Uterine fibroid tumors and anemia?
June 15, 2006 — EclecticGeekHeavy periods resulting from fibroids can lead to iron deficiency anemia. The Mayo Clinic web site has some good information on the signs and symptoms.
General Symptoms of Anemia:
- Extreme fatigue
- Pale skin
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness
- Cold hands and feet
Specific Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia:
- Inflammation or soreness of your tongue
- Brittle nails
- Unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances, such as ice, dirt or pure starch
- Headache
- Poor appetite
- Some people with iron deficiency anemia experience restless legs syndrome— an uncomfortable tingling or crawling feeling in your legs that’s generally relieved by moving them
I suffered from just about every symptom listed in the general category. The fatigue was extreme. I was ALWAYS tired and weak. Walking up just a few steps caused me to become completely winded. EVERY time I stood up, my heart would beat out of my chest and I would feel faint. I was also dealing with a loss in concentration which, for me, was torture. Specifically, headaches were a big problem. Didn’t really suffer from too many before this so I noticed the increase. Also had a weird tingling sensation in my legs that I originally attributed to my fibroids. I now believe I was experiencing restless leg syndrome.
If you have a problem with blood loss and notice these symptoms, seek medical assistance. My anemia forced me to “crawl” in for help. Please don’t wait for your situation to get to that point.
December 27, 2006 at 5:17 pm
I wanted to pass along a great tip I learned about blackstrap molasses…supposedly, just one tablespoon daily gives a person the daily iron requirement needed, as well as calcium and potassium.
My doc mentioned it’s best to get iron through food sources, so I thought I would pass this info along.
The taste is thick and sort of gross for about one second…but after I learned how anemic I was and how intolerable more than one tab of iron proved to my system, I really needed to investigate other sources or just flat eat green all day.
Here’s a link for further research:
http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/molasses.html
Happy Christmas!
December 28, 2006 at 11:29 am
Hummm interesting…..yeah that is high in iron..I wonder if the other benefits comes from the sulfur in the product. I know a lot of “old timy” remedies contained sulfur….well I got some in the cabinet ( used to make gingerbread cookies - like I needed those LOL during the holidays) gonna try that one….
Other iron sources (which is why I think I never got anemic during my bleeding fests - I do eat lots of these)
spinach (ummm.. yeah the E.coli scare is over LOL)
greens /green leafy vegetables (collards, kale, mustard)
Oysters and liver (chicken liver pate or calf’s liver) is an excellent way too…..
It’s a good idea to also eat foods containing lots of vitamin C while taking iron -it helps the body to absorb iron ….
foods naturally rich in both iron and vitamin C - broccoli, Swiss chard, and other dark
green leafy veggies
soybeans and chickpeas (humus - I love that)
Dairy products are extremely low in iron and may interfere with iron balance
wow I sound like a geek LOL
December 28, 2006 at 6:34 pm
Sunny:
Thanks for adding that here. Someone mentioned blackstrap molasses in the alternative therapy thread but they haven’t been back recently.
I’ll just leave a link because that’s what I do:
Anemia: When Low Iron is the Cause
Mentions foods high in iron (basically what fibroid free said).
fibroid free:
If it walks like a geek and sounds like a geek…
Um, when do we get said gingerbread cookies? LOL
To both of you: (or anyone else with blackstrap molasses experience)
I eat oatmeal for breakfast and use a little honey. I’m thinking of substituting molasses. New experiment (heh, heh). I’m thinking this stuff is pretty thick just from the saying “as slow as molasses” but how thick is it?
December 30, 2006 at 10:29 am
You want molasses experience, you got it…
At a recent holiday dinner, a relative of my husband’s remarked that her mother had made her take a tablespoon of molasses every day when she was a teenager, because she was too thin. Blackstrap molasses is the most potent - it’s what results after the sugar cane juice is boiled down at least three times so that the sugar can be refined out of it. That means most of the sweetness is gone, but it has the highest concentration of calcium, iron, magnesium and a ton of other nutrients. Supposedly one tablespoon of blackstrap gives you 20% of the RDA of calcium, iron, and magnesium.
You have to go looking for blackstrap molassess - what’s on your typical supermarket shelves is not this potent. All I can get in my local market is Grandma’s Molasses - the yellow bottle is called ‘Original’ and is light molasses, the least refined, and the green bottle is called ‘Robust’ and is ‘first molasses’ or what results after the first refining. ‘Robust’ is less sweet, but has a higher concentration of nutrients. Read the labels before you buy.
Try a tablespoon in your morning coffee - it adds a rich flavor, and you can add sugar to adjust the sweetness if you want sweet. I wouldn’t put blackstrap on my oatmeal, but a lighter grade is really good. If it comes out of the bottle too thick and sticky, microwave the bottle for 10 seconds or so before drizzling over the top. Tis the season for gingerbread and ginger cookies (at least at my house) and I put it in all kinds of things. Don’t tell my yankee relatives, but that’s the secret ingredient in my pumpkin pie…
December 30, 2006 at 5:21 pm
Okay, so I dropped by the market today for something and looked around. Blackstrap molassess(under the brand name Plantation, of all things) is in the natural foods aisle next to the turbinado sugar. It lists 20% RDA of calcium, iron, and vitamin A. By contrast, the Grandma’s yellow label I use reflexively has 4% of all that good stuff. Hope that helps…
December 31, 2006 at 6:34 pm
Hey savannah c,
Everything you posted was right on the mark and just in time.
I went to the store today and saw “Grandma’s Original and Robust” and “Plantation”. I actually started laughing because it was just like you said. Glad it was early this morning so only a limited number of people saw me chuckling at molasses. Purchased the Plantation (it was the last bottle of blackstrap in the store), got it home, and tasted it. You are right - CANNOT use that in oatmeal! Totally understand your coffee idea but I ended up putting it in a cup of tea instead. I’ll do a little experimenting over the next couple of days (like maybe adding a little soy milk) but it’s actually not bad.
Thanks for the info!
Waiting on that pumpkin pie…
January 3, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Hey!
Great info, everyone!
And I’ve been “black molassing” straight off the spoon! Ha, HA!
I don’t know exactly what has worked-whether the blackstrap molasses, the new multi-vitamin, the better diet-but I will tell you, for the first time in three months, I did not wear a TAMPON…just a panty liner.
I am stunned! I practically bought stock in feminine hygiene products.
NOW, I have been on vacation, so when I return to work next week, I am anxious to see if stress plays a part with the whole fibroid bleeding thing.
I return to my doc for a follow up visit at the end of January -will be interesting to hear what he says—actually, he is a great believer in obtaining nutrients from diet.
My molasses is the Plantation brand. I located it at Wild Oats.
Again, thanks for the support and info from you all!
Happy New Year!
January 3, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Hey Sunny!
Thanks for starting us off with the first comment here. It’s been great.
Naw, I couldn’t do the straight “hardcore molassing”.
Results of my experiment:
two parts green tea + one part soy milk + blackstrap molasses = a pretty good drink
Glad to hear that your symptoms have improved. YAY! Of course, I must leave a link to my infamous post-treatment toilet paper post ‘cuz I use any excuse to add it:
Just look at all of that toilet paper
Best wishes with everything and Happy New Year!
