Question from recent PGAL dropout, currently TTCAL...

SoxFan777

I am posting this on TTCAL as well, but I would like opinions from here too, if that's ok.  I should post on here, I think I qualify... I have a son who is 2 but have had 2 losses since.

I just had a d and c on Monday, and I'm recovering more slowly than I did from the last d and c. I wonder if it's because the fibroid that I have has grown so much. It wasn't there at all with the fist pregnancy, it was 4 or 5 cm with my second, and it is 7.5 now after my third pregnancy and loss. The doctor says that the pregnancy hormones make it grow. He also said that it usually doesn't cause a first term loss but they can cause problems later in pregnancy. That really worries me. I don't think I could handle that, and I admire so much how some of you stay strong after a late loss.

I think I'm going to get a second opinion and I'm strongly considering surgery. I know it can cause scarring, but I'm worried that I won't be able to hold on to a pregnancy otherwise. My first pregnancy was relatively healthy even though I was high risk and I showed no signs of a fibroid, and now I've had two losses in a row with difficult mc recoveries. I will also post on pgal, but I wondered if any of you have any experience with this. I googled robotic myomectomy and if that looks like a possibility for me it's something I'd like to consider. Brigham and women's in Boston seems like a good place. Also, should I meet with an RE before I do anything else? I'm 35 very soon and it took me a year to get pregnant the first time, and only a few months each subsequent time. Is it best to go through an RE from now on. Repeat loss is the problem, though, not fertility, so I'm not sure how to proceed.

My son FELL yesterday at the playground and we had to take him to the emergency room, and I couldn't even hold him because I started bleeding so heavily again (still not recovered from D and C) and it broke my heart. I'm feeling overwhelmed because I'm doing too much. I'm working full time and taking classes two nights a week, plus all the homework for school and work. I'm tired all the time and I feel like I'm spreading myself too thin. I only stayed home one day after my surgery and I think that was dumb in retrospect. I think I didn't give myself enough time to heal.

Thank you in advance for any help. I will be meeting with doctors soon, but the women on here are a great resource and I'd love to have your opinions, too.

hungryhippo

I don't have any experience concerning the fibroid, but I did see an RE after 2 losses. I waited about 9 months after the second loss but it turns out I could have seen them earlier. My OB didn't recommend it because in her profession they consider 3 losses to qualify as repeat pregnancy loss, but when I went to an open house for the RE clinic I learned their professional association defines RPL as 2 losses in a row. I ended up getting tested both for infertility and RPL. I didn't learn very much, but I'm still glad I had the testing done. When I got pregnant, I was very glad to be under the care of an RE most of the first tri. It wasn't cheap, but I have my rainbow now so it was all worth it. I'm sorry for your losses and I hope you are back on PGAL with your rainbow soon.

salsa_wifey

I don't have any issues with fibroids either but I would definately seek a second opinion if for nothing else, to make sure you are getting the best care. I had two losses back-to-back before DS #1 was born. You can see the details in my siggy but my OB would not do testing until after a 3rd loss and they wouldn't even count my second because I showed up when I was bleeding and they told me they had no proof I was actually pregnant. Bastards. Anyway, I bi-passed them and went to a RE who did a full cycle analysis and found nothing. Same as the pp, I was still glad I did it because I knew there was nothing wrong and they monitored me through my first trimester before passing me on to my current high risk doctors. I will never see a regular OB for pregnancy again. GL to you! I hope you get the answers you seek and have your rainbow baby soon. 

GraceInCA

Lurking but planning on making an intro soon. First, sorry about your loss.

I have four fibroids - two very small and two largeish. I was very concerned about them because it seemed like every pregnancy ultrasound I had, the tech or doc would note, "Oh, fibroid," and take measurements. I also ended up having some pain because as they grow, less blood travels to their center (remember that babies are like cute little parasites and take as many resources as they need) and the fibroid might begin to die, causing the pain. The way the perinatologist explained it to me did put my mind at rest.  Most fibroids will have zero impact on a healthy pregnancy. In fact, a large percentage of the population walks around with fibroids and doesn't even know they have them.  Where they do have an impact is possibly with implantation and getting pregnant in the first place. But if you're able to get pregnant, the fibroid won't matter much in that first trimester and a half of the pregnancy. Babies tend to get what they need in there.  After that, doctors just watch them and continue to take measurements. Mine grew, but they were not in any position to impact the pregnancy or delivery because of their location. If they are, they just keep watching them, and sometimes they encourage a c-section instead of vaginal delivery because of their location.

I hope you get some answers from the RE.

julesjb

First of all....huge hugs. You've been through a lot and need to let your body and heart heal. I had two losses and at that point went to an RE for further testing. I'm actually from MA and went to a wonderful place in Reading. They could give you the best advice about moving forward with the fibroid surgery or not.
I am very glad I went with the RE bc I could proceed with a little less worry that there wasn't something horribly wrong. Lots of hugs and support. Let me know if you want me to get you the contact info for the RE we used.

SoxFan777

@julesjb I would love to know who you used.  I'm going to look into the place in Woburn suggested above, and a friend used a place in Lexington that I'm curious about.  I have NO IDEA how to pick...