2008: Fibroids after 50 and post-menopause? *2008*

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Originally Posted by deegramma Hi rosebud...I am 64 and had tah and I do mean total....in March of this year. I am currently 6 mos post op. I had increased pressure and repeated bladder infections along with a lot of achiness and a feeling of just being full in the pelvic area for several months before I started to spot and then bleed heavily...I had a d&c with hysteroscopy in Dec 2010 and ultra sounds that defined the presence of many fibroids. My doctors had at one point many years before menopause mentioned the presence of fibroids but indicated that they were not serious and they would go away as I went throuh menopause... I had been post menopause for about 8 years when I had my hysterectomy. Overall I am doing fine and other than an increase in bladder issues since the surgery I feel better than I have in years. The fullness and that achy feeling are gone and I am very glad there is no more bleeding. My only problem seems to defy the information I can find on the web or even get from my doctor...but I seem to be going through menopause for a second time. I have the hot flashes actually worse I think than the first time. Everyone I talk to says the ovaries were no longer producing estrogen so there is no reason for the hot flashes...but they are here and they bring with them the reddness, confusion, irritability and just in general discomfort. If I had any advice for women in our post menopausal group it would be to discuss in depth with your md the role the ovaries play even post menopausal and be prepared you might get to experience menopause twice. Hope all goes well with you and if you do need surgery this is a great sight for hints , helpers, and sisters to share your concerns with ....I don't know what I would have done without them

hey it gets better

Thanks to all of your posts! Reading this really helped. I am 55 and have large fibroids as well (10 cm). My Dr Thought they would get smaller post menopause but they are the same size. I 'sucked it up' and suffered through really heavy periods for years, wanting to keep my uterus.

Now I pee constantly and just feel like my cervix is being squeezed and there is just pressure in my abdomen. I am also experiencing low back pain when I am in chair position in Yoga...this is fairly recent and I have never had this issue before. The light bulb just came on...it is probably my fibroids!

I am now scheduled for a hysterectomy on Oct 24. I just did not want to deal with the pain/discomfort any longer. My Dr is stating that due to the size of my fibroids I most likely will have to have an abdominal hysterectomy. He is suggesting taking my ovaries as well. What are your thoughts on this? We will discuss in my pre-op in a couple of weeks.

It is really great to know that I am not the only one dealing with this and appreciate your posts and support. I really do think this is the right thing to do but it is still scary.

Thanks all!

I had my hysterectomy 03-24-11 and it was total hysterectomy. Ovaries, tubes, and cervix. They took the cervix as it had become so atrophied they were unable to get a viable pap smear done so we decided it was better safe than sorry...my only only regret is that I am now experiencing hot flashes and night sweats again. My doctor says this should not be happening as I had been post menopausal for nearly 10 years at the time of my TAH...I was healing very well but as to many of us I did to much to fast once my doctor released me and now at nearly 7 mos I am having some minor issues.

I would really recommend talking to your doctor about the possibility of a second go round of the menopause symptoms and please pamper the princess and take the time to heal correctly...good luck

I can only agree with the postings here. I thought I was through menopause, but bloodwork confirmed I was not. When I spent a day in bed due to fibroid pain, I knew something had to be done. I feel so much better. I had pressure under my rib cage - gone. Frequent trips to bathroom - gone. Back pain - greatly reduced. Had LAVH that removed everything on Oct 4th and have no regrets. However, everyone had to decide what is right for them. My alternative was ultrasounds every 3 months. I had elevated CA125 test, so I was anxious to make sure everything was OK. Turns out I had adonomyosis which cannot be diagnosed until after surgery. Not lif threatening, but explains the pain (that I no longer have!) Best of luck to you.

I'm 9 wks postop from lapro and vag hysterectomy. My primary care dr could have cared less when I told her I was having a pinkish discharge at age 68. Her response was "Sometimes we do that." Well, I did not agree with her at all and changed drs---Thank God! My new primary care dr referred me to a great OB/GYN who sent me for an ultrasound which showed fibroids and some sort of mass on my left ovary. So I went in for an outpatient surgery to remove the mass/ovary/and left tube. Once he was inside the game plan changed and I had a total hysterectomy leaving the cervix. The mass was a big fibroid at the uterus/tube junction and it was "mushy." I certainly didn't mind waking up to the news because at my age, I certainly don't need my reproductive system any more! Recovery has been up and down but no complications. Gone are the lower abdominal discomforts, lower backaches, etc. I feel good and glad to have said goodbye to my uterus. The path report was negative for any cancer and that was a big relief! In the back of my mind, I knew I was going to have a hysterectomy so it really wasn't a surprise. I didn't know I had fibroids but that explains a lot about those years of heavy periods, cramps, etc. All I can say, is if there is a question as whether or not to have the surgery, I vote for the surgery----I am so relieved mine is over!!! Love & Hugs to all!

