Fibroids growing after menopause

[NoMoreFlowers]

He. I’m 55 And I have several large fibroids which have been growing since the menopause. The doctor advised me that they normally shrink due to a lack of oestrogen.

I’m quite concerned about the fact that they’re growing rapidly after menopause.p and I don’t understand why it happens. Has anyone else experienced this, or have any idea about What might be going on. Thank you

How do you know they are growing- presumably you have had a scan?

How are they affecting you?

If you had a scan you'd have been referred to a gynae to look at the scan results? What's their opinion?

Yes they are estrogen-dependent for growth and yes they usually get smaller. The exception can be women who are overweight as fat produces estrogen and that increases the risk of estrogen-driven conditions and some female cancers.

If you have not had a referral to a gynae, ask for this and if you have, ask for a 2nd opinion from another.

The only treatment would be a hysterectomy if you have lots of them- single ones can sometimes be removed.

Many thanks for replying. I’ve had an ultrasound and a follow up with the gynaecologist. He said they are significantly larger than they were 12 months ago. He said that this was unusual but didn’t say why it might happen. I’m waiting for a date for an MRI but I’d like to know why they could be growing. Im not overweight.

I don’t know @NoMoreFlowers but weirdly I’ve just been told the same thing. The hospital seem totally unbothered about it but I’ve been menopausal for several years and am not thrilled about the constant pelvic discomfort I’m now having.

“Single ones can sometimes be removed” so can multiple fibroids, and without undergoing a hysterectomy. These days they are often removed post vaginally rather than abdominally. Though of course that depends on where they are. I have a generous scar but retained my uterus.

Unfortunately they are often seen as something women* have to put up with because although uncomfortable, causing bladder pressure and other unpleasant side effects they are not life threatening. I bet if men got them however..........

• especially as they disproportionally affect black women and middle aged women . Hey ho.

@okbutnotgreat Apparently mine is the size of a 22 week fetus and I need to have it abdominal hysterectomy. I hope you aren’t waiting too long for your MRI. I have mine less than a week after being referred ? Let us know how you get on I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you

@NoMoreFlowers and @Okbutnotgreat
I am reopening this thread to see how your surgeries went, or anyone else who is willing to share experiences.

A close friend has just told me she went to the doctor yesterday and she has a large lump the doctor thinks is probably a fibroid.

She has been complaining for a year or so of an increasing pot belly, tenderness in that area, having to get up in the night to go to the loo, occasional blood, but put it all down to age and stress (high pressure job). She is at least ten years post-menopause.

She has been referred for blood tests and an urgent scan next week - apparently it could possibly be cancerous? They obviously want to rule that out asap.

Can anyone give me any information? Thank you.

I had the same and have just had an abdominal hysterectomy. Sounds very similar to your friend @Scarby9
Massive fibroid, massive pot belly, tenderness, getting up for a wee multiple times in the night. I'm a week post surgery and just out of hospital. Very happy to answer any questions. I hope you're friend is OK

Thank you @Saywhatyoumeanandmeanwhatyousa
I hope you are feeling better now.

My friend had an ultrasound today and it is a 10cm lump but they couldn't tell what it was.

Her GP then phoned at 6pm to say her blood tests show raised levels so she is being booked in for an urgent CT scan. The possibility of cancer - ovarian or bladder - was mentioned but she isn't sure.

She is deaf in one ear and finds hearing people talking in masks very hard, as well as being quite stressed by it all.

How long did you have to wait for surgery after the CT scan (assuming that is the pathway), and how long were you in hospital?

@Scarby9
I didn't have a CT scan, I had a pelvic MRI. It was about 6 weeks from the date of the MRI scan to the date of the surgery and I was in hospital for 7 days. 7 days is a lengthy hospital stay for a hysterectomy, but I was in for longer as I'd previously had a lot of abdominal surgery so the surgery wasn't straightforward.

I had a phone call after the MRI scan saying that the consultant wanted to see me the following day to discuss the results. He'd previously suspected cancer so I feared the worst, but when I got there, he just confirmed that the MRI showed no sign of cancer and got me to sign the consent form for the surgery.

I had to self isolate for 14 days before the surgery and had a COVID test 2 days before the surgery and a further 4 COVID tests while I was in hospital.
As I say, I'm very happy to answer any questions, so please let me know if you have any. Best wishes to your friend, I hope she's OK.

@Saywhatyoumeanandmeanwhatyousa
I wish doctors would tell you if it is good news on the phone! Although I suppose then if they didn't do that, we would all be panicking when they didn't say anything.
My friend hasn't got a date for her CT scan yet ( another urgent referral) - I hope they get it organised soon as zi don't know how much longer she can keep this up. Tjey don't know anything at her work because she doesn't want to upskittle everything until she knows what she is dealing eith and what the consequences might be. So she is still in work, having all the stress and responsibility there, with this niggling away at her. In many ways, of course, being so busy and having to focus at work is a good thing in that it gives her brain a break from the worry, and being at home alone would just give panic time to grow.
I may come back to you when we know more - I really appreciate the offer.
How long do you expect to be recuperating for? And how are you managing now?

@scarby9
I’m managing OK, but still in a fair bit of pain and I’ve still got a catheter in ( i’m not sure whether it’s normal to be discharged from the hospital with a catheter, but mine isn’t being taken out until the middle of next week)
I’ve been told to expect recovery time of between two and three months. I’ve got a large vertical incision and the nurse said that these take much longer to heal than the smaller horizontal incisions which are sometimes used.
To be honest, I think I’d struggle if I lived on my own. It really does knock you for six, but I can see small improvements each day. Even getting out of bed takes me a good 5 or 10 minutes though.

Yes, please do come back to me if you have any further questions.

Thank you @Saywhatyoumeanandmeanwhatyousa, and best wishes for a steady and speedy recovery.