One of my visitors here is having a problem with extreme pain from her fibroids during her pregnancy.
Anna: Are there any women out there who can tell me how to endure pregnancy fibroid pain?
I’m 7.5+ months pregnant with at least 8 fibroids, 3 of which are just over 5.7 cm each and growing. They were all discovered when I became pregnant. Most of them don’t bother me but two are crammed down at the bottom of my uterus just over the birth canal. The pain from those two is so bad I haven’t slept more than 3.5 hours in weeks.
The Dr. says I am experiencing ‘degridation’ as the fibroids grow which sends a chemical into the body causing this unbelievable, constant pain. For the pain, I take frequent warmish baths, stay in bed and take Tylenol which does very little (if anything) but I’m told that Tylenol is the only pain killer that’s safe for the baby.
First – Have any of you experienced this kind of extreme pain during pregnancy?
Second – What can I do about it ?I’m sure I’ll survive this … women are tough. But, I’d like to be able to get out of bed and enjoy a little bit of sunshine in the next two months. Heck, just having a short break from the horrible pain would be a blessing. Frankly … at this moment 8 hours of labor sounds like a cakewalk compared to months of this. =)
Your input is quite welcome.
If you have an experience or thoughts to share about uterine fibroid pain and pregnancy, please leave a comment.
November 28, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Thought I was suffering from gas/constipation until symtoms lasted for more than 2dys. Ended up in ER found out symptoms related to fibroids. This pain sucks! Will follow up with ob on Monday. Glad to have found this post for better insight to what I have been experiencing.
December 1, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Hi everyone. I was wondering if anyone has just experinence mild pain just when lying down. You see I am 10 weeks and 2 days and the only time I experience pain is when im laying down and when I get up to go urine when I wipe theres alittle brownish/light pink on the tissue. But when im up throughout the day moving around theres very little pain and absolutly no spotting. Has anyone else had any problems like this?
December 19, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Charnell, I am 16 weeks pregnant and have 5 large fibroids. I can’t lay down without them hurting. I am sleeping in a recliner now. My doc says this is normal with fibroids and pregnancy.
December 12, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Hi,
I am ten weeks pregnant and just went to the doctor for
my first appointment Thursday. The next day she called and said they found a fibroid growing in my uterus and it was pressing up against the baby’s sac. She didn’t tell me anymore than that other than I would have another ultrasound in four weeks. As soon as I can get my medical billing straightened out I will go to an OB but right now I’m just scared and trying to find out more about this.
December 12, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Bethany, try not to worry. About 1/3 of all women have fibroids, and usually they are completely not an issue. The pregnancy hormones and/or blood supply can make them grow, but not in everyone, and it very often has no effect at all on the pregnancy. I had several fibroids, the largest of which was about 10 cm, and I have 2 healthy, full-term children. They will monitor the fibroid with ultra-sounds.
I had very few side effects when not pregnant with my fibroid, and it sounds like you aren’t having heavy periods or especially bad cramps, which are the ususal side effects. I didn’t know I had them til my first u/s with my daughter.
Let us know what’s going on.
December 19, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Hi there, I’m just discovering this site, and am so happy to see that there’s been a bit of recent dialogue since I don’t know where else to go for mutual support with uterine fibroid issues. I would love a facebook group too…is anyone following up on that?
I’m 29, pregnant with my first child at 16.5 weeks. I’ve always had severe cramping, heavy bleeding and clotting lasting for an eight day menstruation period. The doctor could never diagnose the issue. After getting pregnant, I told my doctor about mild pain and she ordered an US, which showed a subserous fibroid on my left side. Besides feeling much larger than my 9 weeks and having shown already at 7 weeks, I didn’t experience anything major until a week ago. It started with mild menstrual-like cramps, progressed to intense (not sleeping, not eating, etc) pain that felt the way people say labour feels (waking up with my uterus entirely hard and waves of cramps across my lower abdomen. I’ve been to my ob/gyn several times since, have spent a night in hospital because i stopped passing urine and was in immense pain, have had trouble urinating, gotten constipation from taking codeine for the pain, have had bad back pain that radiates down into my buttox and then down into my right leg, etc etc etc.
