Re: Pregnant with recurrent fibroid-PLEASE help!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

I delievered a healthy baby girl at 37 weeks of pregnancy.

I had nine or more fibroids. The largest were 10 cm and 9cm by the

17th week.

I started out pre-pregnancy with two lemon sized ones as far as my

gynocologist could tell me.

I suffered the degenerating fibroids at week 17. It was very

painful, but I think it could have been better had I known to expect

it.

I went to work in body shaking pain for a week before going to the

ER. My doctor also didn't understand or know anything about

fibroids. She came to the ER and said I must have the stomach flu.

My only symptom was pain. I asked if it could be because of the two

lemon sized fibroids I had prior to getting pregnant, and she said

no, and sent me home.

I ended up at the Emergency room again that night. They then

transfered me to the women's center. Three freaked out nurses, one

on call doctor, and an ultrasound later, they finally knew the pain

what they thought was a baby's head must be a fibroid (or nine

fibroids.)

I was put on bedrest, given a prescription for vicodin and

transfered to a paranatologiist later that week. He

sarted me on a home monitor to detect if I would have too many

contractions. I hooked the machine to my phone and it sent the info

to some wonderful nurses at " Matria " home health.

The degeneration pain only lasted for four weeks. One vicodine with

one advil seemed the best combo for pain. It doesn't help much, but

it does help a bit and it helped me sleep more.

At week 22 I had contractions every two minutes. The monitor

detected them. The ER stopped them with a drug called trebutiline.

I had two shots at the women's hospital. They sent me home later

After that I was put on an infusion pump with " Brethine " (a

trebuliline like generic) for the remainder of the pregnancy. It's

like an IV thing in your leg muscle. It didn't hurt, and I got used

to it. that night. If the contraction count was high, the nurses

would tell me and I would increase the dosage on the infusion pump.

My doctor wanted to take me off of the Brethine at week 36. I asked

to continue to week 37. Eight hours after I went off the Brethine, I

went into labor so I really think it saved my baby. She is and was

perfect!

I felt like a stronger person, a stronger woman, and appreciative of

everything after the ordeal with the challenging pregnancy.

My advise:

Get a skilled specialist (paranatologist with fibroid experience)

Line up for delievery at a high risk (level 3? or 4?) hospital in

case of complications for either of you or early birth

Get your husband ready to ask and accept help from your friends and

family

Go to the hospital at the FIRST sign of any pain and INSIST that

they treat you for the pain BEFORE it gets carried away

Go to the womens center for help (not the general emergency room) A

women's center will take you right to a room and treat you like you

should be treated. The general ER----yikes! Check it out with your

insurance and the women's center before you have a problem. They

should accept you after week 17 or 18 of pregnancy.

Bed rest helps with contractions and pain

If on bedrest, keep you mind and spirits going with reading, T.V.,

friends and the phone. And keep your power in your family. Don't

think you will just deal with whatever once you get up. Do it now

and get it over with. No use mulling it over and over in your mind.

Honey helps the bitter vicodin go down

Don't let them take you off the contraciton medicine before week 37

if you aren't suffering any strange side effects. Every day helps

the baby.

Keep in touch with people who have been through exactly what you are

going through. (I wish I knew this web group existed then!)

The organization " Sidelines " doesn't have many women who suffered

pregnancy bedrest because of fibroids, but they may now. It is

worth checking if you end up on bedrest.

You said not to tell you not to worry. So my last advise is don't

worry! Keep going as you are, be happy and excited about your

pregnancy, but be ready to get help if anything seems odd to you.

Jennie

> Hi ladies

>

> I was on this board last March, prior to having a myomectomy to

> remove a intra-uterine fibroid in April. My wonderful OB/Gyn

> carefully perfomed the surgery so that I could preserve my

> fertility. Well, I just found out I am pregnant with #3, BUT, I

also

> have another fibroid. This one started out in November at about

> 1.5cm all around, but now is a bit larger (not sure of the current

> measurements) as my dr. commented on how he could clearly see it

on

> my last u/s. I knew I had this second fibroid before trying to

> conceive, but my dr. told me that the fibroid was basically non-

> treatable at this time, and to go ahead and get pregnant since it

> was so small. He couldn't give me guarantees, but felt pretty good

> about a pregnancy with the fibroid.

