Fibroids & ultrasound question

[jobhunter]

Question for the DIS ladies. Today I had my annual Unpleasantness Appt. and my dr. said he felt fibroids and that I needed to have an ultrasound in 2 weeks. He said he wanted to see me immediately following the ultrasound (I mean, that same day, right after). Is that normal? I thought it would take up to a week to get the results. They are in the same hospital, I think just down the hall, but still... Anyway, wondering if I should be concerned that he wants to see me right after. I am 38 & have never had children, if that matters. I have never had any issues after an appt or test before and have only had symptoms the past 6 months. The thought of a hysterectomy freaks me out.

Also, for anyone else with fibroids, have you seen a connection with symptoms & caffeine? I gave up caffeine previously due to fibrocystic breasts, which made a HUGE difference. I did not drink it for years, then I fell off the wagon this year, and now this. Coincidence? I am back on the wagon now.

Forgot to mention, I have been on B/C pills since I was 20. I did not think I could get fibroids. Guess I was wrong!

 

[scbelleatheart]

Funny you should bring this up. I just had mine yesterday and saw the dr. immediately afterwards. I was told this was standard. Results were inconclusive so Now I get to have an MRI. The other option was go straight to a d&c but by having the mri first the d&c may be unneccessary.
Good luck!

 

[wdwiala]

My doctor told me that I had fibroids and would need a hystorectomy. I had the ultrasound and no fibroids
I assume that your doctor just wants to present possible options for you. Hopefully, all is well.

 

[jobhunter]

Thanks SCBelle! I hope you get a good result on your MRI and don't need the D&C.

WDWiala, did you have any symptoms of fibroids or did he just think he felt them during the exam?

 

[NikitaZee]

I have fibroids as well - three of them, present through my last two pregnancies. Both of my OB/GYN's told me that fibroids in and of themselves do not call for surgery or hysterectomy, those are options if they are painful or causing very heavy menstrual bleeding. They do have to be monitored during pregnancy, which mine were, with no complications at all. Good luck.

 

[nmmom95]

I have fibroids as well - three of them, present through my last two pregnancies. Both of my OB/GYN's told me that fibroids in and of themselves do not call for surgery or hysterectomy, those are options if they are painful or causing very heavy menstrual bleeding. They do have to be monitored during pregnancy, which mine were, with no complications at all. Good luck.

I have 3 fibroids. They were found when I was pregnant with my first son. My doctor also said that surgery was not necessary but was an option to relieve symptoms. Good luck!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I guess I was very fortunate eith my ultrasound for fibroids. The doctor himself did it in his office. He took measurements of my fibroids (they ranged in size from 10 cm to 13 cms, whatever that means) and I got to see them "live" on TV. Then I had another ultrasound 6 months later, since I didn't have symptoms, to check their growth. Eventually I had a hysterectomy, but I was older and done having children so it didn't bother me in that respect.

 

[Imzadi]

I actually felt a huge lump and went to my GYN. My mom had a hysterectomy due to fibroids and I expected I may have been going down the same path. My results came back in 3 days and my dr. was on the phone to me right after she got the results. I do not need a hysterectomy. But, as I continually bleed too much, she wants to schedule a fibroid embolization.

I also have hypothyroidism, which is causing the heavy bleeding, which is causing the fibroids.

Upon doing some reading on both hypothyroidism and fibroids and seeing how they are linked to dietary issues and lack of certain supplements & nutrients, as well as lifestyle, I am hoping with some major changes, I can shrink the fibroids, lessen my periods, instead of having the embolization.

I happened on a great book at Amazon which talked about the lack of iodine, which causes hypothyroidism and adrenal failure ALSO causes fibroidy bre@st tissue. I had felt a bump years ago, and had to have TWO mammograms and ultrasounds as my bre@sts were too fibroidy to get an accurate reading on what the bump was. (It turned out to be benign.) Since that time, (and before my hypothyroidism diagnosis,) I've been monitoring the "girls" as they would get bumpy & fibroidy depending on the time of the month - also having to do with how much estrogen is in my body was producing.

Just reading all that and seeing how many of these issues are linked together really made me realize how much what we put into our bodies and what we don't really makes a difference to our overall system. It really is an interactive machine.

I have changed my diet drastically.

YES, caffeine may be a contributing factor.

I have also cut out red meats & dairy, as cows are high estrogen animals and I do not need any more estrogen in my system. I was eating beef like crazy. I have also cut out most artificial preservatives & ingredients, as I do not want the fibroids preserved. The womb is a creative place. Just as what you put into your body would effect a fetus, what you normally eat effects your female organs.

I added many supplements that I totally wasn't getting including iodine & magnesium.

It's been 3 months since these changes. the first month, Aunt Flo stayed for a whole MONTH. I was hoping that it was some of the residuals leaving my body. My last 2 Aunt Flos were down by 50%. Her "normal" visit which had become 12 days of heavy, abnormal flow. I would go through a whole pack of super, industrial, long, overnite pads. It so far is down to 2 heavy days and two more mid flow days, then a lot of spotting.


