Watchful waiting?

[Guest guest]

How many of you think " watchful waiting " is an option for me at this

point? I would appreciate your input. I will give you my opinion and

doctors' opinions after I summarize my symptoms. Please also know I

have read Carla's book, lots of recent books on fibroids and womens'

health, researched options for hours almost daily on the Internet,

have a medical background, etc. I would at this point be interested

in your true opinions. I'll be 48 in the fall.

UTERUS/FIBROIDS: 16-wk-size uterus dx'd w/pelvic & transvaginal

ultrasound early 2/04. One 6 cm fibroid, multiple smaller fibroids.

Do have an enlarged belly, but I also have gained 30 pounds in the

last 2 yrs from prior migraine preventives and BCP, trying to lose

that.

PERIOD: Regular cycle; 5-day flow. Five-day pattern is day 1 spotting

(pads); day 2 regular flow (regular tampons); day 3 heavier flow

(super tampons changed every 3-4 hours; day 4, returning to regular

flow; day 5 spotting (pads). (Unfortunately, a recent 9-day trial of

Mircette low-dose BCP resulted in worsening migraines; when stopped I

got a second period within two weeks of first period. This period has

been heavier bleeding (super tampon every 3 hours also needing pad)

the last two days, hope it stops very soon. Disguested this broke my

relatively stable menstrual pattern and hope it ends soon.)

PAIN: Absolutely none, and none with intercourse. Some mild cramping

during periods only.

URINARY FREQUENCY: Drink a lot of water, so urinate more frequently

than most. Urinary frequency most noticeable while lying down in bed.

Get up once, sometimes twice, during the night to urinate, but often

need to urinate a couple times as I'm watching TV before nodding

off. I do, however, sip water at my bedside, not helping matters.

ANEMIA: Dx'd 1/30/04, iron deficiency-anemia. Started on ferrous

sulfate twice daily. Blood test 2/27 out of anemic range, still

taking iron. Doctor said anemia was probably caused by a few heavier-

than-usual periods I had a year or so ago. Occult sources of anemia

ruled out.

FATIGUE: I probably do fatigue easily, finding it quite nice to take

a nap each day. I attribute this to a life-long habit of napping AND

extreme frequency of severe migraines (chronic illness of 5+ yrs)

which are an exhausting three-day " storm " that repeats itself

throughout the month, except week after period.

OVERALL SYMPTOMS FROM FIBROIDS: Only way I even notice I have them

outside of my menstrual period is because of belly size and bedtime

urinary frequency.

Gyn surgeons' remarks on watchful waiting: All 3 consults are

comfortable with it, suggest I follow up regularly, but I know two in

particular would think it " best " for me to have the vaginal hyst.

My opinion? Would prefer to watchfully wait. Do you think HIFUS or

menopause may be " enough " of an option for me to wait for? The

physicians are telling me fibroids will hardly shrink at all after

menopause? Is this hype? I have seen both sides to this menopause

shrink theory on the Internet and in books. At this point, don't feel

comfortable with idea of UFE or myo; these are personal opinions

relating to my situation only at this point in time.

My family and friends are learning to not interfere with my decision-

making, but my DH and teen daughter are weary of my being sick.

However, what they are weary of is the chronic migraines, which are

80% hormonal and a separate dx than fibroids, and the fibroids only

add to the mix, knowing I have them.

Your thoughts on watchful waiting under these circumstances? Thanks!

Meg