>

> To give you some background on me: my entire mother's side of my

> famiy (grandma, aunt, mother and cousin) all had fibroids and

ended

> up with hysterectomies in their early 40s. Most recently, my

cousin

> had a hysterectomy (left her ovaries intact) to remove a

grapefruit-

> sized fibroid. We grow them big, and we grow them fast in our

> family! I am now 36, and had my first fibroid at 35. At least 5

> years earlier than my family members-great! Anyway, I am so very

> worried as this is my second fibroid in just seven months. I was

> told that this fibroid is also in my utereus, but not sure if it's

> embedded in the lining, or popping out (think it's popping out as

my

> dr. can clearly see it).

>

> I would love to hear from women with success stories, and also

> realistic expectations for pregnancy with fibroids. Please be

honest

> as I need to hear the truth, and not " it will all be fine " from

most

> of the people I ask! Thanks very much for your help

[Guest guest]

A woman I work with had fibroids and they are shrinking during her pregnancy.

She is due

in April, and her baby is big, but now her fibroid is small. I am so happy for

her.

Best wishes,

[Guest guest]

A woman I work with had fibroids and they are shrinking during her pregnancy.

She is due

in April, and her baby is big, but now her fibroid is small. I am so happy for

her.

Best wishes,

[Guest guest]

A woman I work with had fibroids and they are shrinking during her pregnancy.

She is due

in April, and her baby is big, but now her fibroid is small. I am so happy for

her.

Best wishes,

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

My family background sounds similar to yours - lots of fibroids (Mom,

Grandma, Aunts) - my Mom had a hysterectomy because of hers at age

39 - luckily for her she already had 4 kids & didn't want anymore. My

Grandma & Aunts had hysterectomies, too - back then that was the only

way they had to treat them. We grow 'em big, too! )

I got pregnant at age 34 with my first baby. Since I began going to

the gyn. my biggest concern was always fibroids...they never detected

any in me and would check at every exam. When I was about 11 weeks

pregnant, I had excruciating pain to the right of my belly button and

a HUGE (orange/grapefruit size) hard lump sticking out...I knew it

wasn't the baby. I called in and was told first to 'take a Tylenol'

and then to 'take a Tums'!!! Obviously neither helped. I kept

calling, went in and they detected the heartbeat (such a relief!) and

scheduled me for an u/s in a couple days (it was over 4th of

July)...they also gave me Percoset for the pain - I took 1 and saw

spots so just sucked it up and stuck with Tylenol after that.

The u/s revealed a grapefruit sized fibroid as well as 2 or 3 smaller

ones...the baby appeared fine. All the fibroids were on the outside

of my uterus. They told me that the big one (which we named Freddy!)

was probably degenerating and that's what could cause the pain. I

was fortunate that the pain lasted less than a week (about 4 or 5

days total).

The rest of my pregnancy was uneventful until 34 weeks when I began

vomiting (projectile) and became dehydrated. I went to the DR. and

she immediately sent me to the hospital for IV hydration. Everyone

(including me) just assumed it was a stomach flu and that a few

hours of IV would have me good as new. Unfortunately, the vomiting

(projectile) continued for 5 days...I was REALLY sick (vomiting & in

excruciating pain all around the outer edges of my belly and

especially high up under my ribs & then started running a fever) and

really scared for the baby. They kept asking me if I'd ever had

abdominal surgery (which I hadn't)...I kept saying the only thing I

know I have is fibroids - they ASSURED me it had nothing to do with

them.

Finally, they began searching for other causes...they did an u/s of

my pancreas and saw that my intestines were very swolen - they

followed this with an X-Ray which revealed an obstruction of some

kind. So I was taken in for emergency surgery at 35 1/2 weeks...a

c/section to deliver my daughter (who was and is perfect!!) and

exploratory surgery to find & correct the obstruction. It turns out

that my big fibroid, Freddy, had adhered itself to my bowel &

completely obstructed it in 2 places...the vomiting was bowel fluids

& the pain was my intestines getting ready to rupture.

