Re: newbie--urinary problems

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/12/2004 4:38:46 PM Eastern Standard Time,

cdionne@... writes:

> However, from what we know about

> embolization today, a softening of the tumor(s) is not unusual and

> often provides surprising amounts of relief to women who have been

> particularly bladder challenged with their fibroids.

> Your 10 cm fibroid is still worthy of an IR consult for consideration

> of a possible embolization. Also, from what you've stated thus far, I

> read nothing that has ruled out myomectomy -- except the closed mind

> and possible lack of surgical skills your current gyn may possess....

> Carla

*********************

My own experience with UAE (in 2000) mirrors Carla's outcome, with respect to

symptom relief.

In the months leading up to UAE, one of my biggest complaints was terrible

bladder pressure caused by a 20-21 week-sized uterus. I was never able to sit

through a film, performance, or anything-- without needing to get up-- at

least one time to empty my bladder. It wasn't just pressure, it was outright

PAIN, which at times really could be excruciating.

I also remember feeling even worse PAIN when undergoing a pelvic ultrasound.

The sonographer's tranducer pressing on my belly/pelvis made me wince with

pain. This was something that was never a problem for me, in the early years of

having fibroids.

Like Carla, relief from my bladder pressure was, as I recall, almost

immediate--and PERMANENT with UAE.

Pelvic ultrasounds are a breeze now--no more pain or discomfort.

My uterus shrank by 55%. However, I FELT like there was considerably more

shrinkage. This " softening " effect on the fibroids is very real, and something

you have to factor in when considering UAE as a possible option. Measurements

may--or may not--not change dramatically, but the numbers don't always give the

full picture because symptom relief can be truly remarkable.

Also improved for me, were my eight-to ten-day periods which were becoming

increasingly heavy, with some uncontrollable flooding incidents. After UAE, my

period became a four-day light flow. And I experienced a great deal of

reduction in bulk sensation.

Once I had my UAE, no one ever asked me about my pregnancy--or my imminent

delivery date. Something that was almost a weekly occurrence, for me, pre-UAE.

As I've written before here: On the afternoon of December 31, 1999, I'll

never forget a woman at my supermarket checkout wishing me a very enthusiastic

" Good Luck " in having the very first " Millennium baby " --one that might be born

on January 1, 2000. .. The following day!

I'm certainly glad I don't hear those type comments any more!

-Roma

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/12/2004 4:38:46 PM Eastern Standard Time,

cdionne@... writes:

> However, from what we know about

> embolization today, a softening of the tumor(s) is not unusual and

> often provides surprising amounts of relief to women who have been

> particularly bladder challenged with their fibroids.

> Your 10 cm fibroid is still worthy of an IR consult for consideration

> of a possible embolization. Also, from what you've stated thus far, I

> read nothing that has ruled out myomectomy -- except the closed mind

> and possible lack of surgical skills your current gyn may possess....

> Carla

*********************

My own experience with UAE (in 2000) mirrors Carla's outcome, with respect to

symptom relief.

In the months leading up to UAE, one of my biggest complaints was terrible

bladder pressure caused by a 20-21 week-sized uterus. I was never able to sit

through a film, performance, or anything-- without needing to get up-- at

least one time to empty my bladder. It wasn't just pressure, it was outright

PAIN, which at times really could be excruciating.

I also remember feeling even worse PAIN when undergoing a pelvic ultrasound.

The sonographer's tranducer pressing on my belly/pelvis made me wince with

pain. This was something that was never a problem for me, in the early years of

having fibroids.

Like Carla, relief from my bladder pressure was, as I recall, almost

immediate--and PERMANENT with UAE.

Pelvic ultrasounds are a breeze now--no more pain or discomfort.

My uterus shrank by 55%. However, I FELT like there was considerably more

shrinkage. This " softening " effect on the fibroids is very real, and something

you have to factor in when considering UAE as a possible option. Measurements

may--or may not--not change dramatically, but the numbers don't always give the

full picture because symptom relief can be truly remarkable.

Also improved for me, were my eight-to ten-day periods which were becoming

increasingly heavy, with some uncontrollable flooding incidents. After UAE, my

period became a four-day light flow. And I experienced a great deal of

reduction in bulk sensation.

Once I had my UAE, no one ever asked me about my pregnancy--or my imminent

delivery date. Something that was almost a weekly occurrence, for me, pre-UAE.

As I've written before here: On the afternoon of December 31, 1999, I'll

never forget a woman at my supermarket checkout wishing me a very enthusiastic

" Good Luck " in having the very first " Millennium baby " --one that might be born

on January 1, 2000. .. The following day!

I'm certainly glad I don't hear those type comments any more!

-Roma

[Guest guest]

> On that KQED

> program last week, someone indicated that a 10 cm

> fibroid would shrink to 8 cm with UAE--that probably

> wouldn't be much help, would it?)

>

Alma,

Dr. Indman made a few curious (to me, anyway) comments that both

promoted UAE while simultaneously denigrating it as a treatment

option, as well. While I do think the KQED interview was excellent, I

did come away from the experience noting a few exceptions I had to

comments made by Dr. Indman. This comment you bring up is one of the

comments that I felt was incomplete and was possibly stated more to

promote myomectomy (as superior to embolization) than inform women

objectively about the embolization procedure.

My ~11 cm fibroid shrunk to ~7 cm. It took time, but this was more

than adequate shrinkage to alleviate symptoms.

The urinary symptoms you described sound oh so familiar to me...and

they were ALL alleviated within 1 week of my embolization. Why?

Because fibroids seem to soften significantly as they lose their blood

supply and begin the process of dying. The " softening " allowed for

bladder pressure relief that was truly unexpected (back in 1998, when

I had my procedure done). However, from what we know about

embolization today, a softening of the tumor(s) is not unusual and

often provides surprising amounts of relief to women who have been

particularly bladder challenged with their fibroids.

Your 10 cm fibroid is still worthy of an IR consult for consideration

of a possible embolization. Also, from what you've stated thus far, I

read nothing that has ruled out myomectomy -- except the closed mind

and possible lack of surgical skills your current gyn may possess....

Carla