uterine fibroids

sweetbean - here is a blurb from Mayo: 

Doctors don't know the cause of uterine fibroids, but research and clinical experience point to these factors:

• Genetic alterations. Many fibroids contain alterations in genes that are different from those in normal uterine muscle cells.
• Hormones. Estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that stimulate development of the uterine lining during each menstrual cycle in preparation for pregnancy, appear to promote the growth of fibroids. Fibroids contain more estrogen and progesterone receptors than do normal uterine muscle cells.
• Other chemicals. Substances that help the body maintain tissues, such as insulin-like growth factor, may affect fibroid growth.

I had too many to count, looked like I was pregnant and was bleeding constantly for months.  I elected a hyst/ooph, but I was 45 and done having babies.  Post-op path showed an ovarian mass that was undiagnosed, so I am glad I did it.  I am sorry you have this to worry about too.  There are a few ways to remove the fibroid and leave the uterus, but mine were there for a long time without bothering me - probably at least 10 years.

I lived with my fibroids for years. When they got to be the size of a small Volkswagen, I started having horrendous, heavy bleeding for three weeks out of the month. Everyone suggested hysterectomy; I kept saying no. I think there were 7 or 8 different procedures to treat fibroids by then that didn't involve hysterectomy.

When I knew that I would not be having kids, I finally relented. All my friends said I would say two things: 1) I feel like a new woman, and 2) why did I wait so long? They were right. I'd already started perimenopause the previous year at 47, so the hot flashes were nothing new.

AND - I had an LAVH - a Laparoscopicaly-Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy. No incisions except a few internal ones to cut ligaments, and three tiny scars that required bandaids: one in my belly-button, and two down lower on each side of my abdomen. Two days later I was running down the hall to answer the phone, and had to remind myself I'd just had surgery.

There are soooo many other options these days! If they start to bother you, ask your GYN to discuss them with you.

I also had an early diagnosis of fibroids when I was in my very early 30s.  My doctor at the time said that I had lots of them but if they weren't causing problems to just let it be.  I was more than happy to play ostrich so I ignored them.

Like others have said, it went through spells ranging from not being so bad to gushing like an oil well and spending a night sitting on the toilet (sorry if TMI).  Eventually while I wasn't having very heavy bleeding, the fibroids were starting to resemble the alien baby and if one of my kids ran at me for a hug and hit my stomach I would practically scream.

So I figured something needed to be done.  Only then did I discover that because I had waited and the fibroids had continued to grow my options had become EXTREMELY limited as in I could have a  hysterectomy or I could have a hysterectomy and that was it.  Same surgeon said "oh and while we are in there, we will yank your ovaries too as you won't be needing them."  Oh and the only form of surgery he would consider was a major incision across all the abd muscles.  Frankly I was devastated--I was only 44 and not at all ready for menopause.

I got a second opinion from a well respected female surgeon and while she did say that the hysterectomy was the only option, she was outraged at the idea of taking ovaries as well and she was able to do a teeny tiny incision at the bikini line so I didn't feel quite so ripped apart.  Afterwards I was told my uterus was the size of a 5 month pregnancy (whoops) and that while there were lots of little ones, there was also one big one that looked like the alien baby.

I will say that I don't miss the period thing (as my middle calls it) and I do feel better though full recovery took longer than I expected.

Moral of the story: research all of the options for fibroid treatment NOW and talk to your surgeon and if you don't feel comfortable or s/he tells you to just ignore it, find another surgeon to talk things through with so you don't find yourself precluded from certain types of treatment.

good luck

Wow!  I had not considered the "alien baby" possibility.  I did have my first colonoscopy last year (beamed up to mothership & conducted by anal probing alien specialists while I was under the anesthesia.)   Didn't even consider implantation.  What's the gestation on that?  Do I have an alien bun in the oven?

Thanks for the laugh, 3monstmom, and the good advice to deal with them before they get huge and you lose all your options.

Ugh, my MRI showed fibroids.  Interestingly enough, a pelvic ultrasound in the past never showed anything previously, and so I have to wonder if it's the tamoxifen.  I also have an ovarian cyst, nothing I've ever had before.

Okay, I have two experiences with fibroids. I've had two myomectomies: 6 removed in '97, then 87 (yes, you read that right 87 removed) in 2009.  Before I was dx with this dreadful hell, I was clear bout keeping my uterus to avoid vaginal prolapse, protect against heart disease etc. (women w/no uteruses b/c of hysterec. have a higher incidence of heart disease...our uteri secrete chems that protect us against lots of diseases. They don't just house fetuses). 

Both were major surgeries but I recovered quickly. Fibroids seem to thrive on estrogen--go figure that one, I'm ER + and now breast cancer! It makes sense.  I'm regretting that I didn't have my uterus removed now, since I've gotten chemo my risk of uterine cancer has increased! 

I would think that tamoxifen would suppress estrogen, therefore keep fibroids from growing...not the opposite.

I've researched this issue exhaustively--twice-- so if anyone has more questions PM me.

Claire