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Please help!!

Posted , 6 users are following.

Mzmays1
Mzmays1

Im 41 and found out last March that I have several fibroids. One is the size of a softball! I have heavy bleeding with huge blood clots that sometimes lasts 2 weeks. I also have breakthrough bleeding some months. I am on a low hormone birth control pill. They are taking over my life! I am a teacher and have to constantly leave my classroom to change my tampon and pad. Sometimes I'm changing them every hour. I also feel some pressure/heaviness in my lower abdomen. Sometimes I don't even want to leave my house. I'm starting to get depressed. I've done several things to try and help. I've lost almost 40 lbs, I drink ACV daily, I take milk thistle, DIM plus, fibroid supplement, ginger root capsules, iron pills, and have eliminated meat, sugar, dairy, carbs. I haven't noticed any changes yet and it's been 5 months. What else can I do?? Please help!

0 likes, 21 replies

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  • jessicadower
    jessicadower Mzmays1

    Posted

    Hi, I feel your frustrations. Normally when they disrupt your life like that further medical intervention may be required. Have you talked to your doctor about GnRH to help shrink them? Fibroids growth depends on hormone inbalance, if surgery is not an option look into hormone therapy. Anemia is a very real thing that may cause numerous other health problems. Iron injections may be an alternative if your iron levels are too low. Also, have you had your thyroid levels checked? Thyroid levels may increase bleeding during menstruation.

    Fellow sufferer,

    Jess

    • Mzmays1
      Mzmays1 jessicadower

      Posted

      No I haven't had my thyroid checked....that's a good idea. I'm trying to avoid surgery and want to try to shrink them naturally if possible. I'm just feeling defeated. Thank you so much for your help!

    • jessicadower
      jessicadower Mzmays1

      Posted

      Start with the thyroid function test, just a tube of blood. If that's not it and you want more natural alternatives there are a lot of sources for holistic options. Of course always use caution when mixing supplements and herbs. Even though they are natural some combinations can have severe side effects. My advice would be to consult a holistic medical advisor before trying too many more supplements than you are already on. Some of them should not be taken within 4 hours of each other, some should not be combined at all. Best wishes and keep us posted on progress. Alternative options for those of us who are getting no where with our doctors are always helpful.

      Jess

    • Mzmays1
      Mzmays1 jessicadower

      Posted

      Thank you! Your advice is great. I'm so glad I joined this group. I will keep you posted. 

    • jessicadower
      jessicadower Mzmays1

      Posted

      I look forward to hearing about your progress. Best wishes. smile

  • Sugarplumsilver
    Sugarplumsilver Mzmays1

    Posted

    Hello Mzmays1, I certainly know how to feel.. I think the only real option is surgery. I had a myomectomy nearly 5 weeks ago.. I'm still in recovery so don't really know if it's going to make my life better as yet. I'm currently having problems in my left leg and left cheek with numbness as a niece has been bruised or damaged, not sure yet.

    My experience is one of a journey over the last 5 years of like you say heaviness, aching, flooding.. My floods would be so bad that by the time I would clean myself up insert a super dooper tampax and put a extra long night time sanitary towel on and clean trousers I would get to the bottom of the stairs and have to go straight back up to change, I've also had several blood transfusions. I'm just hoping I start to feel normal again over the next few months. The surgeon gave me 3 months of prostrap injection which is suppose to shrink the fibroid ( mine was 9cm) to be able to remove via keyhole, however they found when operating hat it was still 9cm and had to open me up like a c chec too. To remove the fibroid which has left me with severe pain on and around the right side of my wound and numbness as explained above in my right leg. Apparently this isn't a normal recovery process, just seems I'm unlucky, I'm sure it will sort it's self out and I will be fit as a fiddle soon.. My goal is to teach my daughter to skip.. I've not been able to jump due to the fibroid so fingers crossed xx

    • Mzmays1
      Mzmays1 Sugarplumsilver

      Posted

      I'm so sorry that you are having difficulty with your recovery. I pray that that you will be healed completely and be able to teach your daughter how to skip.  Everything you were going through with your fibroid symptoms is EXACTLY what I go through now. I can definitely relate to it. Especially wearing a super tampon with an overnight pad. I want to give it about 3 more months to see if my process of elimination of certain foods will make a difference. Then I will probably look into a myomectomy 😢 Thank you for your help and sending hugs and prayers your way.

