Big fibroids but few symptoms, should I just wait?

I'm scheduled to have mine June 6, even though my symptoms are not major yet. However, I started having symptoms I didn't recognize were due to fibroids a year ago, and in the last year, they have obviously grown and symptoms have increased. In the last month or so, I have outgrown some of my clothes. I talked to my mom about the possibility of surgery, and she said it was the best thing she'd ever done. What she really cautioned me about was the back pain I was having; her doctor said that can be an indication of pressure on the kidneys that can do real damage. I'm 47 and perimenopausal, but my uterus has just jumped to my naval. Since I'm a teacher, I can't wait and do this during the school year, so I'm getting it over with before it gets any worse!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Wellywood Hi there, I'm new here and tossing up about having a hysterectomy. I have fibroids that mean my uterus now reaches to my navel, but my main symptom is iron deficiency anaemia for which I'm taking iron tablets. As I'm 51, I'm close to menopause but a blood test shows I'm not there yet so I'm just wondering if I can just wait to see what happens. While I realise the fibroids will not shrink away entirely, I'm loathe to undergo a TAH, possibly even have my ovaries removed, and end up with a huge scar (the surgeon has already said it's likely to be a vertical incision) etc etc just to get rid of the anaemia. I work shifts and hadn't even realised that my tiredness was anything other than the tiredness that comes with shift work. Has anyone else had to wrestle with a similar dilemma?

Hi Sister
I am 43 yrs old and I had a large fibroid for 9 years. I was afraid to have it taken out because I was afraid of the thought of doctors and surgery. I waited and waited and tried every herb, acupunturist, naturopathic remedy I could find to avoid having surgery. I thought if I could wait it out until menopause, (whenever that would come) I would be ok. I had heavier periods but I thought some prescribed iron supplements by my doctor would suffice. It did not. The fibroid was doing weird things in my uterus and soon I was having a period that didn't stop. I bleed for six months. SIX months of daily bleeding. Still I was hoping the herbs and other stuff would help (people told me it would - just give it time. I was even prescribed by a doctor to take hormone meds to stop the bleeding ) and next thing I knew, I was taken to the hospital and needed 8 blood transfusions, an ivc filter put in my vena cava (they had to try twice because the first time they couldn't put the filter in because they found blood clots blocking the way.). I was told I needed a TAH because the uterus was about to rupture. The fibroid inside of it weighed 16 lbs. I looked as if I was pregnant with twins. People would ask me ALL the time, "When are you due?" or "You look like you are going to pop! Boys or girls?" I was so ashamed trying to explain. Then after a while I'd get so mad at the questions, I'd hiss back that, "It's not a baby it's a tumor!" (The doctors were amazed: They had to pry it out. They took pictures and gave them to me. Those pictures circulated on TWO hospital floors - staff could not believe it! They heard stories about my surgery but when they say the photos they were speechless.)

I still have ovaries but they could not save my uterus. I have a 10 inch scar that runs vertical. Some days it looks like a huge zipper and other days it looks like a very long earthworm. But I am alive and I wear it proudly. When I look at the photos of the surgery, it's a reminder to me of what happens when I allow fear to guide my actions.

I'm not trying to sound scarey or creepy but my waiting around nearly cost me my life. I had gotten used to the annoying symptoms for years but I should have seen them as warning signs. I shouldn't have waited. I feel so much better now but because I waited, I didn't know the fibroid and uterus was sitting on areas affecting my cirulation. I have developed deep vein thrombosis in one leg. My leg is very noticeably larger than the other. I am on blood thinners now. I could have avoided that had I gone sooner to take care of the fibroid. I was hospitalized for a little over 2 weeks last December because of all this. I saw my husband cry and emotionally hurting for the first time during all this. And it was because of me and he was afraid of losing me during this.

The Good News: I had amazing doctors and surgeons. I had excellent care and the staff, EVERYONE, was kind, and so caring and supportive. And I've healed wonderfully my doctor says.

PLEASE, listen to your body and your heart. Don't listen to the fear. Get 2 or 3 medical opinions if you want. If they are telling you to get a hysterectomy, do it. Do not delay. Quiet symptoms can change in a heart beat and if they get worse, they will not get better in a "day or so." Your body is telling you what is wrong. 3 weeks before my TAH, I was having contractions 4 times a day, sometimes more. The pain made we weak and want to wait. I tried in my husband's arms and shaking from the pain. Doctors said my uterus was trying to "birth" out the fibroid, hence the contractions. But it was a matter of time very soon before the uterus would have ruptured.

