Fibroids - Bladder Pressure

Would appreciate thoughts or insight.

45, no children by choice, tubal last year.

I have three good sized fibroids. One is positioned to press on my bladder. No heavy bleeding, no pelvic pain, etc.

The pressure has been increasing in frequency lately. Discomfort more than I have experienced to date. Have discussed options with my GYN, and she is recommending hysterectomy. She's not pressuring me. We discussed removal of just that fibroid, but she's still leaning towards hyst.

Any thoughts? Things I should be considering? Questions I should ask that I may not thought of?

Thank you!

~Shirley

Hi, Shirley,
...i'm pretty much in the same situation as you. i'll be 45 in Sept., no children. my fibroids were diagnosed in spring of 2000... 4 the size of golf balls. this spring, my new doctor (long story) said they had doubled in size. uterus at 16 week size. she was alarmed...but i was the first to mention hysterectomy. she said that that is what she would recommend and that the surgery for fibroid removal is more complicated... I have had no pain, but constant pressure. mostly just uncomfortable and horrid periods...and clothes that don't fit. just today I scheduled my surgery for mid-september. at first i was certain this was what i wanted...i've heard such great things from other women who had it done for the same reason. but...i'll tell you, scheduling it today was a strange feeling. I now have a million questions which I will begin to write down...

I found this site last spring when the "h" word first was uttered...and it has been a huge help.

but this is my first post...i logged on tonight after not visiting for awhile...and saw your note... i know all of those apprehensions.

read as much as you can!

hang in there!
donna

Welcome to Hyster Sisters.

I also had large fibroids which were pressing on my bladder. This meant 4 to 5 trips a night to the bathroom and increasing discomfort. Not much fun, is it! Mine finally grew so large that I looked five months pregnant. In addition, one of the ones on the outside of my uterus twisted around on it's stalk and died and broke off. My surgeon found it when he did my hysterectomy. It could have caused a serious infection.

Since my surgery on May 23, I am much more comfortable - NO nightly trips to the bathroom, and my tummy is much flatter. (I was having problems with excessive bleeding too, but that's gone now as well.) My surgery was the best thing I could ever have done for myself.

Have you checked out the Hysterectomy Options board? The ladies there can help you research your options in this situation. The link is Hysterectomy Options.

Removing just the fibroid that is causing problems is an option, but keep in mind that they can grow back, so it may not be a total cure, just a stop-gap measure. A myomectomy is also almost always usually done in situations where you want to have children. If you're not planning to have children, then there's really no reason to keep the uterus.

Only you and your doctor can decide what is best for you. But we'll be here for you to offer support, no matter what your decision.

Best wishes and lots of s,

Lisa

PS I'm in Central Florida too!

For what it's worth, I had a myomectomy for fibroids. Guess what? THEY GROW BACK!

Even though at our age (I'm 46) the idea is that approaching menopause will slow down the re-growth...it doesn't seem to work that way in reality. Perimenopause and the hormonal surges that accompany it seem to pour gas on the flames of fibroid growth. Mine were back bigger and meaner than before.

The surgery can be very difficult (some women have it done laproscopically, which is easier but not always possible)...mine was far worse than my hyster.

If you are having increasing symptoms from your broids and feel that your quality of life is seriously impacted, then you may want to consider the hyster. But from someone who has been there....I'd not choose the myomectomy again.

Hope this helps a bit.

Karen

Hi Shirley

I'm also in central Florida (there's a lot of us around here) and a two time fibroid sufferer.

Has your doctor explained why she's leaning toward a hyst? Is this something you're comfortable with or would you rather have a myomectomy (the surgical removal of fibroids.) There might be a very valid reason or reasons why she recommends a hyst over other options so that would be my first question.

We're sort of opposites in that two years ago I practically begged my doctor for a hyst but she strongly suggested a myomectomy so I went with that. A year later I had new fibroids and now I'm scheduled for the hyst I always wanted.

Best of luck to you!

Hi Shirley.
I can understand all the concerns you are now experiencing. I was diagnosed with fibroids 3 years ago. At that time my uterus was a bit enlarged(12 weeks), but I wasn't having any symptoms so we let them be. Slowly they began to grow (to 16 week size)until the last 6 months when I was bothered by constant bladder pressure and more recently bowel problems. My DR and I discussed a hyst mainly because I was not planning any more children (DH had a vasectomy 15 yrs ago) and because the other options wouldn't be permanent solutions. My surgery was set for May 23; only 1 1/2 weeks away. I, too, thought that I had made an educated and informed dicision. I was sure that this was the way to go, but the very next day panic set in. I began second guessing everything. I spent countless hours on the internet, finally coming upon this site. Reading the other ladies stories brought me to tears. Some of them had gone through incredible pain for years. I felt guilty for considering a hyst for what I percieved as such mundane complaints. That, and the fear of losing my sex drive (I'm only 41), caused me to cancel the surgery.
Less than 2 months later I was back at the gyn office. I couldn't take it anymore. The ladies on this site helped me to overcome my guilt and my fears; to see that we all go through the same processes to get to the point where we are comfortable with our decision. I rescheduled my surgery and am now 1 week post-op. Yeah!!
Only you and your DR can know if this surgery is right for you, but take your time. Give yourself as much time as you need to feel good about your decision. And don't feel that a hyst is only supposed to be done to reduce pain and bleeding. An enlarged uterus can cause all sorts of other problems and the symptoms can develop so slowly that you aren't even aware how bad they really are. I'm still alittle swollen yet, but even now things are so much better. I'd forgotten what it felt like NOT to feel like I had to pee!
Shirley, I'm sorry that this is so long, but I just want you to know that everyone questions their decision at some point. Just give yourself time and don't do anything until you're ready.
Hope this helps,
Diane

