How are you managing your heavy menstrual bleeding?

One of the symptoms of uterine fibroids is very heavy bleeding. A recent visitor wondered about managing the heavy days:

susie Q: i wondered if folks have any ‘tricks of the trade’ around managing the bleeding and heavy days. i feel shy to ask about this part of it all, but wonder if folks have ideas i might not have thought about – beyond towel rags, pads etc… anyway, if folks have inventions or ideas….

Another visitor suggested the great idea of a separate thread on this topic. Thanks Pam!

Is anyone having problems with uterine fibroid pain during pregnancy?

One of my visitors here is having a problem with extreme pain from her fibroids during her pregnancy.

Anna: Are there any women out there who can tell me how to endure pregnancy fibroid pain?

I’m 7.5+ months pregnant with at least 8 fibroids, 3 of which are just over 5.7 cm each and growing. They were all discovered when I became pregnant. Most of them don’t bother me but two are crammed down at the bottom of my uterus just over the birth canal. The pain from those two is so bad I haven’t slept more than 3.5 hours in weeks.

The Dr. says I am experiencing ‘degridation’ as the fibroids grow which sends a chemical into the body causing this unbelievable, constant pain. For the pain, I take frequent warmish baths, stay in bed and take Tylenol which does very little (if anything) but I’m told that Tylenol is the only pain killer that’s safe for the baby.

First – Have any of you experienced this kind of extreme pain during pregnancy?
Second – What can I do about it ?

I’m sure I’ll survive this … women are tough. But, I’d like to be able to get out of bed and enjoy a little bit of sunshine in the next two months. Heck, just having a short break from the horrible pain would be a blessing. Frankly … at this moment 8 hours of labor sounds like a cakewalk compared to months of this. =)

Your input is quite welcome.

If you have an experience or thoughts to share about uterine fibroid pain and pregnancy, please leave a comment.

Sex and fibroids just don’t go together, now do they?

Had some recent comments here about fibroids and sex so I created a separate post.

My personal experience on this? Hmmm. That’s an interesting thought. My husband was previously ill. We actually postponed our wedding about a year because of it. Not long after we married in 2004, I got really sick (from the fibroids, not him). Yeah, we have that “in sickness and in health” vow pretty much covered. This is the first time in our relationship that we both are relatively healthy at the same time. I feel we have been given a “do over”. It’s like we’re dating again. Actually comical (considering all we’ve been through) to sometimes be nervous and giddy around each other. Ah, yes. The Gunsmoke showdowns. Fingers hovering over six-shooters, we wait to see who will draw first and shoot in Dodge City!

Problems, solutions, workarounds, questions, thoughts? Let’s hear what you have to say about sex and these dang fibroids.

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Related Posts:
Uterine fibroid symptoms (not my idea of fun)
How are you managing your heavy menstrual bleeding?

Did you hear the “F” word on “The Oprah Winfrey Show”?

Not just once. Gasp! I actually think I heard it twice.

Watched the “Dr. Oz Answers Your Most Embarrassing Questions” show on Monday. In an effort to get answers to the health questions people are afraid to ask, Oprah spoke with Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Lisa Masterson. The geek in me was thrilled.

I was particularly interested in the segment with Dr. Masterson (the OB/GYN). Menstrual mysteries. Do I hear Twilight Zone music in the background? There were a couple of women describing symptoms and I immediately thought… FIBROIDS. Here are a couple of questions:

Why do I have such a heavy flow?
A heavy flow can be a marker of uterine fibroids…

Wow. The “F” word. On Oprah.

Is it healthy to have menstrual clotting?
… clots point to the existence of fibroids…

There’s that word again. Could this mean that fibroids will finally get some attention? Maybe a few research dollars? Or at the very least, better information so women can stop living in fear and confusion? This is definitely a step in the right direction. Thank you Ms. Winfrey!

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Related Posts:
Uterine fibroid symptoms (not my idea of fun)
Uterine fibroid tumors and anemia?
What are uterine fibroid tumors?
Can I pass a uterine fibroid?
Psst… Where can I find pictures of fibroid tumors?
Would somebody tell me how much these dang fibroid tumors weigh?

