1. Waiting vs. Myo 2. dating?

May 23, 2004

Greetings~

First, how relieved I am to have found this group and read similar stories.

I am 34, have not had children (but hope to/though there is no sig. other in

picture at moment). I have at least one 9.5 cm. fibroid (they can't see beyond

that in the usounds) that causes sharp pain/uncomfort/many of the same symptoms

others have expressed, though fortunately, minus the heavy bleeding (except for

periods, which to date have been intense, though regular).

It seems my only option if I want to keep the option open for having children is

a myo. The challenge is that my dr. has said that you want to have the myo as

close to having children as possible. That would be helpful, except with no

significant other in the picture, I assume that means I should wait as long as

possible.

I have a decent tolerance of pain, so I am wondering what tipped you over the

edge to the decision of having the myo, rather than waiting longer, particularly

if you still had years ahead of you before menopause.

Since the recent growth spurt in my fibroid, I'm a little fearful of dating.

First of all, I look pregnant. Second of all, I am oviously focused on the

" biological clock ticking thing " more than I would like. Any advice on

dating/handling new relationships with a fibroid?

Many thanks!

May 23, 2004

Marne:

I understand. I am 33 and with no sig. other. I had my myo last month. I had

waited a long time and they kept growing and bothering me. My Dr. and I waited

as long as we could. Soooo, now I have the biological clock telling me I can't

take my time and society telling me " when are you getting married? " Well, all I

can say is it's not easy. I do want to have children, but if I've waited this

long, I refuse to lower my standards. I'll be finished with my doctorate next

year, so I'm pretty busy right now. The only advice I can give you is to

consult with your Dr. if you can keep the myo off for a while. Remember,

everything happens for a reason. I've thought about adoption in the future.

I'm just trying to be calm and rational about this. I don't want to settle for

the first man that comes along in order to have a baby. I can only hope that

things work out. I understand what you're going through. Keep the faith and

hang in there! Keep me posted. Oh, and about

dating...I've had a dry spell for a while, but I'm still recovering from the

myo and the post op swelling, I guess it'll be a while.

Jackie

Marne Perreault mvpvi@...> wrote:

It seems my only option if I want to keep the option open for having children is

a myo. The challenge is that my dr. has said that you want to have the myo as

close to having children as possible. That would be helpful, except with no

significant other in the picture, I assume that means I should wait as long as

possible.

I have a decent tolerance of pain, so I am wondering what tipped you over the

edge to the decision of having the myo, rather than waiting longer, particularly

if you still had years ahead of you before menopause.

May 23, 2004

Hi,

I fully understand what you gals are thinking. We are in the same boat. I am

working on my doctoral degree too, spending too much time in studying. I found

not a few single never married, never gave birth women have fibroids. Is it just

coincidence?

Back to the health issue, I think the most important thing is to set priority.

Before thinking of future children, significant others.....first consider our

own health. What is the best for us NOW? If the fibroid is so big and it affects

us NOW in some ways, we should give ourselves the best NOW. Delayed treatment

may make the case more complicated.

I am so glad to take them out four days ago after I saw the photos that my

doctor gave me. My fibroids completely distorted my uterus, my poor uterus had

suffered to bear such a burden throughout these years. My ultrasound and CT Scan

showed 2 big fibroids but it turned out to be 4. There were 2 small ones moving

toward my tube. I now know it was definitely a correct decision to take them out

even though I did not have any serious symtoms.

Thank God that the surgery itself went extremely well and I am happy for this. I

don't want to worry about the regrowth, significant other, possibility of having

children....NOW and ME are what I need to concen. Love your neighbour as you

love yourself---we first need to know how to love ourselves, give the best for

ourselves now.

Just my 2 cents.

Lai

May 23, 2004

Well I'm in the same boat as you. I am 30 and recently broke up with

my boyfriend of seven years. I agree that you have to take care of

your own health. I was holding out but the bleeding has taken over my

life and I have to get it fixed. I went in on Friday for a

hysteroscopic myocetomy (where they go in through the cervix with a

camera and scrape out the fibroids in the uterine cavity).

Unfortunately, once they had a good look around they determined that

they could not take the fibroids out that way. So I have to go back

in for a myoectomy.

Could you please give me some tips on this procedure? How was it? Did

you have a lot of pain afterwards? How long is the recovery? I am

planning on moving cross country and am waiting till all this is done

before I do.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks.

> Back to the health issue, I think the most important thing is to

set priority. Before thinking of future children, significant

others.....first consider our own health.

> I am so glad to take them out four days ago after I saw the photos

that my doctor gave me. My fibroids completely distorted my uterus,

my poor uterus had suffered to bear such a burden throughout these

years. My ultrasound and CT Scan showed 2 big fibroids but it turned

out to be 4. There were 2 small ones moving toward my tube. I now

know it was definitely a correct decision to take them out even

though I did not have any serious symtoms.

May 23, 2004

a9932001:

Hi>This is how it went for me. I began complaining of menstrual pain and heavy

bleeding. My Dr. monitored for about 6 months. My first ultrasound in Aug 2003

revealed 7 fibroids. In Dec 2003, it revealed 11 fibroids. I was put on Lupron

for 3 months before surgery. I had my myo on Apr 2, 2004. They removed 13

fibroids and endometriosis. The fibroids grew into my left tube and it's

possibly blocked. The surgery is like a C-section. Mine is very low on the

bikini line. On Apr 4, I was sent home. I had general anesthesia. When I woke

up in recovery I was in pain and was given 2 shots. After that, I was fine.

