Questions regarding ultrasounds

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

I was expecting a letter from the gyn who did my cold coagulation

back in November. As a matter of fact I send her,through my GP, all

my files and u/s results. She finally wrote to me today to say that

there is nothing to worry about and no further procedures are

necessary. I am wondering if she is refering to the inflamed cervix

she treated and not the fibroid. So I have to go back to my GP and

ask for a follow up ultrasound to check the fibroid progress. To see

my GP I have to wait until the 24th. My first question is this: When

your fibroids were first discovered did your doctor suggest the

regular u/s or did you ask for that yourself in regular intervals?

The other question is do you believe that regular u/s are recomended

by doctors themselves depending on the size of the fibroid?? What I

want to say is could it be that a small fibroid like mine (1cm) does

not need such regular check ups where a larger one does??

I am asking this questions because I feel the need to keep an eye on

this thibg inside me however, the message I am getting from the docs

is that they do not worry or maybe do not care that much??

Any one please give me an opinion

andra

[Guest guest]

andra,

When I first had unexplained bleeding and long periods, my GP sent me right

away for an ultrasound. It showed what she " thought were fibroids " . She

said to take different birth control pills and have another ultrasound in 6

months. Well in one month, I was bleeding uncontrollably and ended up in the

ER. They did another ultrasound and then a D & C and hysteroscopy and

confirmed the fibroids. I didn't have another ultrasound until 6 months

later. I don't think it makes any difference if the fibroids are large or

small. My gyn said most doctors do ultrasounds every 6 months if you are on

watch and wait. Mine had not grown very much, but I had a new one and mine

are all pretty small.

[Guest guest]

andra,

I think it may indeed vary by doctor - and by size.

My fibroids were first noticed early last summer, though I wasn't able

to get in for an ultrasound until July. After that, when I met with my

gyno, he stated clearly that I need to get a u/s and pelvic exam with a

gyno (not my lovely nurse practitioner) every six months... But my

largest is a generous 7 cm, so that may have something to do with it as

well, following your logic.

Perhaps others can tell you more.

[Guest guest]

Hi Sam,

What did they recomend to do? only follow-up?

[Guest guest]

Sam, How big are your fibroids and, do you have more then one?'

[Guest guest]

Only follow up so far. ( I just got back from the u/s by the way, more

on that later) I actually feel pretty lucky to have the doc I do - I'm

in an hmo and it was pretty random. Except for the fact that I can only

call his nurses, not him, it's wonderful. He talked to me a lot about

symptoms and fertility. He is all for the watch and wait approach until

either symptoms get unmanageable and I feel like I need to do something

or we try to get pregnant and have trouble.

His plan is, and this makes sense to me, try to get pregnant before we

mess with anything in there, and only mess with stuff if we need to. He

did mention options if/when the time comes to take action - he never

mentioned hysterectomy - which as a 26 year old with baby fever I

certainly appreciated. He talked about myo and embo as possibilities.

When the results come back from the u/s next week I have an appt with

him for my check up.

Speaking of the d**n u/s. Good and bad. I drank about half as much

water as they said, so I was much more comfortable (I was crying last

time I had to pee so bad - and they made me wait 20 minutes for my

appt). But, it's a good thing I was so much more comfortable, because

it took close to 40 minutes, instead of the usual 20. It took two techs

to find one of my ovaries. Wow. Thanks, ladies. Insensitive tech

comments: " So, how many babies do you have? " Gosh, none yet, but I sure

hope I can. " Wow, that's a monster. " Thanks, I appreciate the thought.

Do you have any medical problems you'd like me to ridicule? " You must

have to pee all the time. " Yep, especially now that you're pressing on

my bladder while you stand there and talk to me. " You're just so

young! " I get that a lot.

They were very thorough, and precise, and I appreciate all that. The

bedside manner was a little lacking, however...

watching and waiting and waiting and watching.

donnggal@... wrote:

> Hi Sam,

> What did they recomend to do? only follow-up?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

I can totally relate to your ultrasound experiences. I'm also 26 but

was first diagnosed with fibroids at 21. My first doctor seemed to

be completely unsure what to do about fibroids in someone my age

because " You're just so young to have fibroids " . I can't even begin

to count how many times I heard that. My last ultrasound, the tech

felt it was her place to inform me that with my large fibroid, which

is 5 cm and another small one 1.5 cm, she just didn't see how I would

get pregnant if I wanted to. First of all, compared to some of the

stories I've read 5 cm is not that large and second I felt she had no

right to tell me that. Anyway, my doctor always recommends that I

try to get pregnant as soon as possible because we don't know how

long it might take. I really want to wait a few years, and don't

like feeling pressured to try to have a child now because of this

problem. Does your doctor recommend anything to stop the fibroids

from growing until you're ready to get pregnant? Good luck to

you.

[Guest guest]

Re: Questions regarding ultrasounds

,

I just read your recap of your u/s. I am still giggling! Two weeks

ago I had almost the exact same experience with my u/s. My favorite

part of my trans/vag u/s experience came right at the end, when the

tech removed the probe full of jelly and stated,

" Okay, get dressed and head out, we need this room in ten

minutes. " . . . Great, thanks, I'll just wad up my bra and stick it

in my pants to catch the mound of gelatinous goo you left inside me -

that will, most assuredly, choose to make its exit at the most

inopportune time - as soon as I leave this office. I bet you're fun

at parties! . . .

Anyway, thank you for sharing your story. Humor heals, and some times

it's nice to be doubled over in laughter not pain!!!

.