My Dr. who is part of a group of 12 with LOTS of experience, had

NEVER seen anything like this before - they told me it was extremely

rare for a fibroid to adhere to another organ with no previous

surgeries to cause scar tissue. Believe me, they now ALL know me

as 'the bowel obstruction.'

Just last Thursday (14 months later), I had an abdominal myo. to have

Freddy the fibroid removed...it went very well and I am feeling

good. They said Freddy was sort of wrapped around my bowel ... I am

glad he is gone & looking forward to having another baby down the

road - I have been advised to wait 6-9 months before trying to get

pregnant again.

The Dr. said I also had 2 other small (penny size) fibroids that

would have caused more damage to my uterus to remove. So, they are

still there. I was also told that I will be carefully monitored in

the future. )

Good Luck to you. I think there are many many women who have healthy

pregnancies with fibroids and many never even knew they had

fibroids! My advice would be that if you have any issues do not let

the Dr. tell you it's not related to your fibroids - it very well may

not be but make sure it's thoroughly ruled out.

I wish I knew about this board sooner!!! It's a great support

network.

All the best,

Cindy

> Hi ladies

>

> I was on this board last March, prior to having a myomectomy to

> remove a intra-uterine fibroid in April. My wonderful OB/Gyn

> carefully perfomed the surgery so that I could preserve my

> fertility. Well, I just found out I am pregnant with #3, BUT, I

also

> have another fibroid. This one started out in November at about

> 1.5cm all around, but now is a bit larger (not sure of the current

> measurements) as my dr. commented on how he could clearly see it on

> my last u/s. I knew I had this second fibroid before trying to

> conceive, but my dr. told me that the fibroid was basically non-

> treatable at this time, and to go ahead and get pregnant since it

> was so small. He couldn't give me guarantees, but felt pretty good

> about a pregnancy with the fibroid.

>

> To give you some background on me: my entire mother's side of my

> famiy (grandma, aunt, mother and cousin) all had fibroids and ended

> up with hysterectomies in their early 40s. Most recently, my cousin

> had a hysterectomy (left her ovaries intact) to remove a grapefruit-

> sized fibroid. We grow them big, and we grow them fast in our

> family! I am now 36, and had my first fibroid at 35. At least 5

> years earlier than my family members-great! Anyway, I am so very

> worried as this is my second fibroid in just seven months. I was

> told that this fibroid is also in my utereus, but not sure if it's

> embedded in the lining, or popping out (think it's popping out as

my

> dr. can clearly see it).

>

> I would love to hear from women with success stories, and also

> realistic expectations for pregnancy with fibroids. Please be

honest

> as I need to hear the truth, and not " it will all be fine " from

most

> of the people I ask! Thanks very much for your help

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

My family background sounds similar to yours - lots of fibroids (Mom,

Grandma, Aunts) - my Mom had a hysterectomy because of hers at age

39 - luckily for her she already had 4 kids & didn't want anymore. My

Grandma & Aunts had hysterectomies, too - back then that was the only

way they had to treat them. We grow 'em big, too! )

I got pregnant at age 34 with my first baby. Since I began going to

the gyn. my biggest concern was always fibroids...they never detected

any in me and would check at every exam. When I was about 11 weeks

pregnant, I had excruciating pain to the right of my belly button and

a HUGE (orange/grapefruit size) hard lump sticking out...I knew it

wasn't the baby. I called in and was told first to 'take a Tylenol'

and then to 'take a Tums'!!! Obviously neither helped. I kept

calling, went in and they detected the heartbeat (such a relief!) and

scheduled me for an u/s in a couple days (it was over 4th of

July)...they also gave me Percoset for the pain - I took 1 and saw

spots so just sucked it up and stuck with Tylenol after that.

The u/s revealed a grapefruit sized fibroid as well as 2 or 3 smaller

ones...the baby appeared fine. All the fibroids were on the outside

of my uterus. They told me that the big one (which we named Freddy!)

was probably degenerating and that's what could cause the pain. I

was fortunate that the pain lasted less than a week (about 4 or 5

days total).