My ob/gyn says my fibroid is likely degenerating and hemorraghing internally. It is pressed up against my bladder, thus the irritation there. It was 7cm before this and is larger now due to inflammation.
After all that, here is my big question. I am scheduled to fly home to Canada to visit family and friends for the holiday–a last visit before I have the baby and can’t travel. I’m nervous about travelling because of the hemorraghing of the fibroid and the anti-clotting needle I have to take to fly. I’m also nervous because of the turbulence that I’ll experience in the 14.5 hour flight. And the slight risk of miscarriage due to increased inflammation is a large worry as well. Should I put off my flight expecting that the degeneration will finish (It’s been a week now and my flight is tomorrow) soon? Has anyone had experience with flying with this pain? Is there a chance my pain could continue through my entire vacation, making the flight not worth the trouble at all?
Thanks for any comments you can provide! Hope to meet people on facebook soon.
December 20, 2009 at 1:54 am
I haven’t flown in a long time. I think you shoud talk to your doctor about it though and then do what you feel is right inside. I had a subchorionic bleed 4 weeks ago and I have decided not to travel too far from my doc and the er until after the baby. It is the holiday though and I understand your dilema. Congrats on your first baby! I am sorry you are having to go through all of this. I know it is hard.
December 20, 2009 at 2:51 am
I’ll preface this by saying that I have not had a pregnancy that involved degenerative pain… but at the very least, remember what the worst you felt was when you were, and consider whether or not you can stand to be on a plane for close to 15 hours if you should find yourself back in that condition… I don’t know if overseas flights are as packed as domestic ones are during the holidays, but that is another consideration as flights are so much harder when a plane is full. It also depends on what the seating is like… first class would likely make a huge difference. I flew from California to Texas when I was 23 and 6months pregnant and remember being very uncomfortable – and that’s a much shorter flight! My legs became swollen etc. I couldn’t find a comfortable position, had to get up to pee alot 9so don’t sit by a window!),etc. Then, if you wait longer, it may get harder because you’ll be farther along at that point… It’s a good thing you’re asking this question.. I would think long and hard about it, and as Kristin says, make sure you check with your doctor.
December 20, 2009 at 5:55 am
Hi Overseas canadian
I was in Mexico when I discovered I had fibroids. The biggest one was 7cm and had red degeneration. It grew a couple of centimetres overnight. I flew home from Mexico on two flights (5 hours and 7 hours approx) and although I was terrbily uncomfortable and on loads of pain killers during both flights I was fine, I am now 25 weeks and the degeneration hasnt finished the big fibroid is still there – they die from the inside out so the size doesnt really go down. Still not sure what is going to happen re birth and stuff, but if you are unwell/in pain you cannot beat being in your own home. I would not risk an unnecessary flight, even now. Personally I would wait. Your baby is much more important. Hope everything goes well.
Zoe
January 14, 2010 at 6:20 am
I had my fibroid removed and flew on an 8 hour flight on the 2nd week. No pain, no bloating.. everything was normal, except for backache. Got a wheelchair from the airline so someone could help with my luggage. Felt weak and couldn’t lift my checkin luggage. Carrying my own hand carry was really tedious and causing backache.
December 20, 2009 at 9:07 am
I cancelled a planned trip on a 2-hour plane ride and missed a family event after a degeneration incident. I was in so much pain and didn’t want to travel on narcotics. Also, if something else happened (pre-term labor or contractions) I didn’t want to be away from my doctors.
Some of us have had good relief with ice or heat treatments. I personally had a love affair with the ice bag and think this baby will grow up to be an arctic explorer!
December 20, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Thanks so much for your thoughts, ladies. I really appreciate you taking time to respond. I had talked with my doctor, but all he could say was 1. that there is a small risk that the anti-clotting needle could increase hemorraghing that put the baby at risk 2. that i would be incredibly uncomfortable even if there was no risk 3. that he would go given our circumstances and narrowing window to travel (i won’t be able to see family and friends for a year from now at least and haven’t seen them for as long). So making a choice with those pieces of knowledge was hard! It’s good to hear that a lot of you trusted your own experience of the pain enough to say flying was *not* the way to go. My husband was able to get our flights delayed for only the change fee and we’ll go later. Thank God for that!