I was on the fence regarding whether to have the hysterectomy. I've not had the gift of bearing children. But right before things got progressively worse, I happen to speak with a woman who worked at a holistic market. I was asking her advice about herbs for my situation. She looked at me and sternly told me, "I believe in what I do. But there are times we need help from doctors. I could sell you something but that would not be honest. Go and get that thing taken out. You need surgery! Herbs cannot help at this stage. My mother had the same issue and she nearly died, she bled so much. By the time she got to the hospital, she was unconscience. Please, go to the doctor and schedule surgery."

Her stern warning saved my life. I'm sorry this is a long post but I just wanted to help you as a stranger had helped me. I want you to make the best decision for yourself. I care. I wanted to share my story with you to help and not to scare you. But please, please, PLEASE do not make any decision out of fear, but out of a place where the outcome will be giving you great health. Amemia is a dangerous thing at any stage. Please be careful, be well informed and get 2nd opinions. And if you do decide to get a TAH, Hystersisters is a WONDERFUL support place. I found this site 2 weeks before my surgery and from them I felt comfort, support and was ready for the surgery.

We are all hear for each other. We are all her for YOU!!

Loona

I finally found where i fit, lol! I, too have huge fibroids, with my uterus pressing up to my belly button and almost hip to hip. Just got truly diagnosed last week. At 52, I have no idea when menopause will kick in and nothing, as far as I can tell, will shrink those suckers back to invisible.

But with the diagnosis, everything is starting to make sense. My husband would look at me and think, "she's fat." But then he'd look at my face and think, "she's not fat." I have the same pee and poop issues, the heavy bleeding/cramping, and am truly, truly tired of lugging all this extra weight around. Biopsy came back clean (no cancer) so I have time to think. But...

I'm 90% headed toward a hysterectomy, especially after reading this thread. Luckily the boss is okay with me taking the six weeks off. My husband isn't thrilled with me going into surgery (ANY kind of surgery), but he's in total support of whatever I want to do, which is nice.

I'm also considering UAE, mainly because I promised I'd look at ALL the options out there.

Thanks for posting!

Once again, just want to thank those who have shared their experiences in this thread. I am going next week to get a measurement of my fibroids after 6 months. Will report back!

I am only 2 weeks post op but already now it is the best decision I have ever made!

I doubt I would have opted for a hysterectomy if I had no symptoms. If I were in your place, I'd ask the doctor if there are other reasons he/she thinks it's necessary to have a hysterectomy. There may be other factors for you. If you're unsure, get a second (and third) opinion.

Pacific NW, I wanted to ask you about imaging inaccuracies -- did you have tansvaginal ulstrasounds and STILL find that the size of the fibroid was incorrectly measured? Or did you have normal ultrasounds or some other imaging technique?

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha615 Pacific NW, I wanted to ask you about imaging inaccuracies -- did you have tansvaginal ulstrasounds and STILL find that the size of the fibroid was incorrectly measured? Or did you have normal ultrasounds or some other imaging technique?

Hi Martha, yes I had transvaginal ultrasound and also (don't know the technical term) the technician used the wand over the area on my abdomen as well.

Both the imaging technician and the initial gynecologist estimated the tumor about 5" in diameter, which was only an inch off (It was 6") but it was twice as long and 2.5" thick. It ended up being a rather strange shape, like a very thick book. It was lodged in my pelvis between the bladder and rectum. Maybe it was folded in on itself? Hidden by soft organs like intestines (I wasn't asked to do any kind of bowel cleanse)? Not sure.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Martha615 Pacific NW, I wanted to ask you about imaging inaccuracies -- did you have tansvaginal ulstrasounds and STILL find that the size of the fibroid was incorrectly measured? Or did you have normal ultrasounds or some other imaging technique?

I don't think that imaging is all that accurate because my fibroids was measured at 14 cm and it turned out to be 12cm. I was a bit upset at that because the upper limit for HIFU was 12 cm and I was told I wasn't a candidate for it because my fibroids was larger than 12cm. I would have preferred a non-invasive solution to my fibroid rather than major surgery. Oh well... I love the fact I no longer have the monthly cramps and bleeding.

I am going to ask my doctor tomorrow whether he tracks his projected size of fibroids to the actual tumour removed by the surgeon. Thing is, they cut up the tumor inside you, I think, before they extact it, so they may never know what exactly size and shape it was....unless they do a hysterectomy, I guess.

Thanks again for your thoughts on this!