Rachel – Los Angeles, CA:
“After seven years of biannual monitoring, I was very nervous when my fibroids grew to such troublesome, uncomfortable sizes they needed removal. Four doctors I consulted with almost immediately suggested hysterectomies, C-sections and other aggressive treatments. Doctor Parker was the polar opposite – and also my last hope. Dr. Parker came highly recommended from experts I sought on both US coasts–in fact every head of every hospital I contacted mentioned him as the best in less invasive gynecological procedures. In all my years of medical exams, I’ve never once met a more thorough, patient, caring or warm physician. Most doctors rush you through consultations and appointments. Though the positions and sizes of my fibroids were varied and complicated to remove, he didn’t jump to wide-sweeping surgery, in fact he encouraged me to get further tests to better inform us -to him ultra sound pictures weren’t the end all as every other doctor felt, Dr. Parker wanted all my options to be crystal clear to us both. He is the most rare, hands on and available expert and gyn I have ever met. During each and every step before and after my robotic laproscopic myomectomy I felt confident, comforted and open to asking any and all questions. Right after surgery, I called him with concerns and he came to see me in person, bright and early, and without my asking. Dr. Parker is positively the best in the business, and as a patient, I heartily attest his stellar reputation is true. I have referred many friends and colleagues to him and will continue to do so. As an avid researcher, too, Dr. Parker is a precious gift to the profession and a rare gem to his patients.”
Robin – Buena Park, CA
“I was diagnosed in 2000 with fibroids. I didn’t even know what a fibroid was! I didn’t have any symptoms so I chose the “wait and see” game. Well, by 2008 my belly was huge and I had a whole host of problems. I did my research and asked seven gynecologists for their opinion and they all said, “Hysterectomy!” I heard about Dr. Parker from a satisfied patient of his, I researched him and made an appointment. His office staff was warm and friendly and then meeting and talking to Dr. Parker was like being with family, easy, comfortable, and confident. Our visit was unhurried and informative as we discussed other treatments but we easily agreed upon the right treatment for me. After I woke up from my abdominal myomectomy I literally wept with joy. I knew I was completely fibroid free and the skilled hands of Dr. Parker made sure that I would heal well and I would have my life back. As a highly skilled gynecologic surgeon Dr. Parker realized that the low quality of life of most of his patients was because of fibroids. So this became his passion and focus and what an advantage for fibroid sufferers! With 4 out of 5 women suffering from fibroids I would say, when you have had enough of the confusion – call Dr. Parker!
“Signed with eternal gratitude. ”
Catherine – Los Angeles, CA
“Dr. Parker is the most wonderful doctor I’ve ever met. After seeing several doctors who recommended I have a hysterectomy, I found Dr. Parker through his informative website.
“During my initial consultation, Dr. Parker was very patient and willing to listen to all of my concerns. He was very knowledgeable and thorough in his explanation of treatment options, including options that didn’t involve him.
“After reviewing my MRI, Dr Parker told me he could remove my 9cm fibroid laparscopicaly. I was elated!
“Dr. Parker performed a laparoscopic myomectomy to remove 10 fibroids, leaving me with my uterus intact. The nurses at the hospital told me he was world-renowned for his surgical skills. During my recovery, it became apparent that his reputation is well deserved.
“It was the most do-able surgery I could have ever imagined. I was back to work in 3 weeks with minimal pain. Dr. Parker was personable, available, and so kind during the whole process.
“I feel so lucky to have found him. I only wish we could clone him to help women all over the world who suffer from fibroids. I am forever grateful to Dr. Parker and his wonderful staff.”
D. - Los Angeles, CA
“Dear Dr. Parker,
“I am absolutely humbled by your skill as a physician.
“The past two years have caused my wife and I to experience the range of emotions from self pity to anger to hope. We’ve questioned whether children would be a possibility or even if she would survive the last surgery or any future surgeries.
“Several physicians opined that we should consider adoption or surrogacy, but face reality that we would not have a chance to create our own children on our terms with God’s blessing.
