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[Snowfish]

I have been diagnosed with multiple fibroids after an ultrasound. Will be 53 in Sept.
They came to light after I had a mirena fitted last February, and then started bleeding constantly for 5 months. Had the scan when the bleeding continued after its removal. I also started taking oestrogen last winter, which I'm keen to continue, could this have triggered the problem ?
Have read that oestrogen levels can affect fibroid growth and that after menopause they can shrink due to the falling hormone production. Does this mean then that I would have to stop HRT ? : ( taking progesterone now in pill form after coil removed.
Will be seeing a Gynae at the end of this month. Have no other symptoms, apart from the bleeding and feel well and healthy. Someone suggested taking Agnus Castus, to help with the bleeding until it gets sorted, which is constant apart from the odd lull once in a while. Know they're very common for us to have and will discuss further with the specialist, but am interested to know from others who have had the same.

 Snowfish x

[Anjia]

I had multiple fibroids and very heavy bleeding as where I could hardly leave the house and twice ended up in A&E . I had the marina coil for a few years then when it started to wear off my problems began I did not take oestrogen at all that would have made the bleeding even worse,but I did take progesterone three time a day.In the end nothing worked so I had a hysterectomy, abdominal the fibroids were to bad to have the other way!That was eighteen months ago I have had a few problems with what dose of oestrogen suits me but I think I maybe getting there at last I hope you find a way that helps you.

[Snowfish]

Sounds like you really suffered with them Anjia, must be terrible to have extreme heavy bleeding.
At the moment my bleeding is fairly moderate, with the odd patch of heaviness, luckily I dont have any pain either. Just a nuisance having what is basically like a 5 month long period, and stacking up on tampons and pads again !

 Snowfish x

[Annika]

So sorry to hear what you are going through Snowfish..your story unfortunately sounds a lot like mine. I had a scan showed several fibroids also ovarian cysts and enlarged uterus but the doctor feels the bleeding was more than likely due to hormones. My period didn't end for 6 months straight until I was very anemic and ill..my doctor agreed with me a hysterectomy was the best route and it has been a blessing for me. Five months is a long time to be bleeding is your GP aware how long its been? 

[Snowfish]

Initially it was thought that the Mirena may have caused the bleeding. I had it removed after 4 months but continued bleeding for another month before the scan was done, will be 6 months by the time I see the specialist.
Have not felt ill with it so far, has just been messy and inconvenient.
My treatment has been a bit confused to be honest because I've seen three different Doctors, a private Dr, another at the clinic, and one at my GP practice. Seems like the private and nhs Drs have differing views and opinions, am quite confused too at the moment. Especially after being advised to take more oestrogen after a blood test, when fibroids were a possibility at that point. One Dr said the reading was too low, another said it was normal.
Will see what options I have, if any. Glad that the hysterectomy has been positive for you Annika.

 Snowfish x

[Hurdity]

Blood tests are unreliable!

If you have fibroids confirmed and several of them, then they are very likely to be stimulated to grow and bleed from extra oestrogen - which you are probably wanting for menopausal symptoms.

As stated on here Mirena coil is recommended to provide the progestogen part of hRT for fibroids:


Fibroids   
    Fibroids are benign smooth muscle tumours of the uterine (womb) wall and are dependant on estrogen. They tend to shrink after the menopause but shrinkage may not occur, or they may even increase in size with HRT use. Increase is thought to occur in 25% of HRT users and mainly occurs in the first six months of therapy. There is some evidence that transdermal (patch or gel) but not tablet HRT nor tibolone may promote fibroid growth. [ref 24] Fibroid size can be monitored by regular examinations and sometimes by ultrasound scans. There is some evidence that the use of the progestogen releasing intra-uterine system, Mirena may cause fibroids to reduce in size. Mirena is often used in the perimenopause by women who have heavy periods and/or require contraception and can provide the progestogen part of their HRT.

The issue has also been confused by your taking oestrogen too. Even without fibroids, some women experience some bleeding in the first 6-9 months of using the Mirena coil as the progestogen part of HRT, but this should eventually settle.

Herbal remedies will not help with the bleeding which is hormonal or due to fibroids. Which progesterone are you taking and at what dose, and also oestrogen? Maybe you need a higher dose of progestogen to stop the bleeding - but maybe also this would be ineffective if your fibroids are large?

Thereis a lot of info about treatments here:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Fibroids/Pages/Treatment.aspx

Hipe this helps

Hurdity x

[Snowfish]

Thank you Hurdity for the information. I was aware of some of it, but was not told about the Mirena helping to shrink fibroids ( now removed prior to scan and fibroid confirmation )
Was also interested to read that transdermal gels are more likely to cause them, which I have been taking for the last 6 months. I am wondering why on earth I was prescribed them, particularly after I had been bleeding continously at that time for 3 months.
Also at the same appointment the dose of oestrogen was changed to another brand and increased, due to being told my levels were still too low ( blood test - Serum Oestradiol level- 93 pmol/L 46.0-607.0 ) This was contested by another Dr, who said the reading was normal.
Initially at the beginning of the year I was prescribed Vagifem, Testosterone Gel, Sandrena Gel 1.00mg daily and was fitted with the Mirena in February. It was in April that I visited with the blood test result and was advised a scan due to the bleeding, a small polyp had been visible when the coil was fitted. Estrogel 0.06% was then advised, 3 pumps per day ! Was suggested that Mirena could be removed, as a possible culprit for the bleeding and was advised to take Utrogestan 100mg progesterone daily after its removal.
The coil was removed in May, bleeding didn't stop and I had the scan on !st June.
My GP unhappy with the gels from the other Dr has prescribed the combined tablet Kliovance 1mg/0.5mg daily and am now awaiting the specialist appointment.
The scan revealed multiple intramural fibroids, the largest being 4cm.
Just confused by the disagreement over the blood test reading. Also the increased dose of oestrogen when bleeding/ clotting and why it wasn't suggested that I keep the Mirena until Fibroids were ruled out ?

  Snowfish x