
The book website links with Amazon: http://hersfoundation.org/hword/. But here's a trick that will give you a deal. If you go the the HERS homepage http://hersfoundation.org and click on "publications," you can order the book for only $14.95, which is $5 less than the Amazon price of $19.95.
Anxious to hear what others have to say about this amazing book!
It's really two books in one. The backdrop of THE H WORD is the HERS Foundation's nationwide campaign to educate the public in 51 cities, in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, in 51 weeks. This odyssey, then, is the memoir-style backdrop for the book, with alternating chapters from the two authors--the legendary Nora W. Coffey (president and founder of the HERS Foundation) and playwright/political activist Rick Schweikert.
Each person Nora and Rick come in contact with throughout the country provides a vehicle for talking about every aspect you can think of, relating to hysterectomy. This more clinical side of the book discusses fibroids, PMS, PCOS, endometriosis, endometrial ablation, HPV, uterine artery (fibroid) embolization, ovarian cysts, cancer, fibromyalgia, hormones, hyperplasia, the devastating consequences of hysterectomy, ways of coping with the adverse effects, invitro fertilization, heavy menstrual bleeding, how to tell when to expect menopause, and many, many other related topics all told from the perspective of women in every corner of this vast country. The crescendo of the book is the unveiling of HERS online video "Female Anatomy: the Functions of the Female Organs" and a legislative solution to hysterectomies performed without informed consent.
I consider this book to be a must-read for all women. It's an empowering education into all the things you never learned in sex-ed.
The book website links with Amazon: http://hersfoundation.org/hword/. But here's a trick that will give you a deal. If you go the the HERS homepage http://hersfoundation.org and click on "publications," you can order the book for only $14.95, which is $5 less than the Amazon price of $19.95.
Anxious to hear what others have to say about this amazing book!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews