| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 270.1 | My sister has them | TOOK::TWARREN | | Thu Nov 03 1988 13:11 | 17 |
| Hi-
My sister has them. I cannot answer all the questions, although
I will ask her about them. Her biggest difficulty right now is
that she has been to the doctors and he said- operate and take them
out. He also said, that it will be at that time whether he will
have to take her uterus out, or whether he will just be able to
get the tumors. She had it set up, when she went for a second
opinion- and this one said- "there's no need to operate".
He said many women have them, and live with them. He does not forsee
the need to operate right now. She is 30, single, and very scared
to have any operation. She's going for a third opinion, and she
is not sure as to whether or not she should have the surgery.
I don't know much more info... but I can find out the details.
Terri
|
| 270.2 | | RAINBO::IANNUZZO | | Thu Nov 03 1988 14:00 | 38 |
| How old are you?
35
How many do you have, what type, what location?
One that I know of, of a fairly good size, on the inside of the
uterine wall. Don't know what kind particularly.
How were they diagnosed and when?
At my last gyn exam. It had probably started developing about
five years ago, but I've been a little negligent about getting
regular exams. Now that I know it's there, I'll be more
industrious about following up on it yearly.
Do you know they are there? cramping or heaviness or excessive bleeding
I don't notice mine much at all. Although there have been small
changes over time, it's not uncomfortable.
What tests have you had done?
Nothing special.
Have you had a mynomectomy (removal of the tumor leaving the uterus
intact)
No, but my doctor has. We discussed the fibroid, and her
opinion is that if it isn't causing any trouble one should
keep an eye on it but leave it alone. She's had the surgery
twice because hers became painful. The surgery is very
uncomfortable, and at her current age she feels that if she
needed one again she'd rather have a hysterectomy.
If any doctor recommends this surgery, DEFINITELY have a second
opinion. And if it isn't bothering you (or is only mildly
inconvenient) I'd personally suggest not doing it.
|
| 270.3 | mother's experience | DOODAH::RANDALL | Bonnie Randall Schutzman | Fri Nov 04 1988 08:39 | 40 |
| My mother did.
How old was she?
In her 20's when they developed, about 35 when she had
a hysterectomy.
How many do you have, what type, what location?
I don't know how many she had. They were on the inside of the
uterine wall. I don't think any of them were large, but she had a
dozen or more.
How were they diagnosed and when?
In a routine gynecological exam. I am under the impression
that it's pretty easy for a competent gyn to tell what you've
got. Plus my mother had obvious symptoms.
Do you know they are there? cramping or heaviness or excessive bleeding
My mother's caused heavy bleeding -- not heavy flow, exactly,
but big clots like the kind you have for a couple of weeks after
giving birth. She'd pass several of those every month, and the
blood loss caused anemia. The doctors tried several D & C's to
scrape the tumors off the inside of the uterine wall; the
operations worked and she'd be fine for a while but the tumors
grew back very quickly and within 6 months it would be as bad as
ever. So she eventually had the hysterectomy.
I have read that even tumors that don't cause any symptoms can
interfere with the ability to conceive, so if you plan on children
that may be a factor. I think I'd personally try to conceive
first and consider surgery only after that failed, but if the
tumor is near the opening to the fallopian tube, the doctor
might be able to tell it's going to cause problems.
Definitely get a second opinion. And a third, if you need it.
--bonnie
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| 270.4 | | RAINBO::TARBET | | Fri Nov 04 1988 12:56 | 48 |
| This response is from the author of the basenote.
=maggie
================================================================
hi, "jane again"
I realized that I didn't answer all my own questions, so here goes,
How many do you have, what type, what location?
Both doctors agree that I have 1 (left side "reasonably big" size) the
other may be on top of the uterus, this one is "small"
How were they diagnosted and when?
After a miscarriage, actually during the D&C that followed it and a 2
week checkup. An Ultrasound was done at that point which basically said
that I have 1 in this general area. It is NOT a given that having a
fibroid causes miscarriages. It may not have caused mine. It is
believed that 25% of all pregnancies end this way, many times before
you realized you're pregnant.
Do you know they are there?
I know (or it least I think I know) that there are there because of the
cramping that I get any time during my cycle.
What tests have you had done?
One Ultrasound have scheduled the previous mention tests.
Have you had a mynomectomy (removal of the tumor leaving the uterus
intact)
I want to bear children so a hysterectomy is out of the question, also
I am not thrilled at the idea of any operation, but then I did not like
the first doctor's wait and see attitude.
