Fibroids!

Slinky_Malinky

Yes I have tried several different things over the years.

Had a laparotomy to remove some endo 10 years ago. Plus a few other bits and bobs which enabled to become pregnant with my son but never helped with the pain/bleeding.

Tried a Mirena coil which for some women is a miracle cure and they have very light or no periods - I bled every day for the nine or ten months I had it in, plus still heavy and painful periods every month. Also piled on a couple of stone!

I was offered a balloon ablation (balloon inserted into womb then filled with water which is heated up and scalds the inside of your womb and supposedly you have no periods or very light ones) This was not possible because my fibroids prevented them carrying out the procedure.

Finally there was no other option that the hysterectomy. I cannot express what a relief it has been. Some women may feel they lose some of their womanhood by having this done but for me it has given me back a quality of life, free from pain and being unable to leave the house for days at a time for fear of flooding through my clothes. Always carrying a change of clothes and being a bag of nerves at work in case I had an `accident` I was worried about taking HRT because I have never been able to take the pill (brings on bad migraines) but I am getting on great with it and no side effects that I have noticed yet. After years of misery and getting steadily much worse over the past few years I am glad to be rid of it all. I wish I could have had this done years ago.

dramaqueen1973

Hiya

Thanks for that it has really helped especially as I have the exact same symptoms you explained, its sooo emabarrasing evey month!!! I dread it, it gives me no warning and I flood, overnight it looks like a mass murder has taken place in my bed!!!!!!:eek:

I have 2 kids now and they are now teenagers so I guess its time for me to have the big op, I was worried about losing the womanhood but I cant go on like this.

The only thing I worry about is the recovery from a hysterectomy, i.e time off work etc as I get paid weekly and they dont pay sick pay!! I also worry about being laid up for weeks on end.

I think I will just not worry now and just go with the flow (pardon the pun!!!) adn meet with the gyne bloke and take one day at a time!

Thanks for your info it helps knowing Im not alone!

xxx

Slinky_Malinky

One other treatment I tried was tranexamic acid tablets to reduce the heavy flow - didn`t work for me sadly but you might want to give it a try.

I understand your concern on the sick pay. I luckily get full sick pay but with the possibility of redundancies in my office my sick record is going to count against me so I don`t think I will have a job for much longer. Gutted but I really had to get my health sorted out.

Take care, I am sure your consultant wouldn`t recommend a hysterectomy if they didn`t feel it was necessary but don`t be afraid to ask questions or go for a second opinion.

recovering_spendaholic

I have several large fibroids and have had increasingly irregular, long and heavy periods over the last couple of years. It is so bad now that I can get through 5 or 6 packets of Always night times plus 2 packs of 20 super plus tampons in a week, sometimes more. I live in constant fear of flooding and haven't been able to go to the hairdressers for the last 6 months because I flooded when I was there getting my highlights done and some blood went onto the floor. I feel so embarassed about it that I can't go back. I have tried the Mirena coil but it fell out, plus I put about 2 stone on in the 9 months it was in. I have had a hysteroscopy to rule out anything sinister so have just got to put up with it or have a hysterectomy. I am self employed and keep hoping that I will go into the change (I'm 48) but no sign so far! I become really anaemic and have to take iron tablets all the time. The last time I saw the gyne doctor he said that they could try the ablation but sometimes when you have large fibroids it is difficult to do. I always thought I was the only one but reading your experiences has made me feel a bit better knowing that I'm not alone!

SueMaggie

I'm in my 40s and was diagnosed with fibroids in 2002 (while in my late 30s). The consultant discussed a lot of options with me, but many of them weren't possible due to the position of the biggest of the fibroids (outside and behind the womb apparently).

In the end, I had a Mirena coil inserted (now on my second as they need to be replaced every 5 years) and it's been fantastic. All the horrendous bleeding problems stopped virtually straight away.

So, if you're not having pain caused by the fibroids, this may be a way to go. I would thoroughly recommend it as it's changed my life completely!

edrushuk

Hi DramaQueen,

Firstly big hug, these things are always a big shock to the system.

