TOM - Worstening fibroids on LC? For women only

[carblight]

I was just wondering if anybody hre had seen their fibroids worsten on Low Carb. After six weeks of low carbing I ended yup in the ER due to pain from an existing fibroid. They also could not find a cyst that I know I had on my right ovary and I am pretty sure that it burst - even if the ER people were not listening to me on that - but they did not have my previous scans, showing a one inch cycst on my right ovary.

I know that on low carb estrogen is released from the fat cells, where it is sometimes stored. But can this release actually be dangerous to someone with fibroids? Seen that there seems to be a connection between fibroid growth and excess estrogen.

Anyway, my experience might have nothing to do with LC. But just curious, as I am also having some other symptoms that I had years ago when I attempted to take the pill i.e. pre-flebitis symptoms in the veins in my legs. Both times I tried to take the pill in my twenties I ened up in hospital with flebitis- hence I cannot take hormonal contraceptives. So just wonedring here if this estrogen relaese might be dangerous for people like me.

Also wondering: does this not get released in other forms of diet? Why would a low cal diet not produce a release of stored estrogen from cells.

If any of you have any comments on all this or have experienced something similar, I will be very interested to hear about it. In the meantime I have upped my carbs to 40/50 a day- I am actually loosing better this way than on induction level carbs and I think higher carbs is a bit gentler on my body.

[Josiemk]

Hi,
I had a fiberoid removed this past summer. but I don't think that it was due to low carb diet. Their very slow growing tumors & mine was about golf ball sized & bleed like crazy. I was showing signs for a while but didn't realize it.

Josie

[quietone]

The cyst could have just evaporated, they do that and this could be why it was no longer seen. That's also why drs. usually take a wait and see approach to ovarian cysts.

I can't imagine that it could make the fibroids worse, but what the low carb could be doing is making you notice the pain more because of a lack of serotonin production.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Nancy LC]

Fat cells "produce" estrogen. Low carb doesn't do anything else with estrogen so far as I'm aware of. That's why being overwieght can increase your chances of having blood clots, since its increased with estrogen.

[cs_carver]

Not sure about how all the estrogen works except that I've heard again and again that high body fat messes with it.

Bodies are burning more fat on LC so it's not surprising there are different fat-release effects than low cal.

[carblight]

Thanks for your replies :-)! The pain has fortunately now gone...touch wood it will stay gone. It was the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life- worst that passing a kidney stone...

Nancy LC...I thought that as fat cells shrink they released that excess estrogen that they produce, hence the many people with irregular TOM when low carbing - at least at the beginning. I was wondering if that release of estrogen into the system due to fat cells letting go of it as the fat is burned during ketosis, might cause a worstening of fibroids. Most likely it doesn't, since otherwise it would not just be me with this problem! Thanks for your raply :-) I am going to look into this estrogen /fat connection to understand exactly how it works :-)

:wave:

[carblight]

Josiemk

when you had your fibroid removed, how did they do it? And , if you do not mind sharing, how big was your fibroid? I might have to have mine removed to and the word hysterctomy has been floating around. I really do not want to have a hysterectomy at 37 years old if I can avoid it. Curious to know what procedure they used to remove yours and how that worked for you...only if you do not mind sharing. I know these things are rather intimate stuff :-) and probably off topic with low carbing...

:wave:

[carblight]

Nancy LC



all good information there and food for thought :-) Thank you for taking the time to reply :-) This estrogen/hormone dynamics are very interesting - thanks for the article snippet. So much to learn :-)

And yes, the 40/50 carbs is working wonders for me. I was not loosing and feeling very lousy with terrible constipation at 20 carbs. I felt my whole body was straining. When I got sick with the fibroid fever/pain I upped my carbs to 40/50 and have been loosing steadily and effortlessly since - I have added the extra carbs only as veggies and berries- and BM has become regular too. It is working very well for me :-)

:wave:

[Josiemk]

Carblight,
My fiberoid was in my uterus. It was about the size of a golf ball. It looked like it took up most of my uterus. I thought I was going to have a hysterectomy but they were able to go up the vaginal & cut it out. They put me to sleep & it was a 20 minute procedure & I went home latter that day. Some people are able back to work a couple of days latter. The procedure is an easy one from what I heard but it took me a while to recover because a month before the surgery I had lost alot of blood from the bleeding & became very anemic.
BTW I was 35 when I had it removed & they said I developed this tumor cause of my age & cause I never been pregnant before.
I hope this wasn't to graphic to you all.

[carblight]

Thans Josiemk

mine is 2.5 inches across- like a tangerine and also in my uterus. Good to know there are alternatives to a hysterectomy. And thank you so much for sharing the details, it is really helpful :-)

:wave:

[Josiemk]

Carblight,
So yours is little bigger then mine. Bless your heart you poor thang. I feel for you, and I just thought I was having bad PMS. I was too ashamed to go see a dr about it. I definely urge you to do something soon. I nearly bleed to death before I would see a Dr. & it could have lead to many other complications as well.

BTW I noticed that your B-day is the day before mine. I'm hoping that I reached my goal by my B-day which is July 7.

Josie

[skeeweeaka]

CARBLIGHT...there are many other alternatives to the hysterectomy for the fibroids... They can insert a tube and cut off the blood flow to it which kills it...reduce it by reducing a particular hormone (can't remember name), and several other options... Do a search on the internet "alternatives to hysterectomy for fibroids." I used Progesterone Cream and it helped mine... HAVING THE HYSTERECTOMY WILL THROW U INTO MENOPAUSE... REMEMBER...SURGEONS DO SURGERY, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RECOMMEND A NONSURGICAL APPROACH... YOU HAVE TO RESEARCH THE METHODS YOURSELF AND DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU...I DID!

