Basic Questions

[Tanya T.]

Hi everyone...

I found out after becoming pg with my DS that I have several fibroids (all small) - I am not certain the size they were or the size they are now though... The last time I heard anything about them was over a yr ago & they were not too much a concern from what I gathered because they were small... Since then, I had my son (7 mo old) & after my period returned, it was different then ever before... This may be because of the pg/delivery or it may be because of the fibroids...

I always seem to get brown spotting before AF shows up & this NEVER happened prior to DS birth. My cycles were longer & were not as predictable as they used to be either... But this last cycle really got me worried... I was bleeding so heavily that I seriously thought I might need to go to the hospital. I was soaking a pad in about 45minutes - I also had sharp pains that felt as if they were coming from my uterus & my right ovary... Could this be due to the fibroids???

I have no insurance at the moment & when it kicks in (2 months) I will be going to see my OB about it, but until then I would like to at least try & figure out if it's connected or not...

Can anyone tell give me any advice or info???
Thanks so much
Tanya

[babydust72]

Hi Tanya,

I had terrible cramps for years, and the brown spotting that you are talking about. My GYN kept giving me Naproxen for the pain, but it didn't help that much. (I don't think I made a big enough deal of it to her though). I just wanted to stay at home on days 1 and 2 every month!

I began researching and thought it might either be endometriosis or a fibroid. My mom had fibroids. So my GYN finally did an ultrasound last June. I had it removed through a hysteroscopy, which was really a very minor surgery. It turned out to be a polyp (penunjulated-hanging by a stalk), but I think it was pretty big.

I had some weird periods the first month or two afterwards, but now they are WAY better! I still get minor cramps, but they are not bad.

Turns out though, our major problem is male factor. I'd recommend getting a semen analysis early! I'd have done the hysteroscopy anyway, but there was a time there when I thought that was it and we'd be all set. We are in our 2ww with the 2nd IUI w/clomid and injectables now. Keeping fingers crossed!

[Montygat]

Hi Babydust:

I'm in a world of mess. New to this board. Was getting ready for IVF (I have high FSH/ premature ovarian failure- I'm 34) so of course time is of the essence. My RE found a polyp/ fibroid of 9x13mm, which he said was smallish, but needed to be taken care of before we start IVF. He said that if we get it done right away, it shouldn't take more than 3-4 weeks to heal, putting us back only by a cycle maybe two at the most.

So I guess my question to you or anyone else on this board who has encountered this- how long did it take you to heal? They said I would be doing the "outpatient" procedure, so I'm thinking it's the procedure you mention. Mine seems to be right inside my cervix.

And what about scarring?

Anyway, any insight you have would be great.

Thanks!!!

[babydust72]

Hi Montygat,

I'm new too! This is like my third post.

When I went for my consult about the polyp, my RE said that I could either do a hysteroscopy or laparoscopy. A hysteroscopy is where they go in vaginally, I think with a camera (haha, and some tools?). Since my polyp was (penunjulated) on a stalk, they just snipped it. There are several different kinds of polyps, some are embedded in the wall, some are on the outside of the uterus and I guess other places. My RE said the kind with the stalk is the easiest to remove. Mine was blocking one of the tubes! With my husbands confused swimmers (low morphology), no wonder the little guys couldn't find their way! ) Anyway, we could have also done a laparoscopy, which is where they make small incisions in your belly. The benefit to that would have been that he could have made sure I didn't have endometriosis. But since my cramps went away, I don't think I have that.

It was an outpatient surgery. The hardest part was finding a vein for the IV! I was a little out of it that day, and then for the following few days I was achy in my shoulders because during the surgery they inflate the uterus with carbon dioxide and that sort of gets into your muscles as it spreads out.

I don't know about scarring, I didn't really ask about that. I really didn't feel any pain afterwards. My first period was weird, sort of spotty for several days and a little crampy, but ever since then I've had much milder periods.

I know you must be bummed about having this push back your IVF. If you're like me, you want to be pregnant yesterday. I hope your surgery goes as smoothly as mine did, and that the IVF gives you a beautiful baby! Good luck.

[Montygat]

Thanks Babydust!

Hopefully, mine will be as easy as yours. On my ultrasound pics, it looks like a little finger sticking out, so hopefully it's just a quick snip/ laser/ whatever job. In and out so to speak!

Best of luck to you. Hope to bump into you on the boards- hopefully on the pregnancy ones!!!

[BlueCat]

Hi ladies - My first post on the site - account just got approved after several months!

Anyway - I have a question for you - have you ever heard of a uterine fibroid causing *less* bleeding as part of the menstrual cycle? I have one large one on the outside - my RE decided it would not interfere with my IVF cycle (I'm in the middle of cycle 1).

I've noticed the spotting that a few of you referred to - but then, rather than the excessive bleed - I've been having really light periods following the spotting. This has been happening for a few months now. My FSH is going up (per my age), but I'm definitely not testing as menopausal.

Thoughts?

[babydust72]

I wish I could help. I haven't heard of less bleeding, but if your RE isn't concerned then that might not be so bad.

It's probably better to have the fibroid on the outside though, I wouldn't think it would interfere with implantation/etc.

Good luck with your IVF! I might be headed that way in a few months myself.

Originally Posted by BlueCat

Hi ladies - My first post on the site - account just got approved after several months!

Anyway - I have a question for you - have you ever heard of a uterine fibroid causing *less* bleeding as part of the menstrual cycle? I have one large one on the outside - my RE decided it would not interfere with my IVF cycle (I'm in the middle of cycle 1).

I've noticed the spotting that a few of you referred to - but then, rather than the excessive bleed - I've been having really light periods following the spotting. This has been happening for a few months now. My FSH is going up (per my age), but I'm definitely not testing as menopausal.

Thoughts?

[BlueCat]

thanks much Ms. Dust. : )