Fibroids Unnecessary Surgery

Happy SITS Saturday! I feel a bit weird saying happy with the post above, very helpful though!

Hutch from http://www.bawesomeinstead.com

I am so glad that you are better. Holy big fibroid. I wish I could say that was my problem with my belly being big. I just need to flat out lose some more weight. Maybe if you have time you could check in with this post at the year mark to update. Again so glad you are feeling better.

I too suffered from Uterine Fibroids. At first, they only seemed to cause bloating and frequent urination. After a while the periods became heavier and longe. The ultrasounds showed a 4 inch Fibroid and a Uterus the size of 16 week pregnancy, which had doubled in 6 months. Then the bleeding during my August menstruation was uncontrollable! The bathroom looked like a crime scene and I became very ANEMIC. I too, needed a unit of blood as my hemoglobin dropped to 6 with all the blood loss. I am very fortunate that my OB/GYN discouraged a Hysterectomy. Although I am 39 yrs old and blessed with 2 healthy children (and finished w/ child rearing), she stated that a Hysterectomy and the removal of any major organ is a huge loss to the body. She suggested trying the UFE and connected me with an Interventional Radiologist who specializes in the procedure. I was admitted right away and can say the procedure and the recovery were relatively easy. I just completed my first period since the procedure and am thrilled to report it was VERY light! The procedure was a success.

Thanks so much for the information.

I also heard about Dr. Oz telling women that hysterectomy wasn't necessary for fibroids, although even if you get a second, third or fourth opinion, it might not do any good because it's ob/gyn's practice to just remove your organs. You might want to visit www.hersfoundation.org and watch the female anatomy video and/or www.hysterectomyinformation.blogspot.com/to get more information. Most doctors agree that nearly 90% of the hyserectomies performed are unnecessary and cause more harm than good. Fibroids are very common and rarely dangerous, but if surgical intervention is needed, a myomectomy can be performed to remove fibroids. If you have fibroids and a doctor suggests a hyseterectomy, then you have the wrong doctor.

Fibroids are benign growths of muscle and connective tissue that grow until you reach menopause. Then they slowly and gradually shrink to a negligible size, at which time they will be small and calcified.

The average size of the uterus including fibroids in the late thirties to early forties is a ten to twelve week pregnancy size (about 13cm in the largest dimension), in the middle forties fourteen to sixteen weeks is average (about 17cm in the largest dimension), and in the late forties to early fifties eighteen to twenty weeks is average (about 21cm in the largest dimension).

Fibroids have two rapid growth spurts that are natural, predictable, and not a cause for alarm. The first rapid growth spurt is in the late thirties to early forties. Then you have a few years of slower growth. Right before you go through menopause, when you have the hormone changes associated with the beginning of menopause, you have the second and last rapid growth spurt. Then the fibroids slowly and gradually shrink to a negligible size.

You develop all of the new fibroids you are going to have in your 30's you do not develop new fibroids in your 40's.

Both estrogens and progesterone stimulate fibroid growth. Many women use the so called "natural" progesterone yam cream that promoters claim shrinks fibroids, but in fact it makes them grow.

Fibroids are not a disease, they are your genetic blueprint. If you can live with the symptoms it would probably be better than unnecessary intervention of any kind. If you cannot live with the symptoms a myomectomy is a reasonable option.

Wow what a story. You went over a lot of things that I want to research more. I never knew about fibroids until a few months ago. Ill do a post on this UFE procedure so that we can all learn about it.

Im so glad that you had a postive outcome. Your story is another one that still shows how much we have to fight for our health. Thank goodness you followed your instincts and kept trying new doctors.

I cant imagine how horrible you felt if the mild hypothyroidism was ok to you. I have it and its very annoying. Im glad that there is a happy ending to your story. This is a lot of information to process so I cant imagine living through it.

Thanks
Lucy

For at least five years my fibroids were growing. I tried everything including Chinese acupuncture, Korean acupuncture, an alkaline diet, among other things and they did not shrink--the growth might have slowed. According to 'gynecologist number three' my uterus was the size of a 25 week pregnancy. (Yes, number three.) This physician understood that at 48 I knew I was close to menopause and wanted to avoid hysterectomy. He handed me a brochure for an interventional radiology practice that subsequently performed a uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). Many gynecologists might hesitate to refer a patient out for a procedure that completely excludes them from performing an alternative procedure within the scope of their practice. (I missed the Dr. Oz episode--I suspect his point is for women to advocate for themselves to avoid hysterectomy in a more informed and empowered manner. And I am so glad this message is getting out!)I am eternally grateful for the good ethical physician (gynecologist 3); the decision for the UFE WAS THE BEST DECISION I EVER MADE!!

An MRI was performed at about four months and the interventional radiologist advised me that both uterine arteries have great stasis and that the 16cm fibroid was completely occluded. Exactly as promised the greatest reduction in size of fibroids to date was experienced after the three month mark. During the fourth month I experienced a drastic loss of abdominal mass and about 15 pounds (20 lbs since the procedure). I lost two pant sizes and the shape of my body returned to normal. My shape had gradually morphed to be similar to that of a pregnant woman. It has been a little more than five months since the procedure.

