Before I Google: post menopausal fibroids

[KatyMac]

I had my ovaries out 15m ago (cyst, bleeding etc) and after everything getting much better

I've had a change in bowels/vaginal bleeding and pain so I have gone back

Scan today is suggesting fibroids - could that be the cause of my symptoms (seems likely)

And last August I had an episode of pain - which (a&e) was attributed to a back spasm and a symptomless UTI (but the Dr admitted she wasn't sure but could the fibroids be a real cause?

You got to love the NHS asked for and got appointment on Monday
Scan and blood test today, hospital on Monday

Anyone?

Could be fibroids as they can press on things if big enough or in/on a certain part of the uterus. They can also increase the risk of UTIs as they can push things around in that area. This can ease up or change though if the fibroid grows, as it stretches the uterus into a different position, much like how the uterus grows in pregnancy.

They can cause bleeding changes in periods, but otherwise possibly due to hormonal variations if the fibroid is impinging on the innermost lining of the uterus, or mechanically, like after sex, if it distorts the position of the cervix.

They can also cause severe pain when degenerating, which is when a part of them outgrows its blood supply. The fibroid tissue gets short of oxygen and dies (later calcifying) - sometimes called an infarction and you will know that a myocardial infarction is very painful, ie heart attack, so it's a similar thing, lasting from several hours to days. Calcification will show up on a scan but it can also occur gradually without pain, so it could be difficult to tell if a particular episode of pain was due to degeneration unless you had close before and after scans, or it's during pregnancy when the foetus "steals" the fibroid's blood supply. Degeneration tends to happen gradually during & after menopause as the blood supply to the uterus diminishes and in response to the changing hormones, which is why women are often told problems due to fibroids will go away after menopause. However, if you've been having any artificial hormones anything could be happening!

Thanks

However, if you've been having any artificial hormones anything could be happening! HRT patches for 12 months!!

I kept saying at the hospital last summer that my back 'goes' occasionally but it never feels like the pain I had at the time - I kept saying it was more like when I had the ectopic more an internal pain

They said as my blood pressure was OK nothing was bleeding so it 'had' to be a back spasm!!

Ah well it doesn't matter except to know I'll suggest it if I have that sort of pain again

So, I guess I'll have options
Stop HRT (please no - I really enjoy sleeping and no HRT meant no sleep - less than 1 hour in any 24.....which is fun when you have CFS/Fibromyalgia)
Hysterectomy (possibly no - I have a partial bladder prolapse and a TVT and a rectocele - everything will fall out!!)
Anything else - remove just the fibroids? is that possible?

Fibroids can be removed on their own or treated to make them smaller, but usually the medics recommend to whip it all out unless needed for child bearing.

Quite worried about the prolapse possibility

Need to talk about that at my appt

I would rather ot have op, prolapse after then have to have a third surgery to support everything back up

Thanks @idlevice

In my experience I don't think the default option is hysterectomy any more. I've made it quite clear to my gynae consultant that I'm of an age where I don't intend to have children but he has never suggested hysterectomy and seems very keen on giving me fibroid treatment options that might (and it's a very big might!) give me a chance of still being able to have them. That said, if you're through the menopause then I'd probably be pushing for one!

Well my menopause was surgical so let's be honest I'm a gibbering wreak!!

So I have 3 cm fibroid, a 1 cm 'collection of fluid' and a slightly thickened womb lining/wall 6mm

so they are doing a hysteroscopy (under sedation)

tbh not sure if that would account for the pan and the bowel changes although I'm sure it accounts for the bleeding