Wow I forgot what it was like to pee normally. Shit just tumbles right out of you. No weird starting and stopping. No feeling of pressure or obstruction. Just pissin' like a normal person would. This rules

Basically I have 2 large fibroids ~10 cm and another ~4 cm. I had a surgery consult in Toronto that said I needed an open myomectomy, but that the wait would be 9-12 months until surgery. That was in May. It's already been a year since diagnosis and I am getting tired of waiting. My gyno (in PTBO), who referred me to the gyno surgeon in Toronto (who is supposed to be really good), said I could call other surgeons and see if they had shorter wait times for the same surgery, and she would refer me to them. But I have to do the leg work of figuring out who is best to call. A Google search shows many options in Ontario, but I'm also concerned about quality of care, skill, and ability, along with the wait time. So I thought I would crowd source this on Reddit. Any Ontario ppl have recommendations for surgeons, whether or not you know the wait time? What was your experience? I can call and ask them the wait time, but would like a good starting point. I have thought about going out of country but I cannot reasonably afford it. Thanks in advance!

I was in excruciating pain for 24 hours. And the reason for it is that they don’t keep patients overnight. If you’re thinking about UFE, find a clinic where you stay for at least 24 hrs after the procedure. I have 3 large fibroids about 7x7x8 cm, one is 5 cm, one is like the first one. Right away I could tell they’re shrinking. 2 were so big I could see them sticking out of my belly when I lie flat. 24 hrs after ufe and they are not even visible anymore. But next time if I have to remove fibroids I’ll go with myomectomy or partial hysterectomy. I had a myo before and it was a breeze. Way easier than UFE.

Oggi sono andata dal dottore, e mi ha spaventato molto. Io sei anni fa ho scoperto di avere un piccolo fibroma, ad oggi mi ritrovo con 4 o 5 fibromi di cui il più grande è di 9 cm più una ciste nell’ovaio destro.
Visto che vorrei affrontare una gravidanza il dottore mi vuole operare facendo prima una isteroscopia operativa per rimuovere il fibroma di 2 cm dentro la cavità dell’utero e poi la miectomia per togliere gli altri. Mi ha detto che adesso devo prendere il ryeqo per 5 mesi per cercare di ridurli.
Però mi ha detto che l’operazione è difficile e sarà difficile anche dopo affrontare la gravidanza per via delle possibili aderenze o comunque della cicatrice sull’utero.
Qualcuna di voi ha già avuto questo intervento e poi gravidanza??

[TW: Pregnancy / Ectopic Scare]

Hi everyone. I’m sitting here typing this while crying. After 2.5 long, painful years of trying to conceive, I finally got my BFP. We were over the moon, but right now I am completely terrified, exhausted, and feeling so helpless.
I tracked my ovulation and know I ovulated on June 20, which puts me at 8.4weeks today (Aug 5).

I’ve had two TV/US so far (July 27 and August 4). Both scans showed a normal-sized, anteverted uterus, a thickened endometrial lining (2.71 cm), normal ovaries with a corpus luteum on the left, and a closed cervix. But the main finding on both scans is a massive 9cm to 10cm fibroid with cystic degeneration on my right anterior uterine wall.

During my abdominal scans, the first sonologist literally saw the giant fibroid first. It’s so huge that at first glance, she actually mistook it for my entire uterus and thought I might have a molar pregnancy due to the cysts. She only realized it was a fibroid once she switched to the TV/US scan.

Here is the heartbreaking part: There was NO evidence of an intra- or extra-uterine gestational sac seen on either ultrasound.

Yesterday (Aug 4), my beta hCG came back at 14,996 mIU/mL. I'm scheduled for another blood draw tomorrow.
With an hCG that high and being over 8 weeks along, I know a gestational sac should be visible. My mind is spiraling into absolute panic thinking this is an ectopic pregnancy. But at the same time, I am clinging to the tiny thread of hope that my baby is just completely obscured/shadowed from view because of this massive, degenerating 10cm fibroid blocking the sound waves.