January 4, 2007 at 8:16 pm
I WILL HAVE TO TRY THAT MOLASSES. But I have to tell you that prior to knowing that I was anemic I craved CARROTS. Yes, I could not live without them. I had a small bag of carrots in my purse, in the bathroom, beside my bed, in the car. I started to turn orange. It wasn’t until I picked up one of my teenaged sons one night from his friends and it was 10:30 p.m. and I told him that we had to quickly go to the supermarket so that I could get some carrots. He looked at me and said “Mom, we need to talk about this carrot binging you are doing as this is not normal”. We both had a laugh about this. It was like he was confronting me about some addiction or something (which it was).
The next day I was in a golf tournament and when I got to the golf course early in the a.m. I felt hungover and extremely thirsty - it was strange because I had not had a drink the night before. At lunch that day my tongue was swollen and sore and I could not eat.
I took myself to the doctor. Went for a blood test and sure enough the test came back extremely anemic. I had no idea as I had had a full physical 1 year prior and everything was A OK. I knew I had a fibroid and my doc and I were watching and waiting. But I guess the blood sucker was slowly increasing my menses and I must admit I noticed it but chose to ignore it.
I had what you call PiCA cravings and Thank God I was not craving dirt or ice but carrots.
Very strange.
Anyway, going to incorporate molasses into my daily regime.
Kathryn
January 6, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Hi Kathryn,
That’s an odd craving but since carrots grow in the ground, perhaps that’s the dirt connection.
Yeah, the thing with watchful waiting is that you have to watch while you’re waiting. I didn’t do that. I also noticed but ignored stuff (for years). It got to a point where I had to seek treatment. I no longer had a choice. For those reading this and choosing the “wait and see” treatment option, please monitor yourself for changes. Do you bleed more? Are your clots bigger? Are your periods longer? Are they more frequent? Could anemia explain how you are feeling? Also, visit this post and monitor for these symptoms as well:
Uterine fibroid symptoms (not my idea of fun)
I enjoy the molasses conversation and dig my new morning drink!
January 9, 2007 at 1:28 pm
For those of you with fatigue resulting from severe anemia, how long did it take you to feel more energized? I have severe anemia, had a couple of transfusions and am now on large dosages of iron. It has been about three weeks since the last transfusion and when I started the iron ( and also eating steak and spinach, steak and spinach…
and I am still so so tired! I cant walk very far without having to sit down, can’t carry anything without huffing and puffing. I had to cancel my plans to fly home for Christmas because I was too tired to pack my luggage and too tired to even think about walking thru airports. Anyway, now I fell like I am doing everything I was “supposed” to do yet I am not feeling better. How long did it take you to regain energy after you had increased your iron intake?
By the way Kathyrn, I have the carrort craving too. Also celery and cucumbers too!
January 9, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Hi DarnTired:
I can too relate to the huffing and puffing. I just found out yesterday that my hemoglobin is ok for surgery.
The reason my hemo built up quickly was the fact that I have been on Lupron so I missed a period although I did initially bleed for 3 weeks.
If you are bleeding heavily while taking iron supplementation it will take longer for you to build up your levels.
Hang in there and listen to your body. Are you also treating the source of your anemia?
I was very badly anemic over Christmas and I had planned for 20 ppl to come for dinner. Thank God for my Mom who did most of the work as I spent 1/2 of my time on the couch.
Take Care.
January 9, 2007 at 6:29 pm
I was suffering extreme fatigue for months before I knew I had fibroids. I didn’t associate my heavy bleeding with anemia. I don’t know why, but it just never occurred to me! So, when I wasn’t at school or at work, I spent my days and nights laying on the couch… too tired to move or do anything.
In retrospect, it’s kinda funny because I just lay there so much, and that commercial for Cymbalta was playing a lot on TV. It showed this lady lying on a couch, looking all sad, and it kept saying “Where does depression hurt? Depression hurts everywhere!” I really thought that maybe that was my problem, even though I wasn’t feeling sad or depressed… I just knew I was more apathetic than I’d ever been, and looked a lot like that lady lying there. Thankfully, I’ve found the cause of the problem, and with massive iron therapy (and 2 surgeries) I’m feeling so much better!
I’d like to add another symptom I had from my anemia - heart palpitations. When my iron levels were at my lowest, (my ferritin was at ZERO at one point) I would feel palpitations every so often.
It takes a long, long time to build your iron up… and even longer to build your reserves. Hang in there, because even though it goes slow, it’s progress!
January 10, 2007 at 2:20 am
Katy,
You know I have seen that same commercial and have had the same reaction. I was not depressed but after the commercial felt I should be .
I too have heart palpatations nad check pains. No I KNOW this is not normal ( for the average person I mean.
Kathryn, I am no longer bleeding thanks to Lupron, put prior to the injection I had been bleeding heavily for about 2 and 1/2 weeks and then after the injection, The bleeding became a deluge for about 2 weeks. It has stopped now but since I lost so blood, I am still very anemic…and tired…and frustrated. Thankfully I am out of work on sick leave so dont have to do too much but feeling chest pains just fro dragging myself to the bathroom is disheartening. Ladies, thanks for your responses. It looks like I will just have to be patient and keep taking the iron!
January 11, 2007 at 5:07 pm
DarnTired:
I started taking 65mg iron pills three times a day in early January 2006. Switched to stronger ones (151mg twice a day) a couple of weeks later. My first Lupron injection was the middle of February. I started to feel better near the end of March. I use March as the benchmark because I actually started exercising again (a big accomplishment for me).
You’ll get there!
Kathryn:
Glad your level is up enough for surgery. Yay!
Katy:
YES! I felt exactly the same way. Every single time I stood up, walked down the hall, or climbed stairs, my heart would beat out of my chest. Could not catch my breath. Felt tired and faint just about all the time. It was horrible.
I am so happy you are feeling better now!
January 21, 2007 at 1:02 am
Ladies,
I am new here. And it brought comfort to me to read your posts. I saw my ob/gyn last week. And he flat out told me I would bleed to death. this is the 2nd doctor to tell me this. My ob/gyn has known me for 5 years. And removed a whopper fibroid from me 3 years ago. Infact, that’s how he remembers me.
Anyway, needless to say I was depressed. I currently take (3) 324mg iron tabs each day. And I’ve managed to boost my hemoglobin to 9.0. Yippee.
However, that doesn’t stop the bleeding. DeproVera might stop the bleeding, but it wont stop the fibroid growth. And since I’ve already had one surgery, the Dr. doesn’t recommend another one.
His recommendation? Remove my uterus. But I am 34 yrs old. I have one child… but I really want another.
I know this sounds nieve, I have decided to seriously pray about this. Prayer changes everything. I’m still taking my iron tabs. I still hate my periods because I am uselsess for the first 2 days. The flow is just that heavy.
To make matters worse. I have a husband that doesn’t really understand. He thinks I’m lazy. But I only found out about my anemia last November when I fell sick (strep). And they did a blood test.
Anyway, sorry for the long post. Just wanted to share a bit. I’ve already picked up a few good tips here.
January 29, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Hi Favored,
It never hurts to pray. There were times along my fibroid journey when my spirit carried the load. Body was just about broken and mind was kind of frazzled but my spirit had my back. That’s one of the personal lessons that I’ll never forget. I’m a lot stronger spiritually than I’d ever imagined.
I have a post that talks about the treatment options and includes links to other posts where women are discussing their post-procedure recovery experiences:
Just what are your uterine fibroid tumor treatment options?
