myom & preg & hyst

short history of my situation--28, multiple fibroids of all types and sizes with symptoms, endo that the doc lasered about 50% of, and i had a cockscomb removed that was not cancerous,but a growth based on estrogen nonetheless that scared me to death.(haven't heard of cockscomb? well, they are pretty rare i guess, it was a growth stemming off of my uterus)

anyways, like many women on this site, which has been very helpful by the way, my doctor is giving me a choice. But, i know which way he would like me to go. i trust my doc.

i was given the choice of myomec but only if htey can remove the fibroids with success, otherwise they would just do a hyst at that time. but, with endo and the risk of how much uterus could be saved my chances of getting pregnant are like none--a guess is like 5-10%.

so, most likely fibroids and endo both grow back. seems like a hyst is the decision because i am a very active person, or would like to return to that lifestyle.

has anyone gone through something like this and what where your results and thoughts?

did anyone have a myom and get pregnant? or try? or have a myom and then just wish they had the hyst because it was eventually coming out too?
thank you!

I have not exactly been in your shoes, but I did get pregnant not knowing that I had very large fibroids and adeno. (my old OB never mentioned it). I started with a new OB when I found out I was pregnant. Several doctors said they doubted i would carry to term because of my very odd lookinguterus. Well, I did carry to term and delivered a very healthy baby who is now a teenager.

I would say if you want kids, to try for a myomectomy. Sometimes you do hemorrage during and may end up with a hysterectomy. Eventually, I'm sure you will probably want a hysterectomy with for fibroids and endo, as they tend to come back. Is the 5-10% a firm estimate of your chances? I don't think anyone can state unequivocally what your chances are. You can always try the myo, try to get pregnant. etc and see how it goes. Many women do get pregnant after a myo, or with endo. You might also consider seeing a reproductive specialist (like a "super specialist") if you don't get pregnant within a year (or perhaps less in your case) after surgery.

Hi Cmghag,

Another great website for ladies with fibroids is:

www.thefibroidplace.com

When I was first diagnosed with fibroids, I came here at my gyn's suggestion and I also checked out thefibroidplace.com. They have their own message board and I found there were lots of younger ladies having myomectomies in order to preserve their fertility. You might want to check it out to see if there are others there who can share their experiences with myomectomy and subsequent pregnancy.

I realize the endo is another very significant complicating factor. But there are plenty of gals with endo who do manage to have children anyway. So if you want to preserve your fertility, I think it's worth investigating all your options short of a hyst. In the end, it's your body and your decision, but closing the book on your child-bearing years is tough for many of us, even if we already have children.

Sending extra hugs your way as you deal with these very tough decisions.

Beth

Hi there. I too was told I would not get prego due to very bad endo and ovairen cycsts. In fact they gave me 6 months to try to get prego and if I didnt they were going to do a TAH after that 6 months due to very bad periods and painful intercourse. So I said ok mmake the date for the surgery. Come to find out I had thyroid and hormone problems as well. I had a lap to clean the endo off and the cysts and then my 6 months started. They called the next day and gave me the apointment for the TAH and everything was set up. Still wasnt prego and the surgry date came. They did a prego test on me the day of the surgry and guess what? My little ds was in there . Now two. So I had my ds and they made the surgry date for one year after having him. Great right? Well the surgry date came again and guess what they again had to post pone it due to my dd being in there lol. This is very true!!! I was praying to god everyday and he answeared all the time . Dh and I tried everything to get prego and nothing was working. Due to the endo and the cycsts. But I prayed really hard and he did answear. So I guess what I am trying to say is if there is even a chance you want children dont give up hope pray pray pray and try to save the hysto to you are done and they cant do anymore to keep you comfee during your time of wanting children. Give god a chance if you havnt already. But if need it and cant keep trying go for it. I have never felt this grewat in my life after the surgry. Good Luck in your quest. And please let me know how you are doing. I WILL be praying for you.

Hi Goomphy,

What a great story! I'll bet the staff at the hospital and your gyn were just AMAZED ... particularly the second time you were there for surgery and turned out to be pregnant. How wonderful for you that you were able to conceive and carry both children!

It sounds like you did eventually have your hyst. When was that? Maybe you can share a little bit about your experiences since then. Sending hugs your way.

Beth

I had a friend who got pregnant twice following a myomectomy (she was in her late 20's) and both children are now teenagers. She found a significant regression of her symptoms with pregnancy, and now at 48 (my age) she seems to have no real problems.

One thing my doctors pointed out to me with my infertility struggles is that endo is an auto-immune process. We did find that eating carefully and taking my supplements and keeping in the best shape possible helped (not easy with all the pain, nausea, etc.) The other thing that made a difference for me and for a few other women I know was a course of oral steroids during attempts at conception. I know that my DH and I did everything short of IVF...and I finally got pregnant and carried to term while on prednisone for asthma. It seems to "damp down" the auto-immune response that endo can cause and that can interfere with implantation. I would echo Wachusett's suggestion to see a reproductive endocrinologist; they really are the experts in this sort of thing, and there's some particular hormonal "differences" with those of us who have endo.

This is a hard decision, but best wishes to you in your search for answers!

Hugs,

Audrey

Well I had my operation on July 15, 2003 and let me tell you it was worth it. I feel so much better. Have more energy can take of the youngsters and finally be able to enjoy them. I am still in the healing process and I had a TAh so everything is gone. Now I am in the hormone balencing stage lol. But now that everything is gone I know I am on my way to recovery and every bad day I have is another good day closer to the finish line to being healthy and happy with life again. And talk about the itcy scar thing. but hey it is worth doing it. gl in your reserch and desion. I will be praying for you. Oh as for the people on the floor. They said me and the babies holiday cards every year and I send them pics of the babies . They put there pics up on there wall there and tell my stories to people that come in there. They call me the merical baby maker lol. Gl again.

My three children were conceived in a uterus riddled with intramural fibroids and possible endo (in my late teens I suffered crippling period pain that would have me lying on the bathroom floor completely doubled over in pain - my mum said it was normal.... but I now realise that what I was experiencing was most likely endo). The only thing that indicated that I had fibroids was that all my children were a few weeks early (not premature but close) and I bled copiously after each delivery and had progessively heavier periods until I eventually had only 2-3 days per month (if I was lucky) without spotting or bleeding.

Apart from my experience I know a few friends who've had successful pregnancies with fibroids as well as one who's fallen pregnant after myomectomy.