“With many unanswered questions and fear, we came to you. Your insight has been impeccable. Your ability to chart the course up to and through this surgery was nothing short of remarkable and my wife and I are eternally grateful.
“As a concerned husband and future father, I thank you, Tammie, Cynthia, Dr. Childs and the St. Johns Team of professionals.
“Although we have a little recovery ahead of us, I am hopeful and optimistic about our future as parents.
“Thank you.”
Michelle – Thousand Oaks, CA
“With an enlarged uterus, the size of an eight-month pregnancy, I knew I had to identify a doctor who would not be intimated to perform a myomectomy. After being told numerous times that a myomectomy was not possible I began an extensive research, which led me to Dr. Parker. It was the best decision I have ever made. While preserving my uterus, Dr. Parker successfully removed all of my fibroids, which weighed 7 ½ pounds.
“Even though I had what seemed like an impossible situation; Dr. Parker’s wealth of knowledge and calm demeanor rekindled my hope. I knew I was in capable hands. My chronic fear of surgery/hospital was minimized because of his remarkable ability to make one feel relaxed and comfortable.
“Prior to surgery, Dr. Parker was attentive, thorough and reassuring. The operation went smoothly without any post-operative pain. I recovered quickly and did not experience the major discomfort anticipated. His gentle bedside manners, sincerity and professional expertise can be any patient’s dream. I am forever grateful
“If you are reading my review and your health challenge is fibroid, I highly recommend Dr. Parker. He is also the author of a “gynecologist’s second opinion” which is very informative and provides practical guidelines regarding women’s health-care options.”
Victoria – Pasadena, CA
“I sought the opinion of Dr. Parker after being told by a radiologist that my fibroids were so severe that I should have a hysterectomy and hire a surrogate to have my baby. During my first consultation, Dr. Parker thoroughly reviewed my MRI, explained the various treatment options available, then confidently told me that he could remove my fibroids thereby preserving my fertility so that I could attempt to have a baby. He explained in great detail what I could expect from surgery and answered all my questions thus setting my mind at ease. He was a partner in to me in my care and was available to me before, during, and after surgery.
“My surgery was a success and 18 months later I got pregnant with my son. Dr Parker is thoughtful, insightful, and genuinely cares about the health of his patients. He has remained an advisor to me since my surgery and I value his opinion when it comes to my health. Any woman who is in need of fibroid treatment could not be in better hands.”
Paula – Bishop, CA
“Dr Parker was very professional and gave me confidence in his abilities and his knowledge of the latest surgical techniques. He was easy to talk to, explained all the options thoroughly and didn’t rush me for any decisions. Emails were answered quickly and when I decided on surgery, everything was comprehensively explained to me. The surgery went very well, pain management was excellent and recovery was swift and without problem. I’m glad I made the effort to travel the 500 miles round trip to see him. ”
Mary – Valencia, CA
“When it comes to my health, I want the best care possible. And as a recent breast cancer survivor, I’ve learned that I need to be pro-active in choosing my course of medical care. So when it came to the various choices I had regarding the removal of my ovarian cyst, I found the best care was placing myself in the hands of Dr. Parker. His clinical expertise, matched with his patient-friendly manner, made my decision effortless. Dr. Parker has the ability to explain the complex in simple terms and is sincerely concerned for my long-term health and well-being. His staff takes that extra step to make you feel comfortable the moment you walk through the door. I only wish that I could have Dr. Parker attend to all my medical needs! He truly is one of the BEST!”
Barbara – Beverly Hills, CA
“Before I found Dr. Parker, I was a patient of one of the most well known female gynecologists in Beverly Hills. She told me I had but a few options, and recommended that I just ‘leave them there, they’ll shrink when you go through menopause.” But the constant UTI’s and pain were just too uncomfortable, and when I pushed her for relief, and to tell me all the options, she offered only the services she provided, including hysterectomy.
