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digestive symptoms from fibroids

Posted , 43 users are following.

Fibroidia
Fibroidia

Hi,

Both my GP and an ob/gyn insisted that my digestive distress is not coming from fibroids--I have five big ones, which are not painful in themselves.  These doctors consider me "asymptomatic" even though I have to pee constantly, and I'm huge.

The digestion question is complicated:

I have a history of IBS--started way before I had fibroids--but it was under control for many years, no attacks.  I knew what my triggers were, and mainly stayed out of trouble.  In the past few years my IBS has gotten much worse, and I'm bloated and have cramps and not great bowel movments (incomplete evacuation) about half of the time.  I was convinced that fibroids have worsened my IBS through pressure on the bowels.  Both doctors deny this.  Recently I read an article by DoctorOz saying that fibroids DO create digestive problems from the pressure.  One of the tell tale signs is thin stools, which I definitely have.

So I would be very interested in hearing from other women with fibroids, as to whether they're having digestive symptoms they think are related to their fibroids.  The only "Official" digestive symptom of fibroids I keep coming across is constipation--which is not my case.  But I don't see how five large fibroids cannot have an effect on your bowels, which they are pressing against.

Even though I have two women doctors, I have been appalled at how they have not taken any of my symptoms seriously.  "Watchful waiting" while the fibroids gorw and grow.  I'm 55 and not menopausal and not wanting a hysterectomy but wanting to halt the growth and ideally shrink them.  The doctors are not helping because they claim I'm "asymptomatic" but actually I'm in digestive distress about half the time (often preventing me from sleeping) which I feel is (not caused by but) made worse by fibroids.

Would love to hear from anyone who has wondered about similar things.

 

3 likes, 68 replies

68 Replies

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  • tylonda40322
    tylonda40322 Fibroidia

    Posted

    Hi I just seen my obgyn and she said thatvi have three fibroids one I have had sense 2013 and two just came about this yr one the size of an golf ball but I don't have any problems wit them but wat she did tell me that they are so small that they wouldn't have my stomach poking out but I'm so confused bcuz that's of my only issue why do ibfeel tired all the time and feel that I need to eat 2&3 in the morning like I'm pregnant took several test and all came out negative please help me understand the symptoms that you have with this.thanks in advance.
  • MehrJ
    MehrJ Fibroidia

    Posted

    I am suffering exactly with the same symptoms as yours, only difference is I have these pains every few months going from my lower back to my side and then stomach. No doctor has been able to diagnosed it for past ten years but now I think it is because of Fibroid pushing my bowel.
  • shariah89313
    shariah89313 Fibroidia

    Posted

    Thank you for sharing your experience. I have the same issues exactly (5 or more fibroid that have grown over the years, a knot in my belly, extreme bloating especially after eating and at night, gas). My period was pretty heavy last month however it isn't the main burden. The belly bloat is the main problem. My gyn isn't anxious to do anything however after finding out that my complaints are substantiated I plan to call and ask for my options for reducing or removing the fibroids. I am slightly miserable.
    • shariah89313
      shariah89313

      Posted

      Forgot to mention the lower back discomfort.
  • carina62
    carina62 Fibroidia

    Posted

    I'm 55 and 5 years post-menopausal.  I am due to have a large polyp removed this week and a recent scan has shown 2 very large fibroids.  These must be from 11 years ago and have grown, waiting to find out what is to be done about them.  I have a lot of digestive issues and pressure down below and think it could be related to fibroids or something else.
  • phylicia86567
    phylicia86567 Fibroidia

    Posted

    In respond to Fibroid and Disgestive problems, i am convince that Fibroid do

    caused diagestive problem for the simple fact is, since my diagnoses in 2009,

    this Fibroid had caused some serious discomfort and life threathening for me.

    eating the smallest meals at times is a living hell to my stomach and over all

    health, some times my lower back or legs, other times, my disgestive systems

    feels out of other, fullest and bloated as thought i am pregnant people will ask.

    i have been to many doctors who will not help me, all they want to do is take

    out my pelvic.. i want to find the root of the problem to the extend of why my 

    food can't digest the smallest meal. and why my stomach feel bloated after

    eating, easpecially after eating rice. some of my friends had planned to suprise

    me with a baby shower thinking i am pregnant. if i don't eat or drink water all day,

    the fullest and bloated sympton does not seem to ocurred . but as soon as i eat

    food , does not matter the food amount, i get bloated and start to feeling fulled

    and terribly bad to the point i feel driven to drink lemon water or apple cider to feel

    a sense of relief in my stomach temporary. doing so cause  another problem with

    Kidney getting infected due to too much acidity . i am still struggling with this issues.