I haven't even started on progesterone cream or other methods to get rid of the fibroids. And my hypothyroidism meds needs to be adjusted. I am also going to be reading Christiane Northrup's books on how to shrink fibroids, as she, herself a GYN, successfully shrank her own fibroids, and is one of leading, well respected doctors on wholistic, mind/body/nutrition, women's medicine.

The Mirena IUD is also a possibility to curtail my period. (There is another DIS thread with a lot of info on Mirena.) But, I'm see what the other changes can affect.

Just with these changes I've done in the past few months, feeling the fibroid lump seems smaller this month, as well as my girls feel less bumpy and fibroidy, I am very hopeful on shrinking the fibroids.

I am hoping my next ultrasound, my dr. will say things have gone down.

Good luck to you. I hope you do not have a bad situation to deal with.

 

[wdwiala]

WDWiala, did you have any symptoms of fibroids or did he just think he felt them during the exam?

He just thought that he felt them. I don't think that I had any symptoms. Ironically, after a year now, I feel more discomfort,etc. I am scared to go back and find out that I do in fact have them.

 

[IDoDis]

I have fibroids as well - three of them, present through my last two pregnancies. Both of my OB/GYN's told me that fibroids in and of themselves do not call for surgery or hysterectomy, those are options if they are painful or causing very heavy menstrual bleeding. They do have to be monitored during pregnancy, which mine were, with no complications at all. Good luck.

My doctor has told me the same thing. Discovered when I was pregnant with DS 12 years ago (a fibroid was squishing the embryo on the ultrasound pics).

Since I've never had problems with them or any symptoms, he said to leave things be. Only once I have issues with them will we need to talk.

 

[jobhunter]

Thanks to everyone for your stories, input and advice. This has been a huge wakeup call to me, not necessarily because I can change it myself (though, Imzadi, I am going to try some of your ideas) but because for too long I have not done any exercise and eat candy and all kinds of crap just like I was still 12. I need to get it together, not just because of this, but overall. Garbage in, garbage out.

 

[mhsjax]

My Dr started watching my Fibroids about 2 years. He also requested an ultrasound, there was a Dr in his group that did them. The Dr told me I had Fibroids but the they are ususally nothing to worry about, as far as cancer goes.

I year later, I was miserable you know, swelling cramping, major bleeding (sorry if tmi) I was anemic. I went it for my check up. I had planned to ask him about a hysterectomy or any other treatment. The once a month thing was really interfering in my life. I didn't have a chance to eve bring it up, he told me to talk to DH and see what we wanted to do. I wasn't a candidate for any other procedure, I was 46 and had 3 kids. He said the hysterectomy was a quality of life issue. I called DH as soon as I left the office and then called my Dr right back and got the surg scheduled.

Please understand that I am in no way whatsoever recommending a hysterectomy. I did end up with a full one, and done abdominally. Actually 1 year ago today. The surg itself really wasn't bad, DH took care of the kids and everything. I was in the hospital 2 days no complications. Not only did I have fibroids, he said I had adhesions on my tubes and cysts on my ovaries, he patted my leg and said, No wonder you were hurting most of the time. No cancer everything fin and dandy.

Now, I am on hormones, well I was on them. I hate them. I am backwards from everyone else I know. Hormones make me mean. Without them I am much happier. They also make me very sleepy for some reason. I have tested myself over and over again and reach the same results. I am now dealing with hot flashes, even he hormones didn't take them away completely. After a hysterectomy you feel different and not really in a good way. I can't describe it but others I have talked to understand. It is nice not having the bleeding issues, and not worrying about cancer. But it is a very different way of feeling.

There is a website called hystersisters that is great, I would advise checking them out, there is never any judgement, nothing but support for anything life this going on, they are very friendly, I mea extremely friendly, you may want to check them out.

 

[hellokitty86]

At my practice if the Dr. is available he sees you immediately following your ultrasound to discuss results, so that is not unusual. Hope you get good results!

 

[proud_canadian]

Hi there,

I have no advice on the fibroids as that is one issue I did not have. However, I did end up with a hysterectomy at age 30 earlier this year. I was done having kids (DH had already had Vasectomy), and it was my last resort... long complicated history. HOWEVER, the surgery itself was so easy... and I actually ended up with a few of the normal possible complications, and I"m still saying that. I had it done laprascopically and removed uterus and cervix (kept ovaries). I feel better now that I have since I was 12 (when all this mess started) and my quality of life has improved astronomically.

The surgery was easy, 1 night in hospital, 1 week off work, and 1 week working from home. I had the surgery on a Monday, and by the Friday I was well enough to drive 2 hours to hospital for follow up check and walked all over the hospital while waiting. The following Monday I drove myself the 2 hours each way for another follow up appointment and then worked from home the rest of the day and every day after that. I only took Tylenol 3 until Tuesday night... and I don't think I would have needed it that long if I hadn't had my complications.

So, just remember, hysterectomy isn't what it used to be. It can be done rather uninvasively, compared to what it used to be. Hystersisters is a good site... BUT you hear a lot of negative horror stories. Dont forget, those with good, normal, surgeries are off enjoying life, not posting on message boards usually

Good luck, and PM me if you have questions.