Re: Anyone here have experience with uterine fibroids?

[Guest guest]

I feel I must provide the counterpoint, here. I think the choice of

surgery depends on the effects you are suffering and probably a lot of

other factors. I had to have a hysterectomy at 34, despite my doctor's

attempts to avoid that. In my case, my hysterectomy was the best thing

that ever happened to me. I'll be happy to provide my viewpoint and

situation off-list as well, but I am 50 now and have to say that I

haven't missed the old " hyster " for one minute and after the recovery

time, felt better than I had in ages and ages!

On Wednesday, November 23, 2005, at 08:12 AM, D wrote:

> Hi Dora, I bought the line about needing a hyst and I beleive, along

> with you, that fibroids alone is a leading reason for unnecessary

> hysterectomies. I didn't have the information that they shrink after

> menopause and I had other issues too, but - I miss my hyster~! LOL

[Guest guest]

Dora - I had a huge fibroid - many moons ago - before diabetes. I

hemorraghed several times and came close to dying once. At that point

the Gyn insisted that the fibroid be removed. It was fortunate that it

was removed because what he thought were several small fibroids was one

huge one. I never had any regrets - I was 46 at the time and did not

have any menopausal sysmptoms after the surgery.

Barb in NH

Dora wrote:

> I'm prediabetic, premenopausal, got hit by a car last summer (which

> caused

> temporary issues like spastic bladder and bleeding fibroid), I

> recently both

> put on and took off a bunch of weight, and my GYN says one of my fibroids

> has gotten alot bigger. Since he last examined it four years ago when I

> last had health insurance.

>

> If the ultrasound confirms his impression he wants to do a hysterectomy.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yep, experience here. My understanding from the reading I did when I

had the fibroids is that estrogen is the main driver there. I not only

had the basketball uterus, but also had them in both breasts. The

hysterectomy solved all that - once the estrogen was gone the other

fibroids went away, and so did a whole lot of other problems. Menopause

was instant and lasted about three days. It was several years later

that the diabetes was dx'd. All my blood panels were in normal ranges

at the time of the fibroid thingy. If you have no further use for the

uterus I recommend getting rid of it.

CarolR

Dora wrote:

> I'm prediabetic, premenopausal, got hit by a car last summer (which caused

> temporary issues like spastic bladder and bleeding fibroid),

[Guest guest]

Yes, me too. Fibroids diagnosed pre menopause and they were gone by the

time I was 50ish and needed a hysterectomy for uterine cancer. However,

it is my understanding that the bladder is a little testy when it comes

to surgery, and yours being spastic might be more so. I would think

that perhaps a very experienced gynecologist might be the person to look

for in your case.

Good luck in whatever you do!

Jo

>Dora wrote:

>

>

>>I'm prediabetic, premenopausal, got hit by a car last summer (which caused

>>temporary issues like spastic bladder and bleeding fibroid),

>>

>>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I had a hysterectomy too at the age of 49. After a year of two weeks on

and two weeks off with menstruation, and ensuing anemia, we decided it

was time to leave that behind me. I will admit it took two or three

years for me to get used to the change in hormones as well as the

emotional impact. Tho I did go on estrogen patches, which I am still

using, albeit at a much lower dose.

I will never get ovarian cancer, no ovaries. Nor cancer of the cervix,

no cervix.

This month is 18 years since the surgery. Faced with the same situation

today and the same choice, I think I would make the same decision. You

can cut those fibroids out, but they come back.

Helen

[Guest guest]

Y'all know it's menopause that allows many of the complications of diabetes

and insulin resistance to develop, right?

I ahve too many relatives die of strokes adn heart attacks soon after

menopause to have it ahead of schedule without good reason.

Yours,

Dora

Austin, TX

villandra@...

Re: Anyone here have experience with uterine

fibroids?

> Yep, experience here. My understanding from the reading I did when I

> had the fibroids is that estrogen is the main driver there. I not only

> had the basketball uterus, but also had them in both breasts. The

> hysterectomy solved all that - once the estrogen was gone the other

> fibroids went away, and so did a whole lot of other problems. Menopause

> was instant and lasted about three days. It was several years later

> that the diabetes was dx'd. All my blood panels were in normal ranges

> at the time of the fibroid thingy. If you have no further use for the

> uterus I recommend getting rid of it.

>

> CarolR

[Guest guest]

Did they suddenly start growing in premenopause?

I've been reading that many of the problems of premenopause, like hot

flashes and tachycardia, are actually due to sky high estrogen levels at

that time.

Yours,

Dora

Austin, TX

villandra@...

Re: Anyone here have experience with uterine

fibroids?

> Yes, me too. Fibroids diagnosed pre menopause and they were gone by the

> time I was 50ish and needed a hysterectomy for uterine cancer. However,

> it is my understanding that the bladder is a little testy when it comes

> to surgery, and yours being spastic might be more so. I would think

> that perhaps a very experienced gynecologist might be the person to look

> for in your case.

>

> Good luck in whatever you do!

>

> Jo

[Guest guest]

Helen,

My history is about like yours, Hysterectomy at 40, 32 years ago. A

bad couple years predated it and they waited so long they did an

abdominal one. Never regreted it a minute. Everyhing has changed

since then and I know almost nothing about today's methods. But for me

at that time it was a very good decision.

BVan (Betty)

>

> I had a hysterectomy too at the age of 49. After a year of two weeks

on

> and two weeks off with menstruation, and ensuing anemia, we decided

it

> was time to leave that behind me.

[Guest guest]

I have had a lot of experience with fibroids. I suffered significantly

with hemorraghes for several years; refused to have a hysterectomy

because I felt memopause was just around the corner (I was in my late

40s and early 50s when the symptoms went to the extreme). Toughed it

out and I do mean I seriously toughed it out. Had every scare tactic

known to mankind visited upon me.

Menopause did kick in; I'm glad I held the fort. It isn't something I

would recommend for all but if they aren't bothering you, then I truly

would not have a hysterectomy.

Feel free to contact me at my email addy if you want to talk more.

Suzz, t2, dx97, d&e

-----------

>

> What experience have you all had with fibroids? If weight and

blood sugar

> issues have any bearing on them there must be alot of history of

fibroids on

> this group!

>

> Yours,

> Dora

> Austin, TX

> villandra@a...

>