Hi Shirley,

My uterus is over 20 weeks in size according to my dr., my friends and I all agree I look more like 24 weeks just in the past 30 days. The bladder pressure was getting out of control, I was truly unable to make almost any plans without consideration of bathroom access, movies, airplanes(always having to sit on the aisle), road trips you name it, I was always in a panic.

My first inclination was to just have a myomectomy, I wouldn't even discuss a hysterectomy, but after hundreds of hours of research and reassurance from many people including the wonderful sisters here on this board, I realized I was just postponing the inevitable.

I will have a laparoscopic hyst on 7/19 looking forward to a new life.

Best of luck with your decision! You are in the right place.

I had a myomectomy 10 years ago instead of the hysterectomy. I thought I would want more children, or maybe I just hated the idea that I would no longer have a choice in the matter. Regardless, I opted for the myomectomy. I had fibroids,heavy bleeding during my period and pain during intercourse. The recovery was very similar to what I hear is for a hysterectomy. What started out as a laparascopic approach had to be abdominal due to the size of the fibroids. Now, here it is 10 years later. The TAH/BSO is set for less than 2 weeks from now. I am so ready, the fibroids have returned over the years with a vengeance. My frineds and I would joke that I needed a bloodmobile parked in front of my house monthly for possible transfusions! Then I would bring changes of clothes to work because the first 2-3 days there was no amount of tampons, pads and any combo that alleviated the flood! Haven't felt very sexy with this large belly either and I haven't worn a shirt tucked in for a year. Ick! Looking back, I feel comfortable that at 33, I made the right decision for myself to have the myomectomy. Although I didn't want to have surgery again, this time I am mentally prepared, and physically ready to part with my uterus. Good luck to you and realize that only you can know how ready you are, and weigh the pros and cons. The answer will truly reveal itself!

The one thing I look forward to the most post hys, is being able to drink coffee thru out the day. Right now, with my giant fibroids pushing on my bladder, I limit myself to one. I have about the same symptoms-little pain, crampy periods, bladder pressure--but lately my bowels have been feeling the pressure too. And I can barely wait to wear my normal pants again. I'm a thin person with a beach ball belly...My kids keep asking if I'm pregnant. Tho, I still have a way to go before I get the big date. The military hospital here apparently only has one ultrasound operator or something...I also had a myomectomy ten years ago. But it did allow me to have three kids before the fibs grew back. Unfortunately, that is not an option this time.

I understand your dilemma. I am 44 with no children as I was unable to concieve. Three years ago I was told I had a few fibroids and my uterus was about 8 weeks. I had heavy clotting and bleeding for quite awhile prior to that. One year later I went in because I was hemmoraghing mid-month. My fibriods had more than doubled in size! My uterus was 16 weeks! No wonder I had a pot belly. I also was having horrible constipation and going to the bathroom 3-4 times a night.

I went through a battery of tests including a hysteroscopy and D&C. The D&C helped the bleeding for about 6 months. We researched doing an Embolization, but I was not a candidate because I had some fibroids on stalks. The thought of a hysterectomy really distressed me.

Well that summer my husband was diagnosed with incurable cancer and my health problems were put on hold. I spent many weeks and hours in hospitals, doctors offices, and waiting rooms while he was getting treatments. FYI, yesterday was the one year anniversary of that fateful day that he was officially diagnosed. I am happy to say he is doing great!

Finally in December 2001, the bleeding, pain, and bladder pressure got so bad I couldn't ignore it anymore. I went to the doc and now my uterus was 22 weeks! The fibroids were growing out of control and my belly looked and felt 5 months pregnant. I started having horrible bowel distress. That made me bloat even more. There were days (I am not exaggerating here) that I looked 6-7 months pregnant!
I disguised it as best I could with clothes, but I still got asked when I "was due". That's when doc put me on Lupron to shrink them to give me temporary relief and make a hysterectomy easier.

The Lupron turned out to be a blessing. I did have more hot flashes than usual (already perimenopausal) but they were tolerable compared to how I felt with a cantaloupe and few grapefruit sized fibroids. My belly is now more like 4-5 months on any given day, depending on how my bowels are. I will rejoice on the day it's flat again.

So, here I am waiting for surgery three weeks from today on Aug 7. I am nervous, yes, but the Xanax doc gave me for anxiety really helps. I am looking forward to being on the other side and not having to worry about fibroids ever again. The hysterectomy for me was the only way to go.

Halleluah! I can't wait to be a

So take heart, there are lots of us out there who know exactly how you feel. Research your options and follow your instincts. Your body will tell you what it needs.

Good luck, I wish you the all the best.

O.