Jean, I'm so sorry to hear about you losing your sister. That must have been so devastating for you and your family, especially because you sound like you're all close. After such a loss, it's always natural for all of us to believe or hope that we could have done something to help or prevent it if only we'd known. It totally makes sense that after that you're all more vigilant with one another, even if the other person may perceive it as intrusive.

The situation with your younger sister sounds difficult. If her fibroids have grown so large that her gynecologist is recommending surgery, what kind of surgery is being recommending (e.g. hysterectomy)? It sounds like she's not ready for major surgery, so can she ask her gynecologist about other options (e.g. medication to try to reduce the fibroids in the meantime)? Are the fibroids so large that they cannot be removed using non-invasive or minimally invasive surgery?

Here are some links on uterine fibroids:

Mayo Clinic website: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-c...n-20037901?p=1

Office on Women's Health, US Dept. of Health and Human Services: http://www.womenshealth.gov/publicat...-fibroids.html

I have similar issues with my parents. My dad just turned 80, and in addition to his Type 2 diabetes for the past two decades he's had knee pain because of osteoarthritis, so he's had difficulty walking for the last decade. His doctor recommended he get arthroscopic surgery to address the condition, or at least lose weight or get PT, but he refuses to do anything and just keeps saying he's lived a long life already. It's so frustrating!

My mom has been dealing with hypohidrosis (inability to sweat) for the past two years, and it's probably caused by an interaction between the dozen or so medications she takes for hypertension. I know she can't stop taking her hypertension medication because her blood pressure shoots to dangerously high levels, but I don't understand why the doctors can't figure out and address her hypohidrosis, which could lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Since she lives in San Diego where it's almost always warm, I told her to keep a small spray bottle with water in her purse and spritz herself whenever she feels warm, so she doesn't overheat since her doctors didn't even bother to advise her on how to deal with her condition. And she goes to UCSD Medical Center for care, so you'd think they would know what they're doing.

Jean, perhaps you can do some research on your sister's condition and forward it to her, then just keep nagging her, maybe in a reassuring way. She probably will think you're meddling, but she knows you care, and maybe she'll realize it's for her own good and you'll convince her to do something about her fibroids.