29yo w/ severe fibroids/infection - considering hysto

Hi all,

My name is Liz, I'm 29 years old and have just come to the conclusion that I will probably need a hysto sometime soon. My docs started recommending one right after the birth of my daughter 11 months ago - but I really wanted to spend some time searching both my options and my soul.

After a lot of researching (5 specialists, several books, lots and lots of Googling) and hand-wringing I've decided that hysto's really my only option. When I got pregnant my fibroids grew to an enormous size (the largest like a soccer ball) - my pregnancy was extremely high-risk but fortunately my daughter made it through, born via emergency c-sec at 8mos. after total placental rupture (another story). A week NICU stay and she was raring to go! She is truly an amazing little creature and immediately made DH and I want MORE <sigh>.

Anyway, after my c-sec my fibroids started degenerating rapidly. Never been in so much pain in my life. 11mos later they are *still* degenerating (the soccer ball is now a large grapefruit) and many of them are infected and septic. I have had 8mos of green vaginal discharge (sorry TMI) and bleeding - that has left me raw and constantly sore. DH and I haven't had sex for a year! The infection means UAE's not an option, and myo would leave my uterus so scarred it'd be useless anyway.

Anyway, I'm here to start exploring my options. I meet with my GYN next week to talk with her about it. So far I know I would:

1. like to keep my ovaries (they're fine, strangely) and cervix
2. get a tummy tuck at the same time

What I'm worried about is:
1. hormonal balance - I had thyroid cancer as a teen and am just worried sick about my hormones going all out of whack, I've had enough of that for one lifetime, thanks.
2. coming to terms with no more pregnancies - as much as I'm grateful for DD and open to adoption in the future, it still hurts to say never again.

So, that's me! I'd love to hear from all of you - especially those with experience with humongus fibroids (doesn't that limit your surgical options?). Sorry this is so long and rambling... it's so great to have someone to "talk" to about all this!

HI darwinphish

I'm so sorry to hear about everything you are going through at your young age.

I do not have any personal experience with fibroids so I really do not have much to offer about what you are going through with the fibroids.

It sounds as if you have been doing alot of research and have had more than one doctors opinion to help you with your decision making.

There are some articles in the resources section that may be helpful to see if there are alternatives to check in to before making your decision.Resouces on fibroids...click here

Also www.thefibroidplace.com may be a good place to check.

I can relate to your concerns about your hormones going haywire.
I had my ovaries removed with my hysterectomy and the hormone rollercoaster ride sent me for a real loop.

Since this is a big concern for you then hopefully keeping your ovaries will be an option and you won't have to worry about your hormones. I did want to mention that some women find that after a hysterectomy there ovaries either stop working or do not work as well as before their hysterectomy. The blood flow to the ovaries can be disrupted once the uterus is removed.

There are many women who keep their ovaries and they work perfcetly fine for many years. This is just something to be aware of since it is a concern of yours.

Hopefully someone with some personal experience on fibroids will be along to share their experiences with you.

Best of luck

Hi Liz:

I had to respond because our situations are fairly similar!

My fibroids have been plaguing me since puberty but they were a huge problem during my second (and last) pregnancy ... my daughter was born at 37 weeks by emergency c-section after my placenta ruptured. The doctor jokingly told me I had the ugliest uterus he's ever seen. The baby was smashed against a fibroid so large it could have been her twin, and she was sitting on one the same size as her head. There were several small ones scattered about as well. Apparently it was a miracle that she made it that far and without any problems!

Since then (almost 5 months ago) I haven't stopped bleeding in spite of embolizations, ablations, and 2 depo-provera shots. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can make it to the Summer before I have my hysterectomy. Seems like there's not much choice left for me because I've exhausted every option.
Keep researching and ask your GYN everything to ease your mind. Knowledge is power!

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who wants to combine a hyst with a tummy tuck. Let me know what your dr. says. I want to ask for one too This will be the 4th time my abdomen will be cut open and there's no way my muscles will ever recover.
Besides we deserve a little something , right?

I'm hoping to keep my ovaries as well but my cervix has a few too many fibroids to save which bums me out. I sincerely hope you get to keep yours. Hormonal imbalace is a scary thing so I don't blame you for being worried about that. The depo shots have made me a lunatic

Please let us know how it turns out for you. I'll be 32 next month so I am curious to see how another "young one" experiences this.