Ladies...What can you tell me about uterine fibroid tumors???

[piney]

Does anyone else find it strange that they always compare them to fruit?

 

[jezebella]

...and why citrus fruit? Why not "looks like an avacado" or "boy you got a big beefsteak tomato in there"?

 

[HunnyPots]

Does anyone else find it strange that they always compare them to fruit?

Not here - my gyn compared them to tennis balls, softballs, soccer balls, etc. I guess he liked sports better than fruit...

 

[KDIPIAZZ]

Not here - my gyn compared them to tennis balls, softballs, soccer balls, etc. I guess he liked sports better than fruit...

Me too, I have a softball, a baseball and a golfball. I'm still exploring my options. Hormones are definitely out and both hysterectomy and endometrial ablation have an increased risk of blood clots - I had had DVT and a pulmonary embolism 3 years ago after a broken leg so no surgeon is real eager to see me coming.

 

[quasar4legs]

Thanks for sharing your stories ladies. I was diagnosed with uterine fibroids today via ultrasound and was feeling a little miserable for myself. Just browsing the disney boards and here was just the thread I needed to give me a little information and make me feel better.
I go back to the doctor in a few weeks and at least I feel less worried now having heard that you have been able to resolve these issues.

Big hugs to you all.
I shall stop being a big baby now and just get on with it!!!!

Trish

 

[CathrynRose]

Does anyone else find it strange that they always compare them to fruit?

Not here - my gyn compared them to tennis balls, softballs, soccer balls, etc. I guess he liked sports better than fruit...

Mine preferred using silver change. Greedy money hungry doctor....

 

[mickeywho?]

Okay ladies - you all seem to be quite knowledgeable in this so I'll ask!
I'm due to go in for my annual checkup next month and I'm suspicious this is what's going on with me(fibroids). My periods are always regular but are unbearably heavy - can't even use tampons anymore and one those 2 or 3 heavy days I'm using a couple of pads an hour. (I'm so glad I work from home - I don't really leave the house on those days) No real cramps though - just some discomfort and obvious exhaustion. I mentioned this to the dr last year (though it wasn't as bad then) and she just did the regular pap smear and visual etc. checks with no mention of what could be the cause. She put me on bc pill and told me to report back in 6 months if it helped or not. Well - it did minimally but after 6 months of being off pill I'm worse than ever. She also put me on iron supplements since - surprise surprise - I was anemic. What more should I be asking for at the next checkup - maybe ultrasound? If they are there what's the safest and most accurate way to discover them? Any advice appreciated!!

 

[DebbieB]

Ironically, I was at the doctor today for the same thing! I had an "internal" ultrasound back in November. They found 2 small fibroids, a little smaller than a golfball. One is located close to the lining which is probably why I have irregular bleeding. It's not heavy, mostly spotting at various times. She said she could go in and try to take it out but I'm close to menopause so she decided to just wait 6 months and see what happens. Hopefully they will shrink after menopause. I now have to keep a daily chart..............

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Turns out it wasn't his head, but a large fibroid. A large, well-adjusted fibroid that knew its Mommy loved it.

And so it came back every time I was pg, causing more problems every time.

Who would have ever thought there was a funny story about fibroids?

Does anyone else find it strange that they always compare them to fruit?

...and why citrus fruit? Why not "looks like an avacado" or "boy you got a big beefsteak tomato in there"?

I always wondered that, too.

Me too, I have a softball, a baseball and a golfball.

Thank goodness no basketball!

 

[swandiverpatt]

Does anyone else find it strange that they always compare them to fruit?

To me, it was easier to visualize. I know what fruit looks like, but not centimenters! (I had a grapefruit, some plums, and a couple of kumquats .... really ....)

 

[snowchevy]

I am also a candidate for both a hysterectomy and ufe. i am not wanting a hysterectomy even though everyone says it is the best thing ever. It is a major surgery with a long recovery period. I am leaning towards the UFE but it seems as only one person has had this done so it makes me a little uneasy also. At the institution i am going to they have done over 800 of them. Some of the sites i read say they may only shrink 20% mine is 9 x 9 x 10 so 20 % wouldn't be that good. The heavy periods, difficulty with urination is making the decision for me that i can't put it off as it continues to get larger. I am 45 so menopause is still a few years away.

 

[lisah0711]

I had huge fibroids that made my life miserable for years -- heavy bleeding that never stopped for weeks on end. I had a hysterectomy at age 47 -- had everything removed due to unknown family history re ovarian cancer (Mom was adopted back in the days when you didn't get any of that info). It was the best thing I ever did for myself. I am so much happier now.

FWIW my DS also had a hysterectomy for fibroids about the time I had mine. She really did have a basketball.

Good luck to all of you who are suffering from this horrible condition.

