[Uterine fibroids] low dose contraceptive - (tried different pills -shrinkage)

[Guest guest]

I have also posted this email to the Embo group)

I have had my periods for about 20 years, am turning 31 soon and have not

had children.

My periods have always been heavy and " clotty " . I get back (lower and upper)

pain, breast pain, stomach cramps and crampy legs, headaches and nausea. The

muscular pains can begin 1 week prior to menstruation and during this time

all my muscles are weaker than normal and fatigue easily. I easily strain or

sprain muscles during that time. I also get strong pain on defaecation or

urination for a few days.

Prior to the pill, my periods generally lasted for 7 or 8 days with three to

five days of heavy flow. My period was always on time, like clockwork on a

28 day cycle and no irregular spotting during the cycle.I had good usually

clear skin ( apart from one pimple near menstruation)

I preferred to be natural and not take the pill (some say too many cycles

(being natural) lead to fibroids and then taking the pill for too long can

lead to fibroids - can't win?).

I used to work long hours so my period was very debilitating, 2 weeks of the

4 week cycle I experienced strong muscle weakness and fatigue. So I decided

finally to take the BC pill to cut down the bleeding, cramps, anemia, muscle

weakness and pains.

My doctor started me on ( I come from Australia so I have included the

composition of each BC pill, I do not know the U.S. equivalent) Microgynon

20 (- ethinyloestradiol 20 microgram and levornogestrel 100 microgram).

At the end of the first month my menstruation was significantly decreased to

that of light flow on a regular pad and only for one or two days, then

spotting for another few. The uterine cramps were significantly less and so

were some of the other aches and pains.

At the end of the second month I bled a little more and had a bit more

cramps. I also spotted one or two days in the month. I also developed a

brown spot about 1cm diameter on my facial skin.

During the third month I spotted for a week so my General Practitioner (GP)

moved me up to

Microgynon 30 ( ethinyloestradiol 30 microgram and levornogestrel 150

microgram), in an effort to stop the spotting.

1st month my symptoms were generally controlled but my uterine cramps were

getting a lot worse and i was taking more Naproxen sodium to control that.

2nd month I spotted for two weeks. The GP said to finish the third pack to

see if the symptoms would settle.

3rd month I spotted on and off for most of the four weeks.

Stopped taking the pill for 1 month at which time the bleeding stopped and

went back to the GP to try another pill.

Second ultrasound 7.3cm x 6.2cm, Feb 2002 ( fibroid grown by around 1.4cm

in three months)

The GP upped my oestrogen and put me on Dianne35 ED (cyproterone acetate

2000 microgram and ethinyloestradiol 35 microgram), which supposedly is also

helpful in regulating acne and was also higher in oestrogen than the

Microgynon 30.

The GP checked and read from the text book and said that upping the

oestrogen is supposed to help stop the bleeding. I was worried about the

effect of the oestrogen on the growth of the fibroid. He assured me that

there is no conclusive research that it will contribute to the growth of the

fibroid ( and as far as i know there still isn't).

1st month spotted two weeks. Cramps getting worse.

2nd month bled and spotted most of the time. Went back to GP he said to try

to finish the 3 months of Diane first then if desperate try the Microgynon

50 (ethinyloestradiol 50 microgram and levornogestrel 125 microgram), even

more oestrogen.

At this stage I also consulted my first Gyno who said there was no evidence

that taking the Diane pill would contribute to the growth of the fibroid.

She also encouraged me to take Diane for the three months in hope the

symptoms would settle down, if not then to take Microgynon 50.

3rd month spotted/bled most of the time, uterine cramps were worse than

before I ever started any pill, plus breast pain/ tenderness most of the

time and nausea on and off. Though, it did help with the muscular weakness

in the legs. I stopped the pill for another month, the bleeding slowly and

finally stopped (6 weeks of continuous bleeding).

On my understanding that progesterone can help counteract the effects/level

or oestrogen in the body, I insisted on the GP giving me a progesterone only

pill. I started Microval ( Levonorgestrel 30 microgram).

Medium Bleeding for three days (better than prior to " the pill " but more

bleeding than on the previous, combination oestrogen progesterone pills).

Uterine cramps still worse than prior to taking of " the pill " probably due

to size of intramural fibroid. But no more breast tenderness.

During first month of progesterone pill, 3rd ultrasound May 2002 - stable

fibroid

See 2nd Gyno, he recommends stop all BC pills esp oestrogen containing ones.

He is not keen on the progesterone only pill but acknowledges that I need to

take some form of pill for symptom relief. He thinks that it should do no

harm. But he told me to have a MYO within 12 months as he said the fibroid

would double in size within the year ( I was so shocked! the first gyno said

I had years). He did not mention a UAE at all.

This is when I started to research UAE, the main reason I am still watching

and waiting is because there is no Dr Kirsch in Sydney. UAE is still in it's

early stages here apparently a Doctor by the surname of Griggs or Briggs has

written a paper on it, commenting on the procedure before the Royal North

Shore Hospital in Sydney, but from what I gather very few UAE's have been

performed and most GP's including ordinary Radiologists have not heard of

the procedure. I considered flying to the U.S.