There’s also one on fibroids and fertility:
Is anyone having fertility issues because of uterine fibroid tumors?
Happy you found comfort here. You aren’t alone in this. Please continue to post if you have other concerns.
February 8, 2007 at 4:50 pm
I have had heavy bleeding from fibroids for 10 yrs but am somehow not anaemic (yet). My haemoglobin level is 12 (almost borderline tho). I am also veggie but don’t really have a great diet. I am constantly paranoid about being anaemic & do have symptons. How does one find out the ferritin level? Would it be done on a normal RBC test? Unbelievably none of the medical professionals I see have ever talked to me about it properly. One has even said to me “you’re not aneamic, you’re nice & pink” ! Well, it was true I guess but a little too offhand for my fragile state of mind.
February 21, 2007 at 10:47 am
Nic,
Sounds like you may be in the same position I was in. My hemoglobin hung in there at 11 or 12 most of the time, but about 5 years ago my Dr. noticed on my CBC (complete blood count) results that my red cells were very small. He said I was probably iron deficient since I had been complaining about heavy periods, and the small red cells can be an indication of iron deficiency. He just recommended that I start on some iron supplements.
I was a bit frustrated that he didn’t want to do any further testing, but I work in a lab so ran an iron level on myself and it was very low. As I remember my ferritin was in the low end of the normal range. I also knew that my normal hemoglobin was more in the range of 14(previous to all the heavy bleeding), so taking iron sure wasn’t going to hurt me any. The interesting thing I found with reading is that even though your body may keep producing those red cells, it can still feel the affects of low iron, and for me the drop from 14 down to 11 also seemed significant. I was experiencing things like shortness of breath and occasional rapid heart beat.
About a year ago I was back having a check up with that same Dr, and my bleeding issues were much worse, both heavier and more prolonged. He still continued on with the theory that as long as I could tolerate taking the iron and keep my hemoglobin at 11 or 12, I was doing OK. Of course he wasn’t the one dealing with 17 day periods and heavy bleeding! I was bleeding at that point, so skipped the pelvic exam or he would have realized how enlarged my uterous had gotten. Instead I went to a female gynecologist who got to the bottom of things.
Turns out they did an ultrasound and found multiple fibroids and a couple of polyps. I went through a D & C, several rounds of hormones and finally 3 Lupron shots. After the Lupron and a break from the heavy bleeding my hemoglobin actually was back to 14, in spite of continued light to moderate bleeding for 30 days. My red cells were larger too–still not normal, but better. I also felt better, but knew that in a couple of months I could be back to the heavy bleeding.
Being 49 years old, my original intention had been to try to wait it out…but I gave up on that idea and had a hysterectomy on Jan 31st. I just found out at a post op appointment yesterday that in addition to having too many fibroids to make a UFE possible, I also had adenomyosis which I have learned is sort of like endometriosis, but instead of being outside the uterous, it invades the uterine wall and causes a lot of the same symptoms as fibroids. It was impossible to tell the difference between that and the fibroids on the ultrasound and I never did have an MRI. It was probably the combination of the two making life miserable.
I am still taking the iron for a couple of months, but now my body should just be able to replace the iron stores instead of frantically trying to replace the blood I will no longer be losing. I am anxious to see how wonderful I’ll feel! About 5 years ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia with lots of weird nerve sensations, numbness, tingling and joint and muscle pain. It would be wonderful if I found out it was all related to low iron, but either way I know I will just have to be feeling better than I have in recent years.
Sorry this got so long…but it seems like we all have our story to tell and a lot of times that involves frustrations with doctors along the way! Good luck to you on finding a doctor that will listen. I would sure think that someone would be willing to follow up on the combination of anemia symptoms and heavy bleeding. Incidently the test that indicates red cell size is called the MCV. I have worked in a hospital lab for nearly 28 years, and never really realized the significance of that number until it applied to me! Now I find myself educating co-workers about the possible low iron connection on occasion.
February 22, 2007 at 12:49 am
I would like to share my story, which involves anemia due to fibroids — the fibroids I had the first time around. I was moderately anemic while I had uterine myomas due to the abnormally heavy bleeding. My plan was to put off surgery (a myomectomy) because of the fear that the the surgeon would find cancer growing among the fibroids.
One evening, I was weak from a migraine that I had been suffering from since morning, and I began to stumble along the sidewalk. My head was pulsing, more so than during any other migraine in the past. (Prior to having fibroids, I had not experienced a migraine in seven or eight years.) I was on my way to the home of an acquaintance, and as my luck would have it, I reached his building and was faint by that time. I was so weak, I was nearly incoherent, and my acquaintanced asked me to lie down, so I did. Less than 20 minutes later, while still lying on my side, I felt a strange tug, and when I stood up I felt it again. Looking down, I saw that I was experiencing a hemorrhage. I recall feeling embarrassed and frightened simultaneously. I was fortunate not to be alone when the hemorrhage occurred, for this wonderful acquaintance of mine dragged me to the hospital — literally. I was too heavy for him to carry me in his arms all the way to the hospital (which, thankfully, was four or five blocks away), so he had his left arm wrapped around my shoulders, and I did the best to grasp his waist. Blood trailed me as he pulled me down the street. My pants were totaled. Thank goodness I was wearing black pants!
When we reached the ER, he sat me in a chair and then ran to the triage area. Next thing I knew, he was running back to me to bring me over to triage. When he pulled me up I saw his face go pale, and he told me not to look back. I did and what I saw horrified me: a pool of blood in the chair and now blood on the floor. It did not take long for the doctor to come and for the nurse to place an IV into a vein in the top of my left hand. I nearly had emergency surgery that night.
I ended up having surgery several months later, after I could not withstand the side effects of the first and only Lupron injection. I was happy to learn from my gynecologist (who was also my surgeon) on the day after surgery that the fibroids were benign, but I was dismayed to find out two years ago, when I had to obtain my GYN records from my doctor due to her changing insurance companies, that she had left tiny fibroids in my uterus. Whe I visited the new gynecologist, I insisted on having an ultrasound. I had learned a new kind of assertiveness while I was reading books about unnecessary hysterectomies (in non-cancer situations). Just as I had threatened my doctor not to perform a hysterectomy unless she found cancer, I demanded of my new doctor to send me for an ultrasound. Sure enough, the transvaginal ultrasound showed that the fibroids had regrown in my uterus.
Two years later, I already am experiencing excessive bleeding during periods and chronic fatigue. Again, I am experiencing recurring throat infections because my immune system just is not strong enough. I wanted to tell my story her in this blog so that women out there with fibroids will know that they should do everything to prevent bad stress from compromising their immune system (in my case that is what happened) and to eat as healthily as possible. But I also want them to take away from my account that they should never be passive when it comes to their health. Even if they are in their 40s and do not plan on having children or any additional children, they need their ovaries for hormonal balance. Cancer, a proven pre-cancerous condition, or a request from a patient of sound mind should be the only reason a surgeon removes that patient’s uterus.
Finally, my last bit of advice is: Ask questions, repeatedly if you want, and read all of the material you can on your condition, nutrition, non-surgical options, minimally invasive surgical options, and the effect of surgery on finances. With regard to questions, my doctor allowed me only 10 minutes for the Informed Consent meeting That meeting had been scheduled for a half-hour. My brother, whom I wanted by my side for this crucial and emotional discussion, was more horrified than I when my doctor announced upon seeing us that she did not know she had a meeting scheduled. I had all my questions on a notepad but only got the opportunity to ask five.
