Large fibroid shrinks and grows ?

Hello kind sisters,

I've got a hyst scheduled for Aug. 1, and this is the 3rd time
I've rescheduled it -- I am greatly agonizing. I have a large
fibroid that grew rapidly over a year -- this
spring it was 12cm, but then it shrank to 8cm in the
summer (just before surgery was scheduled), and now
I think it is larger again. I'm 54, and just starting to feel
peri-menopausal. Even at 8cm, the ultrasound tech said
she couldn't check my ovaries. I find this very scary and
want to get it taken care of, and I really don't want to
have it done during the school year (I still have 1 child
at home, and he requires alot of support). I was evaluated
for UAE, but told I'm not a good candidate. I have also
investigated myomectomy and lupron and these have
been ruled out. I don't have any symptoms except bulk
and feelings of heaviness, perhaps some bladder pressure.

Has anyone else experienced shrinkage and growing back of
a fibroid ? How much and how fast do fibroids shrink at
menopause ? If I can reasonably expect the fibroid to
shrink down to where it's not noticeable, and they can
check my ovaries, over a period of a year or less, I will
just hunker down and wait. If not, I want to get this
thing out now (keep my ovaries and cervix, and have
an abdominal procedure to allow quick surgery under regional anesthesia). Thanks for your help!

Hi Lovesroses,

Fibroids are not fun!!! Generally, a hyst for fibroids is *elective* surgery. For me, it came down to my quality of life - or lack of - with fibroids.

I actually am not sure about fibroids shrinking-then-growing again. In pre-op, my Dr. did tell me that fibroids can sometimes appear differently on subsequent ultrasounds since fibroids can change position slightly.

Since you have ruled out a UFE and lupron, have you checked to see if you are a candidate for a less invasive hyst such as a TVH, a LAVH or a LSH, the surgery type I had. Generally, the recovery time can be shorter with a less invasive hyst.

My 1st Dr. wanted to do an abdominal hyst (TAH) and my 2nd Dr. recommended a LSH, after I did (3) months of lupron to shrink my fibroids enough for surgery. My uterus with fibroids measured 9.1 cm at the time of my LSH.

I might suggest you go to the *Hysterectomy Checkpoints* link at the top of the web site, click, and go to *Pre-Op* area in middle and click and scroll down. Goes over questions to ask your Dr, when deciding on a hyst and also has listed the different types of hysts.

In the end...do what is *best* for you.

Mary

Hi historylady,

Thanks for your kind reply! Can you share why you elected to have surgery
given that your uterus was down to 9cm ? Pain/bleeding ?? I have neither,
and am thinking that if my only problems are worry/vanity with my 11-14cm
uterus, that I need a psychiatrist rather than a surgeon!

Hi Lovesroses,

I elected to have a LSH since I had a ~window of opportunity~ for a less invasive hyst.

In pre-op, my LSH Dr. told me as I got closer to my surgery date that if I elected to not have a hyst...when the lupron was out of my system...my fibroids would most likely have grown bigger and then some. Lupron causes temporary chemical menopause which causes fibroids to shrink. Lupron is just a ~band-aid~ that helped me to be a candidate for a less invasive hyst.

So...in my case, I proceeded with my LSH since I wanted an end to my fibroids. I did not want a ~wait and see~ and the chance of my fibroids growing bigger after lupron and again having scary-heavy periods, bladder incontinence and pelvic pressure 24/7. And most of all I did not want an abdominal hyst.

And being 3 yrs post-op...I am still very pleased with my LSH results. I would do it again in a second to have the quality of life I have now without fibroids.

Hope that helps.

Sending best wishes again~

Mary

Hi Lovesroses,

I forgot to add...my mom had fibroids for years (she is now 79) and she never had a hyst. My 2 sisters and I have all had hysts for fibroids in the last 3 yrs. So...the decision on how to proceed with fibroids differs with each Hyster Sister.

Most important...do what is *right* for you.

Mary