I had my appointment this afternoon. I did not stray from my type and was very nervous and over thinking beforehand but fairly calm when in there, or at least I remembered to deep breath and listen.
I am very relieved to report that he says there is no need for anything to be done, not even to watch with re-scans.
He came across very clearly in explaining things and asking his questions, the confidence and directness was far more reassuring than most GP's I have come across in the past two years. It was my first consultation with a specialist. He told me to forget what the sonographer told me and to tell him what took me to the GP in the first place. He seemed surprised no one had yet examined me, so he did that.
Yes, I have a fibroid, my uterus is enlarged (roughly the size of a netball) I have no symptoms with the fibroid that require treating. IF I was to get symptoms. persistant heavy bleeding or pressure symptoms then the treatment is hysterectomy or hormones to supress growth and bide time until menopause when they usually shrink. The long term solution is hysterectomy, he said this is a last resort.
Other things going on are not caused by the fibroid and could be falling hormones, general changes with age and that changes in cycles are all to be expected. He said there is always more than one thing going on but regards fibroid symptoms, they are more persistant and severe than what I described. He did not think my heavier bleeding was to do with the fibroid and that I need to ignore completely the notion I am near menopause - as maybe I am, maybe I am not but there is no need to worry about that OR the fibroid. When periods have stopped for a year, review things on that front then. A missed period is not any indication, night sweats are falling hormones but that could go on and off like the other things. H
Of course after the initial relief I wondered whether I needed to ask him, what about the 'ovulation' pains coming and going or the sometimes weird digestion, are my ovaries ok? But then I realised he told me to ignore things that I started to think about after the ultrasound that made me think something terrible was wrong - they may just be passing things and part of hormone changes. Either way, I got the distinct impression that his advise really is to start investigating things when there are persistant symptoms. I did tell him all my symptoms, so I guess he took all that into account and is sure the fibroid has nothing to do with them and a clear cut menopause status isn't either. Suggested the changes that come and go are to be expected.
I am going to try and unwind now, it really was stressfull. My fibroid could have been there and probably has been there for years and I would not have known had it not been for the incidental scan. He seemed to really have empathy that I had been worried and not even had an examination before seeing him. I did mention the fact the sonographer said several and they were on my bladder, he said fibroids are always near the bladder, there is nowhere else for them to be and that yes, maybe several but one biggish one.
Thank you so much for replies and empathy around all this. I hope I will feel less intimidated if I need to see a consultant again.
Author
Topic: What to expect - Gynaecologist appointment for fibroids (Read 9590 times)