Fibroids - do you have them and what did you do about them?

[LeavesOnTheLine]

I have (what it appears to be) fibroids in my uterus. I went to the GP because I've had a lot of pain in my uterus/weeing urgency and fibroids were on a scan about a year ago. My GP, who is also the specialised gynae GP in the surgery, has felt around and said that my uterus is like a 12 week pregnancy size uterus because the fibroids have grown and probably pressing on my bladder hence the weeing issue.

I can go back and get another scan but she's said, due to my age, that I will likely be faced with 2 options. One will be just wait till menopause as they shrink then and the other is likely to be a hysterectomy which I don't really want.

I'm not having periods because I still take the pill back to back so I'm not suffering with bleeding (I had an ablation 3 years ago anyway).

If you've had them, what did you do and are there likely to be other alternatives (I'm 47).

I was about your age when diagnosed with fibroids causing heavy bleeding leading to anemia.

First option was a hysteroscopy and resection of fibroid under general anaesthetic. Didn't work at all.

Second option was hysterectomy conserving ovaries and cervix through abdominal surgery. This was a brilliant option for me and it's one of the best things I've done.

However, there are different types of fibroids, patients at different stages of life etc. The best thing for me was my gp and my gynaecologist have me lots of information and time and recommendations to help me decide.

Look into uterine artery embolization. If you can get to a trial, it really works well and they shrink without the need for a hysterectomy or major surgery.

I had the uterine artery embolization, but it didn't work really. Still had a huge stomach. So a few years later had a hysterectomy. It couldn't be done with keyhole surgery as uterus was too big.

Thanks all. I will look into this. My stomach is massive too!

I think I better go and try and get another scan so they can see what is going on. I just wish I could hurry up to menopause and get all of this over and done with!

Yes and nothing because Gp didn't recommend anything. Had them about sixteen years.

I had a hysterectomy at 35. Best thing I ever did for myself. It certainly isn't anything to fear. I had mine done vaginally, I was up and about in a few days and back at work in 4 weeks. I felt like a new woman.

OP I had what is termed a myomectomy - surgery to remove the fibroids but not the entire uterus. It worked well.

I had a hysterectomy. Thrilled to finally be pain free after decades of suffering. Wish I had been allowed to have it earlier.

it sounds like there are a few more options than I thought!

yes, the pain is now waking me up at night which is pretty unpleasant. I have been begging for a hysterectomy since I had my last child 18 years ago but they would not do it 'in case I wanted more children' (and I knew I had finished having my family 18 years ago!).

the problem is that now I am so close to menopause, I almost feel I've waited this long, I might as well hobble through the next few years but actually if this pain is going to continue, I won't be able to put up with it. And I do look pregnant!

thanks, I will go and ask for a new scan so they can see how large they have got and take it from there

Op I'd look into whether the menopause would actually alleviate the situation as much as you hope.

I had a hysterectomy when mine was about the size of a 20 week pregnancy. They were inside and outside the uterus so I had to have full surgery and have a long vertical scar. If I'd had it done sooner I might have been able to have it done vaginally but we will never really know.

oh poor you captain, that sounds awful

thanks tobee, I think I need to get some specialist advice rather than just hoping it will go away!

Actually, once I'd got over it (I seem to take ages to recover from General Anaesthetic) I was fine. Better than I'd felt in years due to no more heavy periods. I was 45 and had a new lease of life.

If your last scan was a year ago, the first thing you need to do is get another scan done. A lot can happen in a year.

I have them. They were discovered when I was 47. I was offered a hysterectomy which I declined. As a nurse, I'm very anti surgery on myself! I had a couple of years of heavy periods, but nothing I couldn't cope with. After my periods stopped, my stomach shrank and I've had no issues since.

Fibroids were one of several problems that prompted my hysterectomy.

I had huge fibroids causing me a lot of issues but as I still wanted more children I opted for an open myomectomy. It completely changed my quality of life and I managed to carry twins six months afterwards.

I am just starting to get the niggling pains and heavy bleeding back again so if they have grown back I won't hesitate to have a hysterectomy this time.