-------------------
oh by the way if anybody wants to know more about the these tests read
notes:
225 - ultrasound
163 - hystersal....ogram
|
| 270.5 | Barely one. | REGENT::BROOMHEAD | Don't panic -- yet. | Tue Nov 08 1988 17:30 | 7 |
| I have one lump, which I would guess is the size of a fingertip,
on/in the right front middle of my uterus. It was diagnosed by
palpation when I was in my late twenties. It's never grown,
multiplied, or caused me problems, so I was allowed to stay on
The Pill.
Ann B.
|
| 270.6 | | TSG::MASON | The law of KARMA hasn't been repealed | Wed Nov 09 1988 17:41 | 63 |
| I had a myomectomy almost exactly two years ago. The fibroid was
diagnosed about 3 years before that, and at the time, it was very
small, and caused no problems.
I never had any of the typical symptoms...no heavy bleeding, no
cramps, etc. The doctor I was seeing at the time said, "no problem,
if it grows, we'll just do a hysterectomy." At the time I was 31.
I pretty much just let it slide until I went to a new doctor (I did go
for an annual check-up, and it was the second time I saw this doctor
that she was so flip about the surgery, which is why the following year
I went to someone else). At that time my "symptoms" were that I was
feeling like I had a rock in my uterus, and I felt rather sluggish. I
was also having trouble with my back, but I never connected it with the
fibroid.
It turned out that the little lump had grown to the size of a
4 month pregnancy (that's the way they seem to describe these things).
I was extemely concerned. Even though I have no plans to have
children, I did not want to have a hysterctomy; I felt I was too young.
Fortunately my new doctor agreed. She never performs hysterctomies
if she thinks a myomectomy will work. Two years later, still no
sign of new fibroids.
About the actual operation: It is MAJOR surgery. It takes about 2 1/2
hours to do, and is very detailed work. Part of the reason many
doctors are not willing to do this type of surgery is that it takes 1
hour to remove a uterus; 2 1/2 of much more detailed work to do the
myomectomy. A simple matter of ecomonics! The TV show 20/20 recently
did a segment on the rampant use of hysterectomies to "solve" a problem
that is better solved by the myomectomy surgery.
Interestingly enough, although the precedure is similar to the removal
of a uterus, John Hancock will only allow you 4 weeks recovery time (a
hysterectomy gets 6!). I found that I was not really ready to come
back full time after four weeks; I was still a little dittzy from the
drugs; I was still swollen (I had to find over blouses and sweaters to
wear to cover my bellie...I looked pregnant!); and I tired very
quickly. My boss was very understanding, and permitted me to work
parttime until I felt like my old self again.
If you are facing surgery because of fibroids, INSIST on talking
to your doctor about the myomectomy (there is a chance by the way,
that your doctor will plan for the myomectomy, and then have to
remove your uterus because of the nature of the fibriods...they
can't promise it won't happen). If your doctor isn't willing to
consider that type of surgery, find another doctor who will.
Surgery isn't my favorite thing...I was afraid of it, and worried
about the outcome. I feel that I was very lucky to have found a
doctor who was respectful of me, and understood that unnecessary
surgery is harmful.
I can highly recommend my doctor (Kathleen Thurmund; her office is in
Brookline) as a very humane, reasonable person. She's very booked, but
well worth seeing.
And most of all: GET A SECOND OPINION!
If anyone wants "all the details," send me mail, or call.
****andrea****
|
| 270.7 | me too | FRAGLE::KUDLICH | | Fri Jul 07 1989 13:10 | 21 |
| I have one also, it was diagnosed at the diagnosis of a miscarriage
with an ultrasound. (I am 30, had no symptoms/problems). It was 3.1
cm at the time, and once I knew it was there, it felt like a small
(well, not really SMALL) rock. Since then, I geto prognant again,
and it is off an growing. It seems it is drastically effected by
the hormonal levels (what fun!), and is now to a 6.2 cm size. This is
very noticible. It sits on the outside, but not dangling by a thread,
and in the last ultrasound, seems to be VERY CLOSE to the fetus.
The doctor said, wait and see. (I am completely out of fingernails,
but everything seems to be going okay, so...). 'It should shrink after
birth, when the hormones go down', if not, we may do something then.
I don't know that anything would have been done between pregnancies,
but there was no time to consider action. So we wait. Another thing
said by the doctor was that it may cause premature labor if it gets
large enough to con the uterus into thinking the fetus is large enough
to go. I'd like more info too--any one else in this situation?
Adrienne
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