Fibroid question

[Gormless]

I’ve recently been diagnosed with fibroids after a couple of very heavy periods. I realise there’s no exact science to the effect these things have, and everyone will be different, but does anyone know if this is me now prone to heavy periods until menopause (I’m 42), unless I have medical intervention, or is it possible the heavy ones might just still come and go, so not every month? I’m finding it hard to get my head around that I will now consistently start bleeding extremely heavily every month when before, even when the fibroids must have been there, I only ever bled at a moderate level. I hope this makes sense and thank you in advance for any responses.

[NameChangedAgain18]

I’m 43 and have fibroids, and the bleeding is very heavy every month. The only thing that is changing is that my periods have got closer together (now 25 days when it was 29 a couple of years ago) and the bleeding lasts for longer (8 days, previously 5). Sorry, probably not what you want to hear . . .

[missedith01]

50 here, and they have got a little lighter in the last 18 months, but are still much heavier than when I was in my twenties and thirties.

[Gormless]

Ouch! That sounds rough. Thank you though: I’d rather hear real stories to help me get my head around it.

[QueenoftheNights]

It's a bit chicken and egg Gormless You might have had fibroids for years and your periods might be heavy due to peri menopause not fibroids. It depends a bit on how big they are.

50% of women have fibroids. Most won't even know unless they have had a scan for something. I have one- was found at a scan for other stuff- but I've never had heavy periods.

[Gormless]

Enjoying the pun on chicken and egg ! Apparently the hormone levels are fine which I’m assuming means not in peri menopause just yet.

[QueenoftheNights]

You can still be in peri without it showing on blood tests.
Most drs don't do blood tests properly anyway for peri- you need 2 ( a month apart) on days 2-5 of your cycle. Even doing that, the results are rarely accurate because hormones change daily.

You can have very small changes to cycle length, length of bleeding, lightness and heaviness of bleeding, years before periods stop (or when it won't show on a blood test.)

There isn't really an answer to your qs. The heavy bleeding may never come back or it may to just now and then. Fibroids are not always to blame. Fibroids are a slight overgrowth of the uterine wall so they increase the surface area which bleeds. Small ones won't make much difference but some women have them as big as a grapefruit.

The best you can do is see how it goes and if the bleeding is bad, think about having a Mirena coil or an ablation.

[pilates]

I have great sympathy for you. I had fibroids the size of grapefruit. Tried everything but in the end (after about two years) I had a hysterectomy aged 42 which changed my life. I also had Adenomyosis.

[Gormless]

Thank you all- this is all really helpful and appreciated.

[GardenersDelight]

I've recently had fibroids discovered, one very large and five small ones. Following gynae appt I've been started on transanamic acid and mefanamic acid tablets to take during my periods to reduce pain and heaviness if bleeding. I can't report effectiveness yet!

[WipsGlitter]

I was prescribed esmya and it was great. It stopped my periods completely but there's some issues with it now so it's not being prescribed. I'm seeing my obgyn on Tuesday to discuss options - ablation / mirena / hysterectomy.

But yes my period which had always been light became a nightmare - flooding / clots / lasting ages.

[Hushnownobodycares]

Had fibroids discovered on my pregnancy scans. They never bothered me or caused any problems. During 40's I could get v. heavy and prolonged bleeding but it was never associated with the fibroids. Heavy bleeding can well be unrelated to fibroids but if it continues see your GP. Mine offered Mirena which I didn't take up but it shows there are remedies avaialble.

[bruffin]

My friend in her mid 50s has just been diagnosed with tangerine size fibroids .She has not had a period for well over a year, but prior to that had some really heavy periods when she was peri.

[NameChangedAgain18]

Does anyone have pain from their fibroids? I've spent the weekend with abdominal pains - I'm convinced my fibroids are pressing against my bowel (I have some bowel symptoms as well, probably tmi though, but they'd seem to confirm this theory of mine). The fibroids are large enough for me to look pregnant, and I can feel them by pressing my abdomen. My GP is dismissive of the idea that fibroids can cause pain though . . .

[Jappydooda]

I have had various treatments as I have suffered with them on and off for a long time. I had a Myectomy - fibroids removed under GA - I had this twice and it was very effective, however, I was in my 30's so this was the most efficient treatment as the consultant felt I was too young for a hysterectomy. I also had a Mirena put in after each of the myectomies - but it kept falling out as I have a funny shaped uterus! But I have heard good things about it.

I was OK for about 10 years, then in my early 50's just as I was supposed to be menopausal, it all kicked off again! The fibroids came back and I was having such heavy bleeding I was having to stay at home for the first two days of my period as it was almost impossible to leave the house the bleeding was so heavy.

Unfortunately, I had moved to a new area and no longer had private health care as a work benefit, so I had to go down the NHS route in a new county.

I was was treated with mefenamic/tranexamic acid to help with the bleeding and cramps while waiting for a gynae appointment - it worked OK for 3-ish months then back to heavy bleeding.

After a hysteroscopy and scan - they found a large fibroid and a number of smaller ones, also a polyp which was removed during the hysteroscopy.

I was given Esmya, and once I got over the side effects (which were not pleasant) I got on with it really well. I was going to have three courses of Esmya (over 10 months), which hopefully would have taken me through the menopause when the bleeding would have stopped. Unfortunately, it has been withdrawn because of the risk of liver failure - 5 women have had to undergo liver transplants after being on Esmya. I understand that it is now being reissued but you have to be closely monitored for liver damage/failure and can only have one course to shrink a fibroid before surgery.

Anyway, I am back on northisterone as a replacement for Esmya - it stops your periods, but you do have to take the tablets 3 times a day. Waiting to go back to see the Consultant in October (Dr being an arse about referring me back early) to discuss options.

To be honest - I wish they would just whip the whole lot out - but one of the fibroids is quite large so would make a hysterectomy more complicated as it would not be able to be done laparoscopically or vaginally.

Sadly, doctors don't know enough about fibroids and can be quite dismissive of "women's problems" - I find myself being extremely graphic when I explain to them what is happening - sometimes it shocks them into actually doing something!! I would definitely push to see a consultant gynae and take it from there.

Good luck!

[NameChangedAgain18]

Thanks very much for the reply Jappy. I am going to make another appointment with my GP. I really don't want the Mirena (which seems to be my GP's solution to everything) and can't take tranexamic acid or norrhisterone due to increased seizure risk.

[WipsGlitter]

@Jappydooda I've just found out about the esmya thing so had my lft last week and all's fine! What side effects did you get?

Can you take norethisterone all the time? Or just as a short term solution?

[pilates]

Most GP’s push for the mirena coil. It works for some but not all. It didn’t for me unfortunately.