    Gynecology recently told me during a Pap-Smear exam and Utrasound test that 

    a very large Fibroid is sitting right over my uterus, and some looks as though it's

    in my uterus which may be causing digestion issues. Doctors had not told me

    what causing fibroids in the first place, and why can it not be stop from growing

    causing all this damage to a woman health . i don't understand why amount all

    other places, it will sit and grow to where it may effect sex and other health issues

    for women. i can understand how this graint monster growing in side of a person

    uterus to caused all these health issues. i can't understand why will any one in the right mind would think this monster can cause digestive issues, it does loud and

    clear. make no mistake, it is a serious health issues. can any one tell me what do they do to get relieve after eating to help with discomfort and bloating ?

     

    • UFE27
      UFE27 phylicia86567

      Posted

      Take digestive enzymes to help break down the food. There are many brands on the market to choose from and you will find the most suitable one for yourself. These digestive enzyme capsules/ tablets should be taken within 30 minutes after you have eaten . Google digestive enzymes and read the reviews, they have certainly helped me. Additionally drink the water without the lemon.
    • lainyjane44
      lainyjane44 phylicia86567

      Posted

      Hi I can feel yur pain. I'm eating not much much than soup atm.

      Since my gyny thinks it's bowel related (After reading yur story I'm convinced I'm the same as u.getting bowel issues cus of fibroids )

      Have u every heard of diverticulitis?

      Yur bowel can develop small bulges and small amounts of food such as 'rice' can get trapped and get inflammed/infected?

      This is where I'm at atm .not sure for sure if I have it but seem to be responding to antibiotics.

      I seem to be pregnant looking all the time atm .do u get pains after u have a bowel movement or swell more. im still having to wait for further scans to see if my small fibroids are connected. And as we know fibroids do cause bowel problems.

  • lainyjane44
    lainyjane44 Fibroidia

    Posted

    Hi I don't know of I can help but I can tell u my experience.

    I have 2 small fibroids and when I got diagnosed I thought finally an answer to all my symptoms.

    But no...

    Docs didn't seem to care as I didn't have heavy periods (I'm 44 by the way )

    Cutting a long story short after many days of horrid symptoms. Especially bloating I got referred to a gyny.

    8 weeks wait. Couldn't cope another day so I went private (my appointment was yesterday)

    The doc was GREAT.

    basically she too wasn't concerned about my fibroids. Mmmm I thought .

    She told me 80%of gyny patients actually have bowels problems not gyny.

    Ok I thought ... now what.

    She said alot of Wat I was believing to be period pains was actually my bowels. Didn't realise we have 2 meters of it.

    I've got to take aloe vera juice once a day aswell as laxido once a day too.

    To keep my 2 meters of bowels constantly moving.she said alot of women's bloating come from the bowels.im taking her word for it for nowuntil I have my bowels referal appointment. She is going to see me again when my nhs appointment comes through and scan me again to check my fibroids (so I didn't have to pay private fees)

    So to sum up , don't rule out bowel issues. Ps. I'm not constipated but she still seems certain it's my bowels 😕

    • Fibroidia
      Fibroidia lainyjane44

      Posted

      Yes I agree.  I have IBS and know most of the issue is digestive in origin.

      The irony was worrying about fibroids and trying to do something about them (nothing to be done except TAH, which I don't need or want) messed up my digestive system even more!

      But also this--some of the discomfort and bloating I thought was digestive, I now beleive is coming from my cycle.  Not the fibroids, but olulation.  It coincides exactly with it.

  • jessicadower
    jessicadower Fibroidia

    Posted

    Hi ladies, I'm so glad I found this forum, helps me feel like I'm not completely alone. Like the rest of you I have multiple fibroids. They were diagnosed about 3 years ago, at that time the largest one was only 5 cm. A little over a year ago I was told the largest one was the size if 24 week pregnancy and my gyn said hysterectomy was the best way to go. I'm 36 years old, and even though I have all of the children I want, I don't want to lose my uterus. In the last few months though I have experienced a huge change. My monthly menstrual cycle is almost never ending, 10 to 14 days of heavy bleeding, then spotting of and on for two weeks then my next menstrual cycle again. Three weeks ago I suddenly stopped have bowel movements regularly. I'm only passing soft stools the size of my thumb every few days. I've tried laxitives and enamas after dietary changes, nothing... Eating has become extremely painful, and now when I do eat, shortly after I vomit, as if my body just can't take in any more. My quality of life is aweful and it's beginning to cause depression. I have called my gyn and my appointment is a month away. I don't think my intestines can wait that long. The wide spread pain and constant urinary urges are minor in comparison to the bowel issues at this point.

