Dizziness and breathlessness: Symptoms of Fibroid?

Hi Linda,

The dizziness and breathlessness you describe sound like the symptoms of severe iron-deficiency anaemia. It's likely that this is due to chronic heavy bleeding. So while your gynaecologist is correct - strictly speaking, they are not direct symptoms of fibroid - they could be an effect of it. We need red blood cells to carry oxygen around our bodies - when we lose too much through heavy bleeding, we become deficient in oxygen, which is why we experience dizziness and breathlessness. A simple blood test can confirm whether or not you are deficient in iron, and if so, you can be treated with iron pills, or liquid iron infusion (which is quicker and more effective). If you begin to feel very unwell, my advice would be to call for an ambulance - this happened to me a few years ago, and I had to be admitted for an emergency blood transfusion. I know many of the ladies on here have also experienced similar. Don't suffer in silence - keep on telling the medical profession what you are experiencing, and request a blood test for anaemia.

As for your second question - after over 10 years of this, including two surgeries (resection of fibroid) I too am on the waiting list for laparascopic hysterectomy. I feel very ambivalent about this. On the one hand, it is a major surgery, and regardless of whether or not we want children in the future (I don't), the uterus is a major organ that has many more functions than simply housing a foetus, so of course removal will have implications beyond loss of fertility. On the other hand, my quality of life is now so compromised that, like you, I am desperate for a permanent end to this and hysterectomy is the only real guarantee of prevention against fibroids in the future. I am some years away from menopause, and I want to be able to embrace my third stage of life with grace and humour and abundant energy and I can't see that happening with the threat of fibroids looming over me. And I have read testimonials from the women on here who opted for hysterectomy who say it was the best decision for them and it gave them their life back, which gives me hope.

At the end of the day, we have to listen to ourselves and our own bodies, and make the decision that is right for us, and us alone, as we are all unique, with different life circumstances, challenges and desires. But we can really only do that if we have all the facts at our disposal. So keep talking, keep asking questions, and eventually the right decision for you will emerge. And we can't make cool, clear-headed decisions when our bodies are in crisis mode, and if the dizziness and breathlessness you are experiencing now are indeed symptoms of anaemia, your body will be under stress, which will put you in crisis mode. Address the anaemia first, and get your body in an optimum state, eat well, and get lots of rest - that way, if you do eventually opt for surgery, you will be ready, physically and emotionally.

I hope this helps and I wish you well - whatever you decide.

Lots of love x  

Sweetheart, the dizziness and breathlessness are classic signs of anaemia caused by those heavy periods. I totally understand, I cant now walk five minutes to my nearest underground station without feeling like I'm going to faint. You need iron, urgently. I recently had an iron infusion to try and get my levels up quickly and it has worked a little although I'm still nowhere near right. Please see your doctor before your health really suffers - anaemia can be really frightening. As far as hysterectomy goes, just remember its very final, no going back and no changing your mind. Its an entirely personal choice but if its what you really want then of course you're entitled to have the surgery done when you want it. Good luck with it all xx

Hi Linda,

I have a large fibroid, 15cm, and I get breathless a lot. I queried this at my consultation and was advised that this may be because of where all my organs had moved to (upwards) this was the reason why I was feeling this way. I do not have asthma, but have had a few cases where I haven't been able to catch my breath, and have therefore needed to use an asthma pump that I was given previously. She also told me that because of the heavy bleeding that is sometimes a standard symptom with a fibroid, your oxygen levels are low. As for the dizziness, I only ever get dizzy during my period, which I am assuming is because of how heavy I am due to my normal period..

I am awaiting my eviction date so there is light at the end of this horrid tunnel that we have to go through!

Wish you all the best

My OB dr told me my fibroid is abt 4-5months pregnant.  He will cut open my bikini line where I had my c-sec for labor to remove my uterus.  I believe my fibroid is from the side effects of taking tamoxifen for Breast cancer prevention. Anyhow, my surgery day is in two days.  I have been feeling sick and have been staying home from work for 2months.  I don’t have any vaginal bleeding but I just have hemorroid bleeding for the past 2day from the diarrhea/loose stool for few months.  I don’t know if the digestive problem is from tamoxifen side effect or from the fibroid.  The oncologist said the diarrhea is not from the tamoxifen since I stopped the pill for 5days. If there is SE, it should subside .  If the the bloating and diarrhea is from the fibroid, what size and position the fibroid sits could be in order to cause this symptom?  I was anemic and low on potassium so I experienced breathless, shaky arms and legs(1month ago), back pain, stomach fullness from a small meal, pain in lower and upper abdominal.   Went to ER 3times due to dizziness 2months ago.  The hospital gave me a bag of IV and 3 tblt of potassium and I felt good right away so they discharged me.  

Your feedback is greatly appreciate.