Uterine Fibroids - update #2 post #46

[disneychrista]

I just went for my annual woman appointment and the doctor is concerned that my uterus felt enlarged. He suspects fibroids and is sending me for an ultrasound. If you have any experience with fibroids what were yous symptoms? What treatments did were you given?

My only symptom is heavy & prolonged bleeding, which I've had for years so it wasn't anything of concern for me.

 

[nicolita3]

I just went for my annual woman appointment and the doctor is concerned that my uterus felt enlarged. He suspects fibroids and is sending me for an ultrasound. If you have any experience with fibroids what were yous symptoms? What treatments did were you given?

My only symptom is heavy & prolonged bleeding, which I've had for years so it wasn't anything of concern for me.

I had a hysterectomy for mine. It was the best thing I ever did. They offered me another surgical treatment but I didn't want it, especially when I read in a support group that they could grow back in a year or two and would need the surgery again.

 

[LSUmiss]

I have them. I don’t have any symptoms so the dr hasn’t recommended any treatment. The only issue I had was they got huge when I was pregnant & they were concerned about them then & I ended up having a c-section. But that’s b/c they hormone-fed. So once I wasn’t pregnant anymore, they shrunk again.

 

[sasywtch]

I've had them, a few times. It was always a wait and see if they grow or shrink. Mine did not grow so they did nothing.

 

[AgentMama]

I had them, also had a hysterectomy. I second the previous poster who said best decision ever.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Another hyst here. I had one on the outside that didn’t cause much of a problem. It was the adenomyosis that did me in.

 

[SirDuff]

I had a myomectomy about 8 years ago for uterine fibroids. None of mine were that big but I had a bunch of them (I think 10-12 were removed) and one pushed against my ureter/bladder which, on occassion would cause serious pain and bloating (and was starting to cause my hypertrophy of my kidney). I was warned that they might grow back but wasn't ready for a hysterectomy. They are definitely back and will likely go with the hysterectomy this time.

 

[daisy2013]

I have some. They weren’t that big and didn’t cause issues except for heavy bleeding. I ended up with an iud which has controlled the bleeding. I still bleed sometimes but not nearly as d as it was

 

[slo]

I had a hysterectomy for mine. It was the best thing I ever did. They offered me another surgical treatment but I didn't want it, especially when I read in a support group that they could grow back in a year or two and would need the surgery again.

The same for me.
Having the hysterectomy was one of my best medical decisions

 

[quandrea]

I had three. They caused heavy and prolonged bleeding to the point of severe anemia. I’ve had them removed through minimally invasive surgery. I also have adenomyosis. My bleeding is still heavy now, but controlled with non hormonal meds. I’m in Canada, and we don’t seem to do as many hysterectomies as the States. Things were really bad for a while, but I’m at a point where my periods no longer ruin my life. My drs tried the iud route. That was a disaster that left me haemorrhaging. I’m stable now, and we are just waiting to let the clock run out on my cycles. I think it’s going to be a while, as I’m still perfectly regular.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I had them, and like PP I had to be put on iron pills for severe anemia because of the bleeding. I got my period as usual in May 2015 and then bled steadily and heavily (I was wearing heavy duty Poise pads at night and *still* filling them up and leaking) until the end of July, and they put me on Norethindrone, which mostly stopped the bleeding. I stayed on that until January of 2016 when my insurance *finally* okayed the hysterectomy. I had everything out except for my cervix, and I have never looked back. Best decision I have ever made.

 

[SueInBoston]

I had them, and like many PPs, had a hysterectomy after I was done with having kids. Best medical decision I made.

 

[disneychrista]

Those that had a hysterectomy. Was that the first step or did you try other treatments first?

I’m done having babies and within a few years of menopause. So a hysterectomy wouldn’t be devastating.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Those that had a hysterectomy. Was that the first step or did you try other treatments first?

I’m done having babies and within a few years of menopause. So a hysterectomy wouldn’t be devastating.

My insurance required me to try other treatments. I tried medication, and an IUD. The medication helped somewhat, the IUD not at all. I'll trade the daily minor hot flashes for the bleeding any day.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Hope it sorts out soon, feel better.

 

[nicolita3]

Those that had a hysterectomy. Was that the first step or did you try other treatments first?

I’m done having babies and within a few years of menopause. So a hysterectomy wouldn’t be devastating.

It was my first treatment. I was severely anemic requiring iron transfusions every couple of months. I was *this* close to being at the point of needing blood transfusions. My fibroids were the size of a 5 month pregnancy by the time they removed them. They had the option to do something like a c-section to remove them, but I did not want to go through the hassel. I had my hysterectomy done robotically and it was nice. They tried to convince me to do the other procedure but I was DONE with my period. My insurance even called to ensure I was not being forced into it.

 

[tasha99]

I have them, but they're small, so I have heavy and painful periods, but not to the point of being anemic. My doctor wants to wait it out, as I'm 55 and menopause can't be that far away.

 

[anjuan]

I had them and they made me feel like I had to urinate all of the time. I chose to have a minimally invasive myomectomy over 10 years ago. I haven't had any problems since then.

 

[disneychrista]

My ultrasound is scheduled for next Wednesday. I also just talked to my mom and my grandma had a hysterectomy due to fibroids. I knew she had a hysterectomy but never knew why or at least didn’t remember.

I had them and they made me feel like I had to urinate all of the time. I chose to have a minimally invasive myomectomy over 10 years ago. I haven't had any problems since then.

I have had to pee a lot more frequently lately. I thought it was odd because I just started a new medication that a side effect is decreased urine output. But maybe that is why.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Those that had a hysterectomy. Was that the first step or did you try other treatments first?

I’m done having babies and within a few years of menopause. So a hysterectomy wouldn’t be devastating.

I tried to avoid it. But afterward, I wondered why. I tried medication, medication infused IUD, pain management. But I wound up in the ER twice for pain and bleeding issues. Really bad. Like another poster, close to needing blood transfusions. One night was so bad it looked like there was a homicide in my bathroom. And it got to a point where I couldn’t walk, the pain was so bad. Sometimes I’d scream in pain. That’s when I knew it had to come out. We didn’t know I had adenomyosis until after the surgery. It took extra long to get it out (won’t go into the gory details) because it was so enlarged so I was under anesthesia for an extra couple of hours. I remember thinking to myself, if we weren’t in modern day, I’d be dead from this. Was glad to put those issues behind me.