The rest of my pregnancy was uneventful until 34 weeks when I began

vomiting (projectile) and became dehydrated. I went to the DR. and

she immediately sent me to the hospital for IV hydration. Everyone

(including me) just assumed it was a stomach flu and that a few

hours of IV would have me good as new. Unfortunately, the vomiting

(projectile) continued for 5 days...I was REALLY sick (vomiting & in

excruciating pain all around the outer edges of my belly and

especially high up under my ribs & then started running a fever) and

really scared for the baby. They kept asking me if I'd ever had

abdominal surgery (which I hadn't)...I kept saying the only thing I

know I have is fibroids - they ASSURED me it had nothing to do with

them.

Finally, they began searching for other causes...they did an u/s of

my pancreas and saw that my intestines were very swolen - they

followed this with an X-Ray which revealed an obstruction of some

kind. So I was taken in for emergency surgery at 35 1/2 weeks...a

c/section to deliver my daughter (who was and is perfect!!) and

exploratory surgery to find & correct the obstruction. It turns out

that my big fibroid, Freddy, had adhered itself to my bowel &

completely obstructed it in 2 places...the vomiting was bowel fluids

& the pain was my intestines getting ready to rupture.

My Dr. who is part of a group of 12 with LOTS of experience, had

NEVER seen anything like this before - they told me it was extremely

rare for a fibroid to adhere to another organ with no previous

surgeries to cause scar tissue. Believe me, they now ALL know me

as 'the bowel obstruction.'

Just last Thursday (14 months later), I had an abdominal myo. to have

Freddy the fibroid removed...it went very well and I am feeling

good. They said Freddy was sort of wrapped around my bowel ... I am

glad he is gone & looking forward to having another baby down the

road - I have been advised to wait 6-9 months before trying to get

pregnant again.

The Dr. said I also had 2 other small (penny size) fibroids that

would have caused more damage to my uterus to remove. So, they are

still there. I was also told that I will be carefully monitored in

the future. )

Good Luck to you. I think there are many many women who have healthy

pregnancies with fibroids and many never even knew they had

fibroids! My advice would be that if you have any issues do not let

the Dr. tell you it's not related to your fibroids - it very well may

not be but make sure it's thoroughly ruled out.

I wish I knew about this board sooner!!! It's a great support

network.

All the best,

Cindy

> Hi ladies

>

> I was on this board last March, prior to having a myomectomy to

> remove a intra-uterine fibroid in April. My wonderful OB/Gyn

> carefully perfomed the surgery so that I could preserve my

> fertility. Well, I just found out I am pregnant with #3, BUT, I

also

> have another fibroid. This one started out in November at about

> 1.5cm all around, but now is a bit larger (not sure of the current

> measurements) as my dr. commented on how he could clearly see it on

> my last u/s. I knew I had this second fibroid before trying to

> conceive, but my dr. told me that the fibroid was basically non-

> treatable at this time, and to go ahead and get pregnant since it

> was so small. He couldn't give me guarantees, but felt pretty good

> about a pregnancy with the fibroid.

>

> To give you some background on me: my entire mother's side of my

> famiy (grandma, aunt, mother and cousin) all had fibroids and ended

> up with hysterectomies in their early 40s. Most recently, my cousin

> had a hysterectomy (left her ovaries intact) to remove a grapefruit-

> sized fibroid. We grow them big, and we grow them fast in our

> family! I am now 36, and had my first fibroid at 35. At least 5

> years earlier than my family members-great! Anyway, I am so very

> worried as this is my second fibroid in just seven months. I was

> told that this fibroid is also in my utereus, but not sure if it's

> embedded in the lining, or popping out (think it's popping out as

my

> dr. can clearly see it).

