Fibroids Hell.

[ConfusedDotty]

I have just been diagnosed with fibroids after a couple of years with very painful periods. I can actually feel a large lump low down in my abdomen. I have had an ultrasound which confirms I have multiple fibroids which are about 5cm each.

The thing is I have a a hospital appointment today for a biopsy to determine they are benign. I have my period, it’s so heavy and shows no signs of easing any time soon. I have lost so much blood recently I have had to have emergency transfusions and iron infusions. I am going to have to ring in sick today for the second day in a row, which I am so worried about. I cannot go into work worried that I am going to bleed over everything.

I suppose my question is, would you still go the gynaecologist appointment or do I need to cancel the appointment? Also has anyone successfully had fibroids treated?

Go. Any delay will hold up potential treatment. Gynaes are used to copious amounts of blood and seeing just how much you're losing might focus their minds a little.

There are lots of options for treating fibroids from tranexamic acid through Mirena, ablation, hysterectomy and more.

I was you about two years ago - I had horrendous bleeding and although I was never ill enough to need a transfusion, I was very iron deficient and the bleeding seriously limited my life. I had a hysterectomy and quite honestly it's the best thing I ever did. Do not be fobbed off with "it's just normal heavy periods" as it's quite clearly not.

Good luck :-)

Piper thank you, I am at the end of my tether, cleaning the bathroom floor yet again at 4am. My gynaecologist seems very clued up and said it’s very unusual to lose enough blood to need a transfusion, so I am trusting her. Thanks for the reassurance, I was going to suggest a hysterectomy as I am 49 now and menopause can’t be that far away for me. I just want my life back.

Also if they are used to blood that makes me feel better, she booked the appointment for me last week and she knew where I was in my cycle at that point. Thanks.

Definitely go. It could be ages until the next appointment. Good luck.

Go to the appointment lovely, when you ring in sick you can say you are happy to explain the circumstances in person and that you have a medical appointment which will hopefully help you move on with the problem.

I was 44 when I had my hysterectomy. I cried on the GP when she said that menopause could be 10 years away as I just couldn't see how I was going to get through it. Tranexamic acid worked a bit, cut the flow by about 25%, then I had a Mirena which was fabulous for about a year until the fibroid started to grow and pushed it out of my cervix and made it useless. We had discussions about ablation but the fibroids were the wrong sort for that apparently.

Hysterectomy had to be a full open procedure because of the size of the fibroids - smaller fibroids can be dealt with by a vaginal or keyhole hysterectomy.

There are lots of options out there and you don't have to suffer through this. It is SO lovely to skip past the san pro aisle in teh supermarket and not have to sleep wearing incontinence pads and on a couple of towels to preserve the bed linen.

Thank you all, so many successful outcomes for you all, it’s made me hopeful and also a bit teary. I am definitely going, I need to get this sorted. I will let you know, appointment is not until 4pm.

You have all my sympathy- it is so miserable and debilitating. Please go to the appointment, they are well used to women bleeding at appointments. I had fibroids removed when I was 50 and it made a huge difference and my periods were manageable for the first time in years. My periods finally finished at 54 (I am now 57) and I have never felt better (despite the usual menopausal issues). It is such a blessed relief and liberation to be free of periods.

Good luck, it will get better.

I would still go. My mum had fibroids for 3 years and had painful heavy periods that could last weeks. She would phone me and just cry because she was exhausted. She had a hysterectomy and once she had recovered she was back to normal. I really hope you get help soon.

My best friend had fibroids. They made her life hell. She would frequently flood- when she was at work or out this was obviously extremely distressing. They gradually got worse until she had them removed 7 years ago when she was 35. She's never looked back- she has absolutely no problems now and has her life back. Good luck x

Hysterectomy is the only answer. It will change your life for the better.
No woman should be made to suffer like you are. Tell the gynaecologist you need a hysterectomy asap!

All done. I had the best gynaecologist ever, he examined me, listened to me and said I shouldn’t have to go on like this and I am now booked in for a hysterectomy in October. I was actually crying with relief.

Thank you all for your kind words. I can’t believe I don’t have to put up with this any longer and can get my life back on track.

That's brilliant news OP :)

That’s brill Dotty. I tried mirena, ablation and am now having a hysterectomy - seeing surgeon at the end of October - so wish that I did that straight away instead of two years down the line.

Great news. Your hysterectomy will give you your life back .

good news, glad to hear it! I have told my story before on here, but I had the horrific 'slaughter house bathroom' bleeding from fibroids, some as big as grapefruit, some oranges. Also needed transfusions and months of iron. Surgery was a total non-event, although radical hysterectomy. Home in less than 20 hours, walked out and home with no prescription pain killers needed, absolutely fine. Keyhole was done (think Edward Scissor-hands surgeon) and it was literally like a spa-day. You will be so pleased when it is all over.

That's marvellous news. It can seem interminable at the time, but you now have the end in sight! I'm sure you will feel like a different woman when you have had it done.

So glad to hear it OP

Brilliant. Now to prepare for the operation. Did the surgeon discuss how it would be done? recovery times for keyhole or vaginal are a lot shorter than when they have to do a full abdominal cut.

Have you help at home? You will need someone around for the first few days at least as you're not allowed to lift things or drive.

Hi
I had horrendous fibroids and I was at the stage of hysterectomy discussions when I saw a new consultant. She put me on Esmya tablets - www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/3951/smpc
The bleeding stopped within a couple of days and after about 4 months on them, it never came back. I was 48 at the time though so pre menopausal. Just worth asking about before you go down the hysterectomy route.
Hope this helps.

I will be having it via my abdomen due to the number of fibroids I have. I have my DP at home, so that’s ok. The nurse said anywhere between 6 to 12 recovery time, would that be right?

Moon, thanks and I am glad that worked for you. I am going straight for the hysterectomy due to the blood loss and the need for regular blood transfusions and iron infusions. I just want it over and done with.

The doctor offered to get me booked in next week but I had told him I had a holiday booked and he suggested hormone tablets to delay my next period and have the op when I get back home.

I have to say the treatment I have received from my GP and the hospital have been amazing considering I only first seen my GP about this end of August.

I had mine abdominally and have a lovely huge scar over my bikini line. It's a major operation. I had the operation on a Tuesday teatime and had three nights in hospital before going home. You will be catheterised which isn't hugely pleasant but means you don't have to get out of bed for the first 12 hours-ish. Take a nightie!

First few days were rought but after that it was so much better :-)

Hi
Great nes that you are getting treated so quickly. I also suffered from fibroids and had a hysterectomy. It transformed by life and health. I had a full abdom8nal one too and had previously had a c section. They will get you up pretty quickly - I was up less than 12 hours after my im really sorry ie first thing the next morning. Worst moment the removal of the catheter and after that a little bit of exercise every day. Best advice I was given was drink peppermint tea as lots of gas in your system post operation.

All the best. You will feel a different person in a months time. 😀

Oops. Didnt check before posting. Delete I’m really sorry and replace with operation - autocorrect!,

Yes they want that catheter out asap. It's a bit like after having a baby, the nurses become obsessed with you peeing and praise you when you fill the bedpan ;-)

I was back driving short distances after three weeks. By the time I got home I was fairly independent and could shower myself, dress, make a cup of tea but found I got tired quickly. Walking is great exercise and low-impact too.