 

[cepmom]

I am also a candidate for both a hysterectomy and ufe. i am not wanting a hysterectomy even though everyone says it is the best thing ever. It is a major surgery with a long recovery period. I am leaning towards the UFE but it seems as only one person has had this done so it makes me a little uneasy also. At the institution i am going to they have done over 800 of them. Some of the sites i read say they may only shrink 20% mine is 9 x 9 x 10 so 20 % wouldn't be that good. The heavy periods, difficulty with urination is making the decision for me that i can't put it off as it continues to get larger. I am 45 so menopause is still a few years away.

hey there
I'm the one here that had UFE done in November 2007, so I'm coming up on 2 years. I have done really well with this procedure. I ahd an ultrasond done this past August and my fibroid has shrunk even more; the Dr said it was more than 50% smaller than it was when I had UFE done.

My thinking was that I could at least try the UFE since it was less invasive and an easier recovery than hysterectomy. If it didn't work, then I would move on the hysterectomy. In my mind I couldn't do it the other way around. Knock wood, I haven't had to consider a hysterectomy since!

Have you found the yahoo group for UFE? Lots of great info there from many woman who have been there, done that. There are also a couple of Interventional Radiologists that post there as well and are always happy to answer questions.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask or pm me.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

OK...I'll put my story in here too. I had (emphasize HAD) fibroids. Completely miserable periods where I would soak through a super+ tampax and a pad in less than an hour with tons of cramps, back pain combined with being a stark raving maniac! So I went to my GYN. We went through all the options and I decided on a laprascopic supracervial hysterectomy -- which in english means that all I lost was the uterus, I kept the cervix and the ovaries. So here I am, nearly 1 year later and I will tell you it is the BEST thing I have ever done for myself!!!! No periods, no fibroids, no birth control, no more pain, no more stark raving maniac!!!!

The thought of surgery was a bit scary. I asked tons of questions and then (through a google search) I found a website where I could watch the procedure being done and that (oddly) comforted me. So, I had my surgery done last Veteran's Day. I was in and out of surgery and recovery in 2 hours and was walking around in my room about an hour after I got up from recovery. I was in the hospital overnight, discharged the next day, off work for 3 weeks -- though I could have gone back in about 2 to 3 days.

Now, I know every woman is different -- lord knows that my pain tolerance is not "high" (I whine about my mammograms hurting like crazy), but the hysterectomy was the best thing I have ever done.

Your experience may be different, but don't automatically rule anything in or out and don't let things scare you. Research them until you feel comfortable and then go forward with the option you feel is best for you.

Karen

 

[Tigger1]

subscribing

 

[beachbunny]

I also had UFE one year ago because I was terrified of having a hysterectomy. I had a grapefruit and an orange. My one year ultrasound shows only a lemon. I was told I shrunk by 40%. The procedure was quick. I stayed overnight at the hospital and was fine to return to work in a week. My symptoms have all but disappeared. Yes, I would definitely do it again. For me, this was the right decision.

 

[klynn]

I had an abdominal hysterectomy at the age of 44. It was the best thing I ever did and should have done it years earlier. I remember the pathology report saying I had 16 fibroids and 1 cyst. Good luck in whatever you decide!

 

[JessicaR]

I decided on a laprascopic supracervial hysterectomy -- which in english means that all I lost was the uterus, I kept the cervix and the ovaries. So here I am, nearly 1 year later and I will tell you it is the BEST thing I have ever done for myself!!!! No periods, no fibroids, no birth control, no more pain, no more stark raving maniac!!!!
Karen

I hope you come back and read again! First, I am so glad you had a great experience and are doing so well after this surgery. I have a question. Since you kept your ovaries you still have PMS don't you? I see you say no stark raving maniac and was wondering! I am due to have this same procedure in a couple of weeks. Not being in pain will be my greatest benefit but I was wondering if PMS would lessen and if so, why? Thank you.

 

[RitaE]

I just had an ultrasound yesterday to check mine. Boy that was a load of fun. I'm hoping the gyn agrees to do a hysterectomy, I'm back in next week for a biopsy. I just want it over and done with. She sent the brochure home on an hta ablation but I kind of got the impression that those were for Fibroid-Lite cases and I think I might be past that stage.

I haven't been given a fruit estimate yet but at my last exam to gyn told me my uterus measures like it is in the 2nd trimester. Uh, lovely. Thanks.

 

[snapppyd]

I had ten large fibroids removed at the age of 47. My GYN did not want to do a hysterectomy,she tried to remove them laproscopically, but ended up having to do the "c-section" incision because they were so large. My recovery was about 5 weeks. I then started menopause, so I wish she had just done the hysterectomy and gotten it over with.

(I was also told my uterus should have been the size of a walnut, but was one and a half times the size of a newborn's head.) If your doctor is concerned with the size, it could mean they are pressing on your bladder.

The thought of surgery is scary, but you will probably benefit from having them removed.