>

> I would love to hear from women with success stories, and also

> realistic expectations for pregnancy with fibroids. Please be

honest

> as I need to hear the truth, and not " it will all be fine " from

most

> of the people I ask! Thanks very much for your help

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

My family background sounds similar to yours - lots of fibroids (Mom,

Grandma, Aunts) - my Mom had a hysterectomy because of hers at age

39 - luckily for her she already had 4 kids & didn't want anymore. My

Grandma & Aunts had hysterectomies, too - back then that was the only

way they had to treat them. We grow 'em big, too! )

I got pregnant at age 34 with my first baby. Since I began going to

the gyn. my biggest concern was always fibroids...they never detected

any in me and would check at every exam. When I was about 11 weeks

pregnant, I had excruciating pain to the right of my belly button and

a HUGE (orange/grapefruit size) hard lump sticking out...I knew it

wasn't the baby. I called in and was told first to 'take a Tylenol'

and then to 'take a Tums'!!! Obviously neither helped. I kept

calling, went in and they detected the heartbeat (such a relief!) and

scheduled me for an u/s in a couple days (it was over 4th of

July)...they also gave me Percoset for the pain - I took 1 and saw

spots so just sucked it up and stuck with Tylenol after that.

The u/s revealed a grapefruit sized fibroid as well as 2 or 3 smaller

ones...the baby appeared fine. All the fibroids were on the outside

of my uterus. They told me that the big one (which we named Freddy!)

was probably degenerating and that's what could cause the pain. I

was fortunate that the pain lasted less than a week (about 4 or 5

days total).

The rest of my pregnancy was uneventful until 34 weeks when I began

vomiting (projectile) and became dehydrated. I went to the DR. and

she immediately sent me to the hospital for IV hydration. Everyone

(including me) just assumed it was a stomach flu and that a few

hours of IV would have me good as new. Unfortunately, the vomiting

(projectile) continued for 5 days...I was REALLY sick (vomiting & in

excruciating pain all around the outer edges of my belly and

especially high up under my ribs & then started running a fever) and

really scared for the baby. They kept asking me if I'd ever had

abdominal surgery (which I hadn't)...I kept saying the only thing I

know I have is fibroids - they ASSURED me it had nothing to do with

them.

Finally, they began searching for other causes...they did an u/s of

my pancreas and saw that my intestines were very swolen - they

followed this with an X-Ray which revealed an obstruction of some

kind. So I was taken in for emergency surgery at 35 1/2 weeks...a

c/section to deliver my daughter (who was and is perfect!!) and

exploratory surgery to find & correct the obstruction. It turns out

that my big fibroid, Freddy, had adhered itself to my bowel &

completely obstructed it in 2 places...the vomiting was bowel fluids

& the pain was my intestines getting ready to rupture.

My Dr. who is part of a group of 12 with LOTS of experience, had

NEVER seen anything like this before - they told me it was extremely

rare for a fibroid to adhere to another organ with no previous

surgeries to cause scar tissue. Believe me, they now ALL know me

as 'the bowel obstruction.'

Just last Thursday (14 months later), I had an abdominal myo. to have

Freddy the fibroid removed...it went very well and I am feeling

good. They said Freddy was sort of wrapped around my bowel ... I am

glad he is gone & looking forward to having another baby down the

road - I have been advised to wait 6-9 months before trying to get

pregnant again.

The Dr. said I also had 2 other small (penny size) fibroids that

would have caused more damage to my uterus to remove. So, they are

still there. I was also told that I will be carefully monitored in

the future. )

Good Luck to you. I think there are many many women who have healthy

pregnancies with fibroids and many never even knew they had

fibroids! My advice would be that if you have any issues do not let

the Dr. tell you it's not related to your fibroids - it very well may

not be but make sure it's thoroughly ruled out.

I wish I knew about this board sooner!!! It's a great support

network.

All the best,

Cindy

> Hi ladies

>

> I was on this board last March, prior to having a myomectomy to

> remove a intra-uterine fibroid in April. My wonderful OB/Gyn

> carefully perfomed the surgery so that I could preserve my

> fertility. Well, I just found out I am pregnant with #3, BUT, I

also

> have another fibroid. This one started out in November at about

> 1.5cm all around, but now is a bit larger (not sure of the current

> measurements) as my dr. commented on how he could clearly see it on

> my last u/s. I knew I had this second fibroid before trying to

> conceive, but my dr. told me that the fibroid was basically non-

> treatable at this time, and to go ahead and get pregnant since it

> was so small. He couldn't give me guarantees, but felt pretty good

> about a pregnancy with the fibroid.