February 27, 2007 at 10:31 am
Thanks Been There for that info - stuff for me to check out. I am also petrified of fainting so read April’s story with trepidation. I blacked out once at work momentarily just so I lost my balance & fell over. It was so embarassing as I had to do an accident form. It was attributed to me tripping on the carpet but was really due to a black out as I could feel that weird feeling of everything receding.
My doctor also told me that a lot of vitamin & mineral tablets are useless as they more or less pass through your system undissolved, so it is important to ensure you have an absorbably form of iron in any supplements. One indicative test for tablets is to take one & add to a cup or so of half vinegar & half warm water to see if it starts dissolving - this apparently simulates the acidic conditions in the stomach. If there is no evidence of dissolution then the tablet may well go straight through. I haven’t tried it yet. (Apologies if this is not scientific enough!)
March 4, 2007 at 11:30 pm
Wow!! I had a hysterectomy two years ago due to fibroid/extreme anemia…prior to this I craved carrots for a full three years. I couldn’t get enough! iI also craved nuts and sunflower seeds with the carrots, and since we had bought a fitness center and I was trying to watch my diet closely, I figured nuts might not be a great thing to over-do because of caloric intake, and carrots weren’t great due to hypoglycemia…nevertheless, I finally allowed myself two tablespoons of nuts and two servings a day of carrots-all the while wanting much more. I craved the smell of dirt, or musty smells such as the smell of the air conditioner turned on in the car or a loofa sponge when first wet in the shower! OK, now I don’t feel quite as crazy! Since my iron is back to normal, I have only eaten a handful of carrots…my craving stopped. I am no longer orange (made even more obvious with the absence of pink in my skin because of the lack of iron.
March 8, 2007 at 2:00 pm
This site has offered me a lot of information on anemia and heavy bleeding. I am 36 years old and I have 3 children. I have always experienced heavy periods and some clotting since my early twenties. Over the last six months my stomach has continued to swell, I look six months pregnant, I bleed for 7-10 days and sometimes even longer. At first I noticed that I would spot for days before my period would even start then it would last for 7-10 days. After a few months I started skipping a period then bleeding for about 2 weeks with clots as large as golf balls and sometimes larger. (sorry for the graphic explanation). I have made multiple trips to my doctor ..fist the doctor said oh you have polyps …ok and then the problem continues and he decides to do another ultra sound and a hystogram -this is where they put fluid into the uterus to see structures inside of it…well they could not even get an ounce of fluid in my uterus becasue it was so full. Next he performed a biopsy and it came normal. He decided to put me on birth control to control the bleeding and I could not tolerate the pills ..I had a tubal 10 yrs ago because I could not tolerate birth control pills. Presently I am on bed rest ..quite anemic about 9.5 my hemocrit is low and my ny hemoglobin is low. I will visit a new specialist next week in hopes of getting some relief. I am so out of breathe, dizzy and my anziety has drastically increased during all of these issues. The only person that I have got any information from was the ultrasound tech..she thinks I have adenmyosis…I’m not sure and neither is my doctor so here I am waiting for some answers. please let me know if any of you out there are havings the same issues.
March 25, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Emily Ph, I had many of the same symptoms, and my hemocrit was 7.5 when my surgery was done. When it was first recorded at 9.5, I went through a series of GI testing to see if I had internal bleeding, which I did not, although it was found that I have ciliac disease, an allergy to wheat glutin.
I ended up at the GYN’s office, and they found a 24-week pregnant uterus, full of fibroids. I ended-up having a hysterectomy, which was the best decision for me. The pathology result found adenmyosis. It was unclear if my severe anemia was from the fibroids, or the adenmyosis, most likely a combination of both.
I am currently two months post-operative, and my last iron level tests had me at 9.5, so I have come up a few months since the surgery. It will continue to rise, now that I don’t have that silly little monthly bleeding problem that I used to have ;)!
Hysterectomy is not for everyone, but in my case, at 41-years-old, it has been life altering. I wish you the best of luck as you continue on your discovery adventure…
April 10, 2007 at 7:51 pm
I just had a hysterectomy march 5 five months prior I have had two blood transussions and one after my surgery…….I was feeling better on iron three times a day and this past week my anemia feels as it is coming back. I am petrified. I am bleeding under my skin on arm again, as did when amemia got bad. mild windeness heart paplications starting…..I dont know if this is normal or the heavy bleeding I was having with the fibroids was the only cause of my amemia..I go back to my doctor in week and half………….Also I am getting a little pale…..All mild sign of my anemia that about two weeks ago was improving. Seem to be now coming back slowely…………..I am scared if it is not iron deficancy then what could be causing my anemia? The hysterectomy has cured the heavy periods and the fibroids…I also had a complet hysterectomy.thanks for any advice very scared here that is is something worse……….I also was dignosted with low thryroid and have been on med for almost 2 months for that. Low thyroid can also cause Anemia……..I just dont know
Thanks for any advice or comments as said seeing doctor in week in half….Hope I dont get much worse before then
April 21, 2007 at 1:03 pm
OH THANK GOD IM NOT CRAZY!!! I thought I was going nuts! I could spend an hour discussing my woes - but basically they’re the same as the ones here and I’m so excited! I can’t wait to call my doctor Monday. I bled like mad, the doc found fibroids, we’re in the middle of deciding how to treat. But for the last year I’ve been “treated” with the Cymbalta - for “depression” but I KNEW I wasn’t getting better!! In fact, the Cymbalta caused me to gain a ton of weight and become sick - I mean SICK - with side effects and withdrawal symptoms. Since I started HEAVY bleeding about 6 weeks ago I’ve been chewing ice and craving the smell of new carpet - just like I did when I was pregnant. I just thought I was starting to go nuts. I’m going to mark this website and look at it everyday!! THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART! Now I’m going to the drug store to get some iron!
April 21, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Oh, one more thing. . .I’ve been EXHAUSTED lately. My mom kept saying I looked tired - which I do. Then for the last couple weeks I’ve been hearing my heartbeat in my ears and having heart palpatations. I would get winded just rolling the garbage can to the street or carrying my son to his bed at night. I would pray that God would just let me wake up in the morning - I thought I was having a heart attack, or maybe it was an anxiety attack. I didn’t know until now!! I’m happy now! Not fixed yet - but at least now I have something to work with!! THANKS AGAIN!
April 29, 2007 at 9:38 am
I can empathise with most of the comments here regarding anaemia. I’m frantically trying to get my levels up for a rescetion of a submucosal fibroid!
During my last period the blood was very red. Has any one else experienced this? Is this a sign of iron deficient blood?