I FEEL FANTASTIC. No one has been able to tell me if the fibroids participate in circulating the excess estrogen through the body. Published material suggests that estrogen helps feed fibroid growth. (If anyone has seen any literature on the positive impact of UFE on estrogen levels, I am interested.) Through all this I developed slight hypothyroidism with an elevated TSH. This is not uncommon for women in peri-menopausal years. The delicate dance of hormones seems to elude explanation. My TSH is now within normal ranges and my energy level is normal. There is a difference in how I feel after the procedure that I am attributing to hormones functioning in a more normalized manner.

FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCT. Here is a little background: Gynecologist one had been my provider for seven or so years. He had casually encouraged a hysterectomy at about four years into my tenure as his patient on the basis that I was not planning to have children and he tried to "sell" a hysterectomy on the basis of the convenience of no more periods. I brushed it off. I asked him about UFE as a way to treat fibroids. He discouraged me from looking into this citing patient dissatisfaction. The last time I saw him he tried to scare me into surgery. He ordered an invasive renal study and told me that he could not promise me my fibroids had not caused damage to my kidneys. At this point my fibroids were about a 20 week pregnancy. I did a little research and did not have that study.

After careful research I moved on to gynecologist number 2. I had an appointment for a comprehensive visit and she was very accommodating--in retrospect she was very good at establishing rapport--more so than paying needed attention to me and the reason for my visit. This was on June 17th a couple of years ago. My follow up with her was scheduled for July 10th. Provider two's office told me when I called in at the end of June with a heart rate between 100-110, acute dizziness and swollen legs that they had me on the calendar for July 10th and I could address this with the physician at that time. On July 5th I was admitted to the hospital as an outpatient by my primary care physician and had 2 units of blood transfused. My hemoglobin had dropped to 5.3. That did not happen in the two and a half week window. My cycles were not long and unusual and I had not had a period during that time. NEITHER OF THESE TWO PROVIDERS SAW FIT TO WATCH MY BLOOD COUNT OR WARN ME THAT I SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE RISK OF ANEMIA. It never occurred to me that patients with uterine fibroids are high risk for anemia. It is up to the provider to inform of such concerns. I did not immediately leave this practice (gynecologist number two)--my primary was the provider who diagnosed and treated my anemia and I kept them very involved in my case until I found gynecologist number 3.

This was an ordeal and I am richer and wiser for the experience. There were moments when I was ready to throw in the towel and have surgery. Thankfully I hung in there. I am grateful for the marvelous care that I ultimately experienced once with the right providers. (By the way, there were no negative reports available online on Gyn 1 or 2.)

That is a good question. I know that my friend eats the dried seaweed snacks all the time. She makes little rice balls wrapped in the seaweed for her kids as a snack. I think it all depends on the brand or type that you buy. If 1 gram is the daily serving on the package then maybe that should be all you eat until you can find an answer.

You know if you go to doctoroz.com you can email in your questions. Id tell him about your situation and see what he has to say too. Hopefully your regular doctor will know the answer.

Sorry about your fibroid and I look forward to your email saying that it has reduced in size.

I also saw that episode, and believe I was really suppose to see. I am 36, without children. This morning, I received ultra sound results, I have a fibroid (1.6 cm). As I type, I'm munching away on seaweed LOL I am not sure how much should be consumed to be effective, and would appreciate it if someone knows to post it. The package says 1gram is a daily serving. The package I bought has 3 1gram pieces in each smaller package so I will eat that daily. I have a follow up in 6 weeks, so I will see if there is a change in its size.

No I have not seen that show yet. Thanks for letting me know. I love lots of different opinions.

Hey Lucy
Have you caught an episode of The Doctors yet? That show is very informative. You would really enjoy it. They just changed the time. It comes on at 7pm now on fox. It has a panel of doctors, a pediatrician, a plastic surgeon an ob/gyn and Travis (from the Bachelor) as the ER doctor.
Jodie

What is a myomectomy? Im sorry for your situation.

I have been told I have a fibroid. I don't want a hystomectomy because I'm only 34 with no children. Everyone I have spoken with said that with in 2 years of the myomectomy that the hystorectomy has to be done because of complications like the fibroid returning and being worse. This diagonsis was done before my insurance was started so I'm not covered for a second opinion and the hospital I'm attending is state ran so they will push the hyst ovr the myomec if chance of conception is low. -m lost and don't know wut to do.

This surgery issue just makes me wonder again how truful doctors really are? They push pills and surgery like candy with no regard to the life of the patient. How do we find the good honest doctors out there?

I hope the food works out for you so that you dont have to get surgery. Maybe you were meant to see this episode..

I saw the show too and I am scheduled for a surgery later this month with my pre-op tomorrow morning. Boy, what an eye-opener!!!! I am going to tell my doctor I want to postpone until I have a chance to try to seaweed and tofu. It's worth saving my uterus.

Great Show and thanks Dr. Oz.

Awesome post!