Re: Calcification of UFs and UAE? Depopronera (?) shots?

[Guest guest]

Debra,

After doing a search of my own I found the following site:

Hampton Roads Center For Fibroid Embolization -- FAQs

.... Is there a size limit for the procedure? Virtually all fibroids

respond to UFE (except those that have already degenerated and calcified).

The question is will ...

http://www.ufecenter.com/faq8.html [More Results From:

www.ufecenter.com]

I thought you might be interested as I know you are strongly considering

UAE and you also mentioned that your Dr. said that your fibroid is

degenerating. There are other sites I found on fibroid calcification as

well. I just started to review them. I will let you know if I find

anything of importance.

RAR

***

--- Ruth Ann Ramon wrote:

> Thanks for the info Debra!

> RAR

> ****

> --- Debra Armendariz wrote:

> > Ruth Ann,

> >

> > I noticed at this web site, " Fibroid Uterine Treatment Center " by Dr.

> > Stringer, there is an answer/question reply to " Fibroid -

> > Calcification " .

> > However you have to pay $15 to see it.

> >

> > http://www.fibroid.com/fibroid/instant.htm

> >

> >

> > Calcification of UFs and UAE

> >

> > > Hi Everyone!

> > >

> > > Has anyone been told that their fibroids are calcifieing

> (spelling?)? Has anyone heard whether or not UAE can be performed

successfully if your fibroid has calcification? My gyn/ob said that since

my fibroid appears to be hardening that it may not shrink with UAE.....

> > >

> > > Thanks again,

> > > Ruth Ann in TX

> > >

> > > __________________________________________________

> > >

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Debra,

After doing a search of my own I found the following site:

Hampton Roads Center For Fibroid Embolization -- FAQs

.... Is there a size limit for the procedure? Virtually all fibroids

respond to UFE (except those that have already degenerated and calcified).

The question is will ...

http://www.ufecenter.com/faq8.html [More Results From:

www.ufecenter.com]

I thought you might be interested as I know you are strongly considering

UAE and you also mentioned that your Dr. said that your fibroid is

degenerating. There are other sites I found on fibroid calcification as

well. I just started to review them. I will let you know if I find

anything of importance.

RAR

***

--- Ruth Ann Ramon wrote:

> Thanks for the info Debra!

> RAR

> ****

> --- Debra Armendariz wrote:

> > Ruth Ann,

> >

> > I noticed at this web site, " Fibroid Uterine Treatment Center " by Dr.

> > Stringer, there is an answer/question reply to " Fibroid -

> > Calcification " .

> > However you have to pay $15 to see it.

> >

> > http://www.fibroid.com/fibroid/instant.htm

> >

> >

> > Calcification of UFs and UAE

> >

> > > Hi Everyone!

> > >

> > > Has anyone been told that their fibroids are calcifieing

> (spelling?)? Has anyone heard whether or not UAE can be performed

successfully if your fibroid has calcification? My gyn/ob said that since

my fibroid appears to be hardening that it may not shrink with UAE.....

> > >

> > > Thanks again,

> > > Ruth Ann in TX

> > >

> > > __________________________________________________

> > >

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Ruth Ann -

1) Re: UAE and calification

I would ask your IR how many of his/her patients had hysterectomy after UAE, and

why. Far more of your radiologist's have had UAE than your gynaecologist's

patients! Also if you do go on to have hysterectomy later, you aren't worse off

than if you had hyst without trying to see if embo works first.

Unless, of course, the hyst is in the worse case scenario emergency operation

because of infection. The SCIVR did a survey of >4,000 UAEs and my memory is

that only 0.6% had hysterectomy because of post-UAE complications (though I

think they may have been looking only at the first month after UAE).

I think it is true that if a fibroid has calcified it won't shrink any more.

But typically, not all of a woman's fibroids will have calcified and fibroids

that spontaneous infarct tend to do so only partially, not over the whole

fibroid. So there can still be plenty of scope for reduction. You'll really

need to get your radiologist's advice on this issue. Have you had MRI? Is your

radiologist informative? Mine was very clear on the drawbacks of UAE (I was not

the most suitable candidate because I have a very large subserosal fibroid).

I've also read women in the discussion groups writing that radiologists advised

against UAE because of various factors such as pedunculated fibroids,

substantial adenomyosis or endometriosis and/or calcificatioon, or concern about

fertility. But I think there are some IRs who have a much more 'gung ho' try

anything approach.

Of course, the amount of experience an IR has, and the adequacy of aftercare

arrangements would affect how cautious and selective an approach is warranted.

There has been discussion of calcification at the embo group, if you want to

look through their archives.

Also, you may wish to find a more pro-embolisation gynaecologist to consult for

aftercare if you go ahead with UAE.

2) Re Depoprovera, I've heard of it being used to control menstrual bleeding.

There are women who are on this list who can tell you of their experiences with

this drug. But it doesn't shrink fibroids and I don't think it would lessen the

amount of blood lost in surgery. Maybe the intent is to help you build up your

hemoglobin (iron in the blood) before surgery. Or maybe even to be sure you

don't get pregnant. I read an article about a woman in her forties who was going

to have a hysterectomy for fibroids but postponed the operation when she found

she was pregnant. She had a difficult pregnancy and hemorraged during

childbirth. But the baby was fine, a welcome girl as the couple's other children

were boys.

3) Re laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (as recommended by Ruth Ann's

gyn).... if I had to have hysterectomy and had a choice of vaginal vs abdominal

I think I'd opt to keep my cervix even though abdominal hysterectomy means a

longer recuperation. It's very hard to know which is best. (I wouldn't actually

have that option as I have a large fibroid uterus, so I haven't explored the

issue in detail)

[Guest guest]

Ruth Ann,

I don't know if I am telling you something you have already done, but

have you asked the group for names of doctors known for performing

myomectomies who are in your area?

It isn't enough for a doctor to have a good reputation, they have to

have a good reputation for performing myomectomies. It breaks my

heart that at this late date in history we are still fighting to keep

our uteruses(sp).

I hope you can find someone to perform UAE or a myomectomy, whichever

procedure you decide to have done.

I wish you all the best.