Help with fibroid - share your good news stories

KatyN · 09/12/2025 02:16

I had Freddie the fibroid and his friend removed 9 years ago. I went from a super plus tampon every hour to a regular tampon for a whole day.
and stopped the anemia and all the other horrible side effects

JinglingSpringbells · 09/12/2025 08:52

It's unusual for a fibroid that size to cause bleeding as you're describing.

Not doubting you're bleeding but...

I wonder.....something to think about.
Could it be that it's not the fibroid at all that is causing the bleeding, but menopause itself if you're having irregular periods at all now.
Are they sure they can't give you a Mirena now?
If you're menopausal has anyone suggested HRT or if you're under 50 the combined Pill to stop the bleeding?

disappearingfish · 09/12/2025 08:55

I had a hysterectomy. Brutal at the time but life changing.

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 09/12/2025 09:31

They thought they could remove my fibroid, turns out it was the size of a grapefruit and had junked it's surroundings. I had experienced 20 years of heavy periods, severe anaemia, issues with bowel and bladder, twitching legs, due to the pressure in the area and exceptionally heavy bleeding. I had to go private, as NHS said deal with it and iron pills and medication had no effect at all, so what I thought was an operation to remove fibroids turned into a hysterectomy to remove one! A month later back at work and a life radically changed for the better. I had no idea how awful I felt, how much I overcompensated fitness wise till the issue disappeared.

MiddleAgedDread · 09/12/2025 09:48

I can’t remember how big mine were but nothing too huge, but I had 2 or 3. Mine were treated with uterine artery embolisation and it was life changing! Also went from flooding a super plus tampon every 1-2hours to actually having to remember to change regular ones.

HelpMeUnpickThis · 09/12/2025 10:48

I have one. I am on the waiting list for an opp to remove.

In the meantime, they fitted me with a Mirena coil. Fitting was painful as it caught on the fibroid. Took painkillers for 1 or 2 days after the fitting.

It was fitted on July/Aug this year and I bled daily for the following 4- 5 months which was horrible. So much so that I went back twice and asked them to remove it.

However the bleeding has finally stopped. I have had 3 weeks of no bleeding now.

This next comment is not as
important as your uterine health but the Mirena has made my breasts HUGE and I was someone in no need of augmentation in any way.

I am upset about this, but I knew I would not be happy with the Mirena hormones before it went it; I have always hated artificial hormones so was never going to be keen/objective.

That said, I am grateful the bleeding has stopped - it’s such a relief.
My huge-boobed self doesn’t have to change sheets all the time, wear black all the time, be scared to sit down on light coloured chairs in a meeting room etc

I hope you find something that works for you.

Good luck with it all. 💐

RollyPollyBatFace · 09/12/2025 10:57

A fibroid of that size won’t cause the bleeding you describe. I’m not a doctor of course but I’d be amazed! Far more likely is menopause - which causes heavy flooding periods in a lot of women.

I went from 30 weeks Ed years of periods where I never experienced a single period pain and a light flow every month to severe flooding.

depressingly it was normal and not connected to anything else, fibroid or otherwise

Blabla81 · 09/12/2025 11:08

My fibroid grew to the size of a small melon, so much so, that my whole uterus was displaced. My bleeding was horrendous for years but in the last year it was beyond horrendous - just gushing out of me. I was struggling to urinate and was dangerously anemic. I had my much awaited hysterectomy almost a year ago and it is such a relief. The procedure wasn’t straight forward and I needed transfusions of blood and iron but I’d still the best thing I ever did. A hysterectomy was the only good news I was going to get.

gofibrogofibrogo · 09/12/2025 11:30

Is it intramural, subserosal or submucosal? I have a 9/10cm subserosal fibroid (grapefruit sized) but my consultant is pretty confident that it's actually peri and progesterone imbalance and thickened lining causing my flooding, not the fibroid itself (because it's on the outside). 3cm is 'relatively' small - but it will depend on what type it is. Like others have mentioned I'd want to know if it's definitely not peri causing the flooding before you decide to have it taken out...

