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 did that 😂 nothing a bit of laxido didn't sort out. Worth it for the morphine high

I've now been given a date for the MRI, but it's a date where my period might be starting. According to google you can have an MRI with a period, but if you have to take your underpants off I don't see how that would work really so I suppose I'll have to ask them to push it back with the risk that they'll give me another possible period date or just put it off more months...

Why would you have to take your underpants off?

I didn't have to take my pants off, just wore mine and a gown. No bra

Exactly it's just no metal!

One of the posters here said so.
Would you have it done on your period then?

My letter said no underwire so I was hoping I could wear a soft bra.

I'm not clear about what your point is? You can wear anything that you need to as long as they are not metallic.

Not according to one poster here.

Well "one poster here" is wrong. Of course you can wear underwear for an MRI scan!

OP, I'm very surprised your Gynae has suggested hysterectomy to treat fibroids. In the UK fibroids are generally not treated unless they are causing symptoms such as heavy bleeding. Even then, clinicians will try other remedies such as the Mirena coil first. There is also the option of fibroidectomy. Hysterectomy really is a last resort.

I was diagnosed with fibroids in 2020 at age 46. Largest was 4cm. Had a coil inserted which stopped all bleeding. At ultrasound recently the radiographer reported that there were now more fibroids but the largest was 3cm. No treatment planned.

I wore my full set of PJs to my MRI! And pants and a soft bra.

Just be aware - fibroids can grow. I wish I had more aggressive treatment earlier before having to resort to an abdominal hysterectomy 4 years after my little 4cm fibroid was detected (largest one grew to 12 cm and I looked 6 months pregnant).

In the UK - I had to go private to get a proper conversation about my fibroids (ironically with the same NHS consultant I should have seen and never did) and turned out I had one huge fibroid and that I'd been severely anaemic, alongside issues with bowel /bladder, restless legs etc., for years, and thinking I had irritable bowel and it was the fibroid! So hysterectomy at 40, and no option other than the hysterectomy, as the grapefruit sized fibroid was the size of the uterus and pushing on everything it neighboured in my body. I had no idea how much I had compensated for extremely heavy periods and anaemia for years, despite supposedly being monitored by the NHS and it was only the blood transfusion service, after trying to give blood, that then helped provide the evidence re. my low blood count, that helped me to get taken seriously! Had the operation, ovaries left in, back at work in a month. Consultant had never seen anyone recover so quickly, but then I had felt so 's**t' for so long, trying hard to over compensate, that the change was brilliant. I have no idea about menopause, as have never had any real symptoms and am now 61. Fibroid ruined my chances of children, had impacted on me for about 10 years, but having it removed changed my life for the better.

Again, i can't stress the impact fibroids can have on some women.

I've got a now 9cm fibroid which has stretched my uterus to the size of a 22 week pregnancy!

It's pressing on my bowel and bladder. I've now got fluid on the lungs, a raised ca125 and gynae are now worried about its aggressive nature and concerning features ( what ever that means).

If they can be removed, do so. They are horrible.

But hysterectomy is fab, solves so many womens issues if done having kids.
See so many posts about bleeding, pain, coils, hormonal contraception, anemia etc. It solves it all.

You can wear pants and have it done while having your period

"But hysterectomy is fab, solves so many womens issues if done having kids.
See so many posts about bleeding, pain, coils, hormonal contraception, anemia etc. It solves it all."

I don't have any of those problems to solve though. The fibroid is the only thing. My periods still aren't particularly painful.
Hysterectomy is a major operation. I've read it can have some really bad consequences and things can go wrong like the bowel being nicked. It can apparently take up to 2 months to recover totally. Why would I put myself through that?

Thanks. Let's hope that's the case where I live.

"There is also the option of fibroidectomy."

My gynae told me fibroidectomy (myomectomy) is only offered to women who want to have children. It's still a major operation so doesn't really interest me in terms of the operation itself potentially causing more problems than the symptoms. I'd prefer UAE.

I think you need to have a really good talk with your consultant to answer all these questions you have. Cases are so individual from person to person and even surgeon to surgeon.

I was replying to a different poster.

Yes, I will do, but my gynae is a popular one so has waiting times of months. I've been referred to a surgeon after my MRI, but that person will probably be quite set on giving me the surgery because that's how they make their money.
I need to try to understand as much as I can from various sources.

So, do you think it's the coil that reduced them? I thought it only worked on the symptom of heavy bleeding (for some women, I know of some who bleed all the time with a coil). I don't suppose it would help the fact that it's pressing on my bladder at all.

So I have my results.
A few fibroids. The biggest is left corporeal 6x5x4, cellular or degenerated, some suggestion of adenomyosis, 3cm ovarian cyst, ascites in small quantities.

I'll see a doctor, but if anyone has any idea what this means for me, I'd be grateful. it does not seem to say in this description where exactly the fibroid is or exactly what kind it is, which would I suppose let me know whether UFE is an option. There are images too, but not comprehensible to me.

I have a 9cm fibroid and booked in for UFE in Feb 2024. I'll do anything to avoid surgery. UFE is minimally invasive and recovery is quick with no prodding around your organs. I think it's totally worth a couple of days of pain/discomfort.

OP - please look into UFE in detail before you decide. An interventional radiologist can look at your MRI and tell you if you are eligible. They are the ones who perform your procedure under sedation followed by 1-2 days in hospital with IV morphine. In 2-3 months your fibroid will shrink and die. The interim period might be uncomfortable and you might pass some pieces. But they are gone forever with no surgery. I think it's a good deal.

Thank you for listening to me, at 42 the female nhs gynae laughed off perimenopause.

Erratic periods at 42 has got me a biopsy going to happen under general anesthetic due to being fat, having a hpv reading at last smear and a diabetic whilst kiss go bye being Mum. I could not bear the thought of an internal despite having 2 smears and a trans vaginal in last 12 months if we're meant to love sex.