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Original poster

Shrinking fibroids

30 replies

Sortmylifeout52 · 06/09/2023 20:49

Can fibroids shrink naturally?

I have one outside my uterus wall and its putting pressure on my uterus causing it to be bulky.

I'm also in some discomfort now, in the respect of a full heavy feeling in my abdomen and spotting.

I've been on HRT for a good while and believe it may have contributed or caused this problem.

After a gynae appointment today, where a womb biopsy was taken and an MRI of the fibroid requested, I'm taking myself off HRT. I'm
scared of it growing any bigger ( it's already 6cm!!)

Any success stories of these fibroids shrinking? Otherwise it's surgery or embolisation, I'm guessing?

Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 06/09/2023 21:00

P.s I've been prescribed norethistone for bleeding. Anyone take that for fibroid bleeding?

Thanks

OP posts:
RedDoughnut · 06/09/2023 21:05

I've had norethisterone and found it excellent.

I had my fibroid removed so can't help with the shrinking part.

Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 06/09/2023 21:07

@RedDoughnut ah thanks
How was yours removed?
What was your recovery like?

Thanks

OP posts:
TenPenceMix · 06/09/2023 21:11

I think castor oil wraps can help.

RedDoughnut · 06/09/2023 21:14

@Sortmylifeout52 with a hysteroscope and local anaesthetic. I was home the same evening. Recovery was not a problem at all.

However, I'm still bleeding and the fibroid was a red herring.

Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 06/09/2023 21:18

@RedDoughnut oh no.. what's the cause of the bleeding do you think?

I'm finding all these gynae issues a total nightmare.

OP posts:
RedDoughnut · 06/09/2023 21:35

Apparently it's just hormones!

I'm on an injection called Zoladex which is good and has stopped bleeding but next step is probably a hysterectomy. Although I'm currently too fat to go on the list.

I'm in my 50s so I'm ok with everything coming out although I don't want an operation or time off work but I'll worry about that when my BMI is lower.

Check your iron levels too. I became anaemic because of all this.

Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 06/09/2023 21:40

@RedDoughnut yes I don't want an operation either, or time off work.
However, I'm not what option there is as I'm plagued with issues on HRT and off HRT.

A hysterectomy is going to have to be my focus, going forward.

OP posts:
SoftPillowAllNight · 06/09/2023 22:17

@Sortmylifeout52 - I have exactly the same kind of fibroid. Mine is 7cm when detected. I do feel the pressure and can even see it when lying down. Also puts pressure on my bladder when peeing. But my gyn has said not to stop HRT as the dosage is too small to make any difference (not sure if they are correct??!!)
But HRT is too important for me to stop it. I'll go mad with sleepless nights and hot flushes and bad skin and brain fog if I stop. I'd rather consider embolisation if/when needed. My gyn said as we move into menopause it might shrink naturally. Just burying my head in the sand for now.

Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 07/09/2023 07:50

@SoftPillowAllNight all I can say is, it's horrid. I've pain in my tummy pretty much day and no night.

It must be the additional pressure on my uterus etc.

I've put my HRT patch back on. I just don't know what to do for the best now. Somehow I've got to find the money to get shot of it privately. I don't think k can bear the discomfort much more.

OP posts:
Myhorseishoarse · 07/09/2023 07:53

I had an embolization for a fibroid....I was awake! My fibroid was around 15cm

Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 07/09/2023 07:54

@Myhorseishoarse omg! Awake??
Do you feel better now?

OP posts:
Myhorseishoarse · 07/09/2023 08:04

Had it 3 years ago. I understood beforehand I would be awake but sedated......maybe I misunderstood but I was very much wide awake! Wasn't that bad tbh. I had pain relief and a lovely nurse holding my hand. It was amazing how many people were in the room!