“I was conflicted, the pain was bad, but were these really the only choices? I couldn’t believe in this day and age that there wasn’t a better weapon against fibroids.
“After a few minutes of Internet research, I found Dr. Parker and his breakthrough laproscopic myomectomy. Being the daughter of an obgyn, I researched him and his record. I was impressed, and stunned, why hadn’t my own obgyn told me about this option? When I called her, she simply said, ‘well, I don’t perform that surgery”
“So I’m now on a mission to let every woman know about Dr. Parker’s breakthrough surgical techniques. Because of him, the fibroids are out, my parts are intact, and the quality of my life has drastically improved.
“I want to thank Dr. Parker for his care and concern about women and that he advanced treatment with this procedure. Not only is he a brilliant surgeon, but he also has a gift to be able to communicate in easy to understand terms. And I’m proud to say that he’s now my doctor.”
E.T. – Canada
“When my 12cm fibroid became symptomatic with heavy and lengthy menstrual bleeding, I consulted six of the top gynecologists in Canada (three in Vancouver and three in Toronto). Without exception, each of them stated that my fibroid could not be removed successfully and that my only surgical option was a hysterectomy. I wanted to keep my uterus intact and was devestated by this diagnosis.
“Somehow I found the courage to persevere. I refused to accept a hysterectomy as inevitable and decided to look to the U.S. for further gynecological expertise. I was referred to Dr. Parker and my husband and I flew down from Vancouver for a consultation with him. We were very nervous. Dr. Parker met with us, examined me, and reviewed all of my medical reports and images. In all of the many appointments with gynecologists, he was the only one who bothered to take the time to show us the MRI images and explain clearly and in detail exactly what the images revealed. He discussed all of the available treatment options and the advantages and disadvantages of each course of action. He took his time, thoroughly answering all of our questions and, believe me, we had a lot of questions! Contrary to what I had been told, he assured me that there was no reason why the fibroid could not be removed by a myomectomy. He was right. I had an abdominal myomectomy in September 2008 and I am now fibroid-free.
“I can’t express the extent of my gratitude to Dr. Parker or say enough good things about him. He is an exceptional physician. Not only is he a highly competent and skilled surgeon with tremendous expertise, he is also attentive, empathetic, and considerate. I always felt that I was getting the best of care with Dr. Parker. I would recommend him strongly and without the slightest hestitation. I only wish I could find a gynecologist of his calibre in Canada.”
Kim – Los Angeles, CA
“I have been a patient of Dr. Parker for more than 20 years. During that time, I underwent several surgeries for treatment of fibroids. All were very successful, and left me feeling healthier and stronger than before. In each case, Dr. Parker always presented me with every conceivable treatment option, of which surgery was only one. He never failed to demonstrate patience and concern as I went throught the decision making process. I have the utmost confidence in both his judgment and his ability as a surgeon and will always be grateful for his exceptional care.”
Michele – Durango, CO.
“I was told that I had a gigantic 20 cm fibroid! The gynecologist in Colorado that I went to told me that I would need to have a hysterectomy. I was devastated! I had a second opinion and was told that there must be a surgeon who could help me but it would not be in the small town of Durango, CO. So we started doing lots of research to find someone talented and experienced with removing large fibroids. I was fortunate enough to find Dr. Parker who eased my mind and assured me that my fibroid could be removed safely with a bikini incision and with keeping all of my organs in tact. I was thrilled!
“I immediately felt at ease once I sat in Dr. Parker’s office and I knew that I had made the right decision to fly out to CA and have the surgery with him. Dr. Parker and his staff are warm, friendly and very skilled at what they do. The surgery went extremely well. It was shorter than they had anticipated and there was very minimal blood loss. The fibroid weighed 5 pounds! I am so grateful to Dr. Parker! Dr. Parker kept in contact with me through the healing process to make sure that I was doing well. His kind manner and extremely talented skills will never be forgotten. Now a year later I am healthy, very active and running my own dance program for toddlers! I feel like I have my life back. Thank you Dr. Parker!”