Like yourself, I had multiple fibroids, (4 large one – 4/8cms and multiple tiny ones). Except for the swollen tummy, which I just put down to too much booze, I had no symptoms until I turned 35, when I went from having regular periods to floods ( I had spare clothing everywhere, when I stood up I had to check the seat, the worst when I bled through onto the bus seat on the way to work). I was anaemic, breathless all the time. It just took over my whole life.

I lasted another 2 years, before I went down the hysterectomy route, I was 37, no kids, so it was something I really did not want to do, but I could not carry on that way any longer.

It was the best thing that I ever did, it gave me back my life. I was a text book case, was very positive, everyone was so impressed with my recovery. It was the correct thing FOR ME to do. What convinced me, was when my doctor said, after I was trying to get her just to remove the fibroids, that should could do so, but I have so many that my womb would look like a dog had chewed it, due to the multiple incisions. And it could not guarantee that it would get the fibroid the caused my symptoms.

What I would say, do a lot of reading, see what is available, go onto forums, the best I found was hystersisters, it is an American one, but there is a lot of info, especially if you do have the hysterectomy. And if you ever want a chat, I am here.

Take care of yourself, keep taking the iron tablets!

Susanna x

samanthag

Hi Guys
It is so nice and comforting to hear all your stories.

I have been suffering so badly over the past 2 years with my periods, i bleed constantly sometimes for six weeks without a break.

I have got a mirena coil fitted but that hasnt helped so on friday i am going into hospital to have the womb ablation, sterilisation and a cyst removed of my ovary.

I really cant wait to have it done as i have been waiting for 2 years , i really hope i can get my life back and can stop wearing sanitary wear all the time and maybe even get a sex life back as at the moment it is non existent.
If anyone has any experiance of this op then please let me know how it went / did it work ? how long is the recovery ect

i know how all you ladies feel and sometimes being a woman is a biatch lol
sammy

dramaqueen1973

Hey Guys!!!

Wow more support than I could have hoped for so thank you!!

Its reassuring in one way that we can sit here and discuss this, it helps! I have my hubby but he is a man and although he does try to understand its not the same as talking with someone who has been through it or going through it!

Im still in a bit of shock really over it all and as we speak I have still not heard anything from doctor yet, I had my scan on the 29/3/10 and Im getting worried as I want to get it sorted, any ideas how long it takes, the scan lady said it would be a couple of weeks, is that till my doctor writes to me as he sent me for scan or do I hear from hospital, im so confused!!! My stomach is so swollen I look pregnant! She measured my fibroid and said it was 6cm by 4cm is that a large one??? she also took some other measurements and was talking quietly to other scan lady as well which got me worried as she did not say anything else to me!!!

I think Im just getting myself in a state over it as she did not mention any other treatment, only hysterectomy, she said mine was bang in the middle in an awkward place and I dont know what theat means either!!

Sorry to go on Im so confused!!

xxx

judyjetson

I had a scan last year and I think it was the doctor's surgey that got in touch once they had the results. The doctor then referred me to a consultant to discuss treatment (turned out I also had a polyp). I had the choice of three hospitals, with varying waiting times but none I don't think were more than three weeks, not sure if that's the case all over the country though.

After seeing the consultant who adivsed me of all the potential options, I was scheduled for a D&C (just in for day surgery but it was general anaesthetic) to remove the polyp, which they felt would solve the problem I had with pain, which it has, and might actually help with the bleeding, and I now get just normal slight cramping for a day or two.

My doctor and the consultant both said they would be guided by me and what I felt was right. I'd been prescribed medication, which made no difference whatsoever. The next option would be the mirena coil and hysterectomy would be the last resort. However, I'm lucky in that I'm only heavy for a couple of days (a bit lighter since the D&C) and my period is normal length, about five days max. Fortunately for me, the op helped a lot and so far I haven't needed any other treatment.

I have to say, I have absolutely no idea how big my fibroid is, I never thought to ask, although the doctor did describe it as "large". I'm not even sure if I have more than one!

dramaqueen1973

Hi

Thanks for replying!

I was hoping just to have day op too or D&C but Scan lady did not even give me another option, she did not even mention medication it was straight to probable hysterectomy!!!!

Still nothing from doc today.....more waiting now, hopefully tom I will hear something

xx