Donna, I tried the icepack yesterday right over my bladder and fibroid and it worked great! I need the heat packs for my hips and back, though.
December 20, 2009 at 11:34 pm
I am glad to know I am not the only one out there going through this, I am 3 months pregnant with 3 fibroids 7cm, 4cm, 2cm. I am miserable & in constant abdominal pain that does’nt stop. I have had kidney & UTI infections, because of this. Going to the bathroom is excruciating, my stomach feels inflamed & bloated. Constipation is also a big culprit. My Dr. has me on pain killers, but this is not how I want to spend the rest of my pregnancy.
December 24, 2009 at 5:45 am
oh yeah i know exactly how you feel. how long have you been in pain?
December 31, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Thanks for the encouragement! It’s just hard to explain pain to others who don’t or haven’t experienced it. Even doctors. Yes I am getting closer and more anxious for the pain to be over and for me to get my life back!! This will be my 2nd child in 19 years!!! Everyone who happens to read this please have a Happy and Safe, Blessed New Year!!!
December 27, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Christina, I understand, I am in constant discomfort. We are 20 weeks and I have been experiencing elevated discomfort since week four. The good thing is I had 3 weeks of no discomfort from weeks 12-13. This is my first child and I never thought it would be this much discomfort. My fibroids were discovered when I was 6 weeks along. However, I find warm towels more soothing than the heating pad. By the way, has anyone found any relief for the leg and buttock pain. Am I the only one that is sleepy 24/7? A newest symptom is snoring; i wake myself up; anyone had this happened? Food is an automatic sedative. does anyone have night sweats, if i wasn’t pregnant I would think I was menopausal.
December 28, 2009 at 2:17 pm
I have experienced discomfort from uterine fibroids since 1999. My 1st surgery, a myomectomy was done in 2001 and 7 were removed and the largest was about a foot long. I then had two other out patient surgeries for the removal of uterine fibroids. Taking pain medication only goes so far really and by the time you have taen all the percocet and tylenol or ibuprofen for inflammation you are just fed up with the process. I was married during the first surgery and inquired about a hysterectomy and the md advised against it. I did’nt get pregnant. I am now single and after third surgery I asked again about partial hysterectomy and was advised against it by same md. I am now pregnant in my 30th week experiencing pain to the point of not being able to work or even try to enjoy being pregnant. I am 38 years old and have experienced every symptom, severe morning sickness to the point I had to wear the odansetron pump 24hrs daily, weight loss, vomiting blood, nose bleeds, increased saliva production, increased mucus production, fainting spells, dizziness, and yes the dreaded fibroid pain that feels as if it will never end. The largest fibroid grew from 6cm to 9cm in 1 month of pregnancy. The others have since then grown also. They are so large to the point that they block my digestion and know I have to takeacid reflux medication in order to protect my stomach. My legs and back hurt constantly, I don’t sleep. I am blessed to have made it this far really, and glad to have found this site because I can’t talk to anyone even the doctor who I have had to change this late in the pregnancy because he just didn’t seem to be taking a more active approach with my condition. I will be trying some of the solutions other ladies have provided and I am praying that we all have positive outcomes in childbirth. Thanks for the site!
December 30, 2009 at 3:07 pm
The best I’ve been able to do for leg and buttock pain is the heating pads and hot water bottles. Have you found anything? And yes, definitely sleepy all the time. I think it’s from the pain meds.
December 30, 2009 at 3:08 pm
LaShawn, the fact that you’re at 30 weeks in this pregnancy is an inspiration! Almost there!
