Treatment for fibroids

[Gwenhwyfar]

I went to the gynaecologist today for an annual checkup as is usual where I live (not Uk). She found a fibroid, maybe two by doing an ultrasound. I was not that shocked because I know they're common in our forties and I'd looked up urination problems during periods and that was one of the options.
However, I was quite shocked at the treatment, not medication but a hysterectomy. Seems quite extreme to me. It's true that I have no need for my womb, but would not want to go into menopause any younger than necessary so would definitely want to keep my ovaries.

Can anyone tell me what happens after such a hysterectomy. Could it provoke menopause even if I keep my ovaries. Is it a difficult operation?

I have to book a pelvic MRI first. Any experience of that would also be helpful.

Thanks in advance.

I had a hysterectomy at 42, kept my ovaries but nothing else!
Recovery was hard but I'd been very poorly beforehand as my fibroids were huge and I'd been suffering with the most horrific heavy bleeding prior to them being discovered.

I'm 52 now and it's hard to know where I am in terms of the menopause as obviously I can't judge it by what my periods are like!
I'd say ovary retention definitely worked and although I'm certainly menopausal now, I'm having a relatively easy time of it so far and haven't needed hrt (I'm not ruling it out!)

Does that help? Please ask me any questions!

Thanks otherway. It helps give me more information and confirms that it would be a really big deal. I'm not really understanding why a hysterectomy would be the best option to me. It's like cracking a nut with a sledge hammer.

My only symptoms are heavy periods on day 1 or 2, something that can happen with peri menopause anyway and that I got after my second vaccine, and some pain when urinating, but that hasn't been every month.

To suggest a major operation that takes ages to recover from...

I had a hysterectomy at 42 (kept my ovaries) because of a very large fibroid. I had had very heavy, long periods for years before but by the time of the operation they were almost non stop with severe flooding. I was very anaemic and could barely walk upstairs.
On the bright side, I had no problems with recovery and have had absolutely minimal symptoms of the menopause. ( My age means I am definitely through it).

What was recovery like? How long in hospital and how long off work/avoiding exercise? I'm told it would be by laparoscopy, but it still just sounds like a really big deal.

If I was in the Uk, I wouldn't have had an ultrasound without having much worse symptoms I think, because they're not offered there at a routine check so it makes sense that anyone undergoing a hysterectomy in the UK got there with much worse symptoms than I have.

Look up
green tea and fibroids …. You may be pleased x

Fibroids can grow. They can cause extreme bleeding, pain and numerous other issues.

I have a 6cm fibroid outside my womb. It's pressing on my bowel and bladder and probably my spine.

I've got an MRI booked next week and then I am absolutely requesting a full hysterectomy. I'm 52, post menopausal and am sick of abdominal pain and bowel problems.

Bring on the sledgehammer to crack the walnut ( I say!).

I get the point about them growing. I suppose that's why the doctor recommended surgery. She also said we could just be vigilant for 6 months, but it will take some months for the mri and operation to be scheduled anyway so I suppose I might as well start the process.

Does anyone know what happens to the cyclical problems (I get bad bloating, wind and bad mood in the last half of my cycle) if you don't have a womb, but still have ovaries?

Look up ablation it's an alternative treatment.

I had an embolisation for mine. So there are other options.

I had an embolization for mine....its was good much less invasive

You're right - lots of people have fibroids. If they are not causing you any problems with excessive bleeding then they don't need treatment. Once you hit menopause they will shrink away naturally by themselves. I would be wary of the motives of any doctor who was encouraging you to go for expensive, invasive surgery to solve a "problem" you're not having.

I did have a hysterectomy for my fibroid but it was mahoosive - the size of a 5 month pregnancy. And I had a second, smaller one too. I was bleeding so heavily every month, sleeping on towels overnight to protect the sheets, using the biggest tampons and towels and having to change every 90 minutes, was anaemic - it was miserable. There are other options like mirena coil to manage the bleeding, medication like tranexamic acid to help the blood loss, ablation etc.

I kept my ovaries but was probably in menopause within 18 months - 2 years of my hysterectomy and it's been a rough ride with anxiety. Doesn't happen to everyone, but it can be difficult.

Not really causing problems, from what OP says. So no need for drastic action. Where do you live, OP? Is it a place like USA where providers have incentives to do unnecessary procedures?

ps: GP told me fibroids almost always shrink after menopause. The few symptoms I had last summer possibly from mine (dozens of small ones, but I think it was an ectropion causing my excess bleeding, actually) are now gone & I'm not sure if I'm menopausal or not, yet.

On the experience of pelvic MRI - I had one of those when they were trying to decide whether my fibroid was suitable for embolisation, or whether I needed a hysterectomy.

The actual MRI process was fine, you're basically lying in a big tube. Because the scan is of your pelvis, your head is almost out the top of the tube so it's not too claustrophobic. There was easy listening music playing and the radiographer talks to you throughout warning you when you're likely to hear noise/whirring. Whole thing took 10-15 minutes.

Agree with @YeOldeTrout that things like MRI scanning and surgery (even keyhole) is expensive and I would be very wary of going down that route unless you start to experience serious issues with your fibroid. How old are you @Gwenhwyfar ?

I've heard castor oil packs really help! If you buy organic castor oil and rub on your stomach and lower abdomen and place a heat pack overnight it detoxes your uterus,womb,fibroids, any other stuff. Read about it online it's a very popular method. My friend tried it and she had a few cysts and they've disappeared. I'd definitely recommend reading into it and trying it because these herbal methods do wonders!

I'm 46 so it might be risky to just wait for menopause.
We have a social insurance system where I live. There can be financial incentives, yes, but also a more interventionist approach in general. The doctor also told me to get a mammography even though the guidelines are for over 50 unless high risk.

@Rejected12 as far as I remember I wore my hospital gown throughout! I did have to take knickers off I think and you can't wear a bra with underwire. No flesh on show.

And personally I think the castor oil thing is so ridiculous, can't believe anyone would even think that could possibly work.

I am not a medic @Gwenhwyfar . But you do risk premature menopause with a hysterectomy, and it is major surgery. There are benefits and risks but in your position where your fibroid is not causing you that much trouble, I would be inclined to adopt a watchful waiting approach, if you do find that in a year or 18 months that your bleeding is getting a lot worse then discuss surgery then.

I had fibroids and polyps 6 years ago and had them removed, with uterine ablation and they fitted a mirena coil. You don’t need a hysterectomy that’s ridiculous. Are you in the USA? Because the only reason I can think of for a hysterectomy here is money.

Not sure what you mean by too risky? I had my fibroid embolized because it was apparently causing extreme heavy periods. Who knows ...I think I am now post menopause..maybe they would have got lighter anyway. A hysterectomy is a big op which of itself can cause complications sometimes. Your symptoms don't seem unduly bad?

No, continental Europe with a social insurance system.
I think it could be the size of it making them think if surgery or the risk of it/them just coming back.

I'm almost as afraid of the coil as I am of surgery...

I think I need to do something and I'd be reluctant to wait 18 months only to find there is another 6 month wait for treatment.
I'd rather that something wasn't major surgery though.

It's a myth - fibroids do not automatically shrink after menopause and castor oil packs do not work. I have read a lot about fibroids but from my perspective they are little researched and understood. A lot of people suffer (really badly) in silence unfortunately.