How long before you think of surgery????HELP!!!

Hello. I have known I have fibroids for about 3 yrs now.The bleeding has gone from 2 weeks to 1 week.I am not seeing a doctor regulary.I went last week,first time in 2 yrs. She says it is big.She want to do a biopsy to see if it is canerous,and she mention to me a "shot" for my health!! She explained nothing. A "shot" isnt lupron is it?? Usually they give that before surgery right?? I need to try other doctor. I dont know what to do.I hate doctors,and this just proves the point. I am 43,and really dont want to suffer with this problem any more,I dont know when it can end on its own,and yet I am scared of surgery,but yet I need to find a caring doctor who can explain to me things,not just look at me funny!!! Help,Helen

Dear Helen,

Keep reading & posting, and write down all your questions for your doc. If you are not satisfied with your doc's care, seek out another opinion... then another. Most people don't like going to the doc, but if you don't look out for your health, who will??

Hysterectomy is major surgery, and you owe it to yourself to get smart about your symptoms and your options.

Sending huge cyberhugs

I have a link that might help answer some of your questions.

http://thefibroidplace.com/

Twy is so right about asking questions! There are lots of ladies here that have had fibroids and will be willing to help!

{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}]

kaatie

I had a D&c and lap 1 1/2 years ago. They determined I had fibroids and endomeetriosis (Spell?) I tried several other things to avoid the castle, including Lupron Depot shots. My Dr said it would throw me into menopause and shrink my fibroids. I took 6 shots (1 a month) they were wicked. Although I felt some relief. But they did a number on me physically and mentally. My husband said my witching was worse during that time. But he was nice enough not to tell me this until after it was over.
I have had increasing problems the past few months. The Dr said I had 4 choices... 1) ignore it; 2)have everything taken out; 3)birth control pills {but he said that would not help if I did not take daily. I am not a pill taker} 4)birth control shots. I chose the shot. It really messed me up too. And when I finally started, I bled longer and heavier than I ever have. I now have a date of June 18. I am excited about getting it over with.
It is a decision only you can make. May God strenghthen and guide you through this time.
Coleen

Hi Helen,
Kaatie gave you a great link on fibroid info. I had my first fibroid discovered back in 1998. At that time, I had extreme pain and bleeding with my periods. I tried depo-provera shots and that didn't help. BC pills did help with the pain and it gradually got better, up until last year. I started bleeding continuously in December. I went to see my doctor and she gave me the options, no treatment, bcpills, shots, or hyster. I wanted the hyst. since 1998 so I chose that. Fibroids can continue to come back as long as you have a uterus and I didn't want to keep going through what I was going through. I did have a shot of depot Lupron to try to stop the bleeding and was put on progestin pills (Aygestin). Nothing helped me to stop bleeding. I became anemic and my health was beginning to deteriorate.

The hyst. was the only thing that gave me my life back, but that's just me because my fibroids were causing me such bad health problems. Fibroids are rarely, if ever, cancerous (I did a lot of research on them) so I'm not sure why your dr. suggested testing the fibroid for cancer. Maybe she thought it was something else?

I was also terrified of surgery because my heartbeat has been irregular for years now and I was afraid of anesthesia. But I have a very SUPERB doctor and she was my angel in a dr. smock! I had no problems with my surgery so I was worried about nothing.

Do your research and think things through. Another good website is www.fibroids.net and www.fibroids.org. I have many other sites bookmarked so if you'd like them, please email me and I'll give them all to you.

Take care of yourself and let us know what you decide.

All that matters is that you're not comfortable with this doctor. You should be a "partner" in your care...not a spectator. If you're not being included in your care...then yes, do find someone else.

I would ask around among lady friends to see who has a good gyn and what they like about them. Getting the right doctor is critical. Going to more than one isn't a bad idea if you go to a new one and don't connect. More than one (or two) set of eyes on a medical problem just results in better care and more information for you to make a good choice. Don't be intimidated by doctors and ASK QUESTIONS. If a doc brushes you off or acts impatient or treats you like an idiot, find another one. There good ones out there and that would especially important for you since you aren't too comfortable with the whole doctor's appointment thing.