Fibroids - what treatment did you have?

[20DigitCombination]

I've just been diagnosed with large fibroids. This explains a lot of symptoms I've been having which I thought were due to peri menopause.

I've got to discuss the scan results with my doctor but in the meantime I've been googling treatment options! I was wondering what treatment others were offered, especially at a peri menopausal age.

@SheeshazAZ09 I don’t remember how large the other fibroids were so I can’t say anything about them.

I asked for scans before and after id had a few private acupuncture treatments to assess if they were helping. But my gp was reluctant to send me for a scan let alone more than one, so it’s difficult to know whether it was the acupuncture or my age (peri menopausal) which caused it to shrink, but when he finally allowed a scan after a year it had shrunk a bit.

In my experience GPs don’t think much of acupuncture as they don’t understand it’s potential and don’t like other services fixing their patients when they could prescribe drugs and get commission themselves presumably.

I only just found out they get commission for referring women for their cervical smears. I’m quite shocked.

Thanks everyone, that's really helpful.

My biggest problem from fibroids was heavy bleeding causing anemia.

So far, I have tried tranexamic acid (only mildly helpful, reduced blood flow about 20% but nowhere near enough) and now Mirena coil (has completely eliminated bleeding, incredible, got my life back).

However I'm still suffering a range of other symptoms that I'm convinced are fibroid related so will be going back to see about potential for surgical treatment.

Duvets Mine are 7-9cm and they've recommended the mirena to be fitted by a gynaecologist. I'm already using tranexamic acid as I'm also anaemic. I think that my other symptoms, like the pain and pressing on my bladder, won't be helped by the coil though. I didn't seem to be given a choice.

I hope the Mirena helps. I suspect you're right. It was a bit rocky for me at the beginning but once it settled down has been great and I am glad I have it, I have energy to exercise, play with kids etc but I've got some remaining issues still. I hope you can get your iron up quickly too.

I've had very heavy bleeding for more years now than I care to count. Anyone with these problems has my absolute sympathy.

I'm 54 and have been diagnosed with several fibroids. None huge, but they have been growing and there are several of them. Periods so far showing no signs of stopping.

I've used tranexamic acid for several years but with limited success. I had a mirena coil for 13 months but it made no difference. The flooding continued and the fibroids grew bigger even though the gynaecologist who fitted it was enthusiastic about it and virtually assured me that it was the panacea for all my problems.

I had the mirena removed at the end of January this year after some severe flooding because I could no longer see the point in continuing with it so I threw in the towel.

I have had severe flooding since. I have another appointment with a different gynaecologist at a different hospital on 29th of this month. Another hysteroscopy will be done, but I won't be accepting another mirena coil. I'll be pushing for a hysterectomy. I've absolutely had enough now and just want an end to it.

One of my major and most debilitating floods was happening just 10 days ago on the very day I also lost my lovely Dad. I know that the two events are not at all related, but in my own mind there is a horrible psychological association.

Following I'm in exactly same situation .. I'm 51 and just had scan and apparently my uterus is same size as if I was 16 weeks pregnant due to very large fibroids having horrendous periods..current one has lasted three weeks. I have appointment at end of April to discuss treatment options. Right now a hysterectomy seems like an attractive option but I'm worried about effect on sexual functioning and libido as currently single and not ready to hang my dating shoes up just yet!

I had a hysterectomy about 10 years ago at 51 due to fibroids and it's the best thing I ever did! My surgeon was very keen for me to take HRT but I wanted to wait and just make a few lifestyle changes that I'd read about (soy milk, extra seeds in my diet etc) and in the end, I didn't need it. I was really lucky and had no real menopause issues (slight hot flushes and a bit of forgetfulness but that could be age!). Good luck!

I've had heavy bleeding, flooding, clots for the last 4 years. I saw my GP 3 years ago, had a scan and found I had 2 large fibroids so was given tranexamic acid which just made it more clotty and painful. Referred to gynae and had failed endometrial ablation and fibroid resection in March 19 (I absorbed the irrigation fluid so they had to stop). Tried combined pill and had migraines within days of starting. Had another failed endometrial ablation in Feb 21 as fibroids had grown back and bigger so they couldn't do novasure. Now taking Cerazette but have been bleeding 2 weeks with clots and flooding. If this doesn't work my only option is a hysterectomy which I really don't want but I'm anaemic and my hair is continuously falling out. Fed up.

