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08-17-2014, 04:48 PM
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HysterSister
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Bleeding fibroid post-menopause
After much time on the internet researching my problem and possible solutions, I found that I frequently wound up on Hystersisters reading real person experiences. There appears to be very little information on exactly what I am going through. I feel it is important to post this for other women who may experience a similar circumstance.
Three years into menopause, after an extremely stressful few months, I started bleeding – heavily, with large clots. The first thing I did was to cut out all soy and phytoestrogens. I knew for years I had fibroids and almost everywhere I looked, the consensus seemed to be, “Just wait until menopause and fibroids will shrink on their own.” Well, not necessarily. I bled for a month before finally finding a Gyno who took my insurance. Biopsy was negative for malignancy or hyperplasia. Ultra-sound revealed a grapefruit-size fibroid in my uterus. First doctor wanted to do a hysteroscopy, I read that is not the most effective procedure for a fibroid this size. Second doctor wanted me to consider thermal ablation or a myomectomy but also said I might give acupuncture and Chinese medicine a try. In the meantime, 4 months later, I am still bleeding: doc #1 prescribed progesterone to stop bleeding, doc #2 doubled the progesterone, added ibuprofen and scheduled a follow-up ultra-sound for next month. The progesterone seemed to make the bleeding worse.
I had my first acupuncture 5 days ago and was given indole 3-carbonol (it blocks estrogen receptors) and gui zhi fu ling wan (used for centuries in Chinese medicine to shrink fibroids) along with an iron tonic and instruction to use a heated castor oil pack 3 times a day. She also told me to order Black Haw to halt the bleeding (it has not yet arrived.) The night after the treatment, I bled like a fire hydrant from hell, but the day after that it lightened considerably – and has continued to be much lighter. For the first time in four months, I am hopeful and am looking forward to the ultra-sound next month.
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