Esmya Tablets Fibroid Treatment

@amanda118-UAE/UFE is Uterine Artery (or Fibroid) Embolisation.

A catheter is insterted into the femoral artery, via your groin, and a solution of "beads" that act like a glue, are injected into the uterine artery. They cut off the blood supply to the fibroids and over a 12 month period, the fibroids can shrink upto 60%, possibly more.

I've found a link that may be helpful to you

http://www.fibroids.co.uk/

It might also be useful to look up the FEMME trials. Birmingham University is conducting an open trial into fibroid treatment, and they're looking for women with fibroids who would be suitable for both Myomectomy and UAE. You can't choose which one you'll have, as it is an open trial, but you do have to be suitable for either procedure. They will use the results to measure the changes to quality of life between the two treatment options.

There is a distinct lack (from what I can see) on fibroid trials, it seems some Consultants still opt for a 'one size fits all" approach and many seem overkeen to suggest hysterectomy, which may not be a choice many women wish to opt for,for various reaons.

@christine193 & @melzyr-my own Consultant mentioned the same regarding a hsyterectomy, and said a total removing the ovaries and cervix, would eliminate future ovarian and cervical cancer risks... I queried it as I want to avoid a hysterectomy, but if it was my only option to remove the womb, I didn't understand why he would remove healthy ovaries and cervix? I think it is very much down o the individual Consultant. My Consultant is also an Oncologist, so maybe that is why he prefers a total?

I have decided to seek a 2nd opinion. My local hospital may not get the Esmya until late this year or early next year and I can"t go on like this. I am not yet anaemic, but my periods are getting heavier, longer and quite debilitating, and the bulk and pressure symptoms are awful.

I can feel my womb up near my tummy button every morning, when my bladder is full and I can feel a distinct bump, and I look pregnant. I too don't know when my period will arrive and my day to day life is being disrupted to such an extent it's depressing.

I just wish there was more the mecial profession could do :-(

Im waiting for an outpatient appointment now where I have to see the Consultant and have a camera inserted (seriously fed up with internals after last weekend) to see whereabouts in womb the fibroid stalk is attached, sounds awful that its on a stalk?! Then I hope will discuss which operation Im best having and when it will be, as Ive been told Im on Esmya for 3 months Im hoping it will be August/September time, just want to have it over and done with! I wanted to ask as I wasn't given any advice at all when I left hospital, is there anything I shouldn't be doing? Lifting heavy stuff, exercise etc? As I said I don't know how big it is I was just told I have large fibroid? Will definitely ask for the size when I see consultant though. Hope you are all ok? xx

3days in----extreme sharpe pain in left side lasting seconds at a time,which then transfered to my right side.

I am assuming something to do with esmya as the pain in my sides was never this acute

that is -all morning left side-moved to the right in the afternoon

Alison it's good that it's on a stalk.... It means its much easier to get rid of. Also don't worry about the camera, it sounds way worse than it is, but it's over in minutes!

Christine, my doc told me the sharp pains are a good sign the medication is working!

I have the same sharp pains on both sides and a backache for the last two days. I hope your doc is right jacjac!!

Nine days of esmya left....... and counting!

So good sharp pain means it working (not just so bad today)

but didn't think it would still be happening when almost 3mths in

Yeah I had the same in the last month but not so much at the beginning my consultant says its common as it takes a while for the medication to start taking effect.

Did you have back pain as well? My pelvic pain is more like cramps - like you have on a period. I also have like a heavy achy feeling in my legs. Today is day four of having all these aches and pains ...... Feeling exhausted! 😞

Hi everyone,

If you are experiencing cramps etc it sounds like esmya is having an effect. I have had no real side effects, but it hasn't shrunk the fibroid either. My surgery is scheduled for next week. My consultant advised me that esmya works more effectively with non pedunculated fibroids. Mine is pedunculated, but the plus side is that in theory pedunculated fibroids are easier to remove. It is huge now though, up to my belly button!!

@christine193...thanks so much. My sister is doing well all considered. Yes, I was talking about the yearly pap smear. In the States we have them every year. Do you only have them every three years in Ireland? I'm living in Sweden but I'm not sure what their criteria is here since I have mine done when I go home for the summer. It is true that you may or may not contract any type of cancer, and I pray to God that you don't. I just wanted you to be aware of the possibilty after hysterectomy.

@anni27....I have period like cramps most of the time. Just an annoying cramp, nothing worrisome but I feel tired most of the time too. I think that is one of the side affects of Esmya. I'm also anemic. Have you been tested for that? I'm almost ready to start my third pack and hope that three times is a charm but from what I'm reading I guess I should prepare for more pain! It makes me wonder that if a man was going through this how fast they would come up with a solution!!! It seems that we suffer without anyone really hearing us.

@Beth1969...I completely understand what you are going through. Your symptoms mirror what I have gone through for the last year. My periods became so heavy that I was unable to leave the house for two to three days at a time. I was passing huge clots with contraction like cramps that would make me nauseous. There was also a tugging feeling around my belly button that the Dr told me was the fibroid. The Esmya has helped me immensely with those symptoms but I can feel the fibroid when I'm lying down and my bladder is full. My jeans have become so tight and uncomfortable and I still have some spotting but it's so much better than before. I hope that Esmya will be available as an option if you choose to try it. In the meantime have you tried tranexamic acid? I understand your frustration and wish you the best. As I've said, if this were a man going through this, there would have been a solution years ago!!!

@Beth1969...I completely understand what you are going through. Your symptoms mirror what I have gone through for the last year. My periods became so heavy that I was unable to leave the house for two to three days at a time. I was passing huge clots with contraction like cramps that would make me nauseous. There was also a tugging feeling around my belly button that the Dr told me was the fibroid. The Esmya has helped me immensely with those symptoms but I can feel the fibroid when I'm lying down and my bladder is full. My jeans have become so tight and uncomfortable and I still have some spotting but it's so much better than before. I hope that Esmya will be available as an option if you choose to try it. In the meantime have you tried tranexamic acid? I understand your frustration and wish you the best. As I've said, if this were a man going through this, there would have been a solution years ago!!!

Hi all, 11 weeks post hysterectomy operation now. It turns out that the fibroid had grown from 9cms to14cms even though I took the esmya tablets so I guess they don't work for everyone. I have to say, after being terrified of the op and what I would be like afterwards, I'm fine. I have a vertical scar which just looks like a red biro line down my tummy. It wasn't the most pleasant experience but I'm shocked at how many people keep telling me how much weight I must have lost. My tummy is back to normal and I can wear clothes I'd stopped wearing because of the fibroid. Back to work next week. I hope you all find the right solutions and answers to your fibroid problems x

@melzyr .... I don't think I am anemic, I think it's just the effects of the esmya. I have just a week left before the course is finished and I am sooo looking forward to hopefully feeling more myself again. I have put on over 3 kilos and my clothes don't fit!! But having said that I hear the after effects can be just as bad

@beth1969 - The tranexamic acid worked a treat on me. I used to have heavy bleeding, flooding and a lot of pain for at least three days and the tranexamic acid was like a godsend.