Tag Archives: fibroids

Is That My Final Answer?

Yesterday, I talked about my conversation with the doctors at the teaching clinic about my not-so-mysterious-any-more growths. I’ve got two fibroids — one inside the uterus about the size of a mandarin orange and one in the uterine lining about the size of a football. Between the two, I’ve been pretty uncomfortable over the last year or so. My periods are irregular, my cramps are incredibly painful, my bladder always feels full, I have constipation problems, and more — all thanks to the football and the orange. In the last six weeks or so, the pain has really become a … Continue reading →

My Mystery, Solved!

Did you miss me? I missed you! But my computer’s breakdown came at a pretty opportune time, as it gave me a few days to focus on my health. Here’s the latest news. First, a quick recap: a pelvic exam suggested that I might have fibroids. My doctor ordered an ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis, but the results weren’t quite clear. I was handed off to a teaching clinic for more testing. Or so I thought. The doctor walked into the exam room and greeted me with a cheery, “So, you’re here to talk about surgery?” After I picked my … Continue reading →

What’s the Deal with the Fruit Scale?

Why the heck do we measure things in terms of fruit? My research on fibroids — starting with the info packet from the doctor — said that they can get as large as a grapefruit. Talking to friends revealed that many of them have experienced the fruit scale when talking about fibroids and other growths. After my ultrasound results came in, the doctor described one of my growths as a “long grapefruit” (to which a friend said I’d achieved a whole new level on the fruit scale). A quick web search found a really cute list that ran through a … Continue reading →

A Mystery is Afoot!

Well… a mystery is a-uterus. First, a quick recap: I went to my doctor before New Year’s for a physical, including pelvic exam. After running down some of my monthly issues — and after finding that my uterus seemed enlarged, the doctor suspected I had fibroids and sent me off for an ultrasound. The results of my uterus are in… and they’re not quite clear. The ultrasound showed that I have two pretty good sized growths. One is inside the uterus; the other is outside the uterus. In fact, the outside growth is larger than my uterus itself. For the … Continue reading →

Tests, Treatments, and Nerves

In case I haven’t harped upon this enough in the last few days, I’m having an ultrasound this afternoon. And I’m a little nervous. Long story short: after my recent pelvic exam, my doctor suspects I have fibroids. I’m having an ultrasound today to confirm the diagnosis, so we can figure out a treatment plan. I’m glad to know that there’s a reason for my monthly misery — irregular periods, painful cramps, and other symptoms. I’m glad to know there is a wide variety of treatment options available. But I’m still nervous about the test. Let’s be honest: I get … Continue reading →

My Crash Course in Fibroids

Chances are, you know a woman who’s experienced fibroids — growths of the uterus. These growths are pretty common; at least a quarter of women have signs of fibroids that can be detected on an ultrasound or with a physical examination. And if you didn’t know someone with fibroids before, you might know someone now. Yesterday, I had a physical with a pelvic examination. Fun times! Let’s just say that my uterus is not the best-behaved organ out there. In the last year or so, my periods have been very irregular and have come with terrible cramps and hormonal migraines. … Continue reading →

Alternatives to Hysterectomy

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Each year, approximately six hundred thousand women undergo surgery to remove the uterus — a hysterectomy. For many women with menstrual difficulties, hysterectomy seems like the best (or only) option. However, a study from UCLA found that nearly seventy percent of women could have been treated with non-surgical means — with equally positive results. In some cases — uterine cancer, for example — a hysterectomy is the best option. In other cases, you may want to investigate non-surgical alternatives. If you have heavy, painful periods but may want to become pregnant in the future, talk to your doctor about hormone … Continue reading →