Can fibroids suddenly disappear?

[GemmaZzz]

I'm at a bit of a loss. This is a long post and I apologise in advance. I'm 51 and thoroughly peri-menopausal as well as having a overactive thyroid (Sept 2018 diagnosis) and a non-functioning pituitary tumour caused by hyperprolactinaemia (diagnosed August 2014).

After suffering with heavy periods for over 5 years I went to the docs who suggested HRT and was referred for an internal ultrasound in June 2018 and 4 fibroids were found, largest being 4.5cm.

I was then referred to a gynae and had an external ultrasound 4th Dec 2018 and 1 small fibroid was seen. The gynae recommended I came off HRT because it would cause me to bleed and to be honest I felt in myself that it wasn't working. Periods were still heavy and irregular.

I then had a hysteroscopy in March and they said it was all clear, follow up 4 weeks.

About 2 weeks after the hysteroscopy I went for my routine smear. The nurse was concerned that my cervix looked really inflamed and it was bleeding even before she finished putting the speculum in. She offered to refer me to have it sealed(?) but I said no because I'd mention it to my gynae. I didn't know if it would conflict with existing treatments.

My gynae appt was cancelled, I went on hols for a couple of weeks, came back to chase up a new appt and found out that the consultant had left the hospital, my records were being transferred to another hospital and someone would be in touch soon. A couple of weeks later I was discharged by letter.

I've requested my medical records 3 times but nothing's been sent. When I've rang they said they didn't receive the 1st request and my 2nd request which was submitted via their website form was invalid and not part of their formal process. I sent the 3rd request recorded delivery. Still early days for this one, 2 weeks ago.

So still having heavy periods, I went back to my doctor. She said fibroids can quickly disappear. I asked her if it was possible to try a stronger HRT to which she agreed. I've been on it just over a month so still early days but period is unworldly, soaking through a heavy duty pad to chair in 30 minutes yesterday. My last blood tests showed I was a little anaemic but those were several months ago.

So if you've read this far thank you!

Questions are:-

Can fibroids disappear in 6-9 months? (even when for 6 months they were fed a lovely oestrogen supplement?) I can't find any articles about how they shrink unless its after menopause.

How to do I take this forward?

[Tinker777]

I am not aware fibroids can disappear because they are tumours. I have one & I'm awaiting another scan because I have pain on the left side of my womb & what feels like a lump, the fibroid is on the right. I had ablation last year to help heavy bleeding, that has helped. Usually tumours feed off your blood that’s how they grow & can make you anaemic. My friend has a few fibroids on her ovary & want her to have a hysterectomy. Do your research make sure you get your medical details & ask to see a specialist.

[GemmaZzz in reply to Tinker777]

Thanks for coming back to me. I know they can disappear with hormone fluctuation but I would've expected that to be a very slow process and not applicable to me because I was on HRT for the majority of the time.

I'll have a read up on ablation, that might be something that would help because I'm at my wits end. I know it isn't normal for heavy bleeding to go on for this number of years.

Thanks again, I appreciate it. I hope you and your friend are sorted out soon. This is a horrible business. x

[wwxwwx68]

The growth of fibroid relies on the hormone so when your hormone level decreases the fibroid will gradually get less hormone to be fed up and then fibroid will shrink or disappear if the size was small.

I am 51 now and I discovered that I have multiple fibroid later 2017 with the biggest one is 8cm but I don’t have much symptoms apart from the 2nd day of my period has heavy bleeding and prolonged discharges so I did not go for any treatment/surgery. My gynaecologist did give me Mefanamic acid tablets and iron tablets for 3 months last year and then Tranexamic acid tablets (as Mefanamic acid tablets did not seem working) this year. Due to my age, my Gynaecologist suggested to wait and see if the fibroid would shrink once I have reached my menopause. I am not keen to take surgery as I have read many posts saying the problems after hysterectomy so I am now more into exercising and changing diet (not taking anything spicy, any soya product, less seafood, no honey,etc).

[GemmaZzz in reply to wwxwwx68]

Hiya and thanks for your reply. 8cm is a biggie and it's surprising you didn't have any symptoms other than the heavy bleeding. Can I ask how long you've had heavy bleeding for? I've just thought about it and I originally went to the docs in 2014 but I'd put up with it for at least a year before. My GP sent me for blood tests and the pituitary problems were diagnosed. They stole the limelight so I dropped it for quite a while, plus I also read that fibroids could shrink after menopause so I thought I'd wait it out. I started chasing it up about about 18 months ago when the bleeding and irregularity were getting worse.

I've never heard of Mefanamic acid, I'll look that one up. Ibuprofen worked for me once but not since and the last time I went on hols I asked the doctor if there was anything I could take to delay my period and I was given norehisterone. I came on next day and then again on holiday 10 days later! Didn't I say my periods were irregular? The norehisterone did work on hols though and luckily I got through a long haul flight without incident.

I'm reluctant to go down the hysterectomy route too. My friend's recently had one via laparoscopy and she says its the best thing she ever did, she's had no issues. I'm never that lucky though and terrified at the thought of being under general anaesthetic for any length of time.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Great advice there and lots to mull over. x

[wwxwwx68 in reply to GemmaZzz]

Yes, i have been lucky without much symptoms when I was told that 8cm fibroid is like the size of an apple. The heavy bleeding should have started in 2015 when I thought it was normal so I did not pay much attention to it. I have been having regular periods almost every month 5-7 days in advance. Only once this January and February I had one period for two months, other than that, everything seems normal (of course I would feel tired especially during the first 2 days of periods).

My gynaecologist prescribed Mefanamic acid for me to take during my periods to stop heavy bleeding but it did not seem worked so last week another gynaecologist prescribed Tranexamic acid tablets for me to try, but I would not say that the fibroids have greatly affected my daily life so I would prefer to wait instead of going for any aggressive treatment. I am 51 now but never had any children so not sure if this has been the reason why my experience is different. I am slim so even with 8cm fibroid I am just like having a bit belly fat.

I actually discovered my fibroids when I went back to China in November 2017 so I have been taking traditional Chinese herbal medicines which might have also helped.

I have friends who had hysterectomy but came back with different feelings so I would say people are different and we’d better to listen to what we ourselves really want to do with our bodies and don’t rush to do anything which you might regret later on as long as it is not cancerous.

Good luck with your treatment then and if anything else I could help with, please leave your message here as I will always check back.

[wwxwwx68]

Thought I should update you with some encouraging news from my scan this week~ my biggest 8cm fibroid (scanned in September 2018) has now shrunk to 5cm based on the result. And my period became much lighter after taking Tranexamic acid tablets in August. The gynecologist suggested that should mostly be the result of menopause as I have started to have my period every two months.

[GemmaZzz]

Thank you so much for remembering. That's amazing news and so encouraging. I hope you feel all the better for it too.

I've just finished month 4 of HRT (Femoston 2/10) and my periods still haven't gotten regular and they're still heavy but I've been advised by GP to wait for 6 months for everything to settle. If things don't go to plan I'm going to push for tranexamic acid tabs. It seems the next logical step.

I'm really happy for you. You sound so upbeat haha (if that's possible over a page!) I feel better in myself too and that makes everything seem more bearable. My sister's a few years older than me and she's gone through it all. She reckons she's no longer a slave to her hormones. Oh how I long for the day!