January 3, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Hi Joyce,
The leg and buttock pain you have might be completely unrelated to the degenerative pain. You might have Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction… spd… google it. It can be caused by the over production of the hormone Relaxin, which is released to loosen the pelvic ligaments so your pelvis can widen enough for your baby’s birth. My niece just gave birth to a beatiful baby boy, but she suffered a lot from this condition and her pelvis and legs hurt a lot to walk.. She finally saw a chiropractor (her first visit ever) and it helped her a lot… you can try YouTube to see a few adjustments…. Here’s one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyQXVq4D6fk&feature=related (I have no idea who this chiropractor is… just want to give you an idea) Good luck!
January 23, 2010 at 11:43 am
I have night sweats too. My doctor said that the degenerating fibroids is causing a low grade fever that may last a a week or two. I am 11 weeks pregnant with my first child and spent 2 nights in the hospital this week with severe abdominal pain. The doctors thought it was my appendix at first but concluding that it is my fibroid which was first discovered at my first ultrasound at week 6. Since then it has grown significantly to 8.5 x 9.5 cm. The abdominal pain is severe and feels worse when I pee. The doctors said that most likely the worse of the pain should be over in 1-2 weeks when the large fibroid has died enough and stopped emitting the pain chemicals. For now I am treating it with tylenol or percocet and lots of rest. I’m comforted by reading these posts – we’ll get through it : ) We are tough women!!
December 26, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Hi all. I’ve been reading the posts for quite some time. Since I became pregnant actually. I am now 18 weeks and the pain has just arrived. I have two fibroids, the largest 14 cms and growing. The pain is constant and draining. from my left side to my lower back, down my left leg. I do not think that the fibroid is dying, but rather that it may be pinching nerves..? I dont know. I am in pain to thte point of nausea though. I see my OB on Tuesday. Question for you all.. a heat pack applied to my back – wil that harm the baby?
Thanks for your reply. Best to you all.
December 30, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I’ve been told it won’t…hope your dr said the same…any good news from the appointment?
January 1, 2010 at 1:54 am
Doctor was against the heatpack. Not good for the baby.
December 31, 2009 at 3:27 am
14 cm fibroid should have been removed before pregnancy to avoid complication. That’s what my doctor told me. the Fibroid I had was 12cm x 10cm and was sitting and squashing the uterus.
December 31, 2009 at 10:02 am
Del,
I just had a full-term birth with a 10cm fibroid (and many others). I was scheduled for myomectomy for the same reasons your doctor is talking about, and I got pregnant in the meantime. Just wanted to let you know, it might be possible to carry to term. Depends on a lot of things, but I did it.
January 1, 2010 at 1:53 am
Del – We had planned to have it removed. It was less than 8 cm before I was pregnant and grew upon conception. Three days after we found out just how large it really was, we found out we were pregnant.
In any case – my appointment… I ended up in the hospital on Sunday. I went through a day and a half of intense pain, no sleep, and couldnt do it on my own anymore. I stayed there for two nights. They put me on Indocin (sp?) for the inflammation and percosets for the pain. I tried to limit the percosets as best as I could. I responded well to the drugs and on Tuesday, before leaving, we had 18 wk the anotomy scan – all looked well, the baby (we are having a girl!) was doing fine.. in fact was using the fibroid as a headrest. (She’s very resourceful already.) We could also see that the fibroid was no longer dense in color but had a texture.. it was indeed breaking down.
I am home now. First night home I vomited 11 times in less than 10 hours. Couldn’t even keep down water. I am sticking to Tylenol for the pain, instead of the percosets that were prescribed. I have had little to no appetite for since the pain started on Christmas. That is slowly getting better though. Pain is tolerable (to a degree) and I only have to take the Tylenol every 5-6 hours. I just fear having to go through this again. Natural childbirth should be a breeze compaired to this pain.
February 4, 2010 at 10:49 am
Hope you are feeling better now. I am going through the same right now and handling the pain is tough. I hope this ends soon, its been over a week
January 1, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Thanks very much for sharing this interesting post. I am just starting up my own blog and this has given me inspiration to what I can achieve.
