Multiple health problems: GI diseases & fibroids - hysterectomy suggested

I suffer from multiple health problems. To name a few, I'm a diabetic, have crohn's disease, celiac disease, irritable bowel disease, have multiple uterine fibroids. Largest fibroid is 10cm, my uterus is like a fruit basket, full of fibroids, all sizes differ.
I've always suffered from very painful menstrual cycles. Even being on birth control pills when I was younger it didn't help with the pain or heavy bleeding.
I had my first child vaginal delivery.
A few years later I had a myomectomy. At my 6 week checkup the fibroids were back. My doctor told me if I was planning on having more children to get pregnant immediately. Unfortunately I was unable naturally so he put me on fertility medication. Thankfully I got pregnant soon after.
I bled my entire pregnancy and was in constant pain but I was determined to get through it. I had a scheduled csection. My child was born healthy.
For the past 20 years I have suffered with the fibroids.
But unfortunately I now also have other health problems making my every day life very difficult but I am determined to keep moving forward. Has anyone suffered with GI diseases and dealt with fibroids the same way?
Did you have a hysterectomy?
My doctor doesn't want to do anything but a hysterectomy. I told him I wasn't having any more children but I didn't want to take out my uterus yet unless I absolutely had too. I am now 44 years old and so frightened, I don't know if I should have the surgery. My doctor told my I am very high risk because of all the health problems.
Please help me.

Today I met with another medical professional in my doctors office.
The medical team has decided it's in my best interest to get a hysterectomy.
I'm nervous and worried.

and greetings from a fellow fibroid sister!
I have poor stomach motility, which was complicated by a uterus the size of a 22 week pregnancy pressing on my stomach. I was told that because of the size and location of the largest fibroid, a hysterectomy was my only alternative, so I went with that. If I could turn back time, I would have asked to see an interventional radiologist about having a uterine fibroid embolization, a procedure that could shrink my fibroids without losing my uterus, and without the risks associated with major surgery; I would have also discussed pain management with my surgeon ahead of time, and researched the side effects of commonly prescribed pain medications, so I would not have found out the hard way - by throwing up on day 3 - that opioids were contraindicated for my specific condition. If you do have a hysterectomy, it will be essential to make sure that your dietary needs are known ahead of time, so you're not served anything you should not be eating during your hospital stay, so make sure that you spell everything out on your pre-op paperwork, and just say no if you're served something you're not sure about; I'm vegan and gluten-sensitive, so when I was served a cream of beef soup, which could have also contained gluten, I just said no and they respected that. We also have numerous threads on managing IBS and other GI issues that can be found with a simple serch, and numerous sisters with these issues who can share their insights. Also, if you're being told that you need an abdominal procedure, I recommend asking to speak to a fibroid specialist, like the one who did my surgery, who may be able to do it laparoscopically. Wishing you all the best for whatever you decide!

I’ve had fibroids and polyps that were surgically removed. The fibroids came back of course. I did opt for the hysterectomy with total removal of all reproductive organs. I was offered to have ablation or an iud with ultrasound and biopsy every 6 months. In hind sight, I wish I hadn’t jumped at the hysterectomy because I was tired of the pain and bleeding and tried the ablation first. I also have ibs-d. Talk to your Dr. as well as get a second opinion so you know all your options and potential side effects.

This could have almost been my exact post before my hyster. I have crohns, irritable bowel, POTS, and several other healthy issues (I’m 43) Looking back now I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!
The recovery is no joke and one of the most difficult things to heal from but I can tell you almost 2 years out things now are great! No pain, no bleeding, crohns has calmed down since the hyster as well.

Oh gosh, I am so, so sorry to hear about all that you’ve been through. Quick question…. Have you ever had your doctor perform a complete hormonal panel on you by any chance?? That, plus a nutrition/food plan to help you with the GI issues that you experience?

Hello! I also suffered from GI issues (IBS) while dealing with a very large 4 pound fibroid. It essentially destroyed my uterus and I looked like I was 6 months pregnant. I didn’t realize how much my fibroids and uterine size were culprits in my GI struggles. I had a total abdominal hysterectomy at 36. I kept my ovaries, but everything was removed. Luckily I had 2 children already, so I was actually happy to have my uterus removed and be done with the misery of my fibroids. The fatigue and pain they caused was unbearable during my periods. My periods were so heavy that I would have to use sick days to miss work while also having bouts of IBS. Horrible. I will say that I was extremely surprised that my GI issues did get better and more manageable after the procedure. My IBS symptoms are now mild. Everyone’s experience is different, but I just wanted to give you a little comfort in knowing that my TAH was beneficial for my GI issue and fatigue and general well being. I’m 44 now and I don’t have any regrets having it done. I wish you the best of luck with whatever you choose. You know your body and what it can handle.
Take care, Jill

My hysterectomy was one of the best decisions I ever made. I suffered needlessly for years. I should have listened to my doctor sooner. I made hysterectomy my last resort. You sound ready. Weight the pros and cons for yourself. I was done having children and kept my ovaries and my cervix, Good Luck.

I’m so sorry to hear about your health issues. I’m not going to say a hysterectomy isn’t your best option, but when there’s a lot of them (fibroids) in there I know a lot of doctors recommend it. I don’t have many health issues, but stress causes my bowels to really act up. My doctors basically told me with my 2 fibroids, one the size of a lemon, the other 1.7 cm and constant bleeding that my best option was hysterectomy since I don’t want anymore children and my periods are always painful. I haven’t had my hysterectomy yet, but I will say that the one thing I always wonder is: why wait so long to have a surgery that can correct some of your health issues? I have spent years in terrible pain every month but no one was willing to help. If you have the time(health wise) get a second opinion. Do some research, and ultimately you have to make the best decision for you. One thing that has helped me through this process was writing down what I’ll gain from this surgery. Like a list of pros and cons to help you sort through what you should do. I hope this post helped, and that you are able to make an informed decision.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by amvardaman I suffer from multiple health problems. To name a few, I'm a diabetic, have crohn's disease, celiac disease, irritable bowel disease, have multiple uterine fibroids. Largest fibroid is 10cm, my uterus is like a fruit basket, full of fibroids, all sizes differ. I've always suffered from very painful menstrual cycles. Even being on birth control pills when I was younger it didn't help with the pain or heavy bleeding. I had my first child vaginal delivery. A few years later I had a myomectomy. At my 6 week checkup the fibroids were back. My doctor told me if I was planning on having more children to get pregnant immediately. Unfortunately I was unable naturally so he put me on fertility medication. Thankfully I got pregnant soon after. I bled my entire pregnancy and was in constant pain but I was determined to get through it. I had a scheduled csection. My child was born healthy. For the past 20 years I have suffered with the fibroids. But unfortunately I now also have other health problems making my every day life very difficult but I am determined to keep moving forward. Has anyone suffered with GI diseases and dealt with fibroids the same way? Did you have a hysterectomy? My doctor doesn't want to do anything but a hysterectomy. I told him I wasn't having any more children but I didn't want to take out my uterus yet unless I absolutely had too. I am now 44 years old and so frightened, I don't know if I should have the surgery. My doctor told my I am very high risk because of all the health problems. Please help me.

You didn't mention why you are resistant to hysterectomy. I had my hysterectomy at age 42 due to large fibroids, pain , and heavy bleeding. I have never regretted it even for one minute. I was done having children and my broken uterus was causing more problems than I wanted to deal with.