April 30, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Hello all,
I have heavy periods as well, my Mother had fibroids and I wouldn’t be surprised if I do as well. I have been anaemic for 15 years, on and off. Very difficult to rebuild my stores. I don’t like to take pharmaceutical iron tablets because too much iron is a free radical and can prematurely age your cells / is linked to cancer. The only iron supplement I like is called Floradix. It is made by a German company and it uses non-heme iron, which means that the iron comes from plant sources and is much more easily absorbed by your body. It comes in a liquid. It is the only iron supplement I will take. I am extrememly happy to have found this site, I just bled all over the bathroom floor — again. Heavy periods are not fun. Here’s the link for safe liquid Iron supplement. No, I don’t work for them! I just bleed like a stuck pig and have no haemoglobin and know a good product when it comes along:
http://www.florahealth.com/flora/home/usa/products/r64771.asp
May 16, 2007 at 11:03 am
I am very intrigued by what Ive been reading here. Although I’m 54, I am still having heavy periods and I’ve now been bleeding for a month. I have a sub-mucosal fibroid and my doctor offers various options (birth control pills, progresterone which gave me pimples the one time I tried it, surgery) that I don’t really like. I’ve been taking SlowFE once or twice a day for the past four or five months. I don’t actually feel bad, but I was having a lot of hair shedding which my dermatologist told me could be due to anemmia. I also have a buzzing in my leg - especially when it’s still - and I’m intrigued by reading this could come from anemia. I keep thinking menopause will cure the problem, but still then - I bleed. Any thoughts would be more than welcome! Thanks…
May 18, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Leslie, I am postmenopausal but have been taking hormones for over 5 years. When I was about 46 I started to lose a lot of hair but as soon as I started on hormones that and a host of other problems (including chest and arm pain) went away! I have several fibroids and had been bleeding an awful lot. I finally had an endometrial ablation last Oct. 30th. At the time the doctor discovered a submucosal fibroid which he was able to remove. I still have bleeding induced by hormones, but so far, the bleeding is more like a normal period… (although I was expecting less because of the endometrial ablation) In any case, I was very aprehensive about the surgery, but I guess I’m glad I had it done because I don’t have the problem anymore. It is nice not to have to worrry about bleeding to death, and simply nice just to not have to wear pantyliners (or more) every single day.
Amy
May 25, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Well, I know I’m iron-deficient and have been taking supplements for it, but I’m still so tired all the time. Lately I’ve been sleeping a lot during the day–just for hours–and craving ice (mostly slushees and sno-cones, but I’ve definitely been using the crushed ice feature of our fridge a lot!). My appetite has also been down a little, but the good news is that the things I am hungry for tend to be greens. I’m going to try that molasses trick, I think!
June 6, 2007 at 7:40 am
Interesting you are craving ice - I’ve heard that is a common craving in pregnancy. It might be because iron is need at that time too & somehow it translates into a craving for ice - weird because it isn’t nutrionally valid?!?
July 9, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Nice!
August 7, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Thanks for all of the fantastic information posted here. I have been on the journey to a diagnosis for the last two years. Finally I am closer to an explaination for the heavy periods, iron defeciency, and crazy lower back pain. I to craved starch like a mad person. My previous GYN only wanted to give me synthetic drugs to restore balance. Didn’t make sense to me nor did my body respond well. I believe I’m going to end up having surgury. I’m just starting my research on fibroids, and surgery options. I’m leaning towards the MRI non invasive still experimental surgery. Not sure how effective it will be though. Anyone have any experience? I read some clinical trial results in which several participants sought additional treatments after the MRI procedure. Don’t want my stomach cut, and crazy nervous about being put out for a procedure. Your sharing has be tremendously helpful, and reassuring.
August 8, 2007 at 1:11 am
Wow it’s nice to know we’re not alone! I just got my first injection of Lupron 7/30 and started taking Norathindrone. Had a very large clot this past Sunday. Does it make sense that I’m taking something to shrink the fibroids(lupron), but I’m also taking estrogen(norathindrone), which fuels the fibroids? Can anyone tell me how much their fibroids reduced while on Lupron? I was wondering…….thanks for your help!!!!
September 8, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Cool…
September 15, 2007 at 11:58 pm
I had been bleeding for over a month. Thought it was menopause symptoms. The bleeding was very heavy along with a multitiude of clottng. Of course, it turned out i have fibroids. I was given a unit of blood and had a D&C, which has really slowed down the bleeding. I am going to try alternative therapy for the fibroids. I also have a cyst on my ovary, which I’m not too concerned about at this time. I have seen a naturopathic doctor along with my gyn. I’m hoping that some accupuncture will help with the fibroids. I’ll know more on my next visit to my GYN, as I just had the D&C and blood transfusion this past Wednesday. Life is a bit more managable now that the bleeding is under control. The iron levels are still low, but time and iron supplements will take care of that. Hope everyone here is doing well. I still have a lot to learn.I don’t know how many fibroids I have or their size, that is until I see my GYN in about four weeks.
September 21, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Hi Sharon, glad your bleeding is down & that you got your transfusion — I felt SO much better after mine… amazing what a couple bags of blood can do. My daughter gave me one bag, and I got another from a stranger… fortunately, my endometrial ablation took care of that and I’m not bleeding anymore!
Keep us posted on what your doc finds and the alternative therapies… although you might want to post that info under the thread that addresses that. It seems this one doesn’t get a lot of visitors anyway… Best.
December 2, 2007 at 11:39 am
Hello all, Wow its so nice to read so much about low iron and the personal stories. I too had to have a blood transfusion March of this year. I bleed heavily for 16 days and finally went to the emerg. where they were shocked I was still walking! But women are tough and we keep pushing along because we are so use to feeling this way. It was recommended that I have a hysterectomy which I refused because I was terrified of the thought of going under the knife. I just recently purchased the Floradix from the health store to replace the iron and have heard so many positive stories with this product. Midwives are even telling their clients to take this iron. Its all natural and is absorbed in much greater quantities than the pharmacy pills. Im excited about taking it and look forward to feeling somewhat “normal” again. Although, I have to say, I wont recognize “normal” if it hits me in the head as I have always been anaemic! Anyone take Floradix? What are their opinions on it? Thanks a bunch. Good Luck Ladies!
December 8, 2007 at 8:08 am
I’m extreme anemic, and facing ablation or hesterrectomy. I am not sure which one I will choose. MY bleeding is coming from the torn lining of my uterus. I am very confused. I am 46, and leaning towards the ablation.. I know in time, I will be right back where I started. Can anyone offer some reassurance. Thanks ladies!!
December 16, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Just wanted to add a note about my previous struggles with anemia and my eventual good fortune finding Ferrochel.
For years, I had a hard time taking enough iron…I tried 5 or 6 varieties and would get terrible constipation from even the “gentle” types such as Slow Fe, Gentle Iron, etc.
I took Floradix liquid for quite a long time, and when my anemia wasn’t so bad, it was great…easy to digest, tastes pretty good. But when my fibroid continued to grow, my anemia got much worse, and about a year ago my doctor Dr recommended 100 mg of iron a day. I thought I would look for an alternative since one $35 bottle of Floradix would last me 5 days. It’s not just the cost, it’s the concern as to whether I should take 10 servings of all the other components in Floradix other than iron.
Well, after searching for quite awhile, I stumbled across Ferrochel, a chelated iron. It doesn’t seem to cause me ANY negative effects. Source Naturals has a Ferrochel product (27 mg elemental iron), in tablet form, that also has 100 mg Vit C, plus B-12 & folic acid. I don’t like to take more than one of these (one tablet has 980% B-12), and it does taste a little nasty. I prefer GNC’s Ironchel (18 mg) capsule: I’ll take 3 of those with a 500 mg Ester C capsule.
