I had a follow up with my gynecologist today regarding my hormone levels. They did a vaginal ultrasound which showed that I have a few uterine fibroids (growth in or on your uterus). If you don’t know, uterine fibroids are more common in black women in their 30’s and 40s. They are NOT cancer. Birth control containing estrogen can cause fibroids to grow and menopause will cause them to shrink. The occurrence of fibroids slows when a woman enters menopause because of the decrease in estrogen when a woman is in menopause. My gyno got a chuckle that I have uterine “fibroids” considering I have cystic “FIBROSIS,” haha. I like her humor.

Depending on the size of the fibroids and the symptoms you’re experiencing, there are a few treatment options. First choice of medication treatment is Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists These treat fibroids by blocking the body from making the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This puts you into a temporary menopause-like state. As a result, menstrual periods stop, fibroids shrink and anemia often gets better. Progestin-releasing intrauterine device (IUD). A progestin-releasing IUD can relieve heavy bleeding caused by fibroids. It only relieves symptoms, though. It doesn’t shrink fibroids or make them go away. Low-dose birth control pills will help to control bleeding but won’t reduce the fibroid size. Surgical options are as follows…Uterine artery embolization. Small particles called embolic agents are injected into the arteries that supply the uterus with blood. The particles cut off blood flow to fibroids, causing them to shrink and die. Radiofrequency ablation. In this procedure, heat from radiofrequency energy destroys uterine fibroids and shrinks the blood vessels that feed them. This can be done laparoscopically. It also can be done through the vagina, called a transvaginal procedure, or through the cervix, called a transcervical procedure. Laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy. In a myomectomy, your surgeon removes the fibroids and leaves the uterus in place. Hysteroscopic myomectomy. This procedure may be an option if the fibroids are inside the uterus, also called submucosal fibroids. The fibroids are removed using tools placed through the vagina and cervix into the uterus. Endometrial ablation. This procedure can reduce heavy menstrual flow. A device that’s inserted into the uterus gives off heat, microwave energy, hot water, cold temperature or an electric current. This destroys the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus. Hysterectomy. This surgery removes the uterus. It remains the only proven permanent solution for uterine fibroids.

I say all that to say, surgery was not even brought up today. My fibroids are not at that point.

She told me she miss typed when she sent my results in the patient portal saying that my labs showed that I AM perimenopausal. I am in fact NOT in perimenopause according to my hormone levels. That’s not to say I’m not perimenopausal at the moment. Hormones are always changing and it could just be that the day my labs were drawn they could have been in “ok” range.

She said the fibroids are most likely the cause to the increase in the number of days between my periods (up to 46 days between periods) and the random amount of flow (a lot then a little). She prescribed me a progesterone pill that will stop my period. The progesterone pill is not in a birth control pack like other BC pills with a week of “nothing” pills. It’s progesterone every day. I may have some break through bleeding (very common) for the first 1-2 months on the med and then by the third month I should have no bleeding. She said that the progesterone pill acts differently than the progesterone shot (DEPO shot) and it should not affect my mood like the DEPO shot did. I will see her again at the beginning of April for a repeat vaginal ultrasound to check the fibroid sizes and a check up to see how I’m doing on the progesterone.

As far as the hot flash “seasons” I’ve been having for a while now is a mystery, as are the rest of my symptoms (hair loss, waking early, night sweats, headaches, etc) I’m having that line up with perimenopause/menopause. It could be a medication side effect since as you know I’m the queen of random side effects. I’ll just doing what I’m doing as usual.

Next order of business…RECLAST inflammatory response UPDATE: I did start to have less of the burning thigh pain, as in it wasn’t consistent and became intermittent. This is what we decided to do with all the meds I started for the reaction. Taking Pepcid 40mg twice a day for 7 days (12/27-1/2), then I went down to 40mg once a day for 7 days (1/3-1/9), then stop. Continued the prednisone 40mg for 12/27 and 12/28, then went down to 20mg from 12/29-12/31, then went down to 10mg for 1/1 and 1/2, then done. I am still taking Aleve (Naproxen) 2 pills twice a day from 12/27-12/29, then I went down to 2 pills once a day for 7 days (12/30-1/5), then I’ll go down to 1 pill once a day if I am still having some thigh burning/pain, then hopefully stop it. I’m still taking 2 extra strength Tylenol “as needed” which seems to still be 2-3 times a day, AM and PM for sure and if I’m uncomfortable in the afternoon I take 2 extra strength pills.

I’m still having some burning/pain in my left thigh. It seems to come on when I’m in the car driving most of the time in the afternoon for some reason. I’m hoping it will decrease very soon! I will be talking to my CF doctor at my next appointment mid February about other options for my osteoporosis treatment.

I think that about sums up the last few weeks on the health front. haha

Until next time…