I wasn’t officially diagnosed with uterine fibroids until I was in my mid 30s, although I had been dealing with the pain and symptoms for over a decade. The only time I was pain-free from the uterine fibroids was when I was pregnant with my first child and then again during a multiple pregnancy. When the pain returned after I delivered twins, I knew it was time to find the cause of this sharp pain I experienced each month before “Aunt Flo” came to visit.
What are uterine fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are tumors that can range in size from small to several inches that are found inside and outside the uterus on the wall of the uterus and sometimes below the first layer of the uterus.
My Case
My pain was the worst each month around the time of ovulation and varied from the left to right side with sometimes both sides hurting at the same time. By hurt, the pain would range from tenderness to a stabbing pain when I walked. It was unbearable at times, and I just wanted to stay in bed and cover my head.
My other significant symptom was very heavy menstrual periods with clots. This seemed to get worse each month until periods would last for over seven days. My OB/GYN just told me to “hang in there” until my blood work came back with an iron deficiency, and I was told to pick up a bottle of iron and take it daily.
It wasn’t until I had several heavy cycles that lasted from seven days to almost three weeks that my OB/GYN was convinced that something was going on. I ended up having a D&C’s to see if that would allow my system to get back in order. It did not. I was back to the long and heavy cycles within two months.
I was physically tired and tired of the cycles that lasted forever. I worked full-time, had three children and didn’t feel like doing anything on the weekends with my family.
The next time I had a problem, my regular OB/GYN was not in the office and I saw another doctor. She recommended that I schedule another appointment with my regular doctor to set up an appointment for exploratory surgery. This would give us an idea of exactly what we were facing and also be able to make a new plan of action.
Exploratory surgery was scheduled and the results came back with heavy fibroids throughout my uterus. My doctor recommended a hysterectomy, which was scheduled the following month. I had a smooth recovery and was finally pain-free.
Other Treatment Options
There are other treatments available today that include MRI guided ultrasounds, where the ultrasound waves break the fibroids down. This doesn’t keep them from coming back and a hysterectomy may still be needed at some time in the future. Laser treatment is also available, but long-term success hasn’t been measured. Your doctor may also want to try different medications.
Source: Personal experience