I haven’t read much about Ferrochel and I’m not sure why. I have a very delicate digestive system and besides the fact that it doesn’t cause me problems, it works, and while not cheap like ferrous gluconate or ferrous sulfate, it’s quite affordable and most of all, it works!
January 16, 2008 at 11:06 am
I have started taking Flaxseed which is suppose to balance your hormonal levels. I read this in a book. I am also taking BSM and praying and believing I will no longer have heavy periods.
January 16, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I have heard many good things about floridex. I was eating a lot of flax previously but have been avoiding it lately as it - like soy - is very high in phytoestrogens.
I was wondering if anyone has been taking lysine. I read on the “dealing with heavy bleeding” section that some people were taking tranexamic acid which is a lysine analogue. I was wondering if lysine itself would work to help prevent heavy bleeding.
I am afraid to be too experimental right now as I don’t want to accidentally increase the bleeding. (I have found, for instance, that hot red peppers in things like kimchee cause me to flood dangerously).
January 17, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Reading further on lysine it seems that it activates plasminogen which dissolves fibrin - NOT what I want. Lysine analogs (such as tranexamic acid), on the other hand, bind to the sites that normally accept lysine and so block its function. So it looks like I will want to get a prescription for tranexamic acid and give it a try.
It is unfortunate in that I really don’t want to talk with my doctors right now. I realize that it isn’t constructive, but I am really angry with them in that their main contribution seems to be suggesting a hysterectomy every time I see them.
January 18, 2008 at 5:37 am
Aja, please explain in more detail why you don’t want to take lysine…. that part about not wanting to activate plasminogen and disolve fibrin…. I take Lysine regularly and now I wonder if you are saying it might have contributed to my bleeding… Thanks.
January 18, 2008 at 11:37 am
Hi Amy,
I have been trying to figure out what makes my blood clot more and what makes it thinner. I have a couple of very small submucosal fibroids but they have bled so intensely that I am terribly anemic. I had thought that the uterus was essentially a closed system - that I could only slough off whatever lining I had put down and so that my periods were rough, but that there was a limit to how rough they could be. But my doctor explained to me in November that when the lining sheds, the blood vessels that nourish it are exposed and are only closed off by contractions. Fibroids don’t contract properly, so once the lining comes off and exposes this particular type of fibroid, they bleed and bleed and bleed until your body naturally clots.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that NSAIDs are blood thinners. I had been dutifully taking ibuprofen and hemorrhaging more and more.
The issue is whether a given food stuff or vitamin has coagulant or anti-coagulant properties and some of the best information available on the topic is for those who have major surgeries that require blood thinners like coumadin (they are warned to avoid foods that have large quantities of vitamin K because it can increase clotting) or hemophiliacs (who require tranexamic acid for things like dental care to keep them from bleeding too much).
If I have it right, plasminogen, when activated, turns into plasmin which then undoes fibrin (necessary in clotting). This is normally a great thing - but not when you want a submucosal fibroid to stop bleeding. The key that activates plasminogen - again, if I am interpreting everything I am reading correctly - appears to be lysine. Tranexamic acid works because, according to Wikipedia, it “competitively inhibits the activation of plasminogen to plasmin” and “exerts its antifibrinolytic effect through the reversible blockade of lysine binding sites on plasminogen molecules.”
January 19, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Hi Aja, thanks for the interesting info! I’ve been taking lysine on and off because it is Much cheaper than valtrex for controlling my coldsore (herpes I) outbreaks… so it is interesting to find that it may have been contributing to my bleeding!
On the other hand, I had been avoiding NSAIDs because I was afraid they would make me bleed more… however, late one night, during my worst bleeding episode I called a 24 hr, nurse advice line and was told by a nurse that Motrin/Ibuprofin actually helps to control bleeding!!! I’ve since looked into it, and sure enough it does! I no longer remember how it does so, but if I recall correctly, it helps the uterus to contract — and I found when I was still bleeding, that it actually did seem to make a difference. So while it may be a blood thinner, it actually helps! Sure wish I’d known that sooner — I couldn’t understand why all the doctors I’d spoken to about my bleeding never mentioned it! aurgh!
Fortunately, when my doctor did a hysteroscopic d&c and endometrial ablation he discovered a small submucosal fibroid we didn’t know about. He shaved it down, and my years of bleeding finally stopped! Yay. It is possible that the endometrial ablation was responsible for this, but my gut feeling is that it was the submucosal. FYI, for you and others, My doc really advocates doing hysteroscopic d&c/ rollerball endometrial ablations because he can actually look inside to look for submucosal fibroids, and then the d&c and rollerball instruments allow him to feel what he is doing (e.g. he can feel if there is a fibroid) …vs. other types of endometrial ablations where he can’t see/feel what’s inside. A lot of docs like the other EAs because they don’t require as much training and are a bit safer… but I get the sense from this forum they don’t always work as well
January 19, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Aja,
Ok, I looked it up, here is one article (which I’m breaking up and posting in several posts because it keeps discarding it…not sure why):
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for dysfunctional uterine bleeding
Brand Name
Advil, Motrin IB, Pamprin-IB, Orudis, Oruvail ketoprofen, Aleve, Anaprox, Ponstel, Meclomen
These medications are taken during the first 3 days of the menstrual period or throughout the bleeding episode.
Talk to your doctor about whether NSAIDs are right for you. People who have existing heart, stomach, or intestinal disease are at higher risk for problems. For some people, the benefits may outweigh the risks.
Always take these medicines exactly as prescribed or according to the label.
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors
* The COX-2 inhibitors rofecoxib (Vioxx) and valdecoxib (Bextra) have been withdrawn from the market because studies showed they increased the risk of heart attack, stroke, and serious stomach and intestinal bleeding.
* Celecoxib (Celebrex) is still available, but its label is being revised to highlight the potential for these risks. If you are taking Celebrex, talk to your doctor about whether you should continue or switch to another drug.
Ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen are available without a prescription. Mefenamic acid, meclofenamate sodium, and celecoxib are prescription medications.
January 19, 2008 at 2:27 pm
part II
Chemical Name
ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen sodium, mefenamic acid, meclofenamate sodium
These medications are taken during the first 3 days of the menstrual period or throughout the bleeding episode.
Talk to your doctor about whether NSAIDs are right for you. People who have existing heart, stomach, or intestinal disease are at higher risk for problems. For some people, the benefits may outweigh the risks.
Always take these medicines exactly as prescribed or according to the label.
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors
* The COX-2 inhibitors rofecoxib (Vioxx) and valdecoxib (Bextra) have been withdrawn from the market because studies showed they increased the risk of heart attack, stroke, and serious stomach and intestinal bleeding.
* Celecoxib (Celebrex) is still available, but its label is being revised to highlight the potential for these risks. If you are taking Celebrex, talk to your doctor about whether you should continue or switch to another drug.
Ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen are available without a prescription. Mefenamic acid, meclofenamate sodium, and celecoxib are prescription medications.
How It Works
High levels of substances called prostaglandins make menstrual bleeding worse. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) decrease the production of prostaglandins and block the body’s use of prostaglandins.
Why It Is Used
Ovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the first-line treatment choice for dysfunctional uterine bleeding, particularly in women who ovulate regularly. 1 They also decrease or eliminate menstrual cramping. 2
Anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding. In women who aren’t ovulating, NSAIDs are best used in combination with birth control pills or progestins. 1
Reasons not to take NSAIDs
Do not take NSAIDs if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any type of pain medicine.