  • Maestra
    Maestra Mzmays1

    Posted

    I'm also a teacher, so I understand the situation completely.  I live in fear of disaster. I found out in December I have a large fibroid.  Around about April, the periods started getting better.  They were slightly shorter with less blood and clots.  Then this past month, I had spotting/light bleeding pretty much all month and I'm going to go back to the doctor because it's freaking me out.  Like you, I'm trying to avoid surgery if at all possible.  The teaching profession doesn't make it exactly easy to take time off for personal things, particularly if you teach summer school.

    My point in all of this is that if my symptoms lessened, perhaps yours will also.  Could your doctor change your B/C pill to something slightly more powerful?  Mine mentioned that that sometimes helps, although since my BP is always high when I see her she won't prescribe them for me.  

    • Mzmays1
      Mzmays1 Maestra

      Posted

      Wow, I'm so glad your symptoms have improved! That's great news!  My Dr. has changed my BC pills a couple times. She doesn't want me to use a high dose hormone pill because of my family history of breast cancer. I am in the process of getting a second opinion and trying out a different Doctor. I'm hoping all these changes to my diet and supplements will finally improve my symptoms. Thank you so much for your help!

  • ruth82598
    ruth82598 Mzmays1

    Posted

    so sorry about your case, i think you need to do something about it now. either you go for Uterin Fibroid Embolyzation or open myomectomy and get rifd of it. because from what you described, it has become so symptomatic that your well being is been threathened. i used to bleed profusely for 10 days when my period comes. it leaves me sick and very anemic every month. i had to go for UFE. now i got my life back. bleeding has reduced greatly, am stronger and look better.
    • Mzmays1
      Mzmays1 ruth82598

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your help. I think that may be my next option. I will look into it.
  • UAEhouston
    UAEhouston Mzmays1

    Posted

    Hi Mzmays1,

    Uterine artery embolization is a great alternative to traditional surgery for fibroids. As an Interventional Radiologist (IR), I perform this procedure routinely and have seen the excellent resutls first hand. It is a minimally invasive provecure accomplished in about 2 hours through a pencil sized incision in the groin. It is >90% effective for menorrhagia (abnormal uterine bleeding). Many centers are performing this procedure as an outpatient, though I still admit my patients for 1 night after the procedure. Consider talking to an IR where ever you live.

    • Maestra
      Maestra UAEhouston

      Posted

      UAEhouston, I assume your name means you're in the US?  Are you familiar with the insurance coverage on the procedure?  My doctor didn't even mention it to me.  I'm not sure if that's because insurance doesn't generally cover it or she just doesn't have enough familiarity with it to comfortably recommend it  

    • UAEhouston
      UAEhouston Maestra

      Posted

      Correct. I am in Houston. In my experience it has never been an issue getting coverage for patients. There is level 1 evidence of its effectiveness, it is well established (20 years of published data) and is less expensive for insurance providers than surgery. I know IR's in most of the country so I can recommend one to you if you would like.

    • Mzmays1
      Mzmays1 UAEhouston

      Posted

      Thank you thank you for your help, I think I may need to look into that. My doctor never mentioned this procedure to me. I live in the Arlington/ Ft. worth area in TX. If you know of any IRs in that area, it would be greatly appreciated. 
    • jessicadower
      jessicadower UAEhouston

      Posted

      Do you know any in the lower Catskill NY region? My only option so far is hystorectomy... I'm only 36. I have gotten so out of control I only have ribbon like bowel movements twice a month. I go through three to four packs of Always Super Plus Overnight Sanitary Napkins every month. I cant use tampons because the clots push them right out. My bleeding is 12 to 18 days, plus spotting 3 to 4 days a week in between menstruation. The pain literally lays me down for days at a time....

    • UAEhouston
      UAEhouston jessicadower

      Posted

      Hi Jessica. It does sound like you should consider seeing an IR. The closest I know in upstate NY is Dr Gary Siskin in Albany. I know of others in NYC, Providence and obviously I treat in Houston at MD Anderson. Let me know if I can be of more assistance. Good luck!
    • UAEhouston
      UAEhouston Mzmays1

      Posted

      Hi Mzmays. Dr. Handley is someone who I know treats a lot of fibroids in the Dallas area. Alternatively, feel free to come to Houston for a few days to get treatment. As an IR, I work closely with the benign Gynecology service in providing full service care for fibroid disease here at MD Anderson.
    • ruth82598
      ruth82598 Mzmays1

      Posted

      hello Mzmayst,

      you can contact Aneesa Majid, MD. i think she stays in Arlington. i was meant to see but later had to go SA. her contact is ) 469-458-9800. you can call her. hope you get help

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