So I had mentioned a few weeks ago about having fibroid issues. This all started a few years ago. I had a heavy pressure feeling in my lower abdomen and crampy pains more days than not all the time, so I talked to my OBGYN about it.
She did an ultrasound and found fibroids (noncancerous growths in and around the uterus, for those who do not know what they are). Fibroids are very common in about 70% of women, but not everyone experiences any symptoms from them and the symptoms can be varied. Of course, mine have to be weird and are growing on the outside of the uterus instead of inside, so I have what she termed “bulk symptoms” of pain and pressure, which is due to their size and locations.
We had discussions about treatment options, which are rather limited, I have to say. There is watching and waiting, myomectomy (which is surgical removal of the fibroids) or hysterectomy. There are some drugs available that help shrink fibroids, but they are only to be used for 6 months at a time and they will only shrink them about 30%.
Since I was 49 at the time these were found, we opted to watch and wait hoping that I would go through menopause and they would shrink after that. But first, I had a uterine biopsy – much fun – to rule out any possibility of cancer since we weren’t going to do anything about them. And then I just dealt with the symptoms.
They have progressively become more and more annoying for me and I’m showing no signs of going through menopause. I can actually feel one of them when I lay on my back. I had another ultrasound done in April and the fibroids were bigger – not smaller. I have 4 of them and the largest is the size of a tennis ball. That one sits on the top of my uterus and is likely the one causing the pressure. This spring when I got back on the bike, I can really feel them when riding as I am leaning forward slightly. Plus, when riding, it pushes on my bladder, which sucks. It makes me want to not ride as much or as far – and you all know how much I love my biking. That was kind of the final straw since it is really affecting my quality of life.
So after more discussions, my doctor recommended a hysterectomy since the fibroids are growing at my age instead of staying the same or shrinking. Medications to shrink the fibroids will probably only shrink them to the size where I first noticed them, so I don’t want to bother with that. They will shrink after menopause, but it takes time for that to happen, which could be two months or a year, but no one knows, and I’m so over it right now. She didn’t recommend the myomectomy because of the size and also that new fibroids can form and I would be back to where I started. Since I’m not having children, a hysterectomy is probably the best choice for a permanent solution. I do get to keep my ovaries and their associated hormones, so I won’t actually know when I hit true menopause after the hysterectomy.
I alternate with some days feeling like “what am I doing – major surgery – what??”, which are those days where I don’t notice them much. Then other times I think “get it out already” because they are so bothersome. It’s time to get my regular life back. My surgery is in about 2 weeks. Then I have restrictions of no biking or lifting more than 10 pounds for 6 weeks. Wahhh! At least I will be back on the bike for fall weather riding, which is my favorite.
The hardest part for me will be trying to be a model patient and listening to John when he tells me to cool my jets during recovery 😀
I’m sorry to hear how bad the fibroids have gotten – feeling them while you bike can’t be much fun. Too bad that the surgery is in the summertime – does this mean John will become your gardener? 😉 It is very hard to not do what you usually do – I am dealing with this right now – but it sure will get you healed up and back to normal soon. I hope everything goes perfectly for you!
I told John we can walk around the garden and I’ll tell him which weeds to pull 🙂
I wish you good luck and a fast recovery! I have several friends that just went through something similar. One friend had one procedure that was kinda like a c-section to remove the fibroids (but not a hysterectomy). She had a lot of issues similar to yours). Another friend had a partial hysterectomy and when the biopsy came back she ended up having to go back in and have a full one done. She’s ok now but she was just ready to be done with all of it and have everything removed! (She’s like 47.) But both said the recovery wasn’t too bad and wasn’t too painful. I bet you will feel a lot better when it’s done!
Thanks, I’m dreading the surgery and yet it can’t get here fast enough LOL.
I wanted to pop in and wish you well with your upcoming surgery. I know it’s never an easy decision to have surgery, but it sounds like you have suffered long enough and it’s time to bring it to an end. You have lots of bike riding to do! Sending all positive thoughts your way!
Thanks Lori. It is time to put it behind me.
You most definitely need that surgery! Things have come a long way and though it’s considered major surgery that procedure is nothing like it was even 25 years ago. Here’s to quick recovery and back to your gardens and biking!
It is time. We were hoping to do it laparoscopically, but with the size of the fibroids it is best to do the c-section cut to get them out with the shortest time in surgery itself. The recovery is a bit longer that way and there is the longer scar, but I don’t care about the scar anyway.
Thanks for sharing your story. I have confidence your surgery and recovery will successful. My sis had a similar situation and the surgery went well and gave her back her life.
Good to know!
Hi Lori, my hysterectomy was not bad to recover from, physically. For me it was the hormonal issues (since mine was a complete hysterectomy), so since you don’t have to deal with that part, I predict it will not slow you down very long.
I’m hoping it won’t slow me down too much. My doctor said I will be at half speed for a couple of weeks, so we shall see 😀
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. I had my hysterectomy in 2015 at age 48. My doctor and I were waiting it out too but then had no choice. I was having extremely heavy bleeding to the point of anemia. I had a huge fibroid on the front of my uterus that had attached itself to my bladder. Freaked out my spin instructor when I had to jump off the bike and run to bathroom. That was the end of spinning for me. On ultrasound, it appeared that I had many more fibroids in my uterus. It turned out that it was adenomyosis. I was very anxious about my surgery even though I had a previous laparotomy to remove endo. At the end of the day, I wish I hadn’t waited it out. I did make sure to have all my papers prepared by an attorney – will, power of attorney, medical power of attorney, etc. By preparing these docs, my anxiety was lessened.
Thank you for sharing your story!
Sorry I’m so late in wishing you well with your surgery! The waiting is always the hardest part…even harder than the restrictions, which at least by then you’ll be on the other side of recovery, right?? Fall bike rides are the best bike rides 🙂 Sending up healing vibes from PA.