Esmya Tablets Fibroid Treatment

I just saw my gyneo today. She didn't put me to the scan, did only pelvic touch examination.

Good news--my 11cm fibroid has shrunk to c.6cm. So she won't need me to go through hysterecotomy, I'm sooo relieved.

She said Esmya should keep the fibroid under control for 6-9months after the initial 3month course, she wouldn't tell me how quickly my period would resume. It is quite likely thta I'll be off Esmya for now, have another check-up by year-end, and if necessary (God forbid if heavy breeding returns etc) she'd put me back on Esmya again for another 3months as my fibroid seems to be responding well to the med.

Hi Michal, that is great news! You must be sooo relieved! I am half way through my course and am really hoping will have as good results.

Fantastic news Michal. You must be so relieved. I have been taking Esmya for about 3 weeks now. No sign of the fibroid shrinking, I can feel the top of it near my belly button as it is growing on the outside surface of the uterus. I am beginning to think it will never shrink! The gynaecologist did warn me that results are not always as good with the type of fibroid I have but I am living in hope. Myomectomy due on 24th May - whether it can be done with laparoscope or open surgery will depend on whether it shrinks!

Thank you Deanne

Just found out from my cons that it should only be 5mg per day and that was after the pharmacy had queried it before dispensing but no one else picked up on it! Consequently I've been taking 30mg for 6 days, luckily with no known adverse effects!

Unfortunately I'm still bleeding heavily - it's been 3 weeks now , if this carries on there's no way my iron levels will be high enough to even contemplate surgery.

So glad the treatment has worked well for you Michal. Great to hear positivity.

Hi Carole

Good job the pharmacist was observant! Hope the bleeding settles down. I think it takes a while for the levels of progesterone to build up so fingers crossed the situation will improve soon.

Hi all,

Carole I really feel for you with the whole bleeding problem, I know how hard it is. I hope it settles soon for you, and all goes ahead with your surgery.

Well I am 5 weeks into my course of Esmya, and I am so pleased to say my bleeding has finally stopped!! If I walk long distances though I get sudden heavy bleeding. But I have gone 2 days with no bleeding, which is brilliant seen as though I have been bleeding since the beginning of November last year

I wanted to ask though, does anyone get any weird feelings in their pelvic area? Like I can actually feel movement, like the feeling you get when a baby moves inside. It is so strange, I still get the pain in the pelvic area but its no where near as bad.

Hi Ladies,

Littlemissmee, its great to hear your bleeding has stopped........ I know the feeling!! I also still have a little pain in the pelvic area which seems worse at night when I sleep. Can't understand that!

I am half way through my course but still feeling very bloated and feeling of fullness, weight is also not shifting at all. Is anyone else experiencing similar symptoms?

Hi Girls,

I have been having very heavy bleeding on and off for almost a year now. I had the Mirena in and then taken out 8 months later as it was no help. When this all started my fibroid was small, 2.3, but has grown now to5.2. I am living in Sweden and was recently prescribed Esmya. I started taking them 3 weeks ago today withlittle to no side affects and the bleeding had completely stopped. All was going well until today when I passed a huge clot. Has anyone else had breakthrough bleeding with Esmya? I am not supposed to havemy period for another week and was hoping that if I had one at all it would be light. I am really tired of this.

Hi ladies

I've recently been diagnosed with multiple fibroids-subserosal, submucosal and intramural.

The largest one being an 8.9cm submucosal, which gives me a lovely 16wk pregnant uterus 😳

I am 44 years old and have one adult child, but have suffered with unexplained (secondary) infertility for over 16 years. No fibroids were ever detected on u/s or during any investigations.

The main symptoms I suffer from are pressure on my bladder and bowel-I'm running to the loo constantly, or I am constipated and feel so sluggish and heavy it's driving me crazy 😞

My periods are every 18-21 days and last for up to 10 days, varying from moderate to heavy.

The worst part is this bloating feeling and just feeling so uncomfortable.

I had an MRI scan recently and my Consultant went through my options.

He believes I am unsuitable for a Myomectomy, given the size, and type of the largest fibroid (it fills my uterus) and the risk of it converting to an emergency hysterectomy, which I am very keen to avoid if possible.

