For those with fibroid experience.

[njshep]

I’m 51. I had a 5cm fibroid that was causing me extensive bleeding for over two years and last February had a hysteroscopy where they shaved down the fibroid (myosure) and at the same time had an endometrial ablation.
I was told this should significantly reduce the bleeding. At first it was great, although I expected more of a result, it was like I had a normal 5 days period again and that was good enough for me. Previous to this I was going through upwards of 40 pads per period. Getting up 4 times a night on the heaviest of days. My ferritin level was 3.
Recently my period is getting heavy again, seems normal for 5 days then bouts of flooding and huge clots. Currently I’m on day 10 of a period.
I was told the base of the fibroid was still there by the surgeon. I think it was submucosal. I have an ultrasound this eeek to assess the situation.
For those with experience, at my age, is it worth considering a hysterectomy or wait for menopause to hopefully rectify the situation?
sick and tired of anemia, and feeling like an accident is always a possibility.

You could have periods for years yet!

My hysterectomy was life changing. No more sleeping on a towel, getting up 4 times a night, changing super plus tampons and towels every 40 mins in the day, even with taking tranexamic acid, the constant anaemia etc etc. Honestly, I don’t regret it at all, I was a little younger but couldn’t take it anymore. There were days I couldn’t leave the house!

Exactly the same!
I'm now 59, had a hysterectomy at 46 due to fibroids and extremely heavy bleeding. Kept my ovaries and cervix, ovaries for the hormones and cervix because I didn't like the sound of having my vaginal canal sewn up at the end 😄

I have found it life-changing also, every month was a nightmare of super plus tampons, sometimes hard to use two at a time, and constant bleeding, saucer sized clots, terrible painful cramps.
I actually begged for hysterectomy, and thankfully it was granted. Don't regret it for millisecond.

had to use

I begged for my hysterectomy too!

Thank you! I’m going to push for a hysterectomy do this insanity stops.

Found out this week the fibroid is 2.5 cm and submucosal. Before my surgery last February it was 4cm so obviously didn’t get it all or it’s grown since.
My dr says I will probably be offered a hysterectomy next by the surgeon.
not sure how I feel
about that.
so annoying….

I am early 40s, had a hysterectomy a coupke of years ago.

Best thing ever.

Have it abdominally, I was home same day, onky used 1 ibuprofen first 2 nights tp ease discomfort, and no more pain relief afyer that.

Brilliant, wish I had had it done earlier.

Thanks for the info Ladyhag.
How king did you need to be off work?

I have been living with constant daily bleeding for over 14 months now due to a slightly different gynae issue (I was injured during a hysteroscopy).

However, I do also have multiple large fibroids and also polyps growing inside my uterus. I was having the flooding and huge blood clots until I had the polyps removed (but not the fibroids). Using tena lady extra pads and wearing an extra layer of period pants covered by leggings below my trousers. Nightmare. The pain, the bleeding, the inconvenience, the fear of flooding and leaking in public, anxiety about smell... on and on. Oh yep and the iron deficiency.

Anyway, a friend had similar, she went private, had all her fibroids removed. No bother. NHS will not remove fibroids any longer it seems.

I'm on the urgent wait list for hysterectomy, being badly messed around but can't wait to get it done. I think it's the best solution if you can get it. Also they're not obliged to take your ovaries and you can argue to keep ovaries (not a lot of people know this but oophorectomy is considered 'female castration' and you do have a right to keep your ovaries (for hormone reglation) unless there's a problem with them.

I just want to say regarding iron. Please treat yourself with daily iron - the very best is Mega Food Blood Builder - it comes with Vit C and Folate and B12 (without those things simultaneously, your body can't even absorb the iron - so iron tablet from the doctor don't work). Also I take Floradex liquid and SpaTone sachets. I take three different types of iron every day at the moment as I'm daily bleeding and I know how horrific iron deficiency can be.

I had an injection in my stomach once a month for 6 months to get rid of my fibroids they worked so well it was like a miracle no more bleeding since as the injections put me through the menopause too definitely ask your gynaecologist if this is an option

In my view ( and it is just that) fibroids are an absolute pain in the arse.

Mine was detected last September 2022( tiny thing).
Fast forward to July ( 6cm)
September ( 8.5cm).

After months of pain, the thing has turned malignant. Urgent hysterectomy In a couple of weeks now.

Get the thing out, don't delay. The theory that menopause causes them to shrink, is rubbish. I'm 5 years post menopause and the thing grew a grew.

P.s malignant fibroids are very rare ( just my unfortunate luck ).

Sorry justvseen this. Ofgice based job, I wuld have been ready to go back to light duties, the danger was I felt so well I may have tried doing too much!

I had a 6 week sicknote and was bored senseless at the end of it!

Sorry, missed as useful part which is I would have bee ready to go back to light duties after 2 or 3 weeks