I got the lovely email from the NP this AM informing me that unfortunately I'm not pregnant. Obviously I already knew that (given my 3 day wine binge the last few days!). But the more pressing issue for me was getting the ultrasound appointment with my RE to measure the size of the fibroids. My abdomen became more bloated than it's ever been this cyle. I questioned whether it was due to OHSS or growth of my fibroids.
Well I got my answer today. Saw my RE who did a quick ultrasound and determined that my fibroid now measures at about 8x9 cm (between the size of an orange and grapefruit). He felt my abdomen and said "Wow, yes ...you have a very signficant abdominal mass." (Ya think?!). He immediately said he would put in the surgical consult for me to be seen in the near future and get this laparoscopically removed. He only saw 1 fibroid which confused me because I thought I had 2 ...but I guess the surgeon will see if there are any others when they go in there with the scope.
I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, I'm SO relieved that this thing is finally coming out (hurray!). I really look forward to not constantly feeling bloated ...that really sucks. And with a fibroid of that size, it has to be impacting my ability to conceive (I would think) ....so it's a really good thing it will be coming out. Other positives are that the RE said my recovery time to return to work after surgery shouldn't be more than a week or so (I thought it'd be at least 2 weeks) and he doesn't think I would have to delay TTC after by more than 3 months (I had previously thought it would be 6 months). On the other hand, I'm just kinda pissed at myself for not pushing to have this done sooner. I had felt before for at least the last 6 months that "something isn't right" and that maybe I should advocated harder for myself. 2 months ago I had a saline U/S which didn't measure the size of the fibroid but just checked to see if it was invading the uterine cavity. Based on the results of that, this SAME RE recommended I not get surgery and do 3-4 more cycles of IUI. Now he's changing his tune. To be fair though, it does feel like the fibroids grew very quickly and (I'm convinced) had a lot to do with Clomid which I've read can cause the fibroids to grow (although my RE's insist that isn't the case). Also, the laparoscopic and less invasive procedure to remove fibroids has come under fire recently by the FDA which is calling for a ban on the practice. Recently several cases of leiomyosarcoma (a deadly uterine cancer) have been found AFTER the laparoscopic procedure was done. Presumably because the fibroids unknowingly contain some malignant cells (which then spread throughout the body when they are ground up to be removed laparoscopically). The chances of this happening are about 1/350 which to me is not an insignificant risk. Logically I know that my chances are low (no family history of gynecological cancers, and I'm pretty young). But the possibility is still scary. My RE's thoughts on it were that he thought my risk was even lower than 1/350 given my age ...."maybe 1/500" he said. BUT of course he added the caveat that the risk was still not zero ....and that this sort of thing is always considered insignificant until it happens to you. So basically this is a decision I have to make on my own in the end. Here's a couple links to the news article explaining the most recent concerns about laparoscopic surgery for fibroids in case anyone is interested.
I'm inclined to just go with the laparoscopic procedure. I really think it will be fine. But I still get a little anxious thinking of that SMALL possibility. Overall I'm looking foward to hearing from the surgeon and going from there. FINALLY a plan for the fibroids that doesn't involve just leaving them alone and seeing what happens.
**Formerly EastBayBride508**
Me 34 Him 33
Me - Left salpingo-oophorectomy at 19 due to large cyst/torsion and 2 large uterine fibroids found at age 30
Him - Borderline low sperm count (correcting through Fertility Blend supplement)
Married 8/20/2011
TTC #1 since Jan 2013
First appointment with RE 10/2013.
April 2014 - Clomid 100mg CD3-7. HCG shot CD10 IUI #1 done on 4/12/14 (CD12) ....BFN
May 2014 - Break cycle to repeat saline sonogram and re-group. Travel to Kauai 5/7-5/12 (Yay!!)
June 2014 - Clomid 150mg CD4-8. HCG shot CD14. IUI#2 done on 6/9 and 6/10 (CD15-16) w/ Prometrium suppositories during TWW .... BFN
July 2014 - Clomid 150mg CD3-7. Ultrasound CD12 - 4 mature follies! HCG trigger shot CD12 AM. IUI#3 on CD13 w/ Prometrium suppositories during TWW ....BFN
July 2014 - Repeat ultrasound done to measure size of fibroid - 8x9cm (the size of a grapefruit!) Surgery referral made.
August 2014 - MRI done which revealed 2 fibroids: a 13x15cm fibroid as well as an 8x7cm one. Super freak out mode over surgery plan. OB-GYN/surgeon said surgery would most likely have to be a laparotomy (open abdominal surgery)
August 2014 - After a 2nd opinion, plan to take Lupron x 2 months to shrink fibroids then laparoscopic/robotic myomectomy. Surgery date is set for Nov 21st!
November 2014 - Robotic myomectomy done (2 large fibroids removed, mild endo found). Benched x 3 months
PAIF/SAIF welcome
Re: I need surgery for my fibroid(s) - - **Update**
I don't have any experience with fibroids, but I can imagine the mixed emotions you're having right now: excitement about getting it out, regret for not doing it sooner, nerves about the surgery.
