Fibroids - Treatment

[Spinewars23]

Hi,

After a recent scan and hoping I'd misheard during the ultrasound internal I've been advised I have fibroids, its a bit bittersweet in that I'm hoping this might mean some treatment, albeit I have a new problem and that the spinal surgeon team who told me to live with numbness and constipation/urine problems following spine fusion surgery as it part of the course, got it slightly wrong and perhaps the spinal cord injury I got dealt is actually pretty mild as it would be amazing to be free of the weird downstairs.

I'm not like other people who suffer the really heavy periods, I get light ones lasting 24 hours pinky blood instead of deeper colour, have suffered a numb stomach over last 6 months, which has turned to pressure/an uncomfortable feeling, like something is there that wasn't before and occasional tail bone pain which I'd put down to residing sciatica (part of above condition I'd had surgery for) and the latest period, painful as hell. (though I admit to taking period delay tablets before the scan so perhaps it was just extra painful due to this)

Only I'm sure I recall watching one of those behind the GP behind doors programme which was recent and that showed a woman refused surgery as it was actually more of a risk?

I don't know if I'm fertile still (said during scan they also couldn't see ovaries but I understand this could mean a number of things) so don't get if I would be given contraception? my last smear came back as needing another in 12 months and that I was HPV positive.

I've been reading up and one thing I keep seeing is embolisation under local anesthetic - would this mean similar to having an internal?

Could getting treatment that isn't pills take some time? just thinking of the nhs strain.

Thanks for any insights and experiences of blooming Fibroids.

I'm sorry you've had a hard time. Fibroids are actually normal - research finds that by age 50, about 70-80% of women screened have fibroids.. But they do cause problems for some women. Have you seen this NHS page on treatment options? https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fibroids/

Good luck.

Thank you I am 41 and terrified of what a second operation may bring or result in.

I have fibroids. I had a procedure called a laprascopic myomectomy which was basically supposed to be keyhole surgery using cameras to remove the fibroids but it ended up as full open surgery when they got me on the table as although I'd had scans to measure the fibroids, they were larger and more awkward to remove.

Anyway, I had them taken out and lo and behold 3 years later I have more fibroids. I wish I'd taken a bloody hysterectomy like they offered but wanted to preserve my fertility.

It really really varies with fibroids. Size, number, position, and type really matters, and will affect treatment options if you decide to go down that route. I have two small-medium intramural fibroids in an unimportant location and they don't cause me any bother at all. But if yours are large, sunserosal, and pressing against your back, they could cause pain. Or if they're submucosal I believe they are more likely to affect fertility.
You get my drift - info is vital! If you know size, number, type and rough location, people might be able to advise better?

Thank you. I have nearly 2 more weeks wait to see anyone my Mum is going to come along. The wait lists sounds long for anything understandably.

I tried to open my bowel this morning and struggled and since then bight red blood is coming through the vagina (this is way more scary then a long-term fissure or what my recent periods have been like) I’ve seen what it can do to the bowel.

Sorry I'm not following well.
Which of your health problems is caused by the fibroids?
You talked about the spinal surgery causing a load of issues.
Am not sure which problems the fibroids cause you, or make worse.
Usually people seem to blame fibroids for causing endless heavy periods, but OP says her periods aren't like that.

Following trans-vag scan last year, I was told I have "too many to count" fibroids. Maybe all small ones & no womb thickening. I don't believe that the fibroids have ever caused me any problems, though. The relevant symptom I had last year (led to the scan) seems to have been caused by something else.

I hope you find some good ways to manage your issues.

I had an embolisation about 5/6 years ago to treat fibroids which were causing very heavy bleeding/flooding. I was perimenopausal and had had 3 successful pregnancies, so not quite the same situation you're in.

The embolisation was a very straightforward procedure under local anaesthetic. I had been extremely anxious about having anything done as I have a general fear of hospital procedures (to the extent that I'd cancelled the whole thing about 2 years before - I really wished I hadn't!) The nurses and consultant couldn't have treated me better - they were very kind and reassuring indeed. I had 2 nurses looking after me during the procedure and could watch it all happening on screen, while the consultant told me each step he was going through. The whole thing took around 30-45 minutes and I felt no pain at all.

Try not to worry about having this done - the relief you'll feel afterwards will be immense, assuming that it's the fibroids that are causing the problems. Best wishes.