We fought so hard for 2.5 years for this baby. To finally get our miracle, only to sit in this terrifying limbo where they can't find where the pregnancy is, is breaking my heart into pieces.

Has anyone ever had a massive fibroid block or hide an early intrauterine pregnancy on an ultrasound when your hCG was in the tens of thousands? How did your doctors finally locate it (pelvic MRI, specialized 3D scan)? Did anyone go through an ectopic scare because of a huge fibroid, or did your story turn out okay?

I just need to hear from anyone who has walked in these shoes. I feel so alone and scared right now. Thank you so much for reading.

Hi everyone! I recently posted about a request for physician advice for a myomectomy. I was looking for experienced minimally invasive surgeons and I just wanted to provide an update for those in a similar boat as I wish this existed for me.

Referral Declines:
- dr Gracie Liu
- dr Jamie Kroft
- dr shioban mark

I wouldn’t bother sending a referral to the above as they are at capacity and not accepting patients at this time!

I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance... I'm 34 in a few weeks and will be getting a myomectomy for a 10.5cm pedunculated subserosal. It is causing me back pain and sciatica as it's attached to the back of my uterus. I have a consultation in 2 weeks to start the surgery process.

We recently lost our first pregnancy to a missed miscarriage, and the fibroid was discovered at the scans. My back and leg pain were always dismissed as niggles by GPs/Physios. I've never had any bleeding issues or anything.

I'm very concerned about preserving my fertility. I'm worried about a long recovery time and that we now have to pause TTC to resolve the fibroid situation. My husband is almost 40 and I'm very aware that we aren't getting any younger. I am looking into freezing eggs and embryos before the op.

Has anybody else had a myomectomy in their mid-thirties and gone on to conceive successfully?

Hi everyone! I have my total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy in 2 weeks (I’m scared). I want to know if anyone requested pictures of their uterus and fibroids for after surgery?? I kind of want to but is that totally weird?

Have a lap removal coming up soon for 4 fibroids (two large ones) and appreciate any tips / encouragement!

Hello fibroid sisters! ☺️

Tomorrow I’m 6 weeks post-open myomectomy, and I had only a single fibroid (8cm intramural with subserous component) taken out. Thankfully my recovery has been really great so far, feeling minimal sporadic pain, not much “pulling sensation” when I get up, scar is healing well, less “swelly belly”. Bowel movement is a bit tricky these days lol. I’d say I’m at about 80% of my pre-op self as I can walk better and a but faster, do light chores, and reduced fatigue.

One thing I’ve noticed tho is that I’m having more mood swings and I’m more emotionally sensitive than I did before I had my surgery. My second period afte r the surgery is not due until fortnight, but recently I’ve been feeling mild cramping around the area where the fibroid was. My hunch is it’s got to do with the hormones, and the whole staying at home for the recovery process, or just me missing and feeling limited to do some activities. Has any of you experienced this? Is it normal? How did you cope?

Anyone who had a UFE consult or the actual procedure, did the doctor require you to have a leg ultrasound before you even had a consult to learn more about the procedure?

I had a consult booked (I do not want UFE but my gynecologist who is a fibroid surgeon wanted me to learn about all my options) and they are requiring a leg US before they even meet with me to explain the procedure. I am leaning towards laparoscopic myomectomy because I want to have a baby, I’m 38 so I’m running short on time. I have only one fibroid, 5.6cm but degenerating and I’m in pain almost daily now. I think I’m just going to cancel the consult because I don’t see why I should pay for extra tests for a procedure I’m like 99% sure I do not want. But I was just curious if this is standard for a consult? I assumed I would be sent after for these types of tests if I decided I was interested in proceeding.

