Re: Wait More or Have a SH Hysterectomy

December 31, 1996

Pam:

I am in a similar situation as you. I had a UAE and it failed and my

fibroids are about the same as yours...all over...16 week size. After

nearly needing a transfution my dr. gave me a depo-provera shot. It's a

shot of progesterone every 3 months or so. At first it didn't really work,

but after the first 3 months my periods stopped competely and I haven't had

a period since!!! (Over a year and 1/2 now) Oh Joy OH Joy Of course there

are side affects and everyone reacts differently, but it's worth a try. If

I would have known it would stop my periods, I could have saved myself the

$15,000 I put out for the UAE which did NOTHING!

Wait More or Have a SH Hysterectomy

> Hello Brave Women,

>

> I've been a member for awhile, read many posts, empathized with all

> and done a lot of reading (including Carla's book). Still, I am not

> sure what is the best course of action. For those that have the time

> and patience to read on, here goes:

>

> I am 47, had a myomectomy at 36 and had my fibroids grow back with a

> vengeance 6 years ago. My uterus volume is about 1600 cc and I am

> about a 16-week pregnancy in size. I have a very large pedunculated

> sumuscosal fibroid behind my uterus that pushes against my bowels and

> bladder. I have another large suberosal fibroid in the front

> region. I have every kind of fibroid there is as well. During my

> sonograms, I'm told that my " entire uterus is filled inside and out

> with fibroids of all shapes and sizes " .

>

> Besides being anemic, bleeding usually 14 days a month with at least

> 5-8 days being extremely heavy (a super plus every hour or two), I

> have osteopenia (the precursor to osteoporosis), alternate between

> diarrhea and constipation and incontinence. Otherwise, I am

> of " normal " weight, exercise regularly and am a vegetarian. I have

> to buy pants a size larger to fit my waist. My sex life is

> practically non-existent due to total lack of interest (fibroid

> related? Who knows!)

>

> Okay, so the symptoms that trouble me are: excessive bleeding,

> clotting, cramping, anemia, constipation, diarrhea, incontinence,

> vanity about what I can wear and being asexual. Now, what are my

> options?

>

> After researching UAE (or UFE) I felt it was not for me. One, I am

> not comfortable with the PVA and the new materials are just that, too

> new to feel " safe " about. Also, because of the size and quantity of

> my fibroids, even the IR said my success, if at all, may only

> be " marginal " compared with the risks.

>

> I took Raloxifene experimentally for 1 month at the suggestion of my

> gynecologist (who I do trust and have been with for 12 years - he is

> not a hysterectomy advocate and has worked through every option with

> me at my own pace.) The Rolaxifene did reduce my bleeding but

> increased the growth rate of the fibroids noticeably. Not a good

> long term solution. It took 3 months but the excessive bleeding has

> returned.

>

> I am not a candidate for myolysis or another myomectomy because of

> the size and quantity of the fibroids either. Because of this, my

> options to date seem to be wait until menopause or have a

> hysterectomy. Am I missing anything here?

>

> My gynecologist has told me that I'd be a tough hysterectomy

> patient. First, because I probably have a lot of scar tissue from my

> previous myomectomy. Second because of the size and location of some

> of the fibroids. Still, he is willing to do it if I want it. He

> does want me to take Lupron for 3 months first. Another aspect I am

> not fond of. He wants to, and would TRY, to do a LSH, but does not

> feel optimistic that he can get the uterus and fibroids out

> successfully and that I should be prepared for at least a SH. He

> would try and save my cervix and ovaries but again no guarantees

> until he sees exactly what he is dealing with inside.

>

> For those of you that have read through all this, here is where

> I " freeze " . If I could feel optimistic that I would only have a SH

> and that no life long Lupron effects, I would chose the

> hysterectomy. Of course, no one can promise this.

>

> If I continue to wait, my fibroids will continue to grow and make

> surgery even more difficult and less likely to involve only the

> uterus and the fibroids. Because of my very low bone density, this

> concerns me a great deal. IF I can stick it out until menopause and

> need HRT at some point, the fibroids will likely grow again if they

> shrank at all. If I have a hysterectomy and keep my ovaries and

> cervix, I may not need HRT for a long time and when I do, there won't

> be any fibroids to grow back.!

>

> Maybe I just need permission from a wise group of women to get a

> hysterectomy or hear why, no matter what, I should not. I look

> forward to hearing any and all advice.

>

> Thank you so much,

> Pam

>

January 31, 2002

Hi Pam,

If you are having all of those problems and you don't want to have to

deal with fibroids never again. I would personnally go for the

hysterectomy before your problem gets any worst than what it is now.

I had to wait over a year before getting anything done with my

fibroid and it continue to grow which made the surgery even more of a

challenge than if I had it done a year before I did have it done. If

I had my family and I knew I didn't want to have anymore more

children I would of opt for the hysterectomy to have the freedom for

sure from fibroids but that wasn't my case, I had no family and

wanted one.

January 31, 2002