I wasn't offered anything. Mine were causing problems such as irregular bleeding, heavy periods and pain.

It has massively improved since I lost weight though.

Watching with interest. I have fibroids, endo and adenomyosis. I was offered the mirena but because I have a tilted uterus I was referred to a hospital to have it fitted. I’ve yet to get that appointment and my referral was Dec. My consultant doesn’t think it will help anyway and wants me to think about a hysterectomy - which I’m also waiting on a consultation for. I’m almost 48. No one has mentioned ablation, but I wonder if that’s because I have so much going on in there. .

@user1498645860. have they not offered you embolisation? is it an option?

@CockneyNonRebel

Watching with interest. I have fibroids, endo and adenomyosis. I was offered the mirena but because I have a tilted uterus I was referred to a hospital to have it fitted. I’ve yet to get that appointment and my referral was Dec. My consultant doesn’t think it will help anyway and wants me to think about a hysterectomy - which I’m also waiting on a consultation for. I’m almost 48. No one has mentioned ablation, but I wonder if that’s because I have so much going on in there. .

I asked if I could have a mirena coil as I had one years ago which stopped my periods. As I've got fibroids my gynae consultant said I couldn't have one as they wouldn't be able to get it in, even with u/s guidance because of the fibroids. Embolization wasn't considered for me as he said as I'd had the fibroids resected in 2019 which didn't help my periods it wouldn't be successful.

How are you coping now, User?

I think I’ll get to the point where I either live with the crazy periods until menopause or go for the hysterectomy. I don’t mind the latter so much though I’m frightened of such major surgery if I’m honest, even though I had a 9lb baby via CS.

@CockneyNonRebel

How are you coping now, User?

I think I’ll get to the point where I either live with the crazy periods until menopause or go for the hysterectomy. I don’t mind the latter so much though I’m frightened of such major surgery if I’m honest, even though I had a 9lb baby via CS.

I'm persevering with the Cerazette for now, if after 3 months my periods are no better I'll ask for an alternative mini pill. Failing that, my only other option my gynae consultant has given is hysterectomy but I don't want to be menopausal with all the negativity that comes with it, night sweats, loss of libido etc 😞

I've just had my referral appointment. I've got to have a hystereoscopy and biopsy next before they'll fit a Mirena if they can get it in with the size of my fibroids! If not, I'm not sure what options I have, due to my age (early 50s) as it sounds like they don't want to go down a surgical route.

I think it's normal for them to try less invasive procedures. The coil may well be great for you. I had an embolisation at 51.

I've just started taking cerazette too @user1498645860 I was quite optimistic until I read a post about people having continuous heavy bleeding still! I've got a week until my period is due for the first time since starting it and now i'm dreading it! My gynae agreed to an ablation although he didn't offer it as an option and I had to ask about it. Apparently they couldn't do novasure due to the fibroids making my womb an odd shape and I'd have to have an injection of something to try and shrink my womb first (less keen on that bit as I fear it contains some horrible concoction of hormones).

@emmathedilemma

I've just started taking cerazette too *@user1498645860* I was quite optimistic until I read a post about people having continuous heavy bleeding still! I've got a week until my period is due for the first time since starting it and now i'm dreading it! My gynae agreed to an ablation although he didn't offer it as an option and I had to ask about it. Apparently they couldn't do novasure due to the fibroids making my womb an odd shape and I'd have to have an injection of something to try and shrink my womb first (less keen on that bit as I fear it contains some horrible concoction of hormones).