January 2, 2010 at 12:50 am
I am a nigerian.28yrs old and 32wks pregnant wit my first baby. 2days ago I started having excruciating abdominal pains. I went 2 d hospital and was told I just need rest. I was given paracetamol and sleeping pills. After another sleepless night of unimagineable pain I went to see another doctor who examined me and said it was a fibroid causing me those pains. Gave me some pain killers and said nothin can be done until after I deliver the baby.I am was really happy to find this blog as nobody I know has experienced this. Do icepacks and warm towels help with the pain? Is the pain going to last till the end of the pregnancy and is this how it will be with all my subsequent pregnancies? I’d appreciate any useful replies.
January 5, 2010 at 8:17 pm
Hi Lynn…sorry you’ve started having this pain, but I’m glad you didn’t get them until now too! I have no idea what’s normal (seems nothing is with fibroids!), but my pain only lasted two weeks since it was the result of a degenerating (dying) fibroid. I hope yours goes away as quickly! I did find icepacks really helped when placed right over the spot where the fibroid is. I used the heat packs mostly for my back and hips. I’d also be interested to hear if others have had intense fibroid pain with one pregnancy but not with subsequent pregnancies!
January 2, 2010 at 4:34 pm
I am Ugandan, 12 weeks pregnant and experiencing excruciating pain caused by four fibroids. I have not slept i ages and do not hope to. Unless the pain subsides. I, too, am anxious to know whether this must go on till the end.
If so, then purgatory couldn’t be worse than this. I will have undergone my purgatory right here on earth.
January 10, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Hi Janet,
I’m so sorry to hear that you are going through so much pain. When I was pregnant back in 2007, I carried my little one for almost seven months, but did not suffer at all with fibroid pain.
Try to use warm towels and try to relax. Are you taking anything for the pain?I hope you find some relief.
January 12, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Hello there hopeagain07, thank you for your response.
I am not taking any pain killers, and do not intend to. In any case the gynecologist said that, in my situation, painkillers bring very little relief, if any. I have thought of using ice packs but haven’t got around to doing so.
Will try out the warm towels.
January 2, 2010 at 11:32 pm
I have several fibroids and they didn’t start hurting until now, I’m 33 weeks. I think when the baby hits them it causes more pain. A shot of pain shoots through my belly. I have to jump but I refuse to take any painkillers as I have not taken any in over 5 years. The doctor prescribed some anti-inflammatory painkillers but said there’s really nothing he can do about it. I threw the prescription away and will deal with the shots of pain.
January 6, 2010 at 11:44 am
Dayna, I don’t know if this will mean much because I can’t quote the studies, but I recently read some that explained that it’s not good to allow oneself to feel that much pain… If I recall correctly, it said that it sensitizes one’s brain to feel more pain later on… I’ll have to try to find more and get back to you… but let’s just say that I used to be pretty stringent about staying away from pain pills too…. but it changed my mind. In addition, they are finding that inflamation is pretty bad for one’s body too… so anti-inflamatories are gaining a lot of attention as well. So you might want to ask your doc about that. Consider whether the hormones produced by your own body in response to the pain may be worse for your baby than the pain pills… Best to you… I hope you are feeling better.
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January 30, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Hi Anna,
I hope you can see this message although I see you have left yours in 2006. I have extreme pain because of my fibroids too. I have 3 but one that grew to 9cm sitting on my cervix. wanted to know what you ended up doing or anyone else besides Tylenol..I still have 4months to go.
Thanks
February 4, 2010 at 10:43 am
I was so happy when I found this site. I was able to see that most of my symptons that been experienced with others. I cried a lot after finding out about my fibroids. I am 35 and having my first baby. The doctor discovered that I have three the largest being 8cm. I am 14weeks now and the fibriods are going through degeneration. This causes a lot of lower abdomen and lower back pain. I have been taking tynenol for the pain. My biggest concern is how long this will last?
February 4, 2010 at 7:35 pm
I don’t know that the timing of degeneration is consistent among women, but when my fibroids degenerated a few months ago I had intense pain for two weeks and mild pain for the following week. My doctor seemed to think that was pretty average.
February 4, 2010 at 10:17 pm
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