Uterine Fibroids (kidneys, skin, hormones, doctors)

[zoso1979]

Originally Posted by TrulyJaicee

I can't find many ladies who like me, have largeish fibroids as their ONLY issue. Guess I can start looking forward to menopause!

Zoso, sounds like I am in a similar boat as you.... My fibroids are mostly asymmtomatic, just making me feel occasionally bloated and prego-feeling and looking... My situation is that I have 3 fibroids now, the largest is now over 8cm and growing as noted in my last ultrasound. I am 50 now and praying for a swift and gentle menopause where they will eventually shrink (supposedly after 1 year after the last period). But one GYN told me they will only shrink about 5%! (I want to research that fact more.) And I know menopause could also last several years providing more time for growth...

I do NOT want to have a hysterectomy if I can help it. Too many other issues and possible repercusions involved. I'm also trying to look into trying to ward off the growth through eating certain foods that do not 'feed' the fibroids.

If anyone here with experience can address this topic on the matter of natural foods and healing methods so we can avoid surgery, I know we can benefit from the info and it would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to see other specialists also before they get too large, but all these Dr's so far seem to do is push the hysterectomy option. Easy for THEM to say![/quote]

Hi, YES. It seems we are in pretty much the same situation.

Hysterectomy certainly seems to be the common/fast track solution! My 2nd opinion says that they are normal and that my larger of the 2, softball size, is not that big?! But I'm with you, I REALLY don't want surgery either and want to wait it out until menopause when they are supposed to start to shrink. I'd also be interested in info on natural foods, etc. that might help me avoid surgery.

[suzy_q2010]

Originally Posted by zoso1979

Zoso, sounds like I am in a similar boat as you.... My fibroids are mostly asymmtomatic, just making me feel occasionally bloated and prego-feeling and looking... My situation is that I have 3 fibroids now, the largest is now over 8cm and growing as noted in my last ultrasound. I am 50 now and praying for a swift and gentle menopause where they will eventually shrink (supposedly after 1 year after the last period). But one GYN told me they will only shrink about 5%! (I want to research that fact more.) And I know menopause could also last several years providing more time for growth...

I do NOT want to have a hysterectomy if I can help it. Too many other issues and possible repercusions involved. I'm also trying to look into trying to ward off the growth through eating certain foods that do not 'feed' the fibroids.

If anyone here with experience can address this topic on the matter of natural foods and healing methods so we can avoid surgery, I know we can benefit from the info and it would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to see other specialists also before they get too large, but all these Dr's so far seem to do is push the hysterectomy option. Easy for THEM to say!

Hi, YES. It seems we are in pretty much the same situation.

Hysterectomy certainly seems to be the common/fast track solution! My 2nd opinion says that they are normal and that my larger of the 2, softball size, is not that big?! But I'm with you, I REALLY don't want surgery either and want to wait it out until menopause when they are supposed to start to shrink. I'd also be interested in info on natural foods, etc. that might help me avoid surgery.

See here: Uterine Fibroids and Hysterectomy

Fibroids the size of yours may not shrink enough after menopause to relieve the pressure symptoms.

The decision to pursue treatment should really be based on how much the symptoms bother you. Very large fibroids can cause urinary and bowel problems just due to their size alone.

[TrulyJaicee]

Thank you, Suzy for the info provided...

Today I came from the Dr consult about the da Vinci surgery they do with the robot they say is minimally invasive... He recommended in my case a myomectomy or hysterectomy. In answer to my questions he says he knows of no proven natural cures for the fibroids and that they will continue to grow. Even if left alone after menopause he said they may only shrink from 10-15%. I still am keeping in mind that this is this Dr's livelyhood and not quite an objective opinion...

Since my symptoms at this point are still minor I think I will wait until the next ultrasound to see how much more they continue to grow. In the meantime I plan on continuing to try to find a holistic person with knowledge on the matter and get their opinion.
I'll continue to check back here for any new helpful input from readers.
Thanks to all for any valid info and advice!

[Sunbeam42]

I also have a fibroid about the size of a plum. I did research & found out that taking maitake mushrooms in capsule form or liquid actually really helps. I can personally vouch for the results & after having been on it for awhile I went for my recheck. To the doc's surprise it hadn't grown at all. Research it for yourselves, & you'll be surprised at how much it helps.

[mimimomx3]

Vitex and progesterone cream work wonders. I also stay away from soy. The fibroids have shrunk significantly.

[stepka]

Update on my fibroids: the tea works! It was too much of a difference to be a coincidence b/c it was actually reasonable and I didn't have to run to the bathroom in a panic even once. I don't think I have the abdominal bloating that you all have, though I have enough of a pot belly that it would be hard to tell, so I can't tell you if it will help that, but it's such a cheap and safe solution that it would be worth a try. I only drank 3-4 cups of the tea in the month before my last period too, so it's not like you have to have 5 cups a day or anything like that.

Zoso, I'm also trying to tackle this is with proper diet. One of the things that I've read is that excess sugar and carbs in the diet can cause your body to produce too much estrogen, which feeds the fibroids. Also, your body produces too much estrogen when you're overweight, and normal weight is lower than most of us think these days. Belly fat is the worst kind of overweight to have, so I've sworn off sweets (even at Xmas time!) and am working on getting my weight down, esp the lump on my gut, and I'm exercising. That would be a good start for anyone I'd think. Oh, and I don't touch unfermented soy products--they are quite estrogenic I believe, which is why they're touted for menopause relief.

I have a question for all of you that I'd be interested to know--are you girls overly emotional--more so than others? I cry at anything, and probably couldn't watch Old Yeller at all these days, and I've heard that excess estrogen can cause that. Do you all do the same?

[Cupcake77]

well for me I want to have mine out because my doctor said I could get a lot of a tummy tuck covered if she did the myomectomy and a PS would finish up with an abdominalplasty. So for me I don't mind having them out, I just wish they could do the whole procedure with an epidural but i know thats impossible.

[zoso1979]

I learned something new. I went to find some Female Toner tea and they didn't have that so I bought Raspberry Leaf Tea by the same brand. AFTER opening it and drinking a cup, I read more online. It enhances uterine health and can help regulate cycles. However, I also found information that it also may enhance hormone levels that could contribute to fibroid growth. SO, since I'm not having problems with my cycles (for which I AM grateful), I don't want to risk it contributing to the fibroids. This weekend I'm going to look for Vitex and the mushroom capsules.

[WhereTheSidewalkEnds]

Interesting reading everyone's experiences. I'm in the same boat. I didn't even realize I had a fibroid until I went for my annual exam 2 years ago. I'm so tiny that she felt it and sent me for a sonogram.

It's pretty good sized. But because it's causing no problems other than bloating, etc. they didn't want to do anything. I know it's growing, but right now we have no insurance, so I'm stuck anyway until that changes. I'm only 42 - so I'm a ways off from menopause.

I can feel it was well if I'm laying down.

I might give the tea a try. Worth a shot.

[zoso1979]

Originally Posted by jkcoop

Interesting reading everyone's experiences. I'm in the same boat. I didn't even realize I had a fibroid until I went for my annual exam 2 years ago. I'm so tiny that she felt it and sent me for a sonogram.

It's pretty good sized. But because it's causing no problems other than bloating, etc. they didn't want to do anything. I know it's growing, but right now we have no insurance, so I'm stuck anyway until that changes. I'm only 42 - so I'm a ways off from menopause.

I can feel it was well if I'm laying down.

I might give the tea a try. Worth a shot.

You might want to google it more. I found that the tea COULD contribute to fibroid growth. It's been described to help heavy bleeding, but since that is not one of my issues, I decided to try the other recommendations.