My main symptom was extremely heavy flooding periods..to the extent I found it hard to leave the house some days. Now because I was in my early 50s I cannot truly say whether it helped or my periods would have slowed down anyway.... I used to be able to feel my fibroid but can't anymore do it has definitely shrunk

Justwrong68 · 07/09/2023 08:30

I had 2 removed, they were as large as yours. The op is easy, go for it.

Newgirls · 07/09/2023 08:34

I’m taking transemic acid which has reduced my bleeding so would that help with fibroid growth?

I am also on hrt but love the benefits. I had fibroids detected when pregnant too and they are very common so I don’t know if hrt makes them worse or better. I do wish my periods would just stop though

SoftPillowAllNight · 07/09/2023 11:06

@Myhorseishoarse - Any post op complications? Have you had your fibroid scanned to see how much it might have shrunk? Glad to know you continued HRT. Its such a minefield making these decisions not knowing what consequences you might have to face further down the line.

Myhorseishoarse · 07/09/2023 14:42

I had no complications....and no follow up scan...but this was 2020. I am not on HRT

BigBundleOfFluff · 07/09/2023 15:24

Hi! I had 2 7cm fibroids, they shrank to 5 cm after a year of having injections. Can't remember the name but they were in your ass and monthly. However as awful as that sounds, I don't think it's the cause of all the bleeding. I can grow a fibroid very quickly so it's smaller ones popping up all the time. I'm having a hysterectomy - I finally made it to the top of the list and had my pre op 2 weeks ago so fingers crossed in the next 10 weeks it will happen.
I think with fibroids it's not so much the size as the locations that contributes more to the bleeding.

Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 07/09/2023 15:56

@Justwrong68 did you have the embolisation?

OP posts:
Mycatisthebestever · 07/09/2023 16:02

I had fibroids that I should have had embolized ( didn't know much about it ) but ended up having an emergency hysterectomy when one grew very large and they were suspicious about it - just a fibroid and benign. Mine were internal though.

Original poster
Sortmylifeout52 · 07/09/2023 16:06

In some ways, I hope my results come back abnormal. Then I can hopefully get an emergency hysterectomy!

No, got to wait for a blood test next week, an MRI of the fibroid and the results of the womb biopsy to come back. THEN i can discuss treatment. Meanwhile I am now in pain daily and nightly. Also wondering whether I should have had the mirena out?? Maybe it's the cause of the pain? Or is it the expanding uterus?

I could cry 😢

OP posts:
MissUnicorn · 18/04/2024 18:22

@Sortmylifeout52 what did you do in the end?
Just been given the option of embolization or hysterectomy and my head is all over the place. x

SoftPillowAllNight · 18/04/2024 18:47

@MissUnicorn - hey there, I recently had an embolisation for a 9-10cm fibroid and happy to share my experience. The procedure was bearable, a bit of pain for the first 48 hours then rapid recovery (not everyone is as lucky so don't take mine as a standard recovery). 2 months post op my uterus was scanned and fibroid is dead, shrinking slowly -2cm so far. Overall definitely recommend this over a full blown surgery with the invasiveness and risk they carry. If you have any questions, happy to answer.

SoftPillowAllNight · 18/04/2024 18:48

Oh and I was given hysterectomy as an option too as I'm 46. But I wasn't interested as I didn't want to lose my body part if I could avoid it.

MissUnicorn · 20/04/2024 11:24

SoftPillowAllNight · 18/04/2024 18:47

@MissUnicorn - hey there, I recently had an embolisation for a 9-10cm fibroid and happy to share my experience. The procedure was bearable, a bit of pain for the first 48 hours then rapid recovery (not everyone is as lucky so don't take mine as a standard recovery). 2 months post op my uterus was scanned and fibroid is dead, shrinking slowly -2cm so far. Overall definitely recommend this over a full blown surgery with the invasiveness and risk they carry. If you have any questions, happy to answer.

@SoftPillowAllNight thank you so much!

So it was one fibroid? Was it in the uterus? I have multiple 7-9cm fibroids inside, outside and on top of my uterus.
Have all your symptoms stopped now?

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