There was discomfort, but I didn't need pain killers again. The day after

surgery, my catheter was removed and I was helped to get out of bed to shower

and walk. It was difficult because to get up, we use our abs and it was

painful, but not unbearable. Every day was better than the one before. When I

got home, I went up stairs...slowly, but I did it. I took it

easy for 2 weeks. On my 3rd week I presented my doctoral dissertation

proposal...slowly, but I did it. By week 3, I was back at work. I'm a teacher.

My recovery has been great. I am pleased. I'm still a little bit swollen. My

Dr. said I couldn't do any ab exercises for a while. I'm looking forward to

walking beginning tomorrow, I want to exercise again. I drove during week 3.

Overall, I've had a good experience. I think it's important to keep a healthy

attitude and stay positive. Every day that goes by will be better than the

last. It's amazing how our bodies heal. Feel free to ask me any questions.

Jackie

a9932001 a9932001@...> wrote:

Well I'm in the same boat as you. I am 30 and recently broke up with

my boyfriend of seven years. I agree that you have to take care of

your own health. I was holding out but the bleeding has taken over my

life and I have to get it fixed. I went in on Friday for a

hysteroscopic myocetomy (where they go in through the cervix with a

camera and scrape out the fibroids in the uterine cavity).

Unfortunately, once they had a good look around they determined that

they could not take the fibroids out that way. So I have to go back

in for a myoectomy.

Could you please give me some tips on this procedure? How was it? Did

you have a lot of pain afterwards? How long is the recovery? I am

planning on moving cross country and am waiting till all this is done

before I do.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks.

May 24, 2004

hi,

I am 30 and I have 11 cm and 2,5 cm fibroids. I dont have severe

symptoms like you.

why did your doc. tell you to have the myo as close to having

children as possible?

In uterinefibroids , Marne Perreault

wrote:

> Greetings~

> First, how relieved I am to have found this group and read similar

stories.

>

> I am 34, have not had children (but hope to/though there is no

sig. other in picture at moment). I have at least one 9.5 cm.

fibroid (they can't see beyond that in the usounds) that causes

sharp pain/uncomfort/many of the same symptoms others have

expressed, though fortunately, minus the heavy bleeding (except for

periods, which to date have been intense, though regular).

>

> It seems my only option if I want to keep the option open for

having children is a myo. The challenge is that my dr. has said

that you want to have the myo as close to having children as

possible. That would be helpful, except with no significant other

in the picture, I assume that means I should wait as long as

possible.

>

> I have a decent tolerance of pain, so I am wondering what tipped

you over the edge to the decision of having the myo, rather than

waiting longer, particularly if you still had years ahead of you

before menopause.

>

> Since the recent growth spurt in my fibroid, I'm a little fearful

of dating. First of all, I look pregnant. Second of all, I am

oviously focused on the " biological clock ticking thing " more than I

would like. Any advice on dating/handling new relationships with a

fibroid?

>

> Many thanks!

May 24, 2004

Hi Marne,

I may be a little out of the age group here b/I'm 26 and no

boyfriend, no children, etc etc. All of my women family members had

their children early b/they know the family history...sorta like

18,22. so that just leaves me and I'm not getting too much sympathy

either.

Anyway, my RE suggested that I have a myo now b/I don't have anyone,

which means he can do it, I'll heal build my strength up and be as

good as new when I'm ready to conceive. He said b/I'm young that its

best for me to do the surgery now. He also said that if I was

married right now, he would not allow the surgery and instead have me

and my husband (who?) try to conceive.

Usually it takes a quite a few yrs for the myomas to grow back, if

that even occurs at all. My GYN has done quite a few in which in the

patient's fibroids grew back 15+ yrs later. She told me that wasn't

an unusual.

I never dated that much to begin with. I have bought shirts and

dresses that give the illusion of my having a flat

tummy...considering I used to have a six pack and I am very thin.

It's a challenge...Yes. But you have to remember we are seeking men

that will love us for who we are...and how we look in our good times

and bad times. That's what I keep telling myself.

Good luck w/everything!

Shaunah

> Greetings~

> First, how relieved I am to have found this group and read similar

stories.

>

> I am 34, have not had children (but hope to/though there is no sig.

other in picture at moment). I have at least one 9.5 cm. fibroid

(they can't see beyond that in the usounds) that causes sharp

pain/uncomfort/many of the same symptoms others have expressed,

though fortunately, minus the heavy bleeding (except for periods,

which to date have been intense, though regular).

>

> It seems my only option if I want to keep the option open for

having children is a myo. The challenge is that my dr. has said that

you want to have the myo as close to having children as possible.

That would be helpful, except with no significant other in the

picture, I assume that means I should wait as long as possible.

>

> I have a decent tolerance of pain, so I am wondering what tipped

you over the edge to the decision of having the myo, rather than

waiting longer, particularly if you still had years ahead of you

before menopause.

>

> Since the recent growth spurt in my fibroid, I'm a little fearful

of dating. First of all, I look pregnant. Second of all, I am

oviously focused on the " biological clock ticking thing " more than I

would like. Any advice on dating/handling new relationships with a

fibroid?

>

> Many thanks!

May 24, 2004

Hi Jackie,

Thank you for sharing your experience with me. Congratulations on the

successful surgery and on your dissertation as well! I can't believe

you did it so soon after surgery. How is your bleeding? Have you had

a regular period yet and if so is the bleeding back to pre-fibroid

normal? I also am on Lupron and my doctor says it is shrinking my

fibroids. I hope to have the myo as soon as possible. My life is on

hold and I was hoping the smaller surgery I had on Friday would have

fixed the problem. I need patience and a good attitude. If in a

couple of months I could lead a fibroid-free (and symptom-free) life

I would be very happy.

Thanks again for your advice and continue with the successful healing!

Anne

> a9932001:

>

> Hi>This is how it went for me. I began complaining of menstrual

pain and heavy bleeding.

May 24, 2004