what constitutes rapid growth of fibroids?

For the past two years I have been struggling with anemia and finally found that the cause was heavy bleeding during my periods caused by a large fibroid. I was told my uterus is the size of 16 week. First visit GY suggested hyst. but said I was not a good candidate because of blood level. I have taken Chromagen for about a year now. I have gone from hemoglobin of 8 to an 11 so my blood level is improving. My GY has tried Progestin which didn't seem to slow bleeding at all and I experienced a lot of break through bleeding and spotting during the month. I have had D&C and hysteroscopy. Bleeding seemed to be worse afterwards. For the first three or four days very excessive clotting. At times I have to change tampon & pad every 30 min. to hour. Cramping is terrible at times but not continuous throughout period. Periods were lasting 7 to 9 days. GY has repeated ultrasounds for the past two months. Last month my fibroid size was 4.1 cm. One month later (yesterday) I had a repeat ultrasound and the fibroid has grown to a 5.5 cm. How rapid growth is too fast? This past month I started a new medicine "Agestin" and this one is 10 mg instead of 5 mg. My last period was only 7 days and the first couple of days were the worse with no break through bleeding or spotting between period but I am really concerned about the growth of the fibroid. I understand 5.5 cm is about the size of a lemon? How big is too big? I have also found out that I have cysts on my right ovary. ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR BEEN THROUGH ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE? I will see my GY again on 31st and am afraid she is going to want to make me a princess!

I have some links that might help answer some of your questions.

http://thefibroidplace.com/

http://www.fibroids.net/

http://www.fibroids.org./

http://www.nuff.org/

I hope some of these help!

{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}

kaatie

Dear clb: You poor thing. I can relate to your post almost EXACTLY. However, it seems that you are suffering a lot more. As soon as my doctor discovered this "monster" fibroid (4.5 cm, sorry don't know inches), he immediately suggested hysterectomy since I have finished my family. I was very anemic too, down to 8 and then up quite quickly to 12 or so.

I am now 4 weeks post-TAH, kept both ovaries and am feeling sooooooo much better It was almost like a poison in my body was taken away. You are suffering WAY to much and should really consider hysterectomy. Sounds like you have NO life at all except buying femine products! This is not right. You did not mention your age, so don't know how you would feel about TAH (more children??)

Good luck to you and keep reading

Hi,
I was diagnosed with multiple fibroids after my hyst. I bled continously for 3 months. I was put on continuous bcp's with no help -- still had the breakthrough bleeding. When the pill stopped working, I was put on Aygestin, a synthetic progestin. This did nothing for me. In fact, I think it made things worse. I was on 4 Aygestins a day (.5 mg. each for a total of 2 mg a day). It never did stop my bleeding. I have heard that estrogen feeds the fibroids so I was given a shot of Depot-Lupron to try to stop bleeding. Again, nothing! The only relief I got was my hyst, which I had on 3/1/01. I have NEVER felt better! No more periods, no more fibroids, etc. I had a fibroid on a stalk that had expelled itself through my cervix and was trying to enter the world! My dr. had EXTREME satisfaction when she finally "lopped it off" (in her words).

I hope you get relief soon. Fibroids are nasty things that I'm glad I'll NEVER have to experience again.

Hi clb,

I can SO relate to your post! I had been having heavy bleeding and bad cramps for years and was diagnosed recently with anemia (hemoglobin 8 also) and an 8.8cm fibroid. As far as the question of "how large is large?" the big issue is your symptoms and how it is effecting you. One woman might have a large fibroid that is assymptomatic (causing no problems) and drs might advise to just keep an eye on it. Another woman might have a small fibroid which is causing lots of problems. So it's a really individual thing.

I know you were asking more about rate of growth, and I don't have much to comment on about that. But I would assume that if you are experiencing bad symptoms now, the syptoms could increase as it grows.

I'd like to add that this thread and it's responses were really helpful to me today, as I have been debating what to do about my situation. To hear of the relief experienced by Kelly and Catherine after their surgery is really encouraging!! Also as I have been grappling with the "how large" question myself, it is sobering to realise the comparative size of my fibroid, and that I do, indeed need to deal with this...

Like you, clb, a hysterectomy is the last thing I would want to do, but do as much research as you can and also take time just to think and feel. And you'll do what's right for you.

I hope that if I decide to go that route that I, too, can post about how much better I feel afterwards!

Take Care,

Susan

Ladies,

Thanks so much for your input in my questions regarding how large is too large on my fibroids. The day after my post I saw my gyn and it looks as if I'll be scheduled sometime in late August for a TAH. I found that I not only have one 5.5 cm fibroid, but another has appeared 4.6 cm. I also found that my right ovary has multiple cysts and the ovary itself measures about 2 1/2 times larger than the left ovary. With the rapid growth over a one month period and finding the additional problems my gyn really didn't ask what I wanted at this point, it was more like "this is what you have to do now." I think there is some concern with the right ovary. So now, do I keep my left ovary if there is nothing wrong with it? I got my first shot of Lupron on the day of my visit and will receive two more before the surgery. My hope is that these things will shrink enough that my gyn will be able to do a "bikini cut" so that I don't have this large ugly scar on my stomach. (I know that's really being vain and shouldn't be a real concern at this point.) Anyway, now I'm beginning to deal with the effects of Lupron. I had my first "hot flash" which was more like a "warm flash". I woke up in the middle of the night with my hair damp from night sweats and thought "joy - joy - here we go!" Since then I have started what I hope to be my LAST PERIOD OF MY LIFE and believe me it's only been two days and it has been the worst of my life! My right ovary has had a continous pain and at times the cramps get pretty bad. I hope this Lupron kicks in and stops this really fast. Ya know, I think I'm almost ready psychologically to get this over with. I've had a real hard time getting myself to this point but I'm almost convinced that - Yeah, maybe it is time to do something so that my quality of life will be better than it is. I am 40 years old and I have two daughters, age 21 and 18, of my own and three step-daughters that live with me and my husband, ages 7, 9, 12, so it's not like I will be having any more children. I also had a tubaligation 18 years ago after the birth of my daughter. I've always been pretty tough, but this is about to get me down so I think I'm ready for that change. But then, ask me again before August ---- I'm really scared!

Thanks for all your thoughts and concerns! It always helps to hear from someone else that has been there!

CLB (Connie)