evespudding · 09/12/2025 12:29

I had a similar experience to you. Extremely heavy bleeding and flooding for a long time, very anaemic. Debilitating so couldn't participate in normal life. At worst point passed out and blue lighted to A&E before was finally taken seriously. Can't remember the size of the fibroid but wasn't huge but it was pulling my uterus down and out. Had the injection to induce menopause twice to shrink the fibroid before having it removed. Things improved after that and felt much better, started to get my life back. Was a day patient and operation was straightforward and recovery was quick. As soon as possible had a mirena fitted and have had one ever since. As I understand it this prevents recurrence and as uterine cancer is in my family, helps prevent this developing.

longtompot · 09/12/2025 12:39

@JinglingSpringbells I had one about 3-5cm and several other smaller ones which were causing me very heavy blood loss. At its lowest, my ferritin was 3 and I honestly felt like death.
@meandmygirl1 I had a hysterectomy and it has been the best thing I have ever done, even despite some annoying symptoms now, nothing is as bad as the flooding and clots etc. I was 52, so you might be too young for this route just yet.

Fearfulsaints · 09/12/2025 12:50

I have a small fibroid and the surgeon was very sure its location was causing the constant heavy bleeding and not perimenopause.

It was supposed to be removed during a hysteroscopy with gas and air as an option, but after a good look around she said it was too complicated so its still there and I have to go back under a general. I cant tell if the surgery will work as im on a waiting list to join the waiting list.

I have a mirena in already.

Disturbia81 · 09/12/2025 12:56

I had my womb taken out and I’m not joking it’s solved so many problems aside from the fibroid. Skin, hair, hormonal issues. Periods never bothered me but I feel free!

OpalSpirit · 09/12/2025 13:12

RollyPollyBatFace · 09/12/2025 10:57

A fibroid of that size won’t cause the bleeding you describe. I’m not a doctor of course but I’d be amazed! Far more likely is menopause - which causes heavy flooding periods in a lot of women.

I went from 30 weeks Ed years of periods where I never experienced a single period pain and a light flow every month to severe flooding.

depressingly it was normal and not connected to anything else, fibroid or otherwise

I don’t think the size alone dictates the effect, also type and location. In fact, I think I remember a doctor telling me the smaller ones can be worse for this.

Op, I had a hysterectomy and it changed my existence.
Good luck

IHeartFridays · 09/12/2025 14:22

Size didn’t determine bleeding levels in my case. OP I had a few fibroids, couple size of tennis balls and a few tiny ones (1-2cm). I went through all the stages of treatment, mirena, tranaemic acid, ablation. They all helped to an extent but ultimately I had a hysterectomy- it was seriously life changing. They think it was the one on the surface (tiny) rather than the ones in the walls that caused the bleeding. Best wishes for tomorrow, hopefully it helps. The lady scheduled for the next operation after me was just having the fibroid removed rather than her womb and she pretty much left the hospital feeling fine before I was properly awake!!!

Onthemoooove · 09/12/2025 14:45

OpalSpirit · 09/12/2025 13:12

I don’t think the size alone dictates the effect, also type and location. In fact, I think I remember a doctor telling me the smaller ones can be worse for this.

Op, I had a hysterectomy and it changed my existence.
Good luck

Show quote history

Agree 100% a consultant said exactly this. I had small fibroids that caused HORRENDOUS bleeding. Had them removed several times but they grew back, rinse & repeat. They eventually shrunk at menopause but if I had my time again would've had a hysterectomy and spared myself all that grief.

JinglingSpringbells · 09/12/2025 14:59

longtompot · 09/12/2025 12:39

@JinglingSpringbells I had one about 3-5cm and several other smaller ones which were causing me very heavy blood loss. At its lowest, my ferritin was 3 and I honestly felt like death.
@meandmygirl1 I had a hysterectomy and it has been the best thing I have ever done, even despite some annoying symptoms now, nothing is as bad as the flooding and clots etc. I was 52, so you might be too young for this route just yet.

That's more than the OP though, because you had several.
Pleased you got sorted. The way they work now is to avoid a hysterectomy as far as possible, partly because it's a bigger op and can have a downside too.
Pleased you're okay!

