Please can anyone advise me about fibroids?

[busyteachermummy]

Hi, I have been suffering from very heavy periods since the birth of my second child. At Christmas I had an awful period so went to my doctor who advised getting the coil. ( I can't have combined pill due to migraines) At no point was the cause of the heavy periods investigated.
So since January I have bled continuously ( not heavy but every day). Doctor prescribed mini pill to take alongside coil to see if this would help but I'm still bleeding everyday.
When I went for my six week coil check they couldn't find it so I was referred for ultrasound scan.
At the scan they found the coil in the correct place but also found a 2cm fibroid.
The receptionist from the surgery rang after to say doctor didn't need to see me as coil was in place but I've requested to see the doctor about continous bleeding and the fibroid.
My doctor can be very dismissive.
What I would like to know is uf the fibroid is causing the bleeding? If it is can they treat it? What can she do to stop the bleeding?
I don't want to be fobbed off so want as much knowledge as possible.
I know the coil can take a while to settle down but this is 5 months now and I cant help feeling that the fibroid is causing the bleeding.
Thanks for reading this long post and any advice you can give me would be great.

Hi,

Sorry to hear you're going through this. Some medical professionals can be so dismissive of "women's problems". It sounds like It's affecting you on a daily basis. No one should have to put up with that. Go and see a different GP and stress how it's affecting your quality of life on a daily basis.

I had a fibroid removed . It was day surgery. In at 7am home by 4pm. It changed my life. I didn't realise how badly it had affected me, I felt so free afterwards! You don't have to put up with this. Apparently you can't get pregnant either if you have fibroids,

Good luck and (((hugs)))

Yes fibroids can certainly effect your periods, make them heavier, last longer (even bleeding every day) especially if they are implanted in the lining of the womb, they seem to have a bleeding timetable of their own. I speak from personal experience.

Don't let your GP fob you off. Try another one at your practice or consider moving surgeries. You don't have to put up with this. Also, this continual blood loss can lead to anaemia which is very debilitating.

Hope you get sorted soon, you have my sympathy. It's uncomfortable, boring and draining.

Thanks to both of you for your replies. I'm definitely going to explain the affect its having on me
So do you think I should push for the fibroid to be removed? I'm concerned that the doctor will try to say the coil is the only treatment for fibroids but its clearly not working in my case!

No the coil is not the only treatment for fibroid. For example, I had a fibroid resection by hysteroscopy in December. I do know different treatments can be offered depending on whether you have finished your family, age etc. I was to have the mirena coil fitted at the time of my op but because of my cervix being too open they didn't fit it. I'm due to have a hysterectomy in June but that was my choice as I'm an old crock and am fed up with periods and being anaemic.

Sorry, meant to say size, number and position of fibroid will effect what you are offered. I think drugs can also be an option.

Thanks Tobee, we don't want anymore kids so am happy to use the coil for contraception.
I'll really push for further treatment for the fibroid. Its good to know there's other options.

My fibroids were found when I was a few weeks pregnant, but they probably have been the cause of my heavy, painful periods since I was a teenager. I think you should ask for a referral to a gynecologist who can explain the options (there are several!) and the implications of each.

It's unlikely that a single 2cm fibroid is the sole cause but if you've got one you've probably got more not seen on scan. Fibroids have a fantastic blood supply and can increase the surface area of the endometrium so cause heavy periods. They don't generally cause bleeding between your periods though. If your periods aren't at all heavy but are every day then that's likely because of the coil. Generally this will have settled within 6 months of fitting (assuming it's a mirena and not a copper coil) but if it hasn't then progesterone only contraception might not be for you.

As for treatment of fibroids, if that was causing you to have very heavy periods, that depends on the type of fibroid and whether it was in the muscle of the womb, pushing into the inside or pushing into the outside. It's not quite as simple as just removing them for most fibroids.

If it's the light daily bleeding that's bothering you and you don't want to wait longer and see it sorts itself you're better having the coil out. If you then have heavy periods you could either go on the combined pill (assuming you don't have serious contraindications) or if you're sure your family are complete get a Gynae referral to discuss hysteroscopy and treatment to any polyps/fibroids within the cavity or an endometrial ablation.

In my experience fibroids can cause bleeding between periods but then so can the coil! I had some small fibroids under the lining of the womb (submucousal(?)) which were thought to cause some mid cycle bleeding. Because of their position they couldn't remove them, only trim them down. A mirena was put in at the same time and I then bled lightly for 9 months! I could take no more and had it removed and, although my periods are quite heavy, I don't bleed in between anymore and I know what I prefer. ......

I think this talk of coils causing the bleeding may be a red herring. I have never had a coil, and still had constant bleeding and very heavy periods until the fibroid was removed. Anecdotal evidence from friends suggests similar . Go and get yourself a referral to a specialist . All you are asking for is treatment that will enable you to lead a normal, healthy life everyday of the month, without being constantly dragged down by anaemia. X

I second Lindor's comment.

Thanks everyone

Just thought I'd update- saw the doctor today, she was actually great.
She has told me to stop taking the mini pill( which I was taking when the coil had gone missing) , to see if that settles things down .
She has also done some swabs just to rule out any infections.
If I'm still bleeding in 2-3weeks time and there's no infection she said I will be referred to gynaecologist as there's nothing else really she can do.
She also said the type of fibroid I have(intermural?) usually doesn't cause too many problems.
So very happy she's taken it seriously.
Thanks again for everyone's advice.

Glad to hear your appointment went well. hopefully you'll soon be sorted!