Hysterectomy & Fibroids HELP

[haley's mom]

I began suffering from fibroids at age 29. My DH and I had 1 child and he also gave me two wonderful skids. I was having very heavy periods.

We tried the NovaSure. It worked for about 3 months, then the heavy periods returned. The explantion was that the fibroids had enlarged my uterus. The Nova Sure emits based upon the "average" size uterus. The entire lining of my uterus was not affected by the Nova Sure and we had to do a hysterectomy.

I had (excuse the spelling) a laprosopic partial hysterectomy. I have 4 small incisions, that have almost disappeared. The recovery time was very minimal. I was cooking Thanksgiving dinner 2 weeks after the surgery.

This was the BEST thing for me. I knew I was done have kids, the finality of it was hard to come to terms with being I was only 29 years old. But my quality of living has improved SOOOOO much I would do it all over again and recommend it to all who suffer from fibroids like I did.

Feel free to PM and I can explain further in detail the Nova Sure and the hysterectomy.

Good luck to all.

 

[C.Ann]

I would do it in a heart beat.. Reduces and/or eliminates the possibility of many forms of female cancers..

As for the lack of hormones aspect of it, I went through menopause early (48) - chose not to take hormone replacement therapy - and have managed quite nicely.. (Just turned 59 this week..)

Good luck making your decision..

 

[Alex2kMommy]

My fibroids were discovered when I was 32, and since we hadn't started a family yet, I had a myomectomy. I dealt with fertility issues as well as the fibroid problems for years, and finally after two kids and more frequent (and painful, heavy) cycles, I asked my doc to just take my uterus out. My uterus was too large to remove "the easy way", so we went through my c-section incision.

That was a year and a half ago, and like the others said, I wished I'd done it sooner. I still have hormonal issues every month (bloating, queasiness, etc.) but WOW, no pain for the first time in... 34 years!

I've heard of another procedure that I don't believe anyone's mentioned; I think it's called fibroid embolization, and basically uses laser to cut off the blood supply to a fibroid, therefore 'starving' it and causing it to shrink away. I would have looked into that if we weren't done with kids and didn't have other related issues.

 

[Mommy22]

I think one of the other posters already mentioned fibroid embolization. Dr. James Spies with Georgetown University in Washington, DC is a leader in this procedure. Just Google his name and you'll get more information on the procedure. Please, please look into all of your options before you agree to anything. Depending on the location of the fibroid in the uterus, some procedures are preferred over others. Sometimes a myomectomy is a better option than embolization. I'd also recommend searching for fibroid forums on the Internet. You'll learn what other women have done and how they have felt afterwards with each procedure. Don't do anything just because the doctor suggests it or tells you that you have to. Research, research and then make the decision that is best for you.


Good luck to you.

 

[HunnyPots]

I was diagnosed with fibroids and put off having anything done about it for almost five years. I was terrified of the thought of surgery. A year and a half ago I started suffering with severe abdominal pain and back pain. My OBGYN did an ultrasound that revealed my fibroid had grown very large and all my internal organs were being compromised - there was just no more room for them. I had a hysterectomy a week later and it was the best thing I ever did. I had no idea how much I was suffering until it was gone! To the shock of both me and my doctor, my fibroid weighed 11 pounds and was about the size of a soccer ball! Oddly, you couldn't tell a thing by looking at me.
My point is, don't wait as long as I did. It will continue to grow, believe me!
If I'd known how easy the surgery and recovery would be I'd have done it much sooner!
Give this site a visit: www.hystersisters.com

 

[lisah0711]

I suffered from symptoms from uterine fibroids for years. I had a total hysterectomy in 3/07. It was the best thing I ever did for myself. I feel so much better and the surgery was quick with a speedy recovery. It was a ******l hysterectomy so only 1 night in the hospital and felt like myself, my old self so much faster. PM me if you want any info.

Good luck and pixie dust to you for a speedy recovery!

 

[Feralpeg]

I found out I had a lot of fibroid tumors when I had my C-section for my DD. At that time, they weren't bothering me, but they were the reason I ended up having the C-section. Due to the fibroids, DD would not move down the birth canal.

