Upcoming hysterectomy 6/30: Fibroid growth durning/after menopause?

I would like to know if any other menopausal women on this site had a fibroid that has grown. Been told that is unusual. Have a 10cm fibroid which has had about a 30% growth over last 15 months. CT scan is consistent with ultrasound but still have oncologist doing hysterectomy and am told because of size of uterus and fibroid this must be an abdominal surgery. Any other simliar experiences out there? My surgery is June 30.

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Originally Posted by Coolranch00 I would like to know if any other menopausal women on this site had a fibroid that has grown. Been told that is unusual. Have a 10cm fibroid which has had about a 30% growth over last 15 months. CT scan is consistent with ultrasound but still have oncologist doing hysterectomy and am told because of size of uterus and fibroid this must be an abdominal surgery. Any other simliar experiences out there? My surgery is June 30.

Similar experience, though my fibroid was smaller. My story: I'd been on the BC pill since age 27, and occasionally it'd be tweaked for a lower hormone pill. Whether or not I had my menstrual cycle during the "down" weeks, and I also had occasional break through bleeding. In Nov 2015 at age 53, I had my regular annual. The fibroid I'd had for at least 17 years was measured to be 5cm, PAP was clear. Doc took me off the pill and suggested a hormone to stave off bone loss. I decided to not go on anything for a while just to see what my body did. Hooo boy! Periods came anywhere from 13 days to 54 days apart, heavy bleeding, bright red with little clotting - nothing like I'd experienced before. No pain though. 4 months later in March 2016, we scheduled an internal to see what was going on. The fibroid had grown from 5cm to 10cm and had acquired at least two sizeable roommates.

His recommendation was laparoscopic hysterectomy, leaving the cervix and ovaries if they looked well. This doc was my OB years before, I'd been with him for 26 years, and he already had at least 10-15 years prior. I trusted him completely. Surgery was May 16th, it was laparoscopic as planned, and I indeed kept my cervix and ovaries. Next morning in a follow up with my doc, I asked him how many fibroids there were... he stopped counting at 15. My uterus was the size of a grapefruit - that explains the bladder leakage issues - so the 'Broids were having one heckuva party.

Am I / was I menopausal? I really don't know. Blood test 2-3 years ago said no. I never had any symptoms except occasional night sweats - and the instances when I want to bite somebody's head off... but maybe I'm just crabby at times . I know that not all women experience the symptoms. My post-BC periods were not normal, so I don't know if they were really periods at all - I don't believe they were.

So that's my experience. Perhaps there'll be something in here that will help the dialogue with oncologist-surgeon.

I wasn't actually menopausal before my surgery, but was on lupron 2 different times for months and my fibroids grew quite a bit during that time when they were supposed to be shrinking. I also had abdominal due to size of fibroids and uterus, I didn't have cancer, which we were pretty sure of due to d&c before my surgery.

Hey there!!!

My surgery isn't until July 20th but I have multiple fibroids on both the inner and outer lining of the uterus, that were just found in November of 2015. Prior to that I didn't have anything that, if I had them, they were silent partners living in harmony with the rest of my body. In February, my Dr. found polyps as well, and by the March ultrasound, my fibroids had grown significantly since the time that the first pelvic ultrasound had been done in December I also have cysts on my ovaries which have grown. My Dr has already told me that vaginal is not an option because of the fibroids on the outer lining and she'll see on my pre-op exam, July 14th, if she can do anything laparscopic or if it will be an abdominal. I've already let her know that I'm good with whatever needs to happen. I too had the lupron shot, just one 3 month round and my fibroids didn't shrink during that time either but have grown.

Hi Coolranch and welcome,

I had no idea that my fibroids would grow...and grow....after my menopause. I was under the impression that they would shrink. So I was shocked too. In my case, I was having constant pelvic pain - after several doctor's visits, I found out that I had huge twisted fibroids and a very enlarged urerus. As a bonus, I had an unknown huge pelvic mass.
I sought several opinions, and because of the complexity of my surgery and the possibility of cancer, I had an oncologist perform the total abdominal and removal
Of both ovaries.
From the time I took my first ultrasound, followed by C Scans and an MRI, I was told my fibroids were still growing.

I am more than happy to be rid of these aliens!

Hugs and best of luck for an u eventful surgery and easy recovery.

Thank you everyone for responding! All of your comments are very helpful and have provided me with some clarity. It is great to know I have somewhere to turn during this time of uncertainty.