Myomectomy or Embolisation

Apologies have just noticed lots of spelling errors. Typing in a rush!!

 

If your fibroid is large its best to have the myomectomy instead of waiting until its much larger and is causing problems with adjacent organs like the bladder, kidneys etc. I have been told mine are large and that I cannot have keyhole myomectomy so I will be opting for open myomectomy although the recovery is 4 to 6 weeks that is the average, everone is different the fitter you are before the surgery the more likely you are to recover faster. I am still afraid of surgey, but I would be more afraid if I had problems with adjacent organs caused by me doing nothing about my fibroids.

Yes I agree it’s just the thought of having the operation! My consultant has put me down for both procedures and is awaiting a response from me. In the meantime he has given me a prescription for Ulipristal; this will start to shrink the fibroid ready for the operation.

 

Hi there,

I agree with f91864s comment. its better to do something. I tried to live with mine also - i discovered it in 2011 it was small so the consultant said to leave it. but it grew big and i started having bladder problems waking up at night to pee and needing to pee often during the day. I didnt have any other issues apart from that. But given my age 32 i decided best to treat it now as i still have a long way before menopause.

you could consider esmya to shrink it in the meantime? Or other GNRH Injections..? that could make it smaller to minimise risks during surgery or shrink enough to make you eligible for keyhole.

I wish u all the best!!! xox

Hiya,

I havent mad myomectomy yet - its scheduled for next month. I took ulipistral (esmya) last year to shrink it. then i noticed it started growing again. because i left it too long it became problematic again so i am now on Gonapeptyl (a type of GNRH) I have been on it for 7 weeks now and it does feel like the fbs have reduced significantly. Myo op is due in 3 weeks or so. I am praying that it will be straightforward and recovery will be speedy. Been going to the gym 3 times a week and walking also drinking lots of water to help me get in the best health possible so that i can aid recovery. I also joined a fibroids group on facebook and there are lots of women there who had myo and are now fine, some even conceived afterwards. Praying for the best for all of us xox

Hi

I'm with you on this one...it is a tough choice!

I too considered the embolisation, had an MRI and an info sheet. But after reading about a fair amount of failed attempts, decided wasn't for me.Also  my fibroid is 10x12 and I thought that even if it was sucessful embolisation can only shrink it by 50%, which to my mind still leaves a big fibroid.

My gynae didn't offer myomectomy. But did say in jis experience big fibroids normally do result in surgery. 

However I'm 41 and had decided that my 2 son family was complete. So in view of the fact I've opted to hysterectomy. 

Are you wanting more kids?

There are a few ladies that seem to  rate anti fibroid diets....you could always try that..?

 

Myomectomy is a big op. but personally I might of seriously gave it some thought if I thought I wanted any more kids. You're a mum... you have super powers and I'm sure you would recover well.

 Good luck with whatever you choose. 

X

I had a huge fibroid removed via keyhole surgery last May. It was the size of a 28 week pregnancy and I was 10lbs lighter after the surgery! Practically any size of fibroid can be removed via keyhole surgery but it is a very skilled procedure and not many surgeons are willing to do it because it is trickier and takes longer. I went privately to achieve what I wanted, but I appreciate not everybody is lucky enough to be able to do that. I think it was money well spent as I made a quick recovery with no complications. I was very nervous beforehand but whether you have keyhole or open surgery, myomectomy is a very routine operation. I had left my fibroid for quite a while but it just kept growing and it became obvious that I had to have it removed in the end.

Good Luck with your decision.

Deanne it's good to hear that the procedure can be done by keyhole. My consultant insisted it had to be an open myomectomy. Not sure i can afford to go private. Thanks for your advice x

Hi 

I have had my fibroid for 2 years now, a submucosal somewhere between 14-18 weeks in size the size in pregnancy terms.  I had a myomectomy last September vagianlly, and to be honest I would not have known my consultant had done anything, there was obviously discomfort due to having an anaesthetic, I had no pain after, the only side effect I noticed is the leakage after a period.  I spoke about this to my consultant and he said this is normal after a myomectomy due to the area being "raw" and the rubbing internally.  This has got me down down because it has felt like I am constantly wearing pads.

I had a UAE 12 May 2014, I was due another period this week and up to now it has not shown, apparantely this is normal.  I was awake for the proceudre under local anaestheic and watched the whole procedure on a large screen.  I was scared because every other intervention up to this point I had been asleep for, it is early days and I do think my tummy has gone done slightly maybe this is wishful thinking.  Any procedure has a risk of complications, and for this one the risks are bleeding, infection, DVT and the womb dying, I am due back in 5 months for a MRI and 6 months to see specialist unless there are any difficulties in the meantime.  I have had no problems with my bowel or bladder and my leakage has stopped.

I do not seem to have the back ache anymore or heavy feeling at the front.  

Hope this helps, it is a work in progress for me at the minute, there are horror stories and it is nice to read a variety of experiences to help inform your decision.  

Yes it was NHS, I did struggle to get the Esmya prior to myomectomy, my GP said it was not in their formulary for medication, I challenged this and got 3 months supply (believe it is quite costly).  I think it is a postcode lottery too, for me, I had no period for the 3 months which was fab and made me realise how the flooding was affecting my quality of life.  I did have a few side effects such as mini hot flushes and a headache for the first couple of days, my tummy felt tighter too, I got feelings like braxton hicks in the first few days but they soon passed.  Everybody is different and it is your decision which route to take, my advice is to challenge if you feel able, It is not always easy, and take somebody with you because you do not always remember what has been said. I got a second opinion which I paid for, but the treatment was on the NHS but out of my locality, again you are entitled to second opinion if you dont mind travelling my commute is 1 hour 40 mins.