Bladder issues?

I am due for a LAVH on 8/9 and after reading and hearing about how many women have to put up with all of the problems associated with fibroids or anything else causing like problems I feel fortunate. I only started having symptoms that really got my attention over the Memorial Day weekend. As soon as I went to my GP she ordered ultrasounds and when the results came in she sent me to a surgeon. The fact that I said "MAKE IT GO AWAY" probably had something to do with that. My surgeon is great in that when he explained the options and I said what I wanted, he didn't try and change my mind.

Anyway, I have (as of 2 months ago) a 6.5 cm fibroid and enlarged uterus. My question is if others have the same issues with your bladder. I feel like I have to "go" it seems like all the time. Sometimes I do, sometimes not. It gets really frustrating. Is this normal? I will be asking my doc about it during my pre-op in a week but I thought I'd ask. I'm guessing that with the uterus being enlarged it is pressing on the bladder which causes this?? I'd hate to think there was something else going on as well. This has been going on "off and on" for about a year or so but my GP wasn't concerned. I'm 42 and she thought maybe Kegels would handle it but since it wasn't consistent, I don't know if it did or not. My surgeon said that I have probably had the fibroid for 3-4 years so maybe that was the cause.

Sorry, this turned out to be really longwinded. So many questions run though my head and I'm really glad I found this site, it helps a lot!

well only your doc woudl know for sure. But my guesses tell me it could be the fibroid pushing yoru bladder, or maybe a combination of that and a bladder issue such as a cystocele... You should definately mention this before hand, because if its a seperate issue it can be fixed at the same time as your hysterectomy.

GL!

It appears as though my bladder issues may have been solved with removing my huge uterus and my crop of large fibroids. I've been able to wait longer periods of time than I was able to do for several years. And no leaking when I sneeze! The jury is still out, I still have plenty of recovery time (I'm only 2.5 weeks post-op), but it appears as though this may be a side benefit from my surgery.

My doc didn't want to do the bladder issues during my surgery because he really thought that the fibroids may be the culprit. I'm glad I took his advice and decided to wait. But be sure and ask your doc, you can get this fixed at the same time if that's appropriate.

Patti

Hi Foxercat,

Most definitely your enlarged uterus/fibroid could be pressing on your bladder. My poor bladder was so squished that it couldn't hold much of anything in it at all. How nice it was to finally sleep all night without waking up to void a couple of tablespoons worth!! However, it is important that you let your Dr know about your bladder issues and let him decide.

	Quote:
As soon as I went to my GP she ordered ultrasounds and when the results came in she sent me to a surgeon. The fact that I said "MAKE IT GO AWAY" probably had something to do with that. My surgeon is great in that when he explained the options and I said what I wanted, he didn't try and change my mind.

You may want to actually investigate some of those optional treatments for that fibroid. What I have noticed, is that the women who are the happiest with the results from their hysterectomies, are the ones who had the most problems before. While most come through the hysterectomy just fine, some do not. There is no way of predicting who will have ongoing complications. If you are the one in a million, then the odds suddenly have no meaning for you anymore. If you try an alternative treatment, and it works, you have saved yourself a major surgery. If on the other hand, if it does not work, then you can still have the hyst. Once you remove an organ though, there is no going back and changing your mind. Even if you keep your ovaries, many women find that their blood flow is compromised from the surgery and their ovaries quit working in 1-3 years. While this does not always happen, you need to be aware of that possibility.

Here is a link to an article dealing with alternative treatments for fibroids: http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/hsa....php?id=191359

Knowlege is Power, so go empower yourself so that you can know that you are making the best decision for you!!

s,
Kay

I wish you the best with you upcoming surgery.

I have a prolasped uterus and can relate to the bathroom issue. I sometimes feel that I'm in my 9th month of pregnancy with as often as I have to go to the bathroom.

I's not as luck as some in that I will also have to have some bladder repair as it has slightly dropped because of the prolasp.

I can only go by what I've been reading in past posts that the fibroid could be the culpret, but then again I agree with the others to check with your doctor to be sure.

This is a great site to get information from those that have been there.

In my case, not only did I have an enlarged uterus and multiple fibroids; my bladder was completely attached to my uterus. I had my hysterectomy May 4th and the difference is amazing.

While on vacation, I stopped my mother one evening and told her how thrilled I was to be able to go out to dinner without scoping out the location of the bathroom and needing to use it before, during and after dinner. I could do the drive of over 1,000 miles without additional potty stops! I used to tell my kids on long drives that "we were not stopping to pee, there must be something wrong with them if they couldn't go four hours without peeing" anyone care to guess WHO had to stop to pee? Not anymore!

Good luck with your surgery and take care of yourself!

Lori