Uterine Fibroids . Embolization? Hysterectomy? Thoughts???

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

I have been out of work for the most part of the last two weeks now. I know I have the fibroids. They were the cause of many miscarriages. Didnt find this out til I got pregnant with my daughter, who is now 8.
I went to my obgyn 5 months ago because I was nauseas all the time and felt like I was carrying around rocks in my belly. Well the fibroids had grown back and my uterus is the size of a pregnancy at 3 months due to them.
No excessive bleeding.. just discomfort and nausea. Told "monitor them" Well

Three weeks ago I have a one day, scant period. So not normal for me. Then OH THE PAIN. Not just discomfort. PAIN.
Felt like I had done something to my hip. Thought I walked into something and bruised it.. but no bruise. I went two weeks thinking. It'll get better. Nope steadily worse. Made a appt to see doct. Was bullied into cancelling it by the dept head at work. Finally last Tues I couldnt move without feeling like I was going to pass out. Called out and went to see doc. First thought diverticulitis. Nope. They sent me for an u/s. Got the results Monday. Saw obg yesterday am.
Now they have me set up for a MRI and consult for a fibroid embolization. Which will only kill the ones already causing the pain.. but wont stop this issue. I guess the pain is from one that is sitting on my left ovary. Oh.. and has GROWN to nearly twice its size in the last 5 months.

I am tired of being in pain.I am tired of the nausea. I am tired of being out of work. I am tired of knowing that these are not going to stop or go away unless I have a hysterectomy or a partial one. Which I am not afraid of having. I am 41. My husband had the big V years ago. We only wanted one child, which we are blessed to have. The fibroids made fertility and pregnancy awful for me. I really actually would prefer to have my uterus removed. From what I gather.. I have a uterus FULL of them. I dont want to have to monitor them. Meaning an u/s every 3 months at this point. And potentially MORE unpaid time off if they should cause issues in the future. Which they are pretty nearly guaranteed to do! Plus I am scared. I know that my employer is going to fire me. It's a no brainer. While I hate my employer. I LOVE my job. Helping people choose manadated health insurance and all. I love my members.

Plus I love my co workers. And jobs are not easily come by.
And there are so many what if's. I dont want to start a new job and then have this happen again!
But my obg is really not wanting to go for the partial hys. Which I am more than ok with and feel I am the perfect candidate for. My sister friend went through this at 20 something. She had two embolizations done. The fibroids continued and after two children and YEARS of pain.. they finally did a partial for her at 30. I am older. Have already chosen to not have more children. Why are they freaking torturing me like this? This is effecting my income and job for crying out loud. I am not asking for something experimental here.

edited to add. They have me on Vicodens. they barely touch the pain. They are putting me on something stronger.. I am not into taking these pain meds.never mind something stronger. But the pain is awful.

 

[EweSheep]

Yes it is so common for OBs to do that to us which if we can sign off our uterus, we should have that right. To heck with "ethics"! It's our bodies and we want to be free of pain instead of being monsters. I can not stand seeing my mom, my sis and just about every female in my family have to suffer more for tests, medications and treatments that just won't work until several years to ten years later, ohhhhh, time to take it out, you have suffered long enough!

I am very lucky but I still have issues with fibroids and cysts but not so bad that I tolerate them. BC would make me very ill.

Its a waste of money trying to do everything to get better when you KNOW your body are at odds and won't respond to the treatments until the uterus or affected part is gone. Like a wisdom teeth, appendix, gallbladder, get it out and be done with it!

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I too and 41 and have fibroids. My GYN has offered a full or partial hysterectomy. I am the one hesitating. While I don't particularly care if my uterus stays put, there are further side effects to that loss of hormones. I am more concerned about that at the moment, which is why I am trying to hold it off a bit longer.

There is some deal where they basically burn out the inside of your uterus. Have you asked about that?

 

[gritsar]

I had a hysterectomy at age 31 for a large fibroid that had partially pulled away from the uterine wall, causing non-stop bleeding and pain.

Best thing I ever did. They left my left ovary, so no supplemental hormones needed. I went through menopause naturally at age 41, which was the average age of menopause for the women in my family.

