How are you preparing for your fibroid treatment?

Your preparation can be spiritual, or funny, or just ways you are pampering yourself. Name your treatment option and tell what you are doing to prepare.

How are you preparing for your fibroid treatment?

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Related Posts:
What should I carry with me to the hospital before my fibroid surgery?
What’s involved with pre-op testing before a fibroid procedure?

A big apology to those who come here seeking help…

I have been very busy for the past few weeks trying to get things under control here. I’m also making some changes around the site that will hopefully improve the navigation. Things WILL get better. You can best believe that.

Please know that I pledge to do all in my power to help those who need assistance and guidance even if that means losing some of my traffic here in the process. I started this blog with that in mind and I’ll continue with that mission.

Once again, I am truly sorry for not responding to comments as quickly as I would like. If you have an urgent need, please do not hesitate in sending me an email.

Best wishes everyone!

I did NOT create my fibroid blog to make friends

Yeah, that’s the other thing that is bothering me. I don’t consider any of you my “friends”. I didn’t originally create my blog to be a “social” place. I just wanted to get the information out (science, latest research, etc.). I’m happy that a number of you find support here but it’s really getting out of hand. I’m not going to tolerate it any longer.

EclecticGeek, why do you keep asking us to visit the Fibroid Forum?

Yes, there’s a Fibroid Forum here! I really want you to visit it more. Why? Two reasons. Well, probably more than that but let’s focus on these two:

Trying for pregnancy (ttc) after your fibroid procedure (Abdominal Myomectomy)?

Received an email message from Gwyn who wanted a forum about trying to conceive after an Abdominal Myomectomy. Thanks for the suggestion!

Fibroid free left a detailed comment (one of her “novelettes”) in the “fertility and fibroids” forum a few months ago. Here is an excerpt:

fibroid free: Started with a new GYN – explained my symptons and she said sounds like fibroids and ordered an MRI and recommended me to a OB/GYN RE. Never even thought about a RE (GYN who specializes in Reproductive Endocrinology otherwise know a Fertility Doctor) but ended up to be the best choice of doctor. Went to see her and poured out my want to still have children. She told me about the AM and we scheduled surgery onyl to have her call me and admit she did not have the skill level needed to assure removal of fibroids without a hysto and could not guarentee fertility ( no doctor can guarentee but she was not the one to do the surgery) .. SHE refered me to the FERTILITY DOCTOR. Sigh I thought at first….never expected to be in this position…… and so we set up an appointment.

Do you have a loved one dealing with uterine fibroid tumors?

Had a couple of recent visitors searching for information because they have loved ones with health problems. I appreciate every visit to this blog but to those who visit and comment on behalf of someone else, I extend special thanks. Support from family and friends helped me immeasurably during my fibroid journey.

If you know someone dealing with uterine fibroids, leave your questions, concerns, or thoughts here.

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Related Post:
What makes you mad, sad, or glad when you think about your fibroids?

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.

I’ll add “my health” to the list of things for which I am thankful…

Will keep this brief. I’m seeing my people for the holiday so being bathed and clothed today is mandatory.

Vastly different last year. My existence was darkly colored by anemia. I was tired and weak and lightheaded. The funny thing was that I decided to cook. Couldn’t stand for more than 15 minutes at a time but I cooked. Yeah, I know. I’m totally crazy. This year, I have plenty of blood and energy but didn’t fix jack. My husband just returned with our “reserved” cooked Thanksgiving dinner.

One reason for not cooking is because I really wanted to make some changes to the site and have been busy with that. Another because I am truly happy this year. I know I cooked so much last year just to cheer myself up. I’m an emotional eater and food makes me EXTREMELY happy.

I no longer need food for that reason. Oh, please don’t get me wrong. I do plan on eating well and I will be happy as I consume the savory morsels. I just won’t eat to make myself happy.

Every year, I am thankful for my wonderful and supportive family. They always make me feel so loved even through the rough times. On top of that, I have more things on my “thankful” list this year:

• my good health
• the great doctors, nurses, and medical staff who all helped me during a difficult period
• this site where I can talk about fibroids to any and all who will listen
• the women who continue to visit here and leave comments (I really do appreciate every visit and every comment.)

So, this year, I’ll deeply reflect on all of my blessings and be joyous… and then I’ll eat!

To all who read this: Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Is anyone having fertility issues because of uterine fibroid tumors?

After seeing some discussion on this site about uterine fibroids and fertility, I wanted to create a separate thread. Viewed a PBS program Monday on the history of IVF research in the United States so this post is quite timely. I’ll post a few links you can visit for more information and then open the discussion.

From MayoClinic.com:

Fibroids usually don’t interfere with conception and pregnancy, but they can occasionally affect fertility. They may distort or block your fallopian tubes, or interfere with the passage of sperm from your cervix to your fallopian tubes.

For more information:
Hysterosalpingography (Wikipedia)
Fertility Tests (Mayo Clinic)
In vitro fertilization (Jones Institute)
Reproductive Endocrinology (Wikipedia)

Ladies, talk to me about an RE, an HSG, IVF, and any other letters of the alphabet that come to mind. If you have an experience, thoughts, or questions on uterine fibroids and fertility, please post a comment.

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Related Posts:
PBS American Experience – Test Tube Babies (story of IVF research in the US)
How are you feeling after your Abdominal Myomectomy?

PBS American Experience – Test Tube Babies (story of IVF research in the US)

Watched another great PBS show a couple of nights ago. I heard about it last week and kept walking around the house, audibly reminding myself to view it. The broadcast was a documentary on the history of in vitro fertilization (IVF) research in the United States. I was fascinated by the story behind the technique. At least a couple of my visitors here have mentioned IVF. I’ll write a little about the television program and then get busy creating a post about uterine fibroids and fertility issues.

Does anyone have a hysterectomy experience to share?

This is a decision that a number of my visitors are facing so I’m looking for hysterectomy experiences. The topic will be broad for now. Once comments are posted, I’ll create new questions when necessary (e.g. post-op recovery for specific surgeries). I’ll include a couple of links with more information and then open the floor.

According to womenshealth.gov (The National Women’s Health Information Center):

A hysterectomy is the second most common surgery among women in the United States. (The most common is cesarean section delivery.) Each year, more than 600,000 are done. One in three women in the United States has had a hysterectomy by age 60.

More hysterectomies are done because of fibroids than any other problem of the uterus.

Sites with more information:

Medline Plus – Hysterectomy (provides links to additional resources)

MayoClinic.com – Uterine Fibroid Decision Guide (includes extent of hysterectomy surgery, what to expect, common concerns, and pros and cons)

The Journal of the American Medical Association Patient Page on Hysterectomy

Uterine Fibroids and Hysterectomy (Thanks for the link fibroid free!)

Surgical Video:

da Vinci® Minimally Invasive Robotic Hysterectomy

Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy

Please leave a comment if you have a hysterectomy experience to share (does not have to be fibroid-related) or thoughts, questions, or concerns.

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Related Posts:
How are you feeling after your Abdominal Hysterectomy?
How are you feeling after your Laparoscopic Hysterectomy?
OR-Live brings fibroid surgery video to your computer via medical webcasts
How are you preparing for your fibroid treatment?
What should I carry with me to the hospital before my fibroid surgery?
Muffin top after abdominal surgery? What’s a muffin top and how do I just make it go away?
Are you healing your spirit and mind as well as your body after your fibroid procedure?

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?