Anyone using birth control pills to control the bleeding from fibroids?

Here’s an excerpt from the original question on using birth control pills to control fibroid bleeding:

malexmom: My question is about using birth control pills to try and control the bleeding. …am very hesitant to go on the progesterone only pill my Dr. has suggested. She’s not pushing it…Any experiences with altered mood during your experience?

I found some information on Wikipedia under birth control pill:

Other possible side effects are: breakthrough bleeding, unusual build-up of the uterine lining, nausea, headaches, depression, vaginitis, urinary tract infection, changes in the breasts, changes in blood pressure, skin problems, skin improvements, and gum inflammation.

and also under progesterone only pill:

May cause mood swings

This information is general. More details can be obtained from the web site (or package insert) of the formulation (brand). Wikipedia has a page of oral contraceptive formulations. Look there to find the brand. Post the name here and we can track down the specific side effects for that brand.

If you are already using birth control pills to control fibroid bleeding or have questions, thoughts, or concerns, please leave a comment.

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Related Posts:
Uterine fibroid symptoms (not my idea of fun)
Uterine fibroid tumors and anemia?
How are you managing your heavy menstrual bleeding?

Has anyone had a postoperative infection after a fibroid procedure?

The original visitor post-op infection question:

fibroid free: Any one have post op infection [after (abdominal) myomectomy or any other procedure]?

Again, it pays to know your body and question anything out of the ordinary. If it dont feel right …it usually isnt…..

I didn’t have any specific post-op infection problems. The pre-op testing before my Hysteroscopic Myomectomy did detect bacteria in my urine. I was given Doxycycline and Levaquin after the surgery. Given Bactrim after my Uterine Fibroid Embolization I assumed because of the whole foley catheter thing. You know I have links:

Has anyone had problems with deep vein thrombosis?

The original visitor deep vein thrombosis question:

Ann-Marie: Has anyone else had any problems with deep vein thrombosis? The weight and size of my growth is so big now and is pressing on my veins/arteries. I have had two clots in my legs and have been put on Warfarin (the rat poison!!! – how did they find out that worked?!!!) and I have just spent 2 fun-filled nights in hospital with the suspicion it had travelled to my lungs (phew, it hadn’t) but I really don’t want to have any more problems. In addition I have to come off the Warfarin and go on stomach injections (ughhh!) for a week before my op in 2 weeks!! Any suggestions/comments would be appreciated.

I had previously heard of DVT but not in connection with fibroids. Reading through the visitor comment, it makes complete sense that this would be a related problem. Found some information so I’m including those links:

Deep Vein Thrombosis (Wikipedia)
Warfarin (Wikipedia)
Deep Venous Thrombosis (MedlinePlus)
What is Deep Vein Thrombosis? (NHLBI)

These links include signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

[Added September 17, 2006] Sprkly commented on the importance of being aware of DVT symptoms. I agree and have decided to list them here. From the NHLBI web site:

It is important to see a doctor right away if you have symptoms of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Deep vein thrombosis can cause very serious complications if not treated.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Only about half of the people with deep vein thrombosis have symptoms. The symptoms may include:

• Swollen area of the leg.
• Pain or tenderness in the leg. The pain is usually in one leg and may be felt only when standing or walking.
• Increased warmth in the area of the leg that is swollen or in pain.
• Red or discolored skin.

Pulmonary Embolism

Some people find out that they have deep vein thrombosis only after the clot has moved from the leg and traveled to the lung (pulmonary embolism). The symptoms may include:

• Chest pain when you take a deep breath
• Shortness of breath

If anyone has an experience or thoughts to share, please post a comment.

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Related Post:
Uterine fibroid symptoms (not my idea of fun)

Would somebody tell me how much these dang fibroid tumors weigh?

Natural progression after viewing fibroid pictures. With all the shapes and sizes, you can see why getting an answer to the fibroid weight question can prove difficult.