By the way, the doctor and the insurance company fought me about the hysterectomy, saying my symptoms weren't severe enough. I persevered. Once it was over, surgery took 3 hours longer than expected, the doctor said he would be using the film of my surgery as a training tool. One of the hardest HYST. he'd ever done.

 

[hencackle]

Why not try taking Nascent iodine first, before doing something invasive? This type of iodine is safer, more effective than Lugol's and it will work to dissolve uterine fibroids as well as breast lumps. Chances are, you're estrogen dominant and iodine deficient. Most women will never hear about iodine therapy because it's cheap. Do you think that an OB/GYN will want to tell the patient this when a hysterectomy generates a lot of money for him/her?

Get rid of the xenoestrogens in your diet; don't cook or store food in plastic; and check your cosmetics, soaps, lotions to avoid parabens. Please do not use synthetic hormones.

You may want to consider using progesterone oil as well.

 

[mom'sfolly]

I say go for a second opinion. Doctors vary so much. If you are in enough pain for vicodin, you probably need that second opinion even if you don't decide on surgery.

 

[CupOJoe42]

I am in a similar situation right now.... fibroids, cyst on my ovary, heavy hemorrhagic bleeding (to the point where I can't work) that lasts 2-3+ weeks at a time, pain, uterus the size of a 12 week pregnancy, loss of my last 4 pregnancies (one at 6 months along) etc.

I had an ablation a couple of years ago and I was the .01% that it DID NOT work for. My regular physician told me that I need either monthly blood transfusions or a hysterectomy. I had 2 OB/GYN doctors recommend a hysterectomy to me. The second doctor was NOT surprised that the ablation did not work because the problem is not with the lining of the uterus, it's with the wall of the uterus. The fibroids were one of the reasons that the ablation did not help. It's like having diverticulitis of the uterus wall. My only option is having a hysterectomy. Since I only have about 3 years left before menopause, I am also having the ovaries taken out. This eliminates the risk of ovarian cancer. They don't do hormone replacement anymore, but there are safe things that they can give you to offset the menopausal symptoms. My surgery is scheduled for the 18th of August.

I highly recommend that you sit and discuss your options with your doctor. I changed doctors recently and am very happy with my new doctor who is willing to spend the time to discuss all options, situations, etc. Don't be afraid to change doctors if you don't get satisfactory answers - IT'S YOUR BODY.

Blessings and best wishes! I'll keep you in my prayers.

 

[key west chick]

I had a hysterectomy 3 years ago due to a fibroid the size of a grapefruit. BEST thing I ever did for myself. I was 40, DH had been snipped for years, and was finished with kids anyway. I did keep my ovaries. They are working and in great shape and it was recommended I keep them. Its so nice not having a period. I still get PMS occasionally, since I still produce hormones. I had mine abdomally, and it was hard to get in and out of bed for a week. But after that, it was all a breeze. I would definitely do it again, a thousand times over.

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

thank you all for your thoughts and comments. I really really appreciate it. A Lot.

I think that if I were experiencing heavy/abnormal bleeding and clotting that it would be "easier" for me to convince my obgyn that a partial hys would be better. But since I am actually NOT bleeding that much. Heck only one day last month and it was LIGHT ie one pad all day long. She isnt as "concerned" Risk for anemia is low.. so no concerns?
Never mind the pain. And the loss of income for myself. But I can not function while feeling like I am being stabbed in the gut all the time.. and that is with the Vic. Never mind the sleep loss. I had to take two of those darn things last night to get to sleep!

I really like my obg. But if she wont listen to me and atleast try and get me the partial hys.. I will have to change.

 

[HeatherLynn]

not to get more personal but are you on birth control? I only ask because I was having such severe issues with this when I was a bit younger. I stopped taking birth control all together and have not had any of the pain since. Granted mine was no where near what yours are right now. My doc just told me to take something for the pain and when I got a bit older we would have to deal with it because these do not go away. I did not like that answer. I had an odd side affect from the new birth control they put me on though and had to go off for 6 months. Best thing that ever happened. When it came time for my next ob appointment and to go back on the pill I told her I think not being on birth control actually helped because I had not had the stabbing pain in a few months. She told me that was not possible, because birth control does not cause fibroids. Well... I ignored her. I have not taken any in 9 years and I have not had issues with any since then. I think the pills were throwing my hormones all out of wack and causing issues. Migrains and fibroids stopped being an issue.