I'm 49 and was just diagnosed with very large fibroids (uterus 5 times normal size). I made the mistake of getting my GP to do my pap smear last 7-8 years and mentioned to him the swelling and hardness in my abdomen and he told me it was nothing. The GYN could feel the fibroids just by pressing on my abdomen. I'm in peri-menopause and still having regular but heavy periods.

Anyway - the GYN said that large fibroids will never go away. They may shrink some after menopause but they would still be there and are likely to cause abnormal bleeding, making it difficult to tell if you have cancer or something else going on. She recommended a TAH. She went through the other options with me including Lupron but it didn't sound like any were a permanent solution. I'm just looking forward to not having a swollen abdomen, back pain, bowel pressure, bladder pressure and fatigue!

I passed up having one of various treatments due to fibroids crowding out my bladder and bowel about 4 years ago because of work and caring for my mother who I was not going to pack away somewhere.

I'm still here about 5 years post menopause and the fibroids are no smaller., possibly bigger. I cope with the daily symptoms from crowding and occasional bladder and bowel accidents but have never had bleeding or back pain, thank goodness!

Mom passed almost 2 years ago but now I realize I might need someone to take care of ME if I were to go through with a hyster. The cat is a great companion, but I can't count on her to pay the rent and buy groceries.

This is not a sob story. I am Sooo lucky in so many ways. One of my sisters nearly bled to death before she had a total hyster 25 years ago.

My point - I have alot of reading up to do here about what all I might expect as far as recovery if I should choose to take some action. Thanks for all your information and great spirit!

I had my dVH almost 4 weeks ago. My uterus was 10x normal size with several fist-sized and many smaller fibroids. I officially was menopausal Jan 2011, but the fibroids did NOT shrink. They also did not get larger. I had a hysterectomy because the fibroids were interfering with bowel, bladder, and finally (the last straw!) sexual function!! I never had painful periods or abnormal bleeding, like many others with fibroids have. A D&C in Dec 2011 found some abnormal cells in my uterine lining, which was 4x thicker than normal. It seemed prudent to have the hysterectomy. I had utereus, ovaries, and cervix removed. I am not on HRT and having some hot flashes and night sweats--pretty minor ones compared to what I went through in my 40s with perimenopause. Right now I'm just trying to "enjoy" the last couple of days before I'm to return to work on Monday.

After having what I referred to as a 'fake period', an ultrasound "showed" a cyst on my ovary. I had surgery and my doc discovered that my ovaries were fine, no cyst but I had a large fibroid growing outside, up and behind my uterus.

I had discussed with her that I wanted her to do whatever she needed to do, while she was in there, so the fibroid, my uterus and cervix were removed.

I am still not allowed to do kegels or core exercises but I feel that my uterus was leaning on my bladder causing problems that seem to no longer be an issue.


hugs to all in all the decisions we need to make

I am 57. I had a "fake period' that lasted for 4 months until I had an ablation done Dec. 15. A biopsy in Oct. showed atypical hyperplasia (sp) and suspicion of uterine cancer.
I had to have 9 iron infusions in Sept. and my gyn though it was important to get the bleeding stopped. She did a hysteroscopy and a biopsy at the time of the ablation, Dec. 15.
4 days later, she notified my that I did indeed have cancer. These biopsies were about 4 weeks apart. Well, go figure.
A gyn cancer specialist did a da Vinci tvh/spo Jan 19. The ablation spewed some 'dead cancer cells' into my abdomen. I am relieved to get everything out. I see the gyn onc. on Monday. My first question will be about the possibility of rogue live cancer cells in my abdomen at some point, and how will I know. And yeah, my hot flashes have returned. I feel pretty good, though a lot of fatigue.