    • lainyjane44
      lainyjane44 jessicadower

      Posted

      It's so frustrating isn't it.

      My fibroids are not even being considered a problem as the largest was 3.2cm (12 weeks ago)

      I'm same as u .never had bowel issues before. I strongly believe I have bowels issues because of my fibroids. Got to wait til Dec for nxt scan. In the mean time I have to walk around like a pregnant 44 year old. ( not a gd look! )

      Got a sigmoidoscopy nxt Friday to look forward to.... ( camera where u don't really want a camera !😯wink

    • reece92026
      reece92026 jessicadower

      Posted

      I know your post was awhile ago but wondering how you are as your problems sounds just like mine
    • lainyjane44
      lainyjane44 reece92026

      Posted

      Hi I don't know if you mean me or Jessica?

      If u do mean me my update is that I'm finally doing ok. Had a laparoscopy 6 weeks ago for endometriosis. Only old endometriosis wad found but my problem ended up being adhesions. My bowel and uterus ligaments were joined hense all my symptoms.

      A week after surgery I was a new woman!

      Still got fibroids. My specialist wasn't bothered about them .

      Adhesions apparently are common and I'm prove they were my problem. Still in a little pain , been told not to worry. Started losing weight and havnt bloated once since. Not once were these mentioned to me from numerous docs.

      Listen to your instincts and see a gyny xx

    • reece92026
      reece92026 lainyjane44

      Posted

      COOL!! I am excited at the thought of losing some weight. I only started gaining it a few years ago, and the fibroids are the reason why. Thanks for you response. 
    • michelle73750
      michelle73750 lainyjane44

      Posted

      Lainy - I'd so love to learn more about your experience.  I too have endo and many fibroids, with bowel distress and pain. I'm 53 and live in the U.S.  I have a 16 year old son - a couple of years prior to his birth, I had an ectopic pregnancy, due to endo wrapped around my tube that I never felt was there.   I very much want to know about your endo experience - how did you convince them to do laparoscopy?  

      I've been in right side pain for the past six years.  Many tests run, to see what was the root - no one has given much credence to fibroids putting pressure on my bowels or endo.  Four years ago, I was told to get a hysterectomy. Met with a couple of surgeons and didn't buy the idea that it was right for my situation.

      I'm now in menopause - my uterus is still filled with fibroids (it's shrinking), but only two were ever significant in the inside of the uterus (one is shrinking, the other is the same).  I have a pudunculated fibroid that is still growing but not at an alarming rate.  I was told to wait to see what happens when things shrink.  Meanwhile, my stool has been narrow for over a year, diarrhea at times, and pain and bloating for years.

      I'm now with a doc that is treating me for SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth).  I guarantee, most everyone I've been reading about on this site has some sort of bacterial overgrowth in their intestines, that is causing a large part of their discomfort, gas, and bloating.  I'm a strong believer that fibroids/endo pressing on the bowels can be a cause of SIBO, as the bacteria gets trapped/isn't able to have free flow.  Please!!!  Read up about SIBO - also candida.  

      Best wishes to all!

    • lainyjane44
      lainyjane44 michelle73750

      Posted

      Hi thanks for your reply.

      Since I updated I started to get all my previous symptoms back.

      I then go refered to a gastroenterologist.

      He told me to try going gluten free.

      I was AMAZED after 48 hours I could feel myself coming back to normality.

      After a week I was back lol

      After 2 weeks I had fewer pains. Sleeping better and my energy is almost back to normal.nearky 4 weeks on I'm a new woman and can't recommend this enough for anyone to try.

      It's not that hard to do.

      I have learnt so much what gluten/wheat can do to your insides. The inflammation it causes is the culprit for all the medical problems you could be having.

      It's worth a try !!

      My IBS has 90%gone in 4 weeks 🖒😊

      I now believe my adeshions were caused from inflammation. So maybe it's worth trying so u don't need a laparoscopy?

      I urge anyone to try . You should feel better within a week if it's that.

      Keep me updated.

      I'm on way to airport and I've packed a ham salad!! No burger king for me 😐

      On the plus side I've lost 6 pounds in 4 weeks !😃xx

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