Fibroids - have you had them removed?

[Firsttimer7259]

I have fibroids and have a large abdomen (am 10 months post baby) and heavy periods. I would like to know if anyone has had theirs removed or otherwise reduced. Details of how big they were, what problems you had, how they were removed, what happened next would be really helpful.

I currently am about a size 12 but a size 16 round the middle. Wondering what my options are beyond looking permanently pregnant.

Bump!

No answers from me but I'm curious.

bump?

yes, had abdonminal myomectomy in march 2005, had many large fibroids..1 was 20cm..had DD October 06, they haven't grown back (still have large belly as i get water retention there now though!)

problems i had were huge belly and problems conceiving

I had a fibroid removed by myomectomy in July 2003 - it was the size of a pineapple (why doctors relate fibroids to fruit I don't know!)

It took me a good while to conceive but I didn't try for at least three years post op - and who knows whether that was due to op, or the fact that I still have two in there (kumquat and grape...), or the fact I am getting on a bit...

After the op my periods (which were very very heavy and long) went 'normal' and were far less painful.

When I went in for my op I was warned that the operation itself carried a risk (that is, that the op might not work out leading to hysterectomy) but I just couldn't go on with the fibroids as they were.

Before that though, before the fibroid got too big, I had a Mirena coil which helped a great deal for a good couple of years. Perhaps this is an option for you, certainly with the heavy periods, if you don't fancy the operation? Can't help with the big belly as am a bit of a chunk myself and have never known the joy of a washboard stomach... x

i was told it depends whether they are inside the uterus or embedded in the wall. mine are in the wall so my consultant could only offer a hysterectomy as he said it was too dangerous to dig them out of the wall.
they have started to shrink now as i am post menopausal

bump

Thanks for these replies. Not too positive but..how would the mirena coil help? I really struggle with my periods, do you have tricks to help? I have lots of flooding, leaving the house is a risky business. This isnt really a sustainable situation but I am too young for a hysterectomy (?) I am only 35..that is too young isnt it. What can I do??

Bump. I'm 37 and in a similar situation OP.

OP do you know how big they are? if youhavehad a scan they should be able to tell you.

I have a small fibroid and have been told they are very common- as many as 50% of women have them.

A friend had one removed- as big as a grapefruit. Sh e was given hormone injections before the op to shrink it.

You really need to discuss this all withyour consultant. The thing is, not all fibroids give rise to massive bleeds- you need to determine if yours is making you bleed more, or if you would bleed heavily anyway.

Second, they are not always the cause of big bellies- my friend thought she would lose her tummy after the op but it was in fact down to being overweight ( sorry friend!)
She also found her periods were more or less the same.

The Mirena will thin the lining of your uterus so you will not bleed so much- so that's an option. You could also ask about endometrial ablation.

I think you need to be advised whether your heavy bleeding is due to the fibroid or not- it's not always the case.

The consultant and my GP think the heavy bleeding is due to the fibroids, I dont know how you go about proving that conclusively.

I have several fibroids (5 big ones and lots of little ones), and have had several scans over the past 5 years. Pre pregnancy my uterus measured 12 weeks pregnant due to fibroids. POst pregnancy all they will tell me is that my uterus is larger than 12 weeks.

In terms of taking them out I have been advised that its likely the little ones will grow to take the place of those removed. So not a long term solution. I thought I would wait until I had lost the pregnancy weight and then see. I now have about 5kgs left to lose. There is still some fat on there but not lots but the belly itself is huge. I cant work out if i just need to get stronger stomach muscles or if its the size of my uterus. I dont want to be overly vain and I am concerned that having fibroids removed could damage my fertility. We might want a second child...but I do find how I look upsetting. I could try to lose even more weight in the hope that it would help my tummy look a bit less bulgy. But from past experience I find it difficult to maintain my weight much lower than what I am aiming for.

I was offered the mirena coil but decided to wait until my body settled down after pregnancy. Did you find it helped with the periods? There seems to be a lot of anti-mirena discussion on here. I am thinking of getting one because at the moment it does feel like my periods couldn't get much worse.

When I have been advised on what to do, I always think the best option seems to be to do nothing. But I am finding the situation more and more difficult to live with.

You need to remember that your uuterus is the size of a small pear- even at 12 weeks pg it is not going to be large enough to really distend your tummy that much.

Lose weight, do some exercises then think about the Mirena.

OK I dont get this. How can my uterus be the size of a small pear if it has several fibroids the size of oranges in it?

I guess there is too much variation in fibroids to get much from this kind of discussion thread. Looking at my posts I guess the thing is I am moving towards considering surgery as my symptoms are getting worse. Still not there yet as the better solutoon in terms of more children is doing nothing.

I have been googling herbal remedies regarding fibroids. Its tempting but I suspect its a bunch of hokum