Lots of thoughts about this in another post. The original fibroid weight question:

momma’s_girl: wondering how much a softball sized tumor would weigh… any ideas?

So, I set out to search for an answer. From a couple of my responses:

EclecticGeek: Heard fibroids can weigh several pounds but couldn’t find anything that related fibroid weight to approximate size. Started camping out at Google Scholar and PubMed typing in keywords to search (fibroid weight, weight of fibroids, fibroid weight calculation, etc.). I think part of the problem is the shape. Fibroids aren’t perfect spheres so you can’t use some standard formula. Also, I can’t find a consensus on the composition. I’m sure the percentage of whatever is in there varies also compounding the problem.

I was running out of ideas at this point. Fortunately, a contributor provided a spark to jump start my thought processes again. Yay! From the geeky fibroid weight comment:

fibroid free: Volume (V) = LxWxH ok then Mass=Vp (vol x density) ok but how do I get the density?? Then I searched some clinical abstracts and I did find a couple of abstracts listing average weight in surgery comparisons….this is fuzzy science from a Microbiologist/Biochemist so dont kill the messger… it was noted that an 9 cmx 3 cm ‘broid was listed on average as 350-400 grams. Ok so 1000grams = 2.205 lbs or 1 g = 0.002205 pounds (lbs) sooo….. 500g = 1.1 ilb; 350 g= 0.77 lbs and 400 g = 0.88 lbs

Ahhh. Yes, it’s becoming clearer. Hang with me for the last little bit. My “geek-like” response:

EclecticGeek: When I started reading what you said about volume, it clicked. Density is a problem but also shape. Women are getting different dimensions for the fibroids. Some get three (i.e. 7cm x 8cm x 9cm) and can use the formula you provided. More rectangular I guess(?). Some get only one (i.e 6cm) and would need the formula for a sphere (hence pi). For two dimensions (i.e. 9cm x 3cm), maybe use a cylinder calculation(?) that also requires pi.

Now, here is some review material, a few volume equations, and an online calculator. (Did I just sound like a teacher?)

Mass

Density

Sphere

Cylinder

Rectangular Prism

Volume

Volume of Common Solids

Online Volume Calculator

Rectangular Prism: V = l x w x h [i.e. 7cm x 5cm x 2cm = 70cm³]
Cylinder: V = ∏r²h [i.e. dimensions 9, 3: (3.14)(1.5cm)²(9cm) = 63.6cm³]
Sphere: V = 4(∏r³)/3 [i.e. dimension 9: 4(3.14)(4.5)³/3 = 381.5cm³]
Density: ρ = m/V (We will worry about density later after we get volumes and can find more mass info.)

Okay. Let’s get this “fibroid weight” party started. Post your thoughts, calculations, corrections, or other info.

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Related Posts:
What are uterine fibroid tumors?
Psst… Where can I find pictures of fibroid tumors?
Can I pass a uterine fibroid?

Do uterine fibroids burst?

Noticed that many are conducting searches with the phrase “fibroids burst” or “bursting fibroids”.

From Mayo Clinic – Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids develop from the smooth muscular tissue of the uterus (myometrium). A single cell reproduces repeatedly, eventually creating a pale, firm, rubbery mass distinct from neighboring tissue. Fibroids range in size from seedlings, undetectable by the human eye, to bulky masses that can distort and enlarge the uterus. They can be single or multiple, in extreme cases expanding the uterus so much that it reaches the rib cage.

Fibroids may cause a gushing flow, the passage of large clots, and severe cramps. Because they are firm, fibroids can not burst. This Wikipedia link contains a picture of a uterine fibroid (leiomyoma) showing that it is rubbery but solid.

Read a few of my thoughts on blood and clots and cramps.

Have you ever had a “bursting” experience (lots of blood, large clots)? Leave a comment with your thoughts or questions.

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Related Posts:
What are uterine fibroid tumors?
Can I pass a uterine fibroid?
Psst… Where can I find pictures of fibroid tumors?

