Belly Hard As A Rock

Hi All -- I'm having my hysto in August -- hopefully, vaginally.

I have a fibroid the size of a lemon and a polyp. The way I bleed and spend 3 out of 4 weeks a month dealing with some facet of my period, I figured this fibroid thing would come back from the ultrasound measuring to be the size of a football or, at least, find that I would have several fibroids. Don't mean to sound disappointed about that -- ha.


Anyway, my question is, the week or so before my period starts, my adbomen gets rock hard. Even my husband commented on it one day after I brought up the subject about it to him. I was shocked that he had been aware of it and hadn't said anything. He said it was sort of "creepy". I guess he noticed it with his stomach when it was touching mine (you can do the visual here -- ha ). Because of that, this is why I assumed I must have larger or more fibroids. Now, I'm wondering if this is just due to my uterous filling with blood.

I do lift weights and walk but I know my this is not from exercise (boy do I wish it were).


Does anybody else get this monthly?

Swee2th

Swee2th,
I too get this monthly, sometimes bi-monthly with my period and ovulation. I swell a lot also, I can gain up to 7 or 8 pounds just in water weight, and even when I take my water pills faithfully, I can still get the hard spot. I notice it more on whichever side is ovulating. Your may be able to give you other reasons for this.

s Wendy

Hiya Sweet2th!

I had that same rock hard belly just before and during menstruation. (It was the size of a 5 month pregnancy all month long, but softer.) My doc explained that the message your body receives is to line the uterine walls. When there are fibroids present, the body thinks it should line the fibroids as well. As a result, more blood collects in the uterus, more blood is taken from your usual blood stores (often resulting in anemia) and more blood must be released during your period.

I don't know if that is what's happening with you, but it sure made sense to me! You still might want to ask your doctor if that's what s/he thinks is the cause of that particular symptom.

Cecee

This is so weird!! I just noticed this with me this week!!! I never noticed it before, but until I get a girdle or something, I've been kind of holding myself together (I feel like I'm falling apart!!) with my hands - That is also where alot of my pain is, so I don't touch it much to see if it's still hard.