Re: Is it really necessary to shrink fibroids before myomectomy?

[Guest guest]

I had myo last week and Lupron 3 months before surgery. I had 13 fibroids and

the surgery went smoothly. My fibroids did shrink. I did OK with the

Lupron-didn't experience any horror stories.

peachyqueen27 peachyqueen27@...> wrote:The more I think about my two

fibroids, the more I just want them

OUT. I know that since I am anemic, I have to have a certain

hemoglobin level before surgery, but is it really necessary to use

Lupron to shrink the fibroids before a myomectomy? Are the benefits

of having smaller fibroids removed (particularly in a case where

there are only two) really that great (especially when compared to

the possible side effects of Lupron)? Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Hi

My Doc was actually against me taking Lupron prior to

myo. Her feeling: the side effects aren't worth it,

she'd rather operate on the fibroid full size rather

than " mushy " so she is sure to get it all.

Hope that helps

[Guest guest]

Actually many surgeons, especially the better myo docs, prefer NOT

to use Lupron because it makes the fibroids " mushy " and more

difficult to differentiate from other tissue, thus making them

harder to remove. The Lupron can also shrink small fibroids so much

that they are missed entirely and then they grow back after the

Lupron is stopped.

> The more I think about my two fibroids, the more I just want them

> OUT. I know that since I am anemic, I have to have a certain

> hemoglobin level before surgery, but is it really necessary to use

> Lupron to shrink the fibroids before a myomectomy? Are the

benefits

> of having smaller fibroids removed (particularly in a case where

> there are only two) really that great (especially when compared to

> the possible side effects of Lupron)? Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Hi,

No it's not neccessary. A lot of surgeons don't like Lupron saying it makes the

fibroids " mushy " . It's the one thing I regret taking before my surgery. I had

the horrible side effects and NO shrinkage.

I did the Lupron but only really wanted to stop my bleeding by having my fibroid

removed. I was anemic too but the iron was already bringing my counts up so I

didn't need the Lupron for this. If I knew beforehand how I'd suffered, I never

would have taken Lupron.

Some have had little side effects on Lupron and others have the horrible effects

like me.

You can raise your iron levels without it. You can even have a iron infusion.

Lupron may or may not shrink your fibroids. Lupron didn't shrink my fibroid and

others here have said the same.

I wonder, does it shrink them or just make them mushy and they seem shrunk. I

have to wonder if they really know considering hoe inaccurate scans can be. My

fibroid was much larger in reality than on any scan.

The decision is yours. I don't regret my surgery at all. Fibroid free is a

better life for me.

Ku

[Guest guest]

I've read that shrinking fibroids before surgery can make them harder to remove.

I'd get a second opinion~

peachyqueen27 peachyqueen27@...> wrote: but is it really necessary to use

Lupron to shrink the fibroids before a myomectomy? Are the benefits

of having smaller fibroids removed (particularly in a case where

there are only two) really that great (especially when compared to

the possible side effects of Lupron)? Thanks.

[Guest guest]

My RE refuses to use Lupron prior to surgery. He said it makes it

more difficult to remove the fibroids. His examples were the

following.

Fibroid w/o Lupron: Is like a hard boiled egg. You tap around the

shell and remove the tumor whole.

Fibroid w/Lupron: Is like jello, very mushy and hard for Dr to be

sure that he removed all of the tumor.

Hope this helps.

> The more I think about my two fibroids, the more I just want them

> OUT. I know that since I am anemic, I have to have a certain

> hemoglobin level before surgery, but is it really necessary to use

> Lupron to shrink the fibroids before a myomectomy? Are the

benefits

> of having smaller fibroids removed (particularly in a case where

> there are only two) really that great (especially when compared to

> the possible side effects of Lupron)? Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I am not very informed on the side effects of the

lupron.., generally I have heard, but not searched so

far regarding thi smatter as I have not decided for a

myo, at least not yet. I have read a lot, BUT alot

about fibroids, and it seems very importan to reduce

the sizes of the fibroid in order to increase the

chances of saving the uterur during the myomectomy.

The risk when having a myo is that when fibroids are

very big, the doctor or cirugian can not control the

bleeding and at that point the life of the patient is

in danger and they have to decide between saving the

patient or the fibroid, and of course they choose the

person and the operation becames into a hysterectomy,

so the mainly purpose is to reduce the size and that

way the myomectomy will be easier to perform and to be

a success. Nevertheless I read that the specalist an

myomectomy they inject some substance in the fibroid

during the operation to aboid the bleeding and that

way, you can read testimonies of fibroids of more than

15cm and myomectomies done on that sizes. Here is one

of the links I have:

http://myomectomy.net/abdominal_myomectomy.htm#Abdominal%

regards, and hope it helps..