more fibroid questions

Hi! I, too, have a large fibroid that seemed to just sneak up on me. Can anyone clarify what constitutes a "large" fibroid, and what "fast growing" means? Mine grew from the size of an orange to the size of a cantalope in a year. (Had the fibroid for years, but it never grew much). Seems like its large and fast growing to me, but then I hear about other women who have fibroids the size of basketballs. Makes my melon seem rather small! My doctor is concerned about the rate of growth, hence the hysterectomy. Guess I need to clarify some of this with my doctor, but my pre-op is still a ways a way. Like many other women who post on this site, I wonder if I am doing the right thing because I am really having no problems except for some major back pain. I'm thinking that given the size and rate of growth, I might be preventing some big problems in the future. (Which is what my doctor believes--also, he says there is less risk of complications if the fibroid doesn't get too huge) But this is such a major operation, maybe a wait and see approach would be better. Just need some validation--in your experiences and humble opinions, do you think I am doing the right thing, or should I wait for more symptoms to develop? I think I'm getting cold feet and my surgery is still 2 months away!! I change my mind about 3 times a week. The waiting is killing me!! Thanks for your thoughts!

It sounds like you are wrestling with what to do. It is a good idea to talk some more with your . There are also other alternatives to look into before you decide to have a hysterectomy. It is a good idea to read and research all that you can.

Here is something to look at to get some information:

http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/for...hp?forumid=164

Good luck and we are here if you have questions. You are the only one that can do what is right for you. It is also important to get more that one or two opinions as well.

s

I had much the same story. I was having some heavy bleeding and the pain was getting worse, but nothing like a lot of women go through. I changed my mind 3 times the week before my surgery. I had everyone in a state of confusion -- husband, parents, friends, even my Dr couldn't keep up with the changes of heart. But I can say that I'm very happy that I went through with it. As stressful as it was before the surgery, it has been a big relief to have a quick recovery and know that I don't have to worry about it anymore. Good luck.

You sound like you're unsure about the hysterectomy. You should consider getting a second opinion. I was diagnosed with a large fibroid which was causing excessive bleeding. The gyn I was seeing wanted me to get a hyst, I began to doubt him (he did a lot of things to make me doubt him, not just the hyst). I planned on a second opinion, but four days before my apt I ended up in the ER, lucky for me the doc I had the apt with that week was on duty, so he became my new doc. He was able to perform a myomectomy, he removed 90% of the fibroid vaginally. Had they not found cancer cells in the fibroid when it was removed I wouldn't have needed a hyst. I'm 33 years old and my doc didn't want to perform a hyst on me unless it was absolutely necessary.

Getting a second opinion may help you to feel more at ease with your decision and it might also offer you other alternatives.

Best of luck,
Mary Ellen

I'm not sure what constitutes a "large" fibroid. I have two that are relatively small, (approximately the size of cherry tomatoes). I call them "the twins". They haven't grown in the past two years. However, the doc thinks this is because I've been on pretty strong hormones to keep the ovarian cysts at bay. (Apparently the hormones can stunt the growth of the fibroids too, and from what I've read HERE, Lupron may actually shrink them).

I've read that in some cases, even very small fibroids can be symptomatic. On the other hand, some women have very large ones and say they had few, if any symptoms. All I can say is that when I'm not on hormones, my tissues "fill up" (my doc's expression), and I feel a tremendous amount of pelvic and rectal pain and pressure. Also, my cycles have become very close together and last longer and longer. Who knows at this point if my "cherry tomato twins" are causing all this (??) I won't be surprised if the diagnosis list grows after the surgery, (adeno? endo?...we'll have to wait and see).

If you are having any doubts, you should talk to the doctor again. This will give you both a chance to share your mutual concerns and maybe discuss your options. I think we sometimes go "numb" when we initially learn about the surgery and don't clearly formulate our questions/responses until we've had time to let it absorb.

I had quite a few very large fibroids, largest being about 17cm x 9cm My entire uterus/fibroids was about 38cm (the size of an 8 month pregnancy) My Dr said this was quite large and CAT scan & ultrasound results both used the term HUGE.

I really wasn't aware I had them until just recently (long story) but my GYN said they were probably growing for about 5 years. This resulted in red degeneration (bleeding into the fibroids) and calcification. So in my case when one ceased to get the blood supply it needed it shut down and grew another.

I probably should have had surgery years ago. Due to the size he had to go in abdominally and I had a 10" incision. Had I not had the hysterectomy it would have caused more problems for me number one being it starting to adhere to my stomach.

I also had what I thought were just minor symptoms, heavy bleeding, lower back pain, had to pee all the time. But I was able to justify all these as related to other things.

This is just a bit of my story, only you and your Dr can decide what is best for you. Hope it helps some. Keep on this site...it clarified a lot for me

nov. 2001 I had Tah for 22 cm uterine fibroid. Having it out was such a relief! worst part was worrying myself sick before the surgery. The dr. called it a bowling ball. Since I was finished child bearing I havent missed the periods a bit!