Sounds like you're the same as me. I've had 2 failed endometrial ablations because of the fibroids - you're correct in that Novasure can't be used if your womb is distorted by fibroids. I had a fibroid resection in 2019 but absorbed the irrigation fluid so they couldn't complete the procedure with a rollerball. My periods were no different so I was offered another attempt at ablation. Turns out my fibroids had grown back in the 2 years between so rollerball couldn't be done either which is why I'm trying Cerazette out of desperation. The injection you need to have before ablation is Prostap which puts you into a chemically induced menopause - awful to say the least for me, migraines, hot sweats, insomnia and cried at everything. I've just started month 2 of Cerazette but I have just had a 2 week heavy period. Hoping they get lighter or stop (please) by month 3. My only other option failing that is a hysterectomy which I would like to avoid.

Aye, we sound like we're going through the same thing @user1498645860 I had an MRI a few weeks ago (it's just over a year since my embolisation and the bleeding is still quite heavy on bad days) and they said my fibroids have shrunk as would be expected (but are still there) but my womb has only shrunk by 20%. I've tried the mirena (made it even worse and bled itself out) and combined pill (never stopped bleeding and had a migraine after 3 weeks) so his only other suggestions were the contraceptive injection or implant which I'm not even considering as there's no option to stop it if it doesn't suit me, cerazette which i'm trying and hysterectomy which seems too extreme especially as he said they probably wouldn't be able to do keyhole due to the size of my womb :(
why is being a woman so miserable sometimes?!?

@emmathedilemma

Aye, we sound like we're going through the same thing *@user1498645860* I had an MRI a few weeks ago (it's just over a year since my embolisation and the bleeding is still quite heavy on bad days) and they said my fibroids have shrunk as would be expected (but are still there) but my womb has only shrunk by 20%. I've tried the mirena (made it even worse and bled itself out) and combined pill (never stopped bleeding and had a migraine after 3 weeks) so his only other suggestions were the contraceptive injection or implant which I'm not even considering as there's no option to stop it if it doesn't suit me, cerazette which i'm trying and hysterectomy which seems too extreme especially as he said they probably wouldn't be able to do keyhole due to the size of my womb :( why is being a woman so miserable sometimes?!?

Being a woman is awful sometimes. We'll have to keep each other updated with the Cerazette and hope it works - there is an alternative mini pill but apparently Cerazette is the most effective for stopping periods - eventually. I think I've mentioned is previously on here but my gynae consultant did say that if my periods were still long / heavy after 3 months I should take 2 Cerazette a day but I'm wary of doing that because of DVT etc. Only time will tell x

Total hysterectomy at 30. Best decision I ever made. Had 2 children so family felt finished. I had 3 very large fibroids and bled all the time. First tried the injections but just bled more. Luckily saw a female consultant who knew her stuff. 20 years on and I don't regret it at all.

@Tweacle

Total hysterectomy at 30. Best decision I ever made. Had 2 children so family felt finished. I had 3 very large fibroids and bled all the time. First tried the injections but just bled more. Luckily saw a female consultant who knew her stuff. 20 years on and I don't regret it at all.

Can I please ask if you had your ovaries and cervix left insitu? If I have to have a hysterectomy I would ideally like the above leaving as I don't want to go into an overnight menopause.

@20DigitCombination

I've just had my referral appointment. I've got to have a hystereoscopy and biopsy next before they'll fit a Mirena if they can get it in with the size of my fibroids! If not, I'm not sure what options I have, due to my age (early 50s) as it sounds like they don't want to go down a surgical route.

This is exactly what they did for me OP. I was 38 and thought I was in early peri menopause because the fibroids were sending me so loopy around my TOTM. Had biopsy and mirena inserted under GA (due to the size of the fibroids) and haven't looked back since. The transformation has been nothing short of amazing, I'm evangelical about Mirena now. It took 6 weeks or so to settle but I'm like a different person now. Periods stopped after about 4-5 months ( previously had 8 day periods, the first 4-5 days incredibly heavy)

Being discharged from hospital this morning following myomectomy for fibroid removal. I had horrendous bleeding and clots and became anemic. Discovered endometriosis on bowel which may need another procedure but will see how bleeding is. Mirena was inserted to stop uterus walls from collapsing and will have it removed in 2 months. Currently very sore and not very mobile as I had 5 laparoscopic holes in abdo. Hope it was worth it!!