uterine fibroids

Posted , 3 users are following.

Hi Ladies, I feel guilty about complaining when I read about how much pain some of you suffer with gynae problems. I have a very large fibroid which I am waiting to have removed. My worry is that at 62 years old, it is uncommon for a fibroid to be active and growing. Does anyone know of women in my age bracket who have problems with fibroids? Thanks !

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Jenny, dont feel guilty for moaning, this site is useful for moaning and seeking information on fibroids.  Alhought fibroids are meant to shrink with menopause, its not always the case, especially in situations where people have large fibroids, thats why its best to deal with fibroids before they get a chance to grow big and if they are already big, its best to have them remoed.  Its good that you are having your large fibroid removed as they can continue to cause problems at any age. I have seen postings on here before of others having problems with fiborids after menopause.  Best of luck, look forward to a fibrod free life.  I had 32 removed in January with an open myomectomy and my quality of life is much better.
    • Posted

      Thank you so much! I've convinced myself it must be cancerous because I'm older and it should be shrinking, not growing! Glad to hear you are feeling much better, you must have had an awful time with such a lot of fibroids.

    • Posted

      Dont worry its very rare for fibroids to be cancerous, when they remove fibroids its routine for the fibroids to be analysed for cancer.  I was informed 2 weeks after surgery that my 32 fibroids were nott cancerous.  Do not worry, instead make sure you prepare youself mentally and physicaly for the surgery, eating protein and vitamins foods, relaxation, walking as this helps with speeding up recovery.
  • Posted

    Hi Jenny I am 58 and my fibroids have been growing for around 8 years. I have several, ranging in size from around 10cm to tiny. I thought 

    I would have to have a hysterectomy 2 years ago when I had severe pain and bleeding, but since then I have been taking Esmya on and off (3 courses), and it has controlled both. The fibroids shrink and then grow again, I never get rid of them completely. 

    Have you been offered Esmya? Just wondering if it would be an alternative to the surgery. Do you suffer bleeding? I am not sure even if I've been through menopause as I have been bleeding almost continuously with the fibroids.

    • Posted

      Hi Christine, thanks for your reassurance. I dont have any bleeding. See consultant again soon so he might discuss shrinking the fibroid. Hope you keep well
  • Posted

    Hello ladies! I am 52 and have been dealing with postmenopausal bleeding issues that have been attributed to a really large fibroid for the last three years. I have undergone workups with endometrial biopsy and ultrasound that have been negative. 

    With this last episode, I finally decided to go ahead with a hysterectomy and am scheduled to have a preop CT scan tomorrow. My current worry is that I've come to find out that they haven't really seen anything BUT the fibroid for so long so there is surely something else going on that is going to show up on this CT scan. 

    I've never had an episode of the bleeding/spotting go on this long and I'm really freaked out. Has anyone else dealt with something like this? I am desperate for some reassurance as i got into this procedure :-(

    It is reassuring to know that I'm not the only one in menopause who has fibroids that are uncooperative!

    • Posted

      Hi Christine, sorry to hear your situation, try not to worry, the CT scan is unlikely to show anything else but the large fibroid.  Large fibroids are problematic and can continue to grow pass menopause and can cause problems including the ongoing bleeding you describe. My friend had similar bleeding and was always having to dash to A&E to help stem the blood flow with injections.  She chose to have a hysterecotmy and is now doing very well. Try not to worry and instead look forward to having your CT scan and hysterectomy and a future fibroid free.  Let us know how you get on tomorrow.

       

    • Posted

      Hi yes I agree, the pain and bleeding gets worse but does not mean you have anything more sinister going on, I was terrified my MRI was going to show something but no, just a thickened Endometrium, full of blood, and those horrible fibroids......
    • Posted

      Just knowing that I'm not alone in feeling this way makes me feel so much better! Thank you, Christine!

    • Posted

      Well, as it turns out, the CT scan did just show the fibroid. No cancers of any other organs. No mention of endometrial anything. They did note that my heart is mildly enlarged (is it in my pelvis? who knew?) so will need to have that checked out, but in the meantime, I've tapped the brakes on surgery. I have a bakery about to open and the thought of postponing that for surgical recouperation was killing me. Other than a very occasional spotting episode my fibroid doesn't really affect much but my mental state when I worry that there must be something cancerous going on. At any rate, having the CT reassurance has bought me some time, as I have always wanted to save the big surgery for the last resort if at all possible. In the meantime, i plan to focus on my health and overall fitness, as well as weight loss, because regardless, improving those things will improve everything as a whole. I'm very thankful for the level-headedness of this forum :-)

    • Posted

      Thats good news, I knew it would be just fibroid, focussing on overall health and fitness is good move.

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