>

> To give you some background on me: my entire mother's side of my

> famiy (grandma, aunt, mother and cousin) all had fibroids and ended

> up with hysterectomies in their early 40s. Most recently, my cousin

> had a hysterectomy (left her ovaries intact) to remove a grapefruit-

> sized fibroid. We grow them big, and we grow them fast in our

> family! I am now 36, and had my first fibroid at 35. At least 5

> years earlier than my family members-great! Anyway, I am so very

> worried as this is my second fibroid in just seven months. I was

> told that this fibroid is also in my utereus, but not sure if it's

> embedded in the lining, or popping out (think it's popping out as

my

> dr. can clearly see it).

>

> I would love to hear from women with success stories, and also

> realistic expectations for pregnancy with fibroids. Please be

honest

> as I need to hear the truth, and not " it will all be fine " from

most

> of the people I ask! Thanks very much for your help

[Guest guest]

Jennie:

Thanks so much for the info! I can handle pain, if I know my baby

will be OK. Glad to be prepared for it. Were your fibroids inside

your utereus? Mine is, but was only about 2cm all around when I

conceived last month. They'll check it out again at my 6 week u/s,

and probably monthly after that.

I do love my dr., but if I see my fibroid getting out of control, I

will check into a perinatoligst, as you suggested. I am nervous, but

it looks like most of the women end up with healthy babies, despite

the worries and bedrest, etc.

One question: did you experience any bleeding during pregnancy?

Thanks very much!

Kim

[Guest guest]

Jennie:

Thanks so much for the info! I can handle pain, if I know my baby

will be OK. Glad to be prepared for it. Were your fibroids inside

your utereus? Mine is, but was only about 2cm all around when I

conceived last month. They'll check it out again at my 6 week u/s,

and probably monthly after that.

I do love my dr., but if I see my fibroid getting out of control, I

will check into a perinatoligst, as you suggested. I am nervous, but

it looks like most of the women end up with healthy babies, despite

the worries and bedrest, etc.

One question: did you experience any bleeding during pregnancy?

Thanks very much!

Kim

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

I had/have the intramural (in the wall type.) I had some bleeding at

around 6 weeks of pregnancy. It stopped pretty quickly. I have

heard of other people with bleeding throughout. Maybe that would be

a good question to post along with asking the doc.

Please write me anytime for support!

Jennie

> Jennie:

>

> Thanks so much for the info! I can handle pain, if I know my baby

> will be OK. Glad to be prepared for it. Were your fibroids inside

> your utereus? Mine is, but was only about 2cm all around when I

> conceived last month. They'll check it out again at my 6 week u/s,

> and probably monthly after that.

>

> I do love my dr., but if I see my fibroid getting out of control,

I

> will check into a perinatoligst, as you suggested. I am nervous,

but

> it looks like most of the women end up with healthy babies,

despite

> the worries and bedrest, etc.

>

> One question: did you experience any bleeding during pregnancy?

>

> Thanks very much!

>

> Kim

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Jennie. Wouldn't you know that a girl on my pregnancy board

is 35 weeks along and just came home from the ER where they found a

12cm fibroid in her utereus. She is in extreme pain, and they gave

her morphine and told her that if it becomes unbearable, they'll do

a c-section immediately, but to try to hold out a few more weeks.

Yikes! Her fibroid was just 4cm when she got pregnant, so it's grown

a lot. I am more worried than ever, but like I said, I can handle

pain--I just want a healthy baby!

I'll keep in touch-thanks again!!!

> Hi Kim,

>

> I had/have the intramural (in the wall type.) I had some bleeding

at

> around 6 weeks of pregnancy. It stopped pretty quickly. I have

> heard of other people with bleeding throughout. Maybe that would

be

> a good question to post along with asking the doc.

>

> Please write me anytime for support!

>

> Jennie