Dr Kirsch, have you considered presenting a seminar on UAE in Sydney?

I am now on my fourth packet of Microval, the amount of bleeding, cramps etc

seems to be the same as in the first month.

I still have the pressure symptoms of the fibroid and , small bladder

generally drink 2 glasses of water and then need to go within the next hour

or two), strong cramps, pressure on back passage, some stabbing cervical

pain, lower back pain etc. But I hate to imagine how much worse my bleeding,

cramps or bloating would be without the help of the progesterone. Lucky for

me I do not spot during my cycle though I have heard some women do on this

type of pill. The first day of bleeding is not so predictable, ranging

from between the last 1 to 3 days of the packet. Though I did not bleed on

the first day of the sugar pills for the combined osetrogen progesterone

pills.

I agree that different things work for different people.

My last ultrasound August 2002 seems to show shrinkage,

taken around the same time of my cycle, the fibroid now measures 5.4 x 4.2 x

6.1 instead of 7.3 x 6.2cm although the report summary says unchanged.

Fingers crossed ( Thank God) and I have put on two kilos due to immobility

due to an injury, one would think the fibroid would grow.

I do not know if this is just due to the progesterone. But I

also try to do yoga and pilates type stretches each day and eat more

vegetables and fruit than I used to, and yes I am still overweight BMI of

about 29.

I hope my experience helps with anyone's decision/thoughts re BC pills

P.S. Could FNicolay please pass on that italian

website link regarding BC pill usage.

Regards,

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Nice to here from another aussie! I also was on microgynon30 for approx

10yrs before having my kids,when i resumed taking it after my second child

was born i started spotting between periods and was prescribed microgynon50

straight off!(no questions).This took care of the spotting and approx 7yrs

later i began to experience heavy bleeding .I was on my 3rd female GP and 3

yrs before someone finally listened to my concerns and sent me for an

ultrasound,bingo, fibroid!!

I really have to wonder if being on the high dose pill contributed to my

fibroid's growth.Anyway i'm now on Norimin*-1(35) and after 3mnths i've had

no problems with spotting but won't know about growth until my next

ultrasound in 2mnths.

Regarding UAE i've also heard about DrBriggs at RNS but are you aware of the

Melbourne Fibroid Clinic? check out info at www.melbfibroidclinic.com.au and

you may find what you're looking for there.Also check the archives of both

groups to find out info from past members regarding Australia.Good Luck

Sharon

Brisbane,(ex Sydney)

>

>Reply-To: uterinefibroids

>To: <uterinefibroids >

>Subject: [uterine fibroids] low dose contraceptive -

>(tried different pills -shrinkage)

>Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2002 03:06:08 +1000

>

>I have also posted this email to the Embo group)

>

>I have had my periods for about 20 years, am turning 31 soon and have not

>had children.

>

>My periods have always been heavy and " clotty " . I get back (lower and

>upper)

>pain, breast pain, stomach cramps and crampy legs, headaches and nausea.

>The

>muscular pains can begin 1 week prior to menstruation and during this time

>all my muscles are weaker than normal and fatigue easily. I easily strain

>or

>sprain muscles during that time. I also get strong pain on defaecation or

>urination for a few days.

>

>Prior to the pill, my periods generally lasted for 7 or 8 days with three

>to

>five days of heavy flow. My period was always on time, like clockwork on a

>28 day cycle and no irregular spotting during the cycle.I had good usually

>clear skin ( apart from one pimple near menstruation)

>I preferred to be natural and not take the pill (some say too many cycles

>(being natural) lead to fibroids and then taking the pill for too long can

>lead to fibroids - can't win?).

>

>I used to work long hours so my period was very debilitating, 2 weeks of

>the

>4 week cycle I experienced strong muscle weakness and fatigue. So I decided

>finally to take the BC pill to cut down the bleeding, cramps, anemia,

>muscle

>weakness and pains.

>

>My doctor started me on ( I come from Australia so I have included the

>composition of each BC pill, I do not know the U.S. equivalent) Microgynon

>20 (- ethinyloestradiol 20 microgram and levornogestrel 100 microgram).

>

>At the end of the first month my menstruation was significantly decreased

>to

>that of light flow on a regular pad and only for one or two days, then

>spotting for another few. The uterine cramps were significantly less and so

>were some of the other aches and pains.

>

>At the end of the second month I bled a little more and had a bit more

>cramps. I also spotted one or two days in the month. I also developed a

>brown spot about 1cm diameter on my facial skin.

>

>During the third month I spotted for a week so my General Practitioner (GP)

>moved me up to

>Microgynon 30 ( ethinyloestradiol 30 microgram and levornogestrel 150

>microgram), in an effort to stop the spotting.

>

>1st month my symptoms were generally controlled but my uterine cramps were

>getting a lot worse and i was taking more Naproxen sodium to control that.