Hi there!

I know what you are going through, it is such a tough decision. I echo the people who say to get a second opinion.

I was diagnosed with "a very large fibroid" 7 years ago. It was about the size of an orange back then. I was told then that I had to have a hysterectomy, when I was 25 years old and I refused. I was in a small town that only had 1 gyn and I had heard so many horror stories about him that I wouldn't take his word for it. I let him do the laproscopic exploratory on me, and I will never forget how beat up I felt after that operation! I went to my gp and *made* him refer me to another gyn, out of town. She did another lap. and a D&C because she didn't think my other gyn did a good job (thank god I didn't stay with him as my only option!) and after I *didn't* feel like I was hit by a truck. Only, with the same conclusion. No option but hysterectomy. She went through all the other options with me, and why they wouldn't work. She did try to help me control its size though.

It didn't work. I hemmoraged in January 2002 when I sneezed - ended up in hospital needing blood. Got me a new gyn (I had moved across the country so I needed one anyway) who was heavily into research.

This summer, I had enough of it though. My fibroid had grown to be huge, and the back pain, bleeding, moodiness, pain, pain and more pain were too much for me to bear. My new gyn tried to talk me into trying to have a baby anyway (I am childless, and had finally decided that I didn't need to have a child). I had an endoscope test to see if my fallopian tubes were open, but they were closed. No chance of me having a baby on my own.

So I had TAH on Sept. 26th 2003.

A normal uterus is 75 grams. Mine weighed 2850 grams, or 6.38 lbs. It was 23 cm long x 17 cm wide.No cancer, though they were afraid there would be. Essentially, I feel I *did* have a baby - it was almost large enough!

You said you have back pain - so did I. I learned in my pre-op clinic that there are two thin muscles attached to the uterus from the spine, they are supposed to hold it in place. When your uterus grows too large, it falls forward, and those muscles get stretched beyond capacity. I have had NO back pain since I recovered.

This post has become huge and I didn't mean it to be, so I'll just say that I've had similar benefits as the other women here, and I wish I had done it years ago. I was so afraid that I put it off for 7 years, but my quality of life would have been so much better if I had it over with earlier. I am 32 years old, and I think I missed the end of my youth by dealing with this for so long.

All that said, you MUST be in the right state of mind to have it done. It took me 7 years to prepare myself mentally for it. It's only been 6 1/2 weeks, but I already feel so much better!

Jenn

Hello BP,
We're sort of sound in the same boat. My fibroids were first diagnosed 8 or so years ago. I have had a couple of ultrasounds so we were aware of their size (can't remember in cm's, but sounded quite big). I did have a myectomy about 5 yrs' ago. One removed, but one in the wall that couldn't be helped. When I went for my last annual in Feb, doc. concerned that my uterus was growing. Now at 5 month "pregnancy" i.e fat tum! So off for another ultrasound, and yes, things are moving. Had to visit gynae. He was concerned by the growth factor. Said if a woman had fibroids she could live with for 20 yrs and they remained the same, he wouldn't be worried. But expressed his concern that these were increasing in size. Up until this time, my dr. had told me that a fibroid was never cancerous. My gynae contradicted that. 1 in 1,000 women can have a cancerous one. My gynae (who I like, having seen a few truly horrible ones in the past few years) recommended 2 forms of treatment: conservative ie MRI then CSA blood tests to try to keep track of what was happening. Or a hyst. After years of trying to avoid the hyst thing, I finally made the decision in his surgery to proceed. It was almost an anti-climax in the end. I'd been so hoping to keep things intact until menopause (surely not that far away, I'm late 40's now). My periods were under control (heavy, but not unpredictable. Difficult 30 hours or so, but then ok), then when he mentioned the cancer possibility, that was it for me. Having said that, I've read various articles and do now know that growth can be brought about my hormone surges. So perhaps nothing to worry about? Hoping so. Anyway, my surgery is down for Dec 1 and I'm looking forward to getting it over and done with. I must say that I tie it into the "growth spurt", but I've been feeling wiped out for the past 4 months. Maybe tension, apprehension. Or maybe my body just telling me to get on with it!.
Good luck with your decision.
Ultimately it's up to you to decide which way to jump. Hope you have good listeners to talk to. I have this website and it is terrific. I'm working though, and can't spend much time "chatting". At this stage, I'd like to be on the site for 8 or so hours a day!! It's a great comfort.
All the best.
Nellie one

Thanks for your replies. This site is really great. I know the final decision is mine, but it sure helps to hear what others are thinking and what they have been through. I have been seeing a great chiropractor for back pain. He has helped considerably, but feels that until the fibroid goes there is little more he can do. I will be talking to my gyn again before surgery so I can make my final decision then. Its interesting to hear the connection between fatigue and moodiness and fibroids. I'm thinking I probably have more symptoms than I realize! Thanks again for the support and advice!!! Take care!