About five years after DD was born, I began having a lot of problems. I would have very long and painful periods. Even when I wasn't having my period, I would be in pain. Over the years, I saw at least a dozen different doctors who did various tests. They all told me that it was probably the fibroids and that eventually (when I reached menopause) they would shrink. I was 36 when I had DD, so I guess they thought it wouldn't be that long. So, I carried on. Eventually, it came to the point where I would only be pain free about one week a month. I couldn't go anywhere for fear of embarrassing myself. I would bleed so heavily that I would not be able to get to a restroom fast enough.

Thank goodness, I finally found a doctor who took me serious. She explained the various options to me. By this time, I was 50 years old. Since I'd had breast cancer at age 31 and it was estrogen positive, she said it would be a good idea to have a complete hysterectomy. As it turned out, the fibroids were only a part of my problem. I also suffered from adinomiosis (hardening of the uterus), so other options might have taken care of the fibroids, but they would not have fixed my problem.

I can't tell you how great it's been being pain free since my surgery. I only wish I'd had it done sooner. All those years of taking Ibuprofen for the pain did a real number on my stomach.

OP, I hope you find a good solution to your problem. It just isn't right to live with pain when it can be avoided.

 

[Barb D]

I had a hysterectomy because of problem-causing fibroids. One added benefit: No more periods - EVER!

 

[IDoDis]

I've had fibroids for at least 10 years without any problems. When I was pregnant with my now 9 year old, the fibroids were squishing down on the baby (we could see from the ultrasound). I was worried thinking they'd squish my baby and cause a miscarriage, but as the baby grew, the placenta pushed the fibroids out of the way.

Just last month I had an ultrasound to look at the fibroids. There were bunches of them in various sizes, but since I have no pain and light periods, my obgyn said not to worry about them.

 

[disney kid at heart]

I had just given birth and went for my 6wk check-up and the Dr told me I had fibroids so the day DD turned 6months they had to do a hysterectomy. I was 27yrs old. This was in 1976 but I'm sure they have other tx now, at least I hope so. He called it a complete hysterectomy but 22yrs later after suffering with many bouts of polycystic disease a surgean found out I still had them and got them out. I don't have the attacks anymore.

 

[Melisa1]

I went for the ultrasound yesterday ( it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be - still not great).
There are 3 fibroids, one is the size of a grapefruit according to the Dr. I saw it on the screen, but I really didn't know what I was seeing! Anyway, he gave me 4 options, none of which he thought would work except for the hysterectomy, so we scheduled it for Feb 09. That gives me time to get through the holidays and spend time with DH before he comes home from Iraq for mid-tour.
I have been to the Hyster-sisters website and it has provided alot of great information.
Thanks to you all!

 

[DisneyFix321]

I was diagnosed with fibroids and put off having anything done about it for almost five years. I was terrified of the thought of surgery. A year and a half ago I started suffering with severe abdominal pain and back pain. My OBGYN did an ultrasound that revealed my fibroid had grown very large and all my internal organs were being compromised - there was just no more room for them. I had a hysterectomy a week later and it was the best thing I ever did. I had no idea how much I was suffering until it was gone! To the shock of both me and my doctor, my fibroid weighed 11 pounds and was about the size of a soccer ball! Oddly, you couldn't tell a thing by looking at me.
My point is, don't wait as long as I did. It will continue to grow, believe me!
If I'd known how easy the surgery and recovery would be I'd have done it much sooner!
Give this site a visit: www.hystersisters.com

Glad to see this thread. I suffer from fibroids also. I haven't had an ultrasound in years. Fortunately I don't have heavy periods but I do ffer from back pain and extreme bloating before that time of the month? I mean my stomach gets really big. I just wonder if anyone else had the same problem (large bloated stomach)? I look like I'm pregnant! I only get this way once a month (before that time), but it is sooo uncomfortable and I'm scared of surgery.

 

[DisneyFix321]

Bumpity Bump

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

I had a huge fibroid + some smaller ones, and opted for a myomectomy. Just personal preference since I had a bias toward keeping my uterus. It was a very good decision. It's harder to find a surgeon who can do this surgery, but the recovery time was equivalent to a hysterectomy and I'm happy I went this way.