Would Fibroid Removal Have Prevented Need for Hysterectomy?

Dear Sisters,

I am six days post-op. I had a Lap Assisted TVH - kept the ovaries and tubes. I've been dealing with heavy bleeding during periods and intermittment bleeding for 5 years. Tried hormones, a polyp removal and an endometrial thermal ablation with no success.

Before going into surgery two docs told me that I had a 10 week uterus (not that big) with some small fibroids. After surgery they said my uterus was 10-12 weeks, with many large fibroids that were difficulty to cut out. They also had trouble getting my "enlarged" uterus out between my "small pelvis". I lost 1100 cc of blood (over a quart), had very low blood pressure and they almost gave me a blood transfusion.

I'm now left wondering if I should have had a myeomectomy (fibroids removal) years ago and did not need the hysterectomy. Is it really possible that none of the docs who did my two previous surgeries nor the two I consulted on the hysterectomy could feel or see the fibroids on the ultrasounds?

This is really bugging me and I wonder if anyone has experienced something similar. It took me so long to decide on having the hysterectomy, and NO ONE offered a myeomectomy as an option.

thanks, Loving

Dear Loving,

the odds are pretty good that you had adenomyosis, which typically causes the uterus to develop many small fibroids that initially are hard to definitely diagnose on an ultrasound. They can get really huge eventually and as they grow distort the uterus so it's misshapen and hard and bulbous with the growths. There are surgeons who specialise in removing the bigger growths and reconstructing the uterus afterwards, but I have to say I have seen videos of what they do, and butchery would not be too fine a word to describe it. God knows what it's like to recover from such surgery, but the other problem is that in all likelihood the fibroids will grow back, because adenomyosis is a progressive disease, and without removing the cause for it whatever it is, it will continue to do its thing. That's my 2 cents anyway, hope that this is of some help.

Robyn

I had a myemectomy for one enourmous fibroid 8 years ago... but within 3 years lots of little ones had grown to replace it. When i had surgery on saturday the surgeon was still surpriesed to find one on my cervix that hadn't shown at ultrasound.

Hope this helps]

Chicky

Hi Loving,

Your story sounded so similar to mine, I just had to comment. I also dealt with the DUB. I really only suffered for a year. I can hardly imagine how you put up with it for 5 years.
I tried hormones, a D&C,and an ablation,which failed. I was ready to be done with the bleeding, the anemia and all that came with it. It wasn't easy for me to decide to have the hyst, but when I finally did decide to have my TVH I chose not to look back. I hope you can do the same.
There's nothing wrong with asking what if questions as long as they don't make you second guess a decision you can't change.
I hope your recovery goes smoothly and you will have a peace in your heart concerning the choice you made.
I think you made the right one, I hope you are ok with it.

's, Rita