To Becky

[Guest guest]

Hello Becky,

You are the first person I have heard of who has had a similar experience as

I did. I was also diagnosed with adenomyosis (age 26) thinking there was

not much I could do about it. My options were to take bc pills (bide the

time until I was ready to see if I could ever have kids,) or have a

hysterectomy. Well, my husband and i were newlyweds during that time, not

ready to start a family. So I took bc pills continuously for many years

thinking I had to just deal with the darn bleeding, the anemia, and the

pain. I oh so know what you mean when you say you could barely walk due to

the low hemoglobin levels. Been there many times myself.

I did have fibroids on the outside of my uterus. So my doctor performed an

abdominal myo three months after we were married. After that surgery he

told me I had adeno. So to follow up treatment, I had ultrasounds every six

months from then on out until last summer.

Last year I went to a fertility specialist by way of my gyn because she told

me I could not wait any longer. My uterus was huge and if I wanted to have

a baby, I had to see if it was even possible. I could not have another

transfusion, it was getting rediculous. Well, the new doctor told me

something incredible. He said I didn't have adeno, I had tons of submucosal

fibroids. There were so many of them inside the uterine cavity they

appeared on all those ultrasounds to be adeno. The best news was that they

were operable and I had good potential to retain my fertility! I could

hardly believe it.

He performed several hysteroscopic resection surgeries to remove the fibs

and now I have the lightest periods I have ever had! I'm off the pill and

my hubby and I are trying for a baby. We know the risks that are involved,

but we are positively encouraged. I thought there was a dark end to this

tunnel. But my new doctor opened up a whole new world to us.

So I can understand what you are feeling.

You asked...

>Is it normal for them to grow that fast? It was a year

>since my last ultrasound where they didn't find them

>and now they have grown.

A: Fibroids can grow at many different rates. Yes, it is possible for your

fibroids to have grown that fast, but it is more likely they were already

there, just misdiagnosed. Some doctors are trained for specific women's

issues and are better at eyeing those specific problems than others. Your

doctor may have seen your fibroids as adenomyosis just like my doctor did.

I lived with that misdiagnosis for five years before it was caught. I even

went to two other doctors for other opinions and one told me I had fibroids.

At that time I didn't believe him because I had had that abdomnal myomectomy

and thought they were all removed. I trusted my doctor's opinion, trusted

that he knew his stuff. So it may be that you just needed a better trained

doctor to look at your uterus.

>His only option was a myomectomy and after much

>research that is probably also the option I am

>choosing. My surgery is scheduled for St. Patty's Day.

Good luck my dear. Tell us what type of fibroid you have. Are they

intramural or subserosal since you are having an abdomnal myo? Or are they

only submucosal (inside the endometrial cavity?)

>By the way I am 28 and no children and certainly want

>the option in the future as I have a wonderful

>boyfriend who has put up with so much.

If your boyfriend has hung in there with you through the thick and thin of

your uterine issues, he's a keeper! My husband has been wonderful through

all of my " dating " and " marriage " uterine issues. We can hardly believe it

now that I am back to normal maybe our sex life could be normal?

>How many myomectomies becomehysterctomies and what are the causes?

A: Very few myos become hysterectomies these days. Most doctors have to

warn you about that possibility just so they have your consent so you won't

sue. The success rate of myos these days is very high, I can't give you a

number, but other ladies here might be able to help you with that. Reasons

for myos turning into hysts are usually due to hemorrhaging or having a

fibroid that is so large it is impossible to leave the uterus intact when

removing it.

>Also I was prescribed the pill last year? Could this have

>contributed to the growth of the fibroids?

A: This is a debated topic. You wil read differing opinions about whether

bc pills promote fib growth or prevent it. I cannot answer this one for

you. I can only give you my opinion, it is possible that taking high levels

of synthetic estrogens may put a higher demand on the liver's breakdown of

estrogen. The hormone can accumulate in the body's tissues and may possibly

cause irregular cell division in the uterus.

>Also I was wondering how long after a myomectomy can you walk

again comfortably?

A: It takes anywhere from four to six weeks to feel back to normal after an

abdominal myo. you will find that after the first week you might feel more

able to walk, but comfortably walking out in the field may take two weeks if

not longer.

>How soon will I be able to return

to my work?

A: It took me two weeks after my ab myo to feel strong enough to return to

work. I was 26. Some women take longer and some are ready to go the first

week. But you don't want to strain your incision and the mending process in

your uterus too soon by walking too much.

Good luck my dear.

I wish you all the best.

We are rooting for you here! Hope your surgery helps your bleeding. And

the good news is, you don't have adeno!

Hugs,

Sonja