Kate – Los Angeles, CA
“My experience with Dr. Bill Parker was nothing less than extra-ordinary. I approach all aspects of my life from a very natural, holistic approach. I found Dr. Bill to be incredibly open and receptive to all of the outside work I was doing in terms of shrinking my fibroid, and although there was definitely evidence of progress, I really appreciated going forward with my laparoscopic surgery. His care and respect for the feminine systems are refreshingly authentic, resonate, and grace-filled. I absolutely could not have chosen a better doctor to take care of my special needs, and I am so very grateful for my experience.”
FM – Kauai, Hawaii
“Aloha,
“I wanted to share with you the name of a physician who has made such a difference in my life, Dr. William Parker.
” I was diagnosed with fibroids back in 2004. My fibroids were asymptomatic and treatment was not recommended.
“Growth was monitored with annual sonograms. In 2008 a period of rapid growth occurred and I started having symptoms. A hysterectomy was recommended. Books were read. Holistic treatments were sought. Second opinions were obtained. At the time I wanted to avoid a hysterectomy at all costs. I looked into alternative types of treatments that would allow the removal of the fibroids only and leave my uterus intact. During this quest for the best solution for my situation my husband discovered Dr. William Parker. Keep in mind that we live on a remote Hawaiian island and Dr. Parker is on the west coast. Traveling across the ocean just to get a consultation was cost prohibitive to say the least! However, Dr. Parker was willing to review my medical files and consult with me via telephone and e-mail (other mainland physicians refused this level of service and quickly eliminated themselves from being my physician). I was immediately impressed with Dr. Parker’s professionalism and compassion. His staff was also courteous and helpful. Only you can determine the best course of action for your fibroid treatment. However, I implore you to meet with Dr. Parker prior to making any final choices. He is an expert in the field and very knowledgeable of all the options for fibroid treatment. I am grateful to him for the care I received and recommend him wholeheartedly and without reservation.”
Lindsay – New Jersey
“Choosing the right doctor is very important while at the same time can be very difficult. Be wise and make sure the doctor you choose is able to provide you with the care and attention you need. At 33 I learned the hard way, for me choosing the wrong doctor ended up with an additional surgery, and the removal of my right ovary, my appendix and lymph. This was very painful, not only physically but mentally and emotionally.
“Unfortunately at 35 my problem reoccurred but… I was very fortunate to have been referred to Dr. William Parker. I consider myself extremely lucky to have been a patient of Dr. Parker’s. Not only did he give me the best doctor/patient care I have ever received, he was able to disarm all of my fears and anger I was carrying around from my prior experience. He understood I needed immediate care and fit me right into his busy schedule. And I am very grateful and happy to say that he saved my left (only) ovary with his expert surgical skills. Dr. Parker even diagnosed me with a rare bleeding disorder that I didn’t know I had. With that alone I consider him a life saver.
“Dr. Parker has always been available to me and has always answered all of my questions with a comforting manor. And with that said, I am happy to be available to anyone who is looking for the right doctor. If you have any questions about Dr. Parker and want to hear first-hand how he is the best choice I have ever made. Feel free to email me and I will be happy to elaborate on how he always maintained his attentive care for me, right from the start with my initial consultation through to this day, five years later (even though I have moved 3,000 miles away), Dr. Parker still answers my emails and hands down he is the BEST doctor I have ever had!
“Thank you Dr. Parker for giving me the best care I have ever had. It changed my life and I have thankfully been healthy ever since. ”
K.K., Modesto, CA
“I had been experiencing irregular bleeding for 3 months and eventually went to my gynecologist, a respected ob/gyn in the Central Valley of California. After examination and ultrasound, he told me that I had a large fibroid which was causing the bleeding and that the only option was hysterectomy. I scheduled the hysterectomy. Several weeks before surgery, I was doing some online research about fibroids and stumbled upon Dr. Parker’s thorough website.