You should not take prescription NSAIDs if you have recently had heart bypass surgery.
If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breast-feeding, talk to your doctor before you use NSAIDs. It is especially important to avoid using NSAIDs during the last 3 months of pregnancy unless told to by your doctor. They can cause problems with the baby or the delivery.
(cont.)
January 22, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Hi Amy,
Yes, I have two submucosal fibroids - not very large, but very bloody. Thank you for the information on the NSAIDs. I did not know that they can assist contractions. It looks like I have to go read about prostaglandins now.
My fibroids - as of last check - have not been increasing in size but the bleeding has been getting significantly worse. I believe a number of things have contributed to this: the long term anemia and the loss of iron reserves, insufficient leafy greens in my diet, less B12 than I should have because of twenty years of vegetarianism, and the fact that anemia seems to gain speed the longer one has it. You become more anemic, you bleed more, you become even more anemic, and you bleed even more.
I had no idea that I was anemic until November when I had blood work done in anticipation of surgery. My hemaglobin count was at 8.4. It was illuminating in that I had been feeling utterly unlike myself - no ambition, no energy, no fire. The iron has made a tremendous difference but every period feels like a war of attrition.
January 23, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Hi Aja, yes I was just below 8 too… and it seemed my OBG didn’t think it was a big deal… but my sister who is a nurse insisted I see my primary and right away she set me up for a transfusion. I wasn’t thrilled about the idea, but my daughter volunteered to donate one pint and I got another from a stranger. What a difference! I think I and others have written more about this on the other thread here that deals with heavy bleeding… I was so thrilled when my doc got rid of the submucosal. I was out the same day too. I just wish I could get rid of the others too … although I’m not bleeding anymore, I just hate the big belly and wonder if it is giving me some backpain. By the way… the article above got cut off (I should have just put in the link…but I think the important parts are in there) — When do you go in for surgery, and what kind are you having?
January 23, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Hi Amy,
I went in in November for what I thought would be a biopsy, a myomectomy (if feasible) and a D and C. They ended up doing nothing because of my blood count: they did not want to transfuse me for an elective surgery and feared an uncontrolled bleed if they touched the fibroids. Apparently my endometrium looks fine and all I got for going under was a couple of nice photos of my tumors (to be fair, they are covered with blood vessels) and the recommendation (once again) to get a hysterectomy.
I asked instead to go onto the progeston only mini-pill. (I know no one knows what causes these things, but I feel that it was the long use of BCP’s and the estradiol in them.) Supposedly one of the mini-pills possible side effects is the complete suppression of menses (sign me up!). This seemed better than lupron and also takes care of birth control which is still an issue for me. Since the switch I have had one barn burner two weeks in duration and am now holding my breath for the next one. (Since all the pills are the same, you never know when it will strike.)
I then went rogue because every time I see my doctors they want to give me a hysterectomy and I do not consider this negotiable. (Someone on one of these threads said that she felt like she was considered a “naughty girl” for not having had one yet. Yup.) I therefore have scheduled to see a doctor who performs the focused ultrasound procedure and through his office scheduled an MRI. It is expensive and will be out of pocket but I am looking forward to meeting a doctor who at least shares my desire to preserve my uterus.
I have also made an appointment to see my primary care physician so that I can get referrals to a naturopath and perhaps an endocrinologist. Hopefully we can get my body’s hormones balanced out so that the tumors won’t grow back. I’m about to turn 42. I need to make it ten more years.
If the ultrasound procedure proves impossible or I have a bad spidey sense about it, I will also consult a radiologist to check on UAE. I have decided that for me the best route is to start with as little intervention as possible and escalate.
I have found the whole really scary and lonely: trying to work through the exhaustion and bleedouts, not having people recognize how sick I am, having no one I trust amongst my doctors, and liking none of my options. I am so grateful for this website and everyone who shares their stories.
My various appointments are in the first week of February and we will see what I learn from them. I am particularly excited to see my MRI scans and have them interpreted as I should learn a lot more about the size and position of my fibroids and the challenges of their treatment. Iron supplements and having a plan of attack are making me much more hopeful.
January 23, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Nice!
February 13, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I’m SO glad I’m not alone…my bleeding episodes have just about made me crazy.I’m 43 and have had heavy, I mean liver clot, massive clot, loo kin like I just gave birth to a kitten. I have about 4 to 5 days a month of feeling normal…I have heart palpitations, panic attacks and crave ice like its candy and love the smell of dirt and beets. My doc. said that I was glucose intolerant and was gona put me on meds for it, she said that would slow down the bleeding, but she said to check with my prim. doc. before taking them, then he said no cause they could be fatal. oh yea ! now I’m back to square one.I just want to feel normal again. thank ya’ll so much for all the comments I have read… I dont feel i’m alone anymore.
February 17, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Hello
I have had four smallish fibroids grow over the last five years. I had a huge bleed, and the doc put me on 200mg iron tabs three times per day. I felt like a new woman! I must have been anaemic for years. I have recently started taking blackstrap molasses and apple cider vinegar, and feel loads better! Still taking my iron pills and other supplements (blackcurrant seed oil, agnus castus, vit c, evening primrose, vit b complex). I have gone over recently too to being practically vegan (though not completely). Apparently beans, wholefoods and brown rice help balance hormones and soak up excess oestrogen.
Recently my uterus has been inflamed and is still bleeding after my period. It’s at its worst right now - I’m going to ask for a myomectomy. It’s bit of a nightmare, isn’t it? I’m 46.
I had a Mirena coil put in a year ago, but it seems to have made things worse rather than better.
But the pure, organic diet and blackstrap is really great. I also drink lots of detox herb tea and have cut out alcohol, chocolate, meat and coffee. Cutting out coffee and alcohol will straight away increase your energy levels and reduce any PMT.
xxx
February 18, 2008 at 12:59 am
hi I’m 27 and everything I have heard here has helped me a lot . I have had irregular period for a while. then at the beginning of the year I bleed for 17 days and then stopped which I thought was okay since I had not gotten a period since October. Then a week later I started to bleed really heavy.
I when to the doctor after three days and she ran some test. last week she told me I have sever anemia (Hemoglobin 7.
and I have fibroid. I am so confused, tired and just exhausted. I am going to see the ob-gyn friday.
thank
February 18, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Hi Liz,
I was around 7.8 too, and it is hard to even think when your iron is so low! My sis who is a nurse told me to just ask for a transfusion cause you don’t have to live that way. My OBGYN didn’t offer it, but when I told my primary care physician about my blood level, she suggested it too. I didn’t like the idea, but got a pint from my daughter and one from someone else, and felt SO much better. It sneaks up on you and you don’t remember what Normal is like.
Best.
