Fibroid on uterus
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive July 2006:
Fibroid on uterus
Sorry going anon for this -- very personal for me.
I went to the Dr today for a physical (I haven't had one since 2001), bad girl, I know.
I told the Dr that intercourse was uncomfortable and painful for me and I didn't enjoy it. He asked how long this had been going on -- I told him quite a while (years), I felt it was time to deal with this issue (too embarassing for me -- I could feel my face turning red as I was telling him).
So he did his exam (breast and pelvic) then he did an internal exam with his fingers -- he told me there was bulk on the right side of my uterus and what it was was a fibroid tumor, which is non cancerous.
He's sending me for a pelvic ultrasound and once he gets the results then I'm to see him again and he'll decide whether I need to see another Dr or not.
Has anyone had a fibroid tumor? and has anyone had a pelvic ultrasound? If so, what are they like?
I have two fibroid tumors on my uterus but they are small and have yet to cause problems. My GYN and I are aware and are keeping tabs on them. She said usually they do not treat or remove them unless they're causing problems. In the past I've had several pelvic ultrasounds to monitor an ovarian cyst that my doctor removed via a laparoscopy a few months ago. I'd be happy to share further details. My e-mail address is in my profile. 
I've got several fibroids in my uterus. They have resulted in increased bleeding (with large clots) during my period, more painful cramps, and an increased "awareness" of my uterus--not pain, but just a heavy feeling in my uterus on and off throughout the month. I've had an ultrasound. We are unsure if the fibroids are embedded in my uterine wall (muscle) or just inside my uterus. The only "cure" is a hysterectomy and mine aren't causes enough discomfort for me to go that route yet. That is also the only way to definitively diagnose where they are, how many, how big, etc. If they are embedded in the muscle it is called adenomyosis. Sometimes balloon ablation (inflating a balloon in the uterus that burns out and cauterizes the uterinn lining) will help some of the symptoms but doesn't get rid of the fibroids.
As far as the pelvic ultrasound if you drink LOTS of water they can probably do it abdominally. Otherwise, they'll do it vaginally. It is not the greatest experience, but not terribly uncomfortable. If they do it abdominally it is just like a pregnancy ultrasound.
First, the ultrasound is probably the least invasive and safest kind of procedure. Remember, they routinely do ultrasounds on pregnant women. The technician will put a little gel on your abdomen (which is chilly), in order to easily slide the device around, and will slide the device, which sort of looks like half a small dumbbell, around and around your abdomen. This procedure makes pictures, with the sound waves bouncing back from the interior of your abdomen. The technician will move the device to all angles, to get a thorough set of pictures. You wipe the gel off your abdomen, and put your pants back on. That's it.
I had fibroids, gradually growing in quantity and size, until I began to experience real pain problems with my period. I had three children at that time, was about 33 or 34, and decided, when presented with the options, to have a hysterectomy (but keeping my one ovary). There are usually more than two or three options, and hysterectomy is almost always the very last consideration.
My advice, don't borrow trouble. Until the ultrasound results are in, neither you or the doctor know just what the problem is. When the doctor gives you a diagnosis and explanation, s/he will discuss possible options. If you don't like the options (or, frankly, even if you do), it's a good idea to get a second opinion (from another doctor in the same speciality but in a different practice, so as to be sure of getting an unbiased second opionion). Most insurances will happily pay for a second opinion if the option most strongly suggested by the first doc is a surgical procedure. But that's all down the road, and until you have a diagnosis, try really hard not to think about what all the possibilities might be - because they just as easily might not.
And, good for you for finally having the courage to talk about an embarassing and frustrating problem. My guess is that in a few months you will wish you had spoken to your doctor much earlier on.
My office screensaver is a saying I read a few months ago that makes a lot of sense.
"Worry is meditation on a negative outcome."
Wow, there is a really good article on these in the March issue of Family Circle. Page 62, Called Facts about Fibroids. Your local library probably has this magazine. It has all of the information in one place and gives lots of the methods that you can use to take care of them, and the pros and cons, etc.
As already stated, the ultrasound will be nothing. Nothing to worry about. The only possible discomfort you may feel is pressure when they push the little paddle thingy down on your abdomen to get a good picture. It is the exact same thing they use to take an outside ultrasound on a pregnant woman.
Don't worry till you are given reason to. I know this is easier said than done, but this is really something that has lots of options, including very non-invasive out patient procedures.
(((((Anon))))) I haven't had them yet, but they run in my family. Did they say whether they planned on doing an external or vaginal US? No advice, just many hugs for you!!!
I've had many vaginal ultrasounds, and they're really not a big deal. In fact, there's no prep for them, so it's much less uncomfortable in many ways.
Ditto Pam and Ginny. I had tons of them and endometriosis as well. My problems spanned over many years, and I had a hysterectomy 12 years ago which solved *all* the problems.
The ultrasound is a bit uncomfortable at the very worst, assuming you will be having a trans-vaginal as well as exterior U/S, no pain involved, not invasive at all, but it will give you some answers.