Best of luck as you move forward with this new plan!
TTC since July 2012
BFP 5/22/13. Lap. to remove ectopic and dx with endo. 6/16/13
RE consult: June 2014
DX: FVL, endo, hypothyroidism, blocked left tube
Oct. 2014: First treatment cycle: Clomid+trigger+IUI=BFN
November 2014: Clomid+trigger+IUI again=BFP!
BFP 11/28/14 MC discovered 1/14/15
Blogging to stay sane
-----------------------------------SIGGY WARNING-------------------------------------
Me: 31| DH: 36
TTC #1 Since 07/2010
DX: Unexplained Infertility
TX:
IUI #1 on 7/3/14 100 mg Clomid + Ovidrel + IUI (44 million sperm, 1 dominant follie) = BFN
IUI #2: on 7/28/14 100 mg Clomid + Ovidrel + IUI (23 million sperm, 2 dominant follies) = BFN
IUI #3 on 8/22/2014 100 mg Clomid + Ovidrel + IUI (53 million sperm, 2 dominant follies)= BFP MMC @ 7weeks
@Rumbera28 - Thanks! I hope you don't mind, I may be asking you some myomectomy related questions as I gear up for surgery. I guess the question that I have now -Did you feel different right away after surgery? How was the fibroid affecting your life before .... and do you feel like it completely improved after surgery? Hope that makes sense!
Me 34 Him 33
May 2014 - Break cycle to repeat saline sonogram and re-group. Travel to Kauai 5/7-5/12 (Yay!!)
Me 34 Him 33
May 2014 - Break cycle to repeat saline sonogram and re-group. Travel to Kauai 5/7-5/12 (Yay!!)
My RE was able to feel my fibroid from the outside as well. I think it is possible that as fibroids grow they sort of grow into one bigger one because that seemed to happen to me. Ultimately they removed 5 fibroids (going into surgery they thought it was just 3). Let me know if you have any questions!
2008: HSG (normal), couple rounds of clomid through gyno
2008 - 2010: dragging my feet out of fear and procrastination
October 2010: first consultation with RE, dx PCOS and fibroids (DH slightly low count/motility)
Oct. 2010 - Dec. 2012: In DENIAL! avoided the issue because I was scared of surgery
January 2013: returned to RE, fibroids grew significantly
February 2013: second HSG, fibroids pushed on tubes which blocked them somewhat
March 2013: MRI to determine what type of surgery may be necessary
July 29, 2013: fibroids (5) removed via robotic laparascopy
August 2013 - Nov 2013 : benched due to recent surgery
IUI #3, Feb. 25, 2014 BFN
IUI #4 canceled due to lack of response to letrozole
IUI #4.1 April 28, 2014, BFN
May 16, 2014: wtf consult, start prepping for IVF in June and add injects for one last IUI in the meantime
IUI #5 started letrozole and bravelle but canceled after HSG led to new diagnosis
May 21, 2014: third HSG, tubes blocked, one at the beginning, one hydrosalpinx??
IVF #1 August 8, 2014 - 3dt of 2 embryos, BFN
September 17, 2014 - 4th HSG, the right tube is very patent (open!!) dye went straight through this time. Weird!
October 2, 2014 - started metformin treatment
November 14, 2014 - blood work, brought A1C down from 5.8 to 5.5
November 26, 2014 - RE finally back from vaca and reviewed my chart, no more IVFs for rest of calendar year
December 1, 2014 - Right after Thanksgiving, I called a new clinic and got in right away! Plan for IVF
December 17, 2014 - ER! 29 retrieved (!!), 16 mature, all 16 fertilized (ICSI)
IVF #2 December 20, 2014 - 3dt of 3 embryos, BFN
We are done with treatment unsuccessfully.
TTC since 2012
Me 35, DH 32 -DH SA all clear
8/97 severe perotinitis infection as a result of ruptured appendix. poss abdomen/tube scarring
1/12 HSG all clear!
2/12 Multiple fibroids diagnosed, 2 submucosal
3/14 Hashimoto diagnosed, began treatment
3/14 first RE appointment
5/14 successful lapriscopic myomectomy via power morcellation
as of 7/14.....not so patiently waiting
poss IUI/IVF fall 2014 BIG Surprise BFP Aug 2014!
Me 34 Him 33
May 2014 - Break cycle to repeat saline sonogram and re-group. Travel to Kauai 5/7-5/12 (Yay!!)
Me 34 Him 33
May 2014 - Break cycle to repeat saline sonogram and re-group. Travel to Kauai 5/7-5/12 (Yay!!)
Me 34 Him 33
May 2014 - Break cycle to repeat saline sonogram and re-group. Travel to Kauai 5/7-5/12 (Yay!!)
Me 34 Him 33
May 2014 - Break cycle to repeat saline sonogram and re-group. Travel to Kauai 5/7-5/12 (Yay!!)