>

>2nd month I spotted for two weeks. The GP said to finish the third pack to

>see if the symptoms would settle.

>

>3rd month I spotted on and off for most of the four weeks.

>

>Stopped taking the pill for 1 month at which time the bleeding stopped and

>went back to the GP to try another pill.

>

>Second ultrasound 7.3cm x 6.2cm, Feb 2002 ( fibroid grown by around 1.4cm

>in three months)

>

>The GP upped my oestrogen and put me on Dianne35 ED (cyproterone acetate

>2000 microgram and ethinyloestradiol 35 microgram), which supposedly is

>also

>helpful in regulating acne and was also higher in oestrogen than the

>Microgynon 30.

>The GP checked and read from the text book and said that upping the

>oestrogen is supposed to help stop the bleeding. I was worried about the

>effect of the oestrogen on the growth of the fibroid. He assured me that

>there is no conclusive research that it will contribute to the growth of

>the

>fibroid ( and as far as i know there still isn't).

>

>1st month spotted two weeks. Cramps getting worse.

>2nd month bled and spotted most of the time. Went back to GP he said to try

>to finish the 3 months of Diane first then if desperate try the Microgynon

>50 (ethinyloestradiol 50 microgram and levornogestrel 125 microgram), even

>more oestrogen.

>At this stage I also consulted my first Gyno who said there was no evidence

>that taking the Diane pill would contribute to the growth of the fibroid.

>She also encouraged me to take Diane for the three months in hope the

>symptoms would settle down, if not then to take Microgynon 50.

>3rd month spotted/bled most of the time, uterine cramps were worse than

>before I ever started any pill, plus breast pain/ tenderness most of the

>time and nausea on and off. Though, it did help with the muscular weakness

>in the legs. I stopped the pill for another month, the bleeding slowly and

>finally stopped (6 weeks of continuous bleeding).

>

>On my understanding that progesterone can help counteract the effects/level

>or oestrogen in the body, I insisted on the GP giving me a progesterone

>only

>pill. I started Microval ( Levonorgestrel 30 microgram).

>Medium Bleeding for three days (better than prior to " the pill " but more

>bleeding than on the previous, combination oestrogen progesterone pills).

>Uterine cramps still worse than prior to taking of " the pill " probably due

>to size of intramural fibroid. But no more breast tenderness.

>

>During first month of progesterone pill, 3rd ultrasound May 2002 - stable

>fibroid

>

>See 2nd Gyno, he recommends stop all BC pills esp oestrogen containing

>ones.

>He is not keen on the progesterone only pill but acknowledges that I need

>to

>take some form of pill for symptom relief. He thinks that it should do no

>harm. But he told me to have a MYO within 12 months as he said the fibroid

>would double in size within the year ( I was so shocked! the first gyno

>said

>I had years). He did not mention a UAE at all.

>This is when I started to research UAE, the main reason I am still watching

>and waiting is because there is no Dr Kirsch in Sydney. UAE is still in

>it's

>early stages here apparently a Doctor by the surname of Griggs or Briggs

>has

>written a paper on it, commenting on the procedure before the Royal North

>Shore Hospital in Sydney, but from what I gather very few UAE's have been

>performed and most GP's including ordinary Radiologists have not heard of

>the procedure. I considered flying to the U.S.

>

>Dr Kirsch, have you considered presenting a seminar on UAE in Sydney?

>

>I am now on my fourth packet of Microval, the amount of bleeding, cramps

>etc

>seems to be the same as in the first month.

>

>I still have the pressure symptoms of the fibroid and , small bladder

> generally drink 2 glasses of water and then need to go within the next

>hour

>or two), strong cramps, pressure on back passage, some stabbing cervical

>pain, lower back pain etc. But I hate to imagine how much worse my

>bleeding,

>cramps or bloating would be without the help of the progesterone. Lucky for

>me I do not spot during my cycle though I have heard some women do on this

>type of pill. The first day of bleeding is not so predictable, ranging

>from between the last 1 to 3 days of the packet. Though I did not bleed on

>the first day of the sugar pills for the combined osetrogen progesterone

>pills.

>

>I agree that different things work for different people.

>

>My last ultrasound August 2002 seems to show shrinkage,

>taken around the same time of my cycle, the fibroid now measures 5.4 x 4.2

>x

>6.1 instead of 7.3 x 6.2cm although the report summary says unchanged.

>Fingers crossed ( Thank God) and I have put on two kilos due to immobility

>due to an injury, one would think the fibroid would grow.

>I do not know if this is just due to the progesterone. But I

>also try to do yoga and pilates type stretches each day and eat more

>vegetables and fruit than I used to, and yes I am still overweight BMI of

>about 29.

>

>I hope my experience helps with anyone's decision/thoughts re BC pills

>

>P.S. Could FNicolay please pass on that italian

>website link regarding BC pill usage.

>

>Regards,

>

>

>

>

>

>