Fibroids
Question
I am a 38 year old with large fibroids. My doctor prescribed the three month dosage of Lupron. I received this shot on November 7th and my period came on November 18th. It has not gone off. I bled so badly one day I had to go to the ER. This shot has me so sick and I am fed up with the bleeding. I am now taking norethindrone 5mg twice a day. I am terrified of having a hysterectomy because of my last c-secton which resulted in my artery being nipped. I ended up on life support and given 32 units of blood. My body went into DIC and the doctors gave me up and said I would not live. I am very very very depressed and sick. Please tell me of any thing I can do to stop this bleeding.I want my life back from this fear.
Please help
Sherry
Answer
Last Updated: December 28, 2014
Sometimes Lupron can take more than one month to work, so I would be patient. If it works at shrinking your fibroids, you can consider taking it six months rather than three. However, the Lupron will not be a permanent treatment for you if you are only 38. Your periods will eventually come back and the fibroids may grow again.
There are some non-surgical treatments for your fibroids you might consider, depending on the size of your fibroids. One is uterine artery embolization, during which a radiologist specially trained in this procedure puts a catheter in an artery in your groin, threads it up to the blood supply to the fibroids, and puts beads in the fibroids’ blood supply, which results in the fibroids shrinking. This treatment is suitable if you have had all the children you want to have.
Another newer option that will likely be approved by the FDA later this year is MRI-guided ultrasound shrinkage of fibroids. With this procedure, which sometimes has to be repeated, ultrasound waves are used to “zap” fibroids and shrink them. Given your history, you might seek out a large medical center where these newer therapies are used. Because you had such serious problems with surgery in the past, your insurance company might be willing to pay for an experimental therapy.
Here is a link that describes the MRI-guided ultrasound: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/01/earlyshow/contributors/emilysenay/main712982.shtml It is possible this therapy will come to a medical center in your area. Using the Lupron might buy you some time to search out suitable treatment.
Good luck!
Mary Davenport, MD
There are some non-surgical treatments for your fibroids you might consider, depending on the size of your fibroids. One is uterine artery embolization, during which a radiologist specially trained in this procedure puts a catheter in an artery in your groin, threads it up to the blood supply to the fibroids, and puts beads in the fibroids’ blood supply, which results in the fibroids shrinking. This treatment is suitable if you have had all the children you want to have.
Another newer option that will likely be approved by the FDA later this year is MRI-guided ultrasound shrinkage of fibroids. With this procedure, which sometimes has to be repeated, ultrasound waves are used to “zap” fibroids and shrink them. Given your history, you might seek out a large medical center where these newer therapies are used. Because you had such serious problems with surgery in the past, your insurance company might be willing to pay for an experimental therapy.
Here is a link that describes the MRI-guided ultrasound: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/01/earlyshow/contributors/emilysenay/main712982.shtml It is possible this therapy will come to a medical center in your area. Using the Lupron might buy you some time to search out suitable treatment.
Good luck!
Mary Davenport, MD
Answered By:
Mary Davenport, MD, MS
Mary Davenport, MD, FACOG, an obstetrician/gynecologist from the Oakland Region of California, offers telehealth services over MyCatholicDoctor.com She graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed her residency at UC San Diego. Dr. Davenport is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and serves on the Advisory Board of the California Association of Natural Family Planning.