I was interested in UAE and had thought that was what I would go for, but he mentioned Esmya and I'm trying to decide if this is going the best option? I'm looking for advice from ladies who have taken Esmya, and I do wish to learn of any side effects etc. I'd also like to know about any discharge or bleeding? Does the fibroid break down and is expelled or is it absorbed?

I am a little nervous as it is a relatively new drug, but from what I have read here it seems to be quite effective

Any advice would be much appreciated. My hospital does not yet have Esmya, but I have been advised it is due to be acquired within the next few weeks, so as soon as they receive it I will be prescribed it.

Many thanks for reading 😊

Beth

Hi Beth,

I have been on esmya for 6 weeks which means I am half way through the treatment (as you know it can be taken for no more than 3 months). as far as the side effects are concerned I have been having a lot nausea and I feel extremely tired all the time. I have a big " alien" of 10x9 and my uterus is 20 weeks. My period has stopped as I need to correct a severe anaemia prior a myomectomy booked for the 12 th of june in London, nhs. I believe, my personal experience, that nowadays a hysterectomy is easily avoidable and it is only the last and remote option, but I also believe that you need to find a well experienced surgeon . try to ask your surgeon how many myomectomies he/she performs every months, ask how many years she/he has in the practise. if you go to you tube you can find videos of performed myomectomies even in the worst conditions, like 10 or more fibroids even much bigger than yours. So If you want save your uterus just look for a second opinion. Esmya should also shrink the fibroids but personally I have not noticed any improvement in the sense. I am still very swallow..;-( after 3 months esmya treatment studies have proved that the fibroids do not start growing again and remain steady at least for 6 months. but there have not been enough studies to prove that esmya is effective permanently , remember that this is a very new drug in the market.

Hope this helps

Lk

Hi Lk

Many thanks for your reply.

Yes I agree it might be wise to seek a second opinion, although it is daunting challenging a Consultant isn't it? 😳

I am hoping the Esmya shrinks the largest fibroids enough that these horrible bulk symptoms go or get easier, they're so disruptive aren't they. I may possibly then be suitable for a Myomectomy done via hystercoscopy as opposed to abdominal surgery.

I can't imagine how you cope with an "alien" (I call mine squatters) that is so big!? I feel for you.

I am very interested to learnt that re-growth is so stable, that is very good news isn't it.

I wish you all the best with your treatment, thank you for sharing your experience.

Take care

Beth

Just thought I would say hello and add my experiences (to date). I found this thread whilst searching for side effects of Esmya as i've just started it. My consultant has prescribed it to try and reduce my 2 fibroids prior to surgery. My largest one is 6cm and I am now just waiting for the exact date of my laparoscopic myomectomy, although have been advised that it is likely to be in June. He feels that if the Esmya reduces the fibroids, then there will be less risk of having to convert to open abdominal surgery, and also that stopping my periods will be a good thing to prevent me becoming anaemic prior to surgery. I'm currently ok, but on the low side of OK, so he wants to try and stop any more blood loss between now and June!

The biggest change that I have noticed in the 2 weeks that i've been taking it is my skin! I have worse skin now than I ever had as a teenager - I can't think of anything else that i'm doing differently, other than taking the Esmya and I have loads of new spots on my face, nasty ones as well (my skin is usually pretty good).

The other things I have noticed are ulcers on my tongue (I have 3 at the mo) and a feeling of nausea. I'm also absolutely shattered, although I have a rather busy (new!) job and 2 young children so the tiredness could easily be down to them! lol (being tired seems to just be part of my life these days! lol).

I also have a weird thing, not associated with the Esmya as i've been experiencing it for a couple of months prior to starting them...I sometimes feel like I have having braxton hicks contractions. I know, I know, it sounds ridiculous. I'm not pregnant, and they don't feel exactly the same - its basically the same sensation (tightening and sort of tingly and makes my breathing feel different), but only in the very lower part of my abdomen (as opposed to that all over feeling that you get when heavily pregnant!).

Has anyone else with fibroids felt like they are having something akin to braxton hicks contractions? Haven't mentioned it to consultant as I feel ridiculous!