His and Her Health

Are fibroids always painful?

No. I have LOT'S - big ones too - and they don't give me any noticable symptoms. I wouldn't know about them if my doc hadn't felt them in an exam and sent me for an ultrasound. I just have 'em checked once a year and let 'em be. And I can even blame them for that couple extra pounds I can't seem to lose!

My GYN told me something like 80% of women get them as they get older and most don't even know it.

My wife had some pain but an ultrasound showed them to be average and her doc advised a yearly check and taking supplements and fish oil since she is perimenopausal.

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Husband of one wife with true grit, a cat named the General, and ocasionally bunk with a Chinaman named Chin Lee.

Hello,
Unfortunately, I know some about fibriods my own experience was pretty extreme. Day before Christmas two years ago, I looked down at my stomach as I got out of bed to see a lump protruding from my lower abdomen. As I explored this strange unwelcome intruduer it was the size of a tenis ball. I had no idea what it was but definetly knew it was not normal. "Scary." I had just been in for my pelvic exam and PAP a week and a half before so this was a surprise. I was premenstral and it was sore to press it even slightly. After emptying my bladder, I was cured! "Not." As time passed, I learned that it was indeed a fibriod tumor the size of a grapefruit, typical "ha ha." It consumed almost all of my bladder space and was impinging on the nerve and blood supply to my left leg. So that explained the painful sensations shooting down my leg. It was also about a day from cutting off my urethra. Having no ability to urinate was going to threaten my life, something needed to be done STAT. I learned all the information from Dr. Magrina at the Mayo. He is one of the first to perform a laparoscopic myomectomy. He had me on iron pills, my periods had been so heavy I was anemic. I was in surgery in less than a week. The doctor I'd been seeing for eight years had hired an associate a new graduate. She had completely hyperfocused on my recent but drastic, "purposeful" weight loss of 40 pounds. Did an EKG instead of the bi-manual part of my pelvic exam. Missing a fibroid of 8cm in size. (round)
I schedule to be seen ASAP by my usual Dr. for her to dismiss me with pinching a little skin on my stomach and asking if that was the protrusion I was speaking of. Remember, when my bladder was empty, "I was cured" to the eye. She did not do a bi-manual when I told her that I was certain that it was not done the first time. She glances at the chart and states, "it says here that it was done." I was so polite and told her about the reality that my bladder being full made it visible. She did not want to do a bi-manual but did fuss over the idea. After pushing for further examination she ordered an ultrasound and a xray to be done. At a seperate location that I needed to schedule with. Days passed before I got in to even have the tests. Then over the weekend I was in so much distess and pain that we went to the Mayo hospital emergancy room. That got the ball rolling, everything is computerized so all images are available for any doctor at any computer, at the clinic or the hospital even in another state. "Nice!" I was blessed because if the other doctor had diagnosed the condition, "I would not have my uterus today." Hysterectomy is the number one recommended solution for fibriods causing problems. I had just turned 32 and the thought of loosing such a important part of my youthful vibrant reproductive self was a devistating idea.
After you have a hysterectomy you lose vital structure of the pelvic floor. So things start to fall out of you over time, such as your bladder this is called a cystoceles. (Herniated bladder)This happened to my mother and my older sister. Put if off with all your might but problems and symptoms will have you cave. Surgery is needed and not a conclusive resolve. Even after repair it can still become herniated again. Yes, having your uterus is important for hormonal reasons and on average after ten years or less you will be in surgically induced menopause. My understanding after speaking to close friends who had a hysterectomy, some young as 30 and some older said it changed their sexual sensations quite drastically. Mood swings and lack of desire to have sex snuck up on them, fast. Along with the herniated bladder, rectum and other concerns as well. Hystersisters.com will explain better of what I speak of. So if your young or not reconsider "just" following the first doctors recommendations. All options should be given to you. Things are already in the process to have it mandated as a requirement and most importantly responsibility of the doctor to educate you with all the options. I spoke to a fellow patient to be of Dr. Magrinas that had questions and concerns about the myomectomy procedure. Not uncommon for the Mayo to contact a patient to help smooth a incoming patient by conversing about their own experiences. She was full of fibriods one the size of mine plus a orange size and a multitude of others inside and outside of the uterus. At 49 years old she had been resisting having a hysterectomy for years. It paid off and she is restored to full health again. Uterus intact, able to enjoy life again and go into the stages of menopause at the natural pace.
Watch and wait is what your doctor is currently doing to handle you fibriod problems. If you are having pain it could be serious and you may need to have surgery. Your current doctor my not have the additional education needed to do a myomectomy and so putting off treatment. Try getting a second opinion and if you are feeling like you do not want to have a hysterectomy after looking up all the positives (if any) and negatives, "fight to restore your health!" You have options. Please don't let yourself live with pain and inability to enjoy things like sex. I know that it affected my ability to enjoy sex and with all the heavy bleeding I was restricted with enjoying lots of other activities. I was also incredibally tired all of the time. Once I had the surgery I felt like new! Energy that I was missing and didn't really know just how bad it was missed, until it returned. Internal healing takes a whole year and you might be tender after exercise and with sex when deeply penitrated. Once you heal completely watch out because without the fibroid (s) you are a new woman!
Hope this was helpful for you in someway.
Take care.
B.strong