If surgery *is* suggested or required, do as Ginny says, get a 2nd opinion if you feel more comfortable that way, and as Pam said, there are options.
Good luck.
I am going tomorrow for my ultrasound and then I have an appt with my family Dr. next Thurs to find out the results. I will let you know how it goes.
Wishing everything goes well.
Anon, just wanted to send a hug, and let you know you are not alone with blushing at the doctor's office. I had the same problem last time I was in, and I was only in for a very sore throat! Lol, it was a new doctor (and he was quite good looking) and as soon as he started to examine me it happened. Which of course made me even more embarrassed because he noticed, and asked if I was having a hot flash!
I put off going for exams, too. I understand,(totally) but I'm really glad you got up the courage to go. I hope all turns out well.
Take care.
Good luck and don't worry! For all you know, this might be something really small, and you won't have to go back to the doctor for a looooooooong time. Let us know how it goes!
I had my appt. It went ok, other than the fact I had to go to the bathroom so bad my back hurt and then I broke out in a sweat from the pain. But the technician was very good and quick.
My Dr should have the results by Tuesday.
I have an appt with my Dr booked for next Thursday. I will let you know the results after my appt.
Thanks everyone. You're all wonderful.
I fit does turn out to need more treatmentt, here is another option besides sugrey
From http://www.4woman.gov/faq/fibroids.htm
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE)
Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a treatment that cuts off the blood supply to the uterus and the fibroids so they shrink. UFE is proving to be an alternative to hysterectomy and myomectomy. The recovery time is also shorter, and there is a much lower risk of needing a blood transfusion than for these surgeries. Many women can have UFE and go home the same day. There is a small risk of infection in the treated fibroid, but these are usually managed with antibiotics. Recent studies also suggest that most fibroid tumors are not likely to re-grow after UFE, although more long-term data is needed.
Not all fibroids can be treated with UFE. All patients must first be evaluated with ultrasound or MRI to make sure the fibroids will respond well to this treatment. Doctors called interventional radiologists perform UFE. The best candidates for UFE are women who:
have fibroid tumors that are causing heavy bleeding
have fibroid tumors that are causing pain or pressing on the bladder or rectum
don’t want to have a hysterectomy
don’t want to have more children
Sometimes after UFE, the particles that are put into the fibroids to cut off their blood supply have traveled to the ovaries. In a few women, the ovaries then stop working for a short time or permanently. Although researchers know that UFE may affect how ovaries function, they are unsure of how exactly UFE affects fertility. If you want to have children in the future, you should talk with your doctors about the small, but definite risk of UFE causing you to go into early menopause. Too few women have gotten pregnant after UFE for researchers to know if there is an increased risk of pregnancy complications.
ExAblate® 2000 System
ExAblate® 2000 is a medical device that uses magnetic resonance image guided focused ultrasound to target and destroy uterine fibroids. The device is intended to treat women who have completed child bearing or do not intend to become pregnant. ExAblate® 2000 is non-invasive surgery. It spares the uterus and is an alternative to myomectomy, hysterectomy, watchful waiting, hormone therapy, or uterine fibroid embolization.
ExAblate combines two systems – a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine to visualize patient anatomy, map the volume of fibroid tissue to be treated, and monitor the temperature of the uterine tissue after heating, and a focused ultrasound beam that heats and destroys the fibroid tissue using high frequency, high-energy sound waves.
The treatment requires repeated targeting and heating of fibroid tissue while the patient lies inside the MRI machine. The procedure can last as long as three hours.
The new device can be used to treat some – but not all – fibroids. Fibroids close to sensitive organs such as the bowel or bladder and those outside the image area cannot be treated.
InSightec, the manufacturer, is conducting more research to assess the long-term safety and effectiveness of the treatment.
Anon, so sorry you are going through this. Keep us updated as to how you are doing. (((hugs)))
Ditto on what's already been said about the ultrasound, but you know that by now. I have a fibroid embedded in the wall of my uterus, but I never knew it was there. I had to have a laproscopic exam when I was 48 for pain during ovulation that was so bad it would cause me to faint. Turned out, I had a distended vein inside that pressed on a nerve. The extra estrogen during ovulation caused it to distend. The doc was showing me the pictures that they took inside, and it was kind of a "by the way" when he told me about the fibroid, and showed me the picture. He said nothing needed to be done, as I was entering menopause, and he said it would shrink as the hormone levels decreased. Fibroids tend to run in families. My maternal grandmother had them.
Did the doc say that you could possibly have a prolapsed uterus? That would cause a bulge in your vagina, because the uterus drops partially into the vagina in cases of prolapse. Very common in women who have given birth. That can most definitely cause painful intercourse. The treatment for that is usually a minor surgery to lift the uterus, or an old fashioned way to handle it is a pessary. It is a soft silicone ring that you insert (kind of like a diaphragm), to hold up the uterus.
Let us know what the doctor says, and don't worry in the meantime. ((HUGS))
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