Fibroid Degeneration During Pregnancy

[anamchara]

For a little background, I'm 17 weeks along, my blood sugar is high (I need to go in for another glucola test) and my blood pressure has been creeping up. I also had two 1cm fibroids that grew to 5cm in the first trimester. Pregnancy was so much easier in my 20's!

So at about 3am Saturday morning I woke up with period like cramps but it was bearable. A few hours later the cramps became contraction-like pains. I called the doctor and she said it may be ligament pain since I had no unusual discharge and to take it easy, take some Tylenol, and use a heating pad.

Sunday the pain became excruciating and really felt like the early labor pains I had with my daughter. The pain came in waves about every five minutes. My OB had me go to the ER. I got a sonogram and the baby was absolutely fine, thank God, my uterus is closed, long, and thick, which meant no pre-term labor. Blood tests and urine also came back good.

The ER doctor told me fibroid degeneration was likely causing the pain. The fibroids have outgrown their blood supply and are dying. He gave me some Vicodin and sent me home.

Today the pain is still excruciating. I had to go to work and took the edge off with one Vicodin (two make me sleep). The pain is about every 10 minutes now but still intense.

I'm following up with my doctor tomorrow but decided to Google degenerating fibroids during pregnancy. I REALLY shouldn't have done that. I'm so freaked out right now that I might go into pre-term labor or miscarry or something.

Have any of you experienced fibroid degeneration during pregnancy? What happened?

 

[anamchara]

Anyone?

 

[beachgal]

I have at least 7 fibroids - all ranging in sizes. A few weeks ago I had an excruciating pain that wasn't ligament pain and really couldn't be described as anything else. I went to the drs twice because the pain was unreal and lasted a week. The dr said not to worry as long as I'm not bleeding and put my mind at ease. They said it could be the degeneration of a fibroid but they didn't seem concerned.
Since then I've been fine with only ligament pain.
Big hugs to you and try not to worry or read too much (easier said than done right!)

 

[amjon]

I have a small fibroid the MFM has been watching. It has not grown at all though. I don't know about them dieing.

 

[anamchara]

Thanks, guys. The pain seems to have subsided for the most part today (hopefully). I feel like it gets worse as the day goes on though, so we'll see. I have a follow up appointment with my doctor this afternoon. I hope everything is still ok.

 

[Ripley]

I have a specialist because of my fibroid. Both he and my regular OB have said that they can get very painful. My sister in law had degeneration and said it was excruciating. But her kids were fine. From what I've been told, it's just tough on you. hopefully the pain goes away.

 

[lisanicole]

I had fibroid degeneration with my last pregnancy. It was the most pain I have ever felt. The only thing that helped was Advil (which I was told was ok during this time). Vicodin did not help. It lasted about 5 days and that was it. My son was healthy!

I am currently 15 weeks pregnant with my second and it has not happened again yet... I am so nervous it will. The pain was worse than labor for me.

 

[anamchara]

Thanks, guys! The pain only lasted a few days and it seems to be gone now. Thank GOd! It was awful. Thanks for your support!

 

[kikinyc]

I am so relieved to hear your pain didn't last for too long. gives me hope. i was in the ER all weekend with the worst pain of my life. i was so scared. turns out they think it is the degenerating fibroid. thank the lord baby is fine. im on inocidin for the pain but can only take it for a couple of days. the assured me it was safe. the original tylenol plus codeine didnt do anything...the inocidin helps with the pain and the minute it starts to wear off i can feel the pain coming back. i pray and hope its just this one episode and it goes away soon. im scared to see how it feels when i can't take the meds anymore and don't know what i will do to help manage the pain?

 

[piscean]

I have seven small fibroids. So far no pain with mine. I hope your pain eases up.

 

[laila 44]

Oh lord. I literally just went through months of agony with my best friend. She just gave birth but had a pedunculated fibroid on the outside if her uterus that caused her excruciating pain from about 15 weeks until her 30 th week! She spent a month in the hospital on morphine because the pain became soooo bad it was causing her uterus to go into contractions. Not much can be done unfortunately... Just pain meds and rest lots if rest!! Call your doc though and have him follow u very closely.

 

[laila 44]

Apparently fibroids stop causing pain at about 28-30 weeks and usually baby is perfectly fine! Hang in there!! But the degenerating is what causes the pain bc it cuts off blood supply to the fibroid ...