I showed my father, a surgeon, Dr. Parker’s website, and he encouraged me to fly down to see him. It seemed such a bother, but I trust my father. So off I flew to Southern California without much hope. Instead, I found a wonderful, patient, caring surgeon who performed various tests all within the several hours of my appointment. At the end of the two hours, he sat me down in his office, drew some simple graphs on paper, and showed me that not only were my fibroids not causing the irregular bleeding, but I certainly didn’t need hysterectomy! The bleeding was caused by hormone fluctuations (I’m 47 years old), not the fibroids. He put me on a low dose continuous birth control pill for the bleeding and I’ve been perfectly fine since.
At my recent check-up, Dr. Parker told me that my fibroids hadn’t grown and I was perfectly healthy. I’ll remain on the pill through menopause and probably never have to undergo any gynecologic surgery whatsoever. I can’t tell you how relieved I’ve been since finding Dr. Parker. Instead of radical surgery to remove all my reproductive organs, I’m healthy and happy with everything intact. How thankful I am for Dr. Parker’s intelligence, extensive research, and skill as a surgeon…to know when to perform surgery and when it’s completely unnecessary!”
NR:
“I feel the one of the most important attributes in a doctor, in addition to skill and professionalism, is the compassion in taking time to understand the wants and needs of a patient as a person, even if those wants aren’t ideal, at least there’s a certainty that the doctor is listening. Having never reared a child before, when I found out I had a fibroid and should have my uterus removed at the age of twenty seven I was thrown in a psychological, physical and emotional warfare between what I wanted and would possibly never have. After seeing many doctors, who were adamant there was no other option besides a hysterectomy, I continued to seek alternative opinions. Without fail several opinions later I was left with the same outcome. They had to get out the fibroid with my uterus and they had to get it out quick!
“One doctor even gave me a minute to decide whether I wanted to have the fibroid shrunk or have a hysterectomy the same week I just found out about the fibroid. Imagine having one minute to make a choice that will change the rest of your entire life. Thanks for the minute, doc! I disagreed to have surgery and opted for the lupron depot shots to shrink it, which I stopped in three months because I found (whether accurate or not I did not investigate) that it could make one sterile and this defeated the entire purpose of saving my uterus. Another time a nurse even encouraged that I’d be ok with a hysterectomy since she got hers out too. She was in her late forties, early fifties. She must have been told it’d save her the hassle of future problems. I don’t know. What I do know is that everyone seemed to care what they thought I needed and not once asked me what I wanted or if I was even comfortable with the idea.—as if the choice was easy.
“Naturally it would seem I was dodging the inevitable. And in a sense I was but not for the reasons everyone thought. I wasn’t afraid. I empowered myself by the extensive research and knowledge I gained about my condition and doctors who performed surgeries for my condition. Something inside of me said this was right to question their quick opinions, because assuming a hysterectomy was the only possibility for me (since my fibroid was so large it filled the entire cavity of my belly I appeared 6 months pregnant) was just that—an assumption, which wasn’t acceptable to me.
“Some doctors and people will try to invoke fear that causes you to make rash decisions. But I say it’s your body and you have the right to know ALL there is to know about your condition. This is your right. No one could offer me this right or even seem to care, just that the surgery needed to be done. But I did have the right! It was after all my body they were going to cut open. It was my life on the table. I stopped for a moment to collect myself. I refused their hasty reactions. Luckily my fibroid hadn’t caused me any severe pain or bleeding in the five years it metastasized, thus giving me the luxury of researching and choosing who I wanted to perform this delicate surgery. But time was of the essence.
