HRT and fibroids/ adenomyosis

[Runaround50]

I've been experiencing left side and abdominal pain for a while now. I had a CT scan a couple of weeks ago and it revealed a bulky uterus: all other organs including ovaries were fine.

A fibroid was also found last September.

GP has referred me for a full pelvic scan now, too see what's going on.

I think the HRT ( patch and coil ) is aggravating what ever is in the womb. When I take my patch off for a few days, abdominal pain subsides considerably. Trouble is, I need HRT to function properly, otherwise bladder and anxiety cause issues.

I'm going to request a Hysterectomy going forward, but unsure how to proceed in the meantime.

Anyone experiencing similar?

I'm 52 and post menopausal.
Thanks.

You want the adenomyosis/ fibroids/ endometriosis ( it’ll be one or a combination of these) that’s causing the pain to be removed . You want to keep the uterus in place if possible ,otherwise you’re at real risk of bladder prolapse and leakage. I had mine chopped , lasered and ablated to the point it’s now a hunk of scar tissue but the darn things still there and I can still bounce on trampolines and run after the kids. I was premenopausal when all these conditions kicked off and I had them treated surgically with 3 different procedures. I don’t bleed or cramp now even though I’m still having some sort of cycle. So all the benefits of hysterectomy, none of the bad side effects. Worth paying for 3 surgeries too ( I’ll be 50 by the time I clear the loan but it’s so worth it to have a normal body now).

Won't the fibroids etc just grow back eventually? I think I would prefer to have the lot removed as i don't need a womb etc etc.

If you have a Mirena coil it ought to be controlling the adeno to an extent.

I think you have had private gynae care unless I'm confusing you with someone else? TBH I'd ask for a range of opinions (more than one) before you decide on surgery. You need a surgeon who is very experienced in this.

@JinglingSpringbells thanks

Yes I've been under a private menopause specialist, but these gynae issues have unfortunately reared their ugly head in the last few months.

The fact that I gave a bulky uterus, even with the mirena in situ, worries me greatly.

Once I've had the scan, I will indeed request a referral to a gynaecologist and take it from there.

OP I had my total hysterectomy several years ago due to fibroids and Endo.

No bad side effects at all. It has been life changing, although I couldn’t leave the house due to such heavy periods so that was especially life changing. Being pain free for the first time in decades is absolutely amazing.
I have done daily PFE since my 20’s so no leakage, everything hunky dory. I hope you have a sympathetic gynae, I had to repeatedly beg for my hysterectomy, and it took me nearly 5 years to get it! Don’t give up if that’s the way you want to go. I hope you don’t have to wait too long to be seen to get the ball rolling.

A bulky uterus just means it's a bit bigger over the total area and that will be because of the adeno. (It's nothing nasty or dangerous.)

@TwoFourSixEightNeverTooLate Thanks is for sharing your story. I think a total hysterectomy is the way to go, once these gynae issues appear. 5 years ?? Wow, that's a long time to wait! What persuaded to them in the end?

Thanks @JinglingSpringbells

Will see what the scan reveals and take it from there i think. Need to work out what to do about HRT in the interim.

One thought- could you coil have moved and be the cause of the pain?

I'm in similar boat. Told by the menopause 'expert' to either suck up the peri-meno symptoms or the gynae ones.. can't solve both apparently!!??! I feel your pain but have no answers I'm afraid. Following in hope...

@JinglingSpringbells well, this did cross my mind re the migration of the coil. CT scan revealed it was in the uterus area. Maybe an ultrasound would determine its exact location?

@hursty900 sorry you are also suffering. It's rubbish isn't it? I'm deliberating what to do. Solidarity. X

I had jumped through every hoop already e.g coil, P.o.P, and was constantly anaemic. Ablation can fail so I refused and I’d had enough. DH came to my appointment with me and I just sat there in floods of tears. They had run nearly 2 hours over for my appointment, I was the final one of the day. I imagine they agreed just so they could go home!

Good for you @TwoFourSixEightNeverTooLate !
Why do they drag their heels when it comes to a hysterectomy? It's so unfair I think.

Hi Itaintover
I know your post was last year - just wondering how much private gyne surgeries are; money quite tight but I feel I am losing my life to chronic pelvic pain and with multiple fibroids , although had successful Ablation so no more bleeding the pain is getting me really down. Multiple fibroids but the biggest I am told 1.5cm so don't think they think it causing pain - but surely if I have multiple of these they could be?? Thanks

@K73c You might find the answer online- google. Many private hospitals give figures on their websites. It's around £6K for a hysterectomy and I'd assume fibroid removal was about the same. But if yours are small they shouldn't be painful.

@K73c just found this thread as searching for posts about fibroids and pelvic pain etc Hope you don't mind me asking but what are your symptoms? I was told a couple of years ago that I have 2 large fibroids but, by that time, I'd finished having periods so they weren't causing me any problems. However, the last couple of weeks I've had some weird pelvic pains, almost as if I've been exercising and suffering from aches the next day (I haven't).