Re: Question about fibroids

[Guest guest]

I too have recently been diagnosed with a fibroid. I

see a nurse practitioner at my gyn office. My fibroid

is only 9mm, so she is not at all concerned, did not

mention anything about biopsies or any treatment, she

also strongly suggested that I stay on birth control

pills and just watch it to see if it grows. I didn't

agree with her and stopped taking the pill, and made

an appointment at a hospital that has a uterine

fibroid center. They didn't have an opening until

December. I have looked up alot of information that

just made me more confused. I have had symptoms which

have consistently gotten worse for the last year. If

a fibroid of 9mm nothing to be concerned about? I

already have severe cramping that wake me up at night,

passing clots, this is all new to me and I don't know

if I should be concerned or not. Please help!

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to add my two cents...I had an endometrium biopsy

before a recommendation to an IR was made by my gyn. He told me to

take 800 mg of motrin before I arrived in his office for the biopsy.

If you can take Motrin, it can do alot to minimize the pain. I was

able to go right to work after my visit to the doctor that morning.

Good luck to you.

> Also, I think that the endometrial biopsy is to check on any

possible

> problems in the endometrium, the part of the uterus that is most

likely

> to be involved in uterine cancer.

>

>

>

> I have had two of these, they're just done in the MD's office.

They can

> be painful for about 30 seconds, and the pain is intense. However,

as

> soon as the MD is finished sampling the endometrium, the pain

> immediately subsides, and causes no further pain. They're standard

at

> the phase of diagnosis you're in.

>

>

>

> Regards,

>

> Jean

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Please let me know how you are getting on and what advise you are given at

the hospital. I also have a small fibroid under a centimetre my bleeding was

heavy all along and I used to pass clots sometimes. I am on bc pills and the

bleeding is very controlled now. My doctor also said that there is nothing

to worry about. However I have cramps on and off during the month on Monday

I slept with a hot water bottle because I was in pain and my period is not

due until Friday.

Best wishes

andra

[Guest guest]

Hi Loretta,

This was the original post below. was stating that for the

beginning phase of my diagnosis, that a endometrial biopsy was the next step.

I just obtained a copy of my medical report which stated the size of my

fibroids and uterus. Does anyone out there know what size a " normal " (if

there is such an animal) uterus would be? I'm learning so much here, thanks

to all of you!!!! Sheri

I've just recently been told that I have fibroids, (after many months of

heavy bleeding and cloting). Since then, I have been searching the net for

any information about them. Have read in great detail about all the various

types of treatment and found lots of very helpful information.

I just have one question if anyone could help me..... My doctor told me that

she would do an endometrial biopsy of my uterus as the next step after

finding the fibroids. She wants to rule out uterine cancer. I am wondering

WHY she doesn't biopsy the fibroids themselves? I have read in my research

that MOST fibroids are NOT cancerous, but then some are. How does a doctor

determine which are, and which aren't?

[Guest guest]

, I would say get another opinion & explore UAE as a possible

treatment now. My understanding that any size fibroid can cause problems,

its the size/shape AND location that dictates this. I've also read a lot on

this & the " embo " board that UAE works really well on smaller fibroids, and

that the traditional " watch & wait " approach is not necessarily the way to

go any more. (I just wish I knew about UAE sooner myself!) Loretta

" Mc " wrote:

> I too have recently been diagnosed with a fibroid. I

> see a nurse practitioner at my gyn office. My fibroid

> is only 9mm, so she is not at all concerned, did not

> mention anything about biopsies or any treatment, she

> also strongly suggested that I stay on birth control

> pills and just watch it to see if it grows. I didn't

> agree with her and stopped taking the pill, and made

> an appointment at a hospital that has a uterine

> fibroid center. They didn't have an opening until

> December. I have looked up alot of information that

> just made me more confused. I have had symptoms which

> have consistently gotten worse for the last year. If

> a fibroid of 9mm nothing to be concerned about? I

> already have severe cramping that wake me up at night,

> passing clots, this is all new to me and I don't know

> if I should be concerned or not. Please help!

[Guest guest]

wrote:

> Also, I think that the endometrial biopsy is to check on any possible

> problems in the endometrium, the part of the uterus that is most likely

> to be involved in uterine cancer.

>

> I have had two of these, they're just done in the MD's office. They can

> be painful for about 30 seconds, and the pain is intense. However, as

> soon as the MD is finished sampling the endometrium, the pain

> immediately subsides, and causes no further pain. They're standard at

> the phase of diagnosis you're in.

Hi Jean. Standard for what? I can't find the original post but I

thought there were just fibroids involved. I only have fibroids (and an

ovarian cyst) and an endometrial biopsy was never mentioned to me. Loretta

[Guest guest]

Hi Loretta:

Maybe just standard for my ob/gyn.. ;-) I think that, at least at the

time I had my first one ('93), it was part of the fact-finding normally

done when a patient first presented with bleeding problems. It was my

understanding at the time that endometrial cancer (though rare) could

cause bleeding problems. At the time, my ob/gyn could barely feel one

fibroid with a manual exam, and she went ahead and did the endometrial

biopsy at that same visit to assist in diagnosis by elimination, then

sent me off to the ultrasound lab.

Perhaps there were other factors in my history that made it necessary -

but if so, she didn't communicate that to me.

BTW, on the issue of fibroids more likely to grow back if you're Jewish

- I would guess that it might have something to do with the geographic

area your ancestors came from. Ashkenazi Jews are statistically more

likely to have inherited a gene that can cause breast and ovarian cancer

than average. (I have a good friend who is of Ashkenazi descent, and

that has been the case in her family.) I doubt if converting to Judaism

would make a difference! ;-)

Best,

Jean

[Guest guest]

Dear

I am on the birth control pill too and my gp did not recommend to stop it.

From the reading I have done so far there is no conclusive medical research

showing that synthetic estrogens (contained in the pills) may contribute to

the growth of fibroids. There are also various types of bc pills with more

balanced doses of the hormones if you are concerned ask your doctor if

he/she can recommend a more balanced pill. To be honest with you I do not

even imagine getting off the pill because my bleeding is so under control

since I started. I also have several cysts in my ovaries and the pill is

helping there too.

I will be looking forward to hear from you.

Best of luck

andra

[Guest guest]

As far as I know there is no way to biopsy the fibroids without removing them.

Should you opt to have

them removed, they will probably be biopsied then. Having an endometrial biopsy

is I think quite

standard if you have been having abnormal bleeding. I had one too prior to my

myomectomy.

TooChilly@... wrote:

> I've just recently been told that I have fibroids, (after many months of

> heavy bleeding and cloting). Since then, I have been searching the net for

> any information about them. Have read in great detail about all the various

> types of treatment and found lots of very helpful information.

> I just have one question if anyone could help me..... My doctor told me that

> she would do an endometrial biopsy of my uterus as the next step after

> finding the fibroids. She wants to rule out uterine cancer. I am wondering

> WHY she doesn't biopsy the fibroids themselves? I have read in my research

> that MOST fibroids are NOT cancerous, but then some are. How does a doctor

> determine which are, and which aren't?

>

>

[Guest guest]

I know this is a group for fibroids, but this is just a thought to " perk " up

your day.

I received this bit of information from my wonderful friend, inbetween all

the postings on fibroids, and it made me laugh...... So to all you gals out

there who desperately need a good laugh right now, cheers to YOU!

There is currently more money being spent on breast

implants and Viagra than Alzheimer's research.

By 2020, there should be a large elderly population

with perky boobs and erections and no recollection of

what to do with them.