“I grew exhausted from my constant research. It seemed I was down to my last straw when I found Dr. Parker’s website. I’ll admit I overlooked his website once because the procedure didn’t seem to fit my condition, but I was looking at the wrong one. The more I browsed his site, I found Dr. Parker to be skilled in an array of surgical procedures for fibroids of the uterus. Immediately what drew me was that he seemed to have such empathy for the patient, a sincere compassion, and I didn’t feel force fed some myth about my condition or pressure of what had to be done just because he was qualified to do so. These things I not only desired but desperately needed in a doctor who valued a “second opinion” (which coincidentally is the title of his book; he was actually my fourth or fifth opinion, but nevertheless I’ve made my point). I wanted to know more.
“I emailed him right away. After sympathizing with much of my concerns, he concluded he could not agree nor disagree with the other doctors’ options that lay before me at the time without the proper medical tests (which I found astonishing since these tests were not offered to me when others doctors were quick to decided a hysterectomy was best n the first place). This made me more confident in Dr. Parker and he officially gained my trust as I knew he would not proceed with the surgery unless he was absolutely certain about everything: especially about me. This is not to say these other doctors didn’t care, but that upon meeting Dr. Parker it was evident he was determined to get it right and rightly informed me of ALL options: where my fibroid was located in connection to my uterus, what the proper procedure would be, how I felt personally, answered any questions my my mother had and so forth. His sensitivity to my situation made me comfortable and ready for anything–even if it so happened I needed a hysterectomy–I trusted him wholly with my body.
“Trust is key–especially in a doctor-patient relationship–and Dr. Parker earned my trust with his compassion to recognize how essential it was for me to know all aspects of my condition and what would happen pre and post surgery. I want to say that I was lucky. Most aren’t when it comes to getting what they want. My fibroid was pedunculated, stalk type (meaning it hung just off the skin of my uterus). This meant the uterus could go undamaged once the fibroid was removed. I was elated. My concerns were finally then quelled about having an unnecessary hysterectomy. However it could have been cancerous and Dr. Parker had to confirm this before proceeding. He took tremendous steps in making sure I got the proper test with the proper results to see to it that everything necessary was in place to go forth. He didn’t want me to be surprised if I ended up having a hysterectomy (to which he made certain he would wake me if it was the case and ask me personally). He made me feel absolutely carefree and I was unafraid. Afterward, he was very attentive to see that I made it through the surgery well and was good enough to go home in four days. We kept in constant communication after I returned home until my final visit where I was released to go back to work.
“I must say what a difference it makes when you can put 100% trust in a doctor. For me this person is Dr. Parker. He is a breath of fresh air. He truly is someone I would vouch for regardless of how you think the outcome is going to be. It really is genuinely important that the doctor’s hands you put your life in is on your side and has your interest at heart. Dr. Parker had my interest at heart. And I highly recommend him for consult on second, third, fourth or fifth opinion even. Thank you, Dr. Parker and his staff, who were incredibly reflective of his kind attitude and persona, which made for an equally satisfying experience. To all potential patients seeking this type of surgery, removal of fibroid, uterus and the like—empower yourself through knowledge and education and don’t be afraid to ask questions—email Dr. Parker!”
Website Comments
“I stumbled across your website as I was researching what a 7cm fibroid would look like. I went through the entire site and read every tab. What a relief just to have found you. I have been through 6 doctors since my diagnosis a little over two years ago and they all recommended the same thing: a hysterectomy.”
“Thank you so much for your extremely well-organized and informative website. What I love most about your site is that you offer a perspective in easy-to-understand language – you don’t just toss out numbers and facts. That, combined with your history of achievement and highly respectable affiliations, lends much credence to what you have to say. As someone looking for answers, that has been a wonderful blessing and relief.”
“I just wanted to say that the information on your site is fantastic. It’s more comprehensively informative and answers many of the questions that I’ve been unable to get answers to from my GP and consultants over the past 6 years.”
“I found your site extremely informative and very helpful. You answered a lot of questions I had about fibroids and various operative procedures.”
“First of all thank you very much for the thorough and easily accessible information about fibroid treatments on your website. It is proving an invaluable resource for me and I particularly appreciate your inclusion of references to medical studies which offer the necessary scientific backing required for any serious discussion with a gynecologist.”
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