Re: 53 and just now having problems--another tale

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I just turned 53, and I've been following my fibroids for some years--

I remember going to my family care doctor about 10 years ago

wondering about this " whooshing " sensation I felt in my uterus. She

had no idea what that might be, but within 2 years I was at a 20-week

pregnancy size so the fibroids may have started expressing themselves

with that whooshy sensation.

My uterus size now equates to about a 6 month pregnancy, there's at

least 3 or 4 grapefruit-sized fibroids (quite the fruit basket), and

I can feel lumps well above my belly button. This has translated into

quite heavy painful periods, bladder/bowel pressure, and so on.

My periods, until this month, have been *absolutely* clockwork ever

28, but generally require wearing super pads and super tampax and

changing everything around the clock. After reading absolutely

everything I could get my hands on, consulting with three different

doctors, and seeing all the support that's out there in this

community of women, I've decided to go for the subtotal hysterectomy--

keeping the cervix and ovaries. I'm hoping for a bikini cut, but

since I did NOT want to take lupron to shrink matters, I may need an

abdominal cut.

At first the idea of that seemed so extreme, and a UFE, myometomy

etc. something worth trying. But those options just didn't feel right

to me. I have surgery scheduled for Apr 26, which gives me a little

time to adjust, with a month off work after that.

Good luck with your situation!

Kim

> Hi,

> I'm new to this group, and have been reading past messages. I am

also

> reading the fibroid book by the UCLA docs (I have the book at home

and don't

> remember the title).

>

> I was diagnosed with fibroids about 2 years ago. My nurse

practioner found

> them during my annual exam. I was referred to a specialist who did

> numerous ultra sounds and confirmed I have fibroids. I really

wasn't in much

> discomfort until about a month ago, mainly pelvic and lower back

pain. I

> exercise regulary, which seems to help. I think what brought the

symptoms

> on was having a period after not having one for 14 months! I

thought I was

> menopausal, but I guess I was wrong.

>

> I haved an appointment this afternoon with the specialist. I know

he will

> reccommend surgury.

>

> Is there anyone out there as old as me who was just diagnosed? I

have 2

> children and have never had any menstrual problems.

> Sheila

[Guest guest]

Kim,

I found your letter very interesting since we are the same age. Have

you skipped any periods? I have a friend who is also 53 who hasn't had

any signs of peri-menopause either, and has very regular heavy periods.

I just can't believe that my symptoms showed up so late.

After my MRI today, if everything is OK and I just have fibroids, I

think I am also leaning towards a subtotal hysterectomy too. My Doctor

suggested a myo, but I'm not sure. I just want all the problems to end.

Take Care

Sheila

How long as yours uterus been so large. It must be really

uncomfortable.

[Guest guest]

> Kim,

> I found your letter very interesting since we are the same age.

Have > you skipped any periods? I have a friend who is also 53 who

hasn't had any signs of peri-menopause either, and has very regular

heavy periods. I just can't believe that my symptoms showed up so

late. ... > After my MRI today, if everything is OK and I just have

fibroids, I

> think I am also leaning towards a subtotal hysterectomy too. My

Doctor > suggested a myo, but I'm not sure. I just want all the

problems to end. Take Care

> Sheila

>

> How long as yours uterus been so large. It must be really

> uncomfortable.

Thanks for touching in, Sheila. I skipped one period last fall, but

the next round after that lasted almost a month. Now the last one I

had was about six weeks ago. So the cycle seems to be changing. My

uterus feels rock hard and tummy sticks out quite goddess like. It

has been large for YEARS and and I thought I was just getting fat(I

do miss my waistline) and having miserable periods. But finally I

found a good ob/gyn, compared to my primary care person, who said,

well, there's not ***that*** much fat there. Although I seem to have

some tolerance, I have been increasingly uncomfortable and anemic so

that's why I decided to act now rather than wait it out yet another

two or three years to see if everything shrivels up (yikes).

Acupuncture has helped; chinese herbs have helped, as has yoga and

relaxation. Not to mention a steak once in a while. But that hasn't

managed to soften these things.

When I first began the " I want to do something process " I thought UFE

would be ***the*** answer but I didn't like the idea of the

possibility, however remote, of having someone go to the wrong

artery...like a bladder!...or the possibility that the uterus itself

would " die " and I would have to have it out anyway. MYO sounded good

too and I can't articulate why I'm not going that route--although the

recovery certainly seems longer with a HYST, I think I will count

myself in the group who turn out to be relieved about the decision. I

would say if you trust your doctor, her advice about the myo may be

dead-on.

By the way, Dear Old BlueShield of California sent me, in preparation

for surgery, a cassette tape called " Pre-Surgical Guided Imagery

Program--Engage your mind to help your healing. " I haven't listened

to it yet, but I think it will be a great aid. There may be more

information about this at www.blueshieldca.com--at least that's what

the cassette box says.

kim