Advice - Fibroids, doc recommends VH

Hi ladies,
I'm so thankful i found this forum and look forward to the support! Let me tell you my situation. I am 39 years old and have fibroids in my uterus. Doc found them via ultrasound a year or so ago after i complained of extremely heavy bleeding. I just saw him again last week because no, not only is the bleeding heavy but it lasts for 10-14 days. He said the fibroids had grown. He recommended a vaginal hysterectomy. He said the fibroids are now too large for uterine ablation, but VH is still an option at this time. My ovaries are fine though.

I thought about it awhile and my best option is to wait until fall.....Sept perhaps. I only work part time so i do not get vacation or sick pay. I will have to save up enough money to make up for atleast 2 weeks of pay. Also i don't want to ruin this long awaited spring /summer weather by having surgery.

It is my understanding though that 2 weeks may not even be enough recovery time and this worries me. I am also worried that I will wait too long, and the fibroids will grow making a VH not an option.

ugh! i just don't know what to do. Part of me is thinking about not doing it at all because of the long recovery time and expense. :/ Any advise??

Although its a personal choice, sounds like might just be postponing the inevitable----based on what you said. I had a TVH and returned to work at 5 wks, heavy work. I might have been cleared at 4 wks if I'd gone in that wk. If you do sit down job-----well at 3 wks I could have, 2 would have been a stretch, but some do. I mean if you have to work, you have to work. But from what I read here if you need a TAH instead, 2 wks sounds not do-able. I guess you have to really figure your finances, work from home possibilities, quality of life if you don't, and your Drs opinion. Any creative money ideas---work from home, extra hrs now to save up, family help, etc? Guess I'd be afraid to wait a long time but that's me only and I had a different issue so recovery time is what I can best answer. Its a tough decision, good luck.

What is a TAH?

A TAH is a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy. This link should be helpful to you for deciphering abbreviations you'll see on the message boards: Abbreviations.

Sorry that's Total Abdominal Hyst. If fibroids are too large to take by vag hyst they take by longer abdominal incision, which has a longer and more painful (usually) recovery than a VH.

Oh ok...yes thats what my doc said...I just didnt know the abbreviation. Is there anywhere on here that talks about possible herbal remedies to slow the growth of fibroids?

Have you researched another option, called Uterine Fibroid Embolization? This procedure is done by an Inventional Radiologist not your gyn so less doctors recommend it since they do not get the money. This procedure cuts off the blood supply of the fibroids so they shrink. I just had it last Wednesday with only a week off work. I had continuous periods that never stopped with my fibroids growing since last summer. The doctor said it will stop my bleeding and the shrinkage will take several months. Even if I end up having a hyst. it gives me more surgery options like the DaVinci, which has a lot quicker recovery time.

I had an ablation in October and it did not help my bleeding. But I feel good about this procedure. I recommend that additional research. My family doctor (not my gyn.) did the referral for the insurance. You need a MRI done before the consultation with the Inventional Radiologist, rather than just the ultrasound for a clearer view of your fibroids. I have nine fibroids and the doctor was able to cut the blood supply of all nine. I will have another MRI in July to see what shrinkage there has been.

I wish you luck. I always say, research, research, research and ask questions. Be an advocate for yourself!! It is your body!!

Hope this helps.
Clemson gal

Hi dekellee! I have had a very similar scenario to yours. I was diagnosed with fibroids and severe anaemia about nine months ago. My period last sometimes beyond three weeks. I was initially recommended for abdominal surgery and told I would not qualify for laprascopic surgery, but the doctor who told me that was not a specialist in that area. So I found someone who was and he is fully optimistic that my surgery can be done laprascopically, and I have a third surgeon supporting that decision. Many times I doubted myself through this process and nearly went with the more invasive procedure and a doctor I didn't trust, because he was so adamant. However, thanks to the urging of women on this site, I did listen to my instincts and got the second and third opinions. I will be having laprascopic surgery on May 11th. There is a chance they will decide they need to switch to abdominal once they have a look inside, but they will try for laprascopic.

I highly recommend a second/third opinion if you are able to research other surgeons. If I have learned anything in my own journey, it is that doctors do have their biases, based on their own specialties, training and experience (like all humans). I would be interested to know if there is anything you can do to shrink the fibroids enough to make other options available to you, such as laprascopic surgery which may (or may not) help with recovery time. As clemson gal says, be your own advocate....nobody else is going to, no matter how great your doctor is.

And please don't give up....there is nothing more important than your health, and I don't believe your condition will get better. If you're not anaemic now, you are likely at risk, and trust me it sucks! It is really frustrating to work through this until you find an answer that is right for you, but please stick with it...chase it down until you have a good solution for your body and your specific condition. Stay strong!