Starbri8 · 09/12/2025 15:00

I had a uterine fibroid the size of a small plum that was picked up on a scan it had been causing a lot of pain . A few months ago I had the worst searing hot pain I have ever experienced , it almost made me throw up, then I felt I had passed something , not to be graphic but when I checked my underwear there was a a hard fibrous mass. Took picture and doctor told me you can’t pass a fibroid … Dr google said otherwise … subsequent scan showed no fibroid . No more ongoing pain.

Disturbia81 · 09/12/2025 15:53

Starbri8 · 09/12/2025 15:00

I had a uterine fibroid the size of a small plum that was picked up on a scan it had been causing a lot of pain . A few months ago I had the worst searing hot pain I have ever experienced , it almost made me throw up, then I felt I had passed something , not to be graphic but when I checked my underwear there was a a hard fibrous mass. Took picture and doctor told me you can’t pass a fibroid … Dr google said otherwise … subsequent scan showed no fibroid . No more ongoing pain.

That’s mad, I wonder how it got out of your cervix!?

Disturbia81 · 09/12/2025 15:55

JinglingSpringbells · 09/12/2025 14:59

That's more than the OP though, because you had several.
Pleased you got sorted. The way they work now is to avoid a hysterectomy as far as possible, partly because it's a bigger op and can have a downside too.
Pleased you're okay!

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Shame as getting rid of the womb has been all positive for me and wish it was more routinely offered to women once they are done with kids. I’m not sure what the downsides could be.

JinglingSpringbells · 09/12/2025 17:23

Disturbia81 · 09/12/2025 15:55

Shame as getting rid of the womb has been all positive for me and wish it was more routinely offered to women once they are done with kids. I’m not sure what the downsides could be.

Show quote history

You can read about the negatives of the op.

The downsides are possible prolapse later in life, damage to the bowel or bladder during the op and an earlier menopause in women not yet post menopausal (but they can of course try HRT.)

Disturbia81 · 09/12/2025 17:42

JinglingSpringbells · 09/12/2025 17:23

You can read about the negatives of the op.

The downsides are possible prolapse later in life, damage to the bowel or bladder during the op and an earlier menopause in women not yet post menopausal (but they can of course try HRT.)

Show quote history

Early menopause is if ovaries removed.
Prolapse if cervix removed.
I’m talking about just the womb. Anyway I’m mid 40s and feel so free without it.

KnightonShiningArmour · 09/12/2025 18:05

Can you get uterine fibroid embolisation instead of a myomectomy? It’s so much less invasive. I’ve had both the UFE procedure had a better outcome and quicker recovery time.

pkt3chgirl · 09/12/2025 18:10

I had a fibroid the size of a 32 week fetus. I just assumed I was getting fat and was miscarrying. Ended up in A&E and the doctor who saw me knew straight away I had a fibroid from my shape. I was on a drug for 6 months that gave me a false menopause and the first two months were awful on that drug. After that the bleeding and menopausal symptoms stopped it was fine and just waiting for an operation date. When I had it removed, the consultant brought all the students to have a poke at me.

Post myomectomy I dropped two dress sizes and had normal (for me) periods. It’s been 11 years since the removal and it’s only now that my periods have been going mad again but it’s my adenomyosis at fault there.

Hang in there, it will get better post operation.

Allisnotlost1 · 09/12/2025 18:11

meandmygirl1 · 08/12/2025 22:04

I have just been diagnosed with a fibroid which is tiny compared to some I had read about here - it’s 3 cm - but it’s causing me to bleed heavily all the time. I am on iron tablets and transmexic acid and have just been given injection for false menopause that lasts three months; but I am still bleeding so much.

I am scheduled for operation to remove as much of the fibroid as they can as it’s in womb wall and then get coil fitted.

I am so fed up and wondered if anyone had any good news stories to share about treatment working to give me some hope.

I have similar sized submucosal fibroid. It’s small compared to some but the submucosal ones are bastards. Which injection are you using? I had Prostap, monthly for the last couple of years and it was a godsend. It’s not usually available for so long but I had other medical issues which made surgery a challenge. From memory it took about a month for the bleeding to subside.