Can I pass a uterine fibroid?

From a question on passing uterine fibroids:

Luisa: Does that mean your fibroids came out by themselves? Can this spotting actually be the fibroids coming out?

Any “liver-looking” large masses you pass are clots. Fibroids affect the ability of your uterus to contract so the blood pools there and clots before it leaves your body. Fibroid tumors are composed of smooth uterine muscle and would appear grayish white, firm and round. You may pass fibroids if they detach due to a lack of blood supply. Although rare, this is a possible risk with the embolization (UFE) procedure.

Gosh… My period turned out to be a question mark!

Giddy but confused. Should I even categorize this bleeding event as a period? Compared to the 7-day gushing, liver-sized clot passing, monster cramping monthly situations I usually endure, this is nothing! Is it possible that a Uterine Fibroid Embolization improves my symptoms so dramatically and so quickly? I am almost speechless. Here is the timeline:

Monday, August 14, 2006: Light cramping and spotting starting about the middle of the day. Cramps were so slight that I didn’t take any medication.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006: Cramps were more painful and the bleeding slightly heavier. Bleeding was just about a notch above spotting with some tiny clots. I mean tiny. Ended up taking a total of four 200mg over-the-counter Motrin during the whole day.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006: Cramps were not as painful. Bleeding heavier than the day before but I would still label it as light. Only needed three 200mg Motrin on this day.

Thursday, August 17, 2006: Very light cramps and spotting for the first half of the day. No medication.

Friday, August 18, 2006: Woke up about 2:00AM this morning with cramps but no bleeding/spotting. Took two 200mg Motrin and returned to sleep. No cramps since then.

So, what’s that? Approximately a three-day period? I’ve NEVER had that. Light bleeding the whole time? I’ve NEVER had that. I keep waiting and waiting for the other shoe to drop. It does not appear that it will. This is now reality. My “new” new normal. I am happy/goofy/loopy but confused. It is so different. It cannot be a period. I will have to call it a question mark.

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Related Posts:
How are you feeling after your Uterine Fibroid Embolization?
Memories directly after my Uterine Fibroid Embolization
I’m really starting to think my wiring is kind of screwed
Two weeks after my Uterine Fibroid Embolization
My condition one month post-Uterine Fibroid Embolization
UPDATE: My condition two months post-Uterine Fibroid Embolization
UPDATE: My condition three months post-Uterine Fibroid Embolization
UPDATE: My condition four months post-Uterine Fibroid Embolization

My condition one month post-Uterine Fibroid Embolization

Thought I would post about what I am observing approximately one month after my Uterine Fibroid Embolization on July 18th. Some things might not be related but I’ll list them anyway.

1. Swelling of the calf, ankle, and foot on my right side. Off and on. I’m pretty sure this isn’t related. It started the end of last week a couple of days after I began exercising again. Should have eased back into it but I didn’t.
2. Really hungry. Two days ago. Once again, probably not related. I would eat something every couple of hours but it seemed to evaporate not long after consumption. My stomach was growling like crazy.
3. Headaches. Yesterday and the day before. Not serious enough for me to take anything but significant enough to notice. I feel this is related to the next two on the list.
4. Backache. Past couple of days. OK. See where I’m going? Starting to sound like the start of a…period. Yep.
5. Light cramping and spotting. This started yesterday. Pain was slight so I skipped any medication. Bleeding was also slight.

Today, the cramps were more painful but still a far cry from my previous “monster cramps”. Checking one of those pain assessment scales, I rated the cramps just a little above a 3. Ended up taking two 200mg Motrin about 7 hours ago and the pain is still gone. Bleeding is light (a notch above spotting). Reasonable so far. Will keep you updated.

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Related Posts:
Two weeks after my Uterine Fibroid Embolization
UPDATE: My condition two months post-Uterine Fibroid Embolization
UPDATE: My condition three months post-Uterine Fibroid Embolization
UPDATE: My condition four months post-Uterine Fibroid Embolization
UPDATE: My condition five months post-Uterine Fibroid Embolization