February 18, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Today I made an appointment with the consultant who arranged the Mirena coil for me. I’m going to ask for a myomectomy. They could only give me 9 April. But at least it’s another point on the map. It’s vital to have a path ahead in view, some way or other. xx
February 18, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Here are my fibroid supplement strategies, if anyone’s interested:
. blackcurrant seed oil - one capsule per day - helps balance hormones, good for sore, swollen nipples prior to menstruating
. 2g vit c per day
. 600mg iron (ferrous sulphate) per day
. 1 tbsp blackstrap molasses (organic) in hot water per day
. 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (organic) in cold water per day
. 1 vit b complex tablet per day
. 25 drops (1ml) tincture of agnus castus per day - helps balance hormones, has a progesteronal effect and helps PMT
. nettle/dandelion/rooibos tea - several cups per day to cleanse liver
. I also take mefenamic and tranexamic acid, which are great for reducing the flow/helping it to clot rather than loads of liquid
. no alcohol or coffee, meat or chocolate (well, sometimes a little square) - this really helps with PMT and cramps! It helps iron absorb more fully - caffeine inhibits this - and you feel much more energetic without coffee. Hard, but worth it
. Only a little dairy - eggs inhibit iron absorption and so does milk
Best. This is a great site, it’s comforting to hear familiar tales.
xxx
February 18, 2008 at 9:33 pm
hi liz,
I had fibroids and intense periods for many years and my hemoglobin went down to 6.1, but it went down gradually so I hardly felt weak, but it is a serious condition.
I was taking iron supplements but the Feosol - carbonyl iron (the iron sulfate or iron salts can sometimes upset your stomach, it did mine)
Also you can take iron and vitamin c, or something containing vitamin c (like orange juice) to increase absorption rate. Actually the heme iron that red meats contain (but chicken does have some too) not only absorb the best of all iron sources, but they also help other iron sources (like supplements) absorb better if taken together. I did make a point to add red meat to my diet for this reason, though I am by no means a fan
I also couldn’t say goodbye to coffee, but my hemoglobin went up anyway, although it did take quite some time ( I had a myomectomy in the middle of this process, but went without a transfusion, fortunately) Good luck!
February 18, 2008 at 10:03 pm
liz,
blessing!
one more thing, we are all sharing here but do discuss your anemia treatment with your doctor before starting anything of course
March 9, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Thank you for your posts. It has been a comfort to me to hear other folks had the heart palpatations and pulse in the ears that I have had. I have been helped by Blood Builders (iron), Pantothenic Acid, B Complex, Dhea and Vitamin D. It didn’t all kick in until my doc raised the Blood Builders to three a day and the DHEA to 10mg and I added the D.
Has anyone had the experience of getting sick from fibroid die-off during the normal ebb of estrogen during ovulation and mentruation?
April 19, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Wow, this is amazing to hear all your stories. I too have several large fibroid tumors, extreme heavy bleeding for long periods-3weeks, passing clots, chronic amemia (hemoglobin @ a 6), heart palpitations, weakness & extreme fatigue, restless leg syndrome, ice cravings, confusion, fainting spells, mini stokes, 2 blood transfusions in the past year (last one 3 weeks ago). ..and no health insurance. My last blood transfusion cost me $11,000…havent gotten the bill for my most recent one. It is nice to know I am not alone. My doctor seems to think a hysterectomy is the only answer. I am 45 years old and this has been going on for 8 years and continues to worsen the older I get. I am taking iron supplements but bleed so horribly, it actually scares me…DOES ANYONE have any suggestions for me? I will be going in a again for a Prim Pro shot to see if this will curtail my bleeding as I have been bleeding again for 2 weeks…they should have given me the shot when I was there for my blood transfusion, but failed to do so. Any sugesstions would be most appreciated. Thanks for sharing everyone…feels good to know I am not alone!
April 21, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Hi Pauette,
If you can afford to do something about the fibroids, I strongly suggest getting them treated. The severity of your anemia suggests that you are not having success managing it and from my own experience, I can say that your quality of life is more deeply compromised than you probably even realize. Waiting for menopause may still take quite a while if you are only 45.
Because I only had one small fibroid, I do not know what treatment options might be best for you — but it has been my experience that doctors tend to recommend the procedures that they are most comfortable performing. It may be less expensive for you to take a less invasive route to your treatment - MRIgFUS or UAE - simply because you won’t have to pay for as much hospital time and you would not be as likely to need additional transfusions — but you will need to consult with a doctor who can screen you as a candidate for those procedures and tell you how successful they are likely to be in treating you.
I would read up on the threads that deal with the above procedures and make sure to ask your doctor why he/she is recommending hysterectomy as the only option. Also, since you have no health insurance, find out what the procedure will cost and - since you have anemia - write it down so that as you gather the options, you can have a talk with a good friend about it when it comes time to decide.
Here is another website that is frequented by doctors and often posts some good articles about options/studies/complication rates et cetera: http://www.obgyn.net/fibroid-resource-center/
Best of luck!
April 24, 2008 at 12:07 am
Thank you so much. Have you heard of NovaSure? It is an Endometrial Ablation…not sure if this can be done with fibroids. Thanks again for the information Aja…I will most definately check things out. I had my Lupron Shot today. Hope it helps the bleeding. I knew my health had been compromised dramatiaclly when I began having mini-strokes a year ago. Those are under control for now. Thanks again!
April 24, 2008 at 11:23 am
Hi Paulette,
Some people have good luck with endometrial ablation. From what I have read about it online, it depends how it is performed — some people have written about how doctors who perform ablations with a “rollerball” can shave down any fibroids while performing it or resect small fibroids (though this seems like it might involve some fairly heavy blood loss). Also, how big your fibroids are, and whether your endometrium is the problem.
Since my fibroid was growing into my uterine cavity, it meant that I basically had twice the endometrium to slough off for each period. BUT, that wasn’t what was really causing me the most problems. Because the fibroid is warped muscle tissue, it does not tense up properly to squeeze shut the blood supply after the endometrium sheds (that fabulous cramping). And so I was hemorrhaging — which got worse as my anemia got worse and my blood got thinner. (But again, that was my situation and may be an entirely different situation from yours.)
The best procedure will depend upon what type and number of fibroids you have. Your critters may already be too large for novasure to be effective, but only a doctor can tell you. Oh, and one last thing — do not be afraid to ask a doctor how many procedures s/he has performed. I know it seems rude, but you’re paying for it. It is a lot more serious than having a car worked on and you’d want to know if your mechanic had experience working on your type of car. You don’t want to be the mechanic’s first brake job!
Good luck!
April 25, 2008 at 10:26 am
Paulette, to add to Aja’s great explanation, a hysteroscopic endometrial ablation with say a rollerballl, means the doctor is actually looking into your uterus while moving the rollerball around to shave the endometrium, rather than putting in a device that destroys the endometrium it is in contact with (like novasure) these devices either heat or freeze the endometrium they are in contact with. And that is the key, if the inside of your uterus is very lumpy because of fibroids, the devices may not be able to be in contact with all of your endometirum. Hysteroscopic ablations require more training and are not as fast, so frankly, some doctors prefer the other methods because they can do them after a very short training. Addmitedly, a hysteroscopic ablation may also carry more risk (I forget if it may be going through the uterine wall or what) — but it is what I chose (well, my doctor offered and explained the above and I researched). He found a small fibroid we didn’t know about in the lining and he shaved it down. Anyway, I was passing huge clots - one period I think I lost about a quart of blood (literally) - and it has completely stopped!
May 8, 2008 at 10:59 am
I’m also anemic thanks to two pretty large submucous fibroids. Found them after they landed me in the emergency room during standby jury duty (gave the others something interesting to talk about during the afternoon). I think I lost about a half a gallon that day.
I wanted to say how reassuring it was so see that others have had similar “odd” symptoms. I’d been commenting to friends for several months