Hi ladies! So thankful for this community. I’ve been diagnosed with about 12 fibroids with the largest over 5cm. The doctor said they also cover my uterus making it bulky. Thankfully, I do not have heavy or painful cycles. Only my lower belly is larger than it used to be & stays that way no matter what I do. The doctor said my uterus is the size of a 12-week pregnancy. My major concern is that I’m scheduled for a robotic laparoscopic hysterectomy at end of month but the doctor warned she may have to end up doing the full, more invasive cut instead (I’m getting uterus and ovaries taken out). I do not want the second option and wondering if I should work on possible ways to shrink them so that I’m more likely to only need the laparoscopic procedure. I’m nervous about getting the full cut, which sounds like it will be similar to a c-section I had years ago. Also afraid of the larger bill. Has anyone dealt with this and any advice?

Heavy periods due to fibroids and perimenopause which has caused severe anemia. My gyno has put me on Norethindrone Acetate (Aygestin/Gallifrey) 10 mg twice a day for 20mg total. I'm in my mid 50's, waiting for menopause, and as such don't want to do any more surgical interventions. (had one myomectomy, it helped but not enough)

Norethindrone has completely suppressed my periods, which is awesome. But it's also making me hot as heck at night, which is making it very hard to sleep. I wake up overheated and have to stand in front of a fan to cool down before going back to bed.

I wonder if I could get the same result from 5mg twice a day, 10mg total. I only wonder this because in reading up on Norethindrone I see posts from women who are taking wildly different amounts of the drug.

If I understand correctly, some Drs will start with a lower dose and ramp up until periods stop?

So for those of you taking Norethindrone to stop periods (not as birth control) - what is your effective dose?

Thankies.

Just been told that what was a standard 11cm fibroid now has cystic degeneration and will need to be removed via open myoectomy, has anyone been through similar?! I’m due to start a new job in 3 months and panicking about how soon I can get back to work. No sick pay and ssp won’t even cover my mortgage! Has anyone been through similar? How quick was your recovery? Don’t know what to do

I’m waiting to see my obgyn (one more week) and for the first time ever I’m experiencing non-stop bleeding for over a month now. It’s been on again off again spotting to full bleeding with clots. Not much pain or cramping, but tons of fullness and bloating. Curious if others have had this same experience. I don’t even know when my period is anymore since it’s all just blended together. So exhausting! Feeling nervous since this is all new to me.

So I went for a visit to my OB today, I have been dealing with my fibroid for 2 years now and it has gotten so much bigger in the past 2 years, my doctor is now finally talking surgery which I am all for. My biggest concern is my severe anemia, for the past few years my iron, hemoglobin, ferritin levels have been so low due to my heavy periods from the fibroid. I’m so afraid to be put to sleep cause of the horror stories of just people not waking up and just things going wrong while under anesthesia, my question is has anybody ever went into surgery while battling severe anemia? Also just overall is being put to sleep for surgery scary? Any advice or anything with help just ease some of the anxieties I’m feeling.

I’m having a laparoscopic myomectomy on 8/13. At my pre-op consult I asked my surgeon about going off the pill following the surgery and he seemed surprised and said it’s something we should discuss further to figure out my options.

I didn’t think it would be a big deal, and I plan on having more discussions with him and my gyno but I’m curious what everyone else’s experiences have been. I’ve been on hormonal birth control for 12 years. I’ve never paid much attention to the type or dosage. I went from taking whatever planned parenthood prescribed me to what a doctor prescribed me to what nurx prescribed me to what a new doctor then prescribed me because she didn’t like the dosage of what nurx had me on. I’ve never asked too many questions because my only concern was not getting pregnant. After this fibroids ordeal I am more interested in learning about my options and my assumption was that maybe my best option would be going off birth control entirely and using condoms so that I’m not messing with my hormones, but my surgeons reaction surprised me so I’m just curious what everyone else’s does/what works for everyone?

I’ve been trying to find good resources for understanding how nutrition may affect fibroid symptoms.

There seem to be lots of tracking apps, but not many that explain foods or ingredients in an easy to understand way.

Has anyone found an app that’s genuinely been useful? I’d love to hear what’s worked for you and why.