[carblight]

Thanks Skeeweeaka

that is exactly what i plan to do. A hysterectomy at 37 years old sounds rather extreme and I will explore all other avenues before having it done. Interesting to see more than one person dealing with these issues in other ways. It is encouraging :-)!

:wave:

[cs_carver]

Removal of the uterus will not cause menopause although it will stop your periods; it's removal of the ovaries which will bring on a surgical menopause.

[galatia]

This is an old thread, but addresses concerns I'm going through now, so maybe someone will have some advice or share their experiences.

I am 50 years old. I have a tumor in/on my uterus. It was the size of a softball in February when I had an ultrasound done. It seems to have gotten bigger. It hasn't really caused much trouble yet. Other than looking 5 months pregnant and having really heavy periods, and it's effecting my bladder some also. My doctor wants to do a hysterectomy or at the least remove my uterus and tumor. He said I wouldn't have to go on HRT with just my uterus removed.
I've read where they do not want to just remove the tumor because it's difficult and can damage the uterus.
I've been using the progesterone cream since then. It helped my PMS, but the tumor is still very much there.

So does anyone have any thoughts on it? I do not want to end up with a load of problems I didn't have before. I want the trade off to be in my favor. My next appointment is a week from Thursday, I'll need to have made a decision long before then, for my own peace of mind. And to know whether to cancel my appointment or not. Thanks for any light you can shed on my situation. :)

[Nancy LC]

Is it a fibroid? I've heard they often shrink after menopause, unless you're doing HRT.

[galatia]

Yes, it is a fibroid. And I've also heard that. A big part of me wants to just wait it out for the next.....5 years. I do not want to take HRT. The big draw for surgery is, I'm sick of the 5 months pregnant look, I'm worried about my bladder, and during TOM I'm homebound. BUT.....I don't want to end up with problems that make these seem like nothing by having the surgery done.

[cs_carver]

I'm not asking for an answer on here. It seems like you're very concerned about a possible outcome that doesn't seem that likely to me. The women who've told me they've had troublesome fibroids removed are glad they had it done--I'm guessing maybe you have a different story?

One woman had MANY fibroids, two-week periods, half-hourly changes in super-plus protection. She was very protective of her uterus and finally went in for the cauterization, but they couldn't get them all because they limit the volume of irrigation fluid. Some time later, she had a hysterectomy, and since I've heard her say she doesn't know why she waited that long. She had a major energy surge from not being anemic all the time.

I have one; it's not too bothersome right now so I'm not worrying about it. But it's walnut, not football.

Good luck.

[quietone]

I'm there with you all right now. Am awaiting for the results of my MRI even as I speak. So they haven't recommended anything yet, but I've researched until I'm blue in the face.

But every story I've heard from women I know is that they are so happy when they finally get a hysterectomy. I have periods that are too heavy to move for about 10 days, and then drip for anotehr week. Terrible backaches and now bladder problems. And the tiredness...even with all the meat my iron is too low. And the six month pregancy look even with low carb!

Not sure what I'll do...had thought about waiting out menopause, but the last time they did a hormone check on me they said I wasn't even close. So I'm not sure what my decision will be.

sorry, I guess this isn't helping much.

[mermaiden]

Women in my family seems to have our reproductive systems affected by too much meat, esp. red meat. My aunt had to go on macrobiotic, my mom had to cut out meat, and when I started doing atkins and eating meat, I got cramps, irregular periods and spotting. My mom seems to think it's the hormones in meat. I have no idea how this works, but you might try switching to vegetarian low carb for awhile.

[Zuleikaa]

Josiemk

when you had your fibroid removed, how did they do it? And , if you do not mind sharing, how big was your fibroid? I might have to have mine removed to and the word hysterctomy has been floating around. I really do not want to have a hysterectomy at 37 years old if I can avoid it. Curious to know what procedure they used to remove yours and how that worked for you...only if you do not mind sharing. I know these things are rather intimate stuff :-) and probably off topic with low carbing...

:wave:I got mine scraped and cauterized..myomectomy. I had about 6, the largest was grapefruit size. My sister had the same, she had the same procedure. We both had heavy bleeding and I had sometimes unbearable pain.

There is no need to get a hysterectomy in these days!!!

Blacks used to have the overwhelming majority of fibroids, now fibroids are increasing among white women.

During my research I found that fibroids are a sign of vitamin D insufficiency.

[galatia]

Thanks for all the responses, they are much appreciated. I think my biggest concern is that right now I don't have any big problems stemming from it. I think the decision would be easy if I were in pain.

Not sure what I'll do...had thought about waiting out menopause, but the last time they did a hormone check on me they said I wasn't even close. Same here. http://forum.lowcarber.org/images/icons/icon9.gif

And the six month pregancy look even with low carb!
For me.....that's at the top of my list of reasons to have it done. That and the bladder problem.

So I'm not sure what my decision will be Well, I hope you'll come back here and let us know what you do decide. I know for me, I'm driving myself crazy trying to decide.

[LisaS]

I'm going for ultrasound on Wed - actually hoping for *big fibroid* rather than *something else* - I know I have fibroids but either one decided to take off big-time or ... we'll see what's what. If it is just bigger fibroid - I'll be following your (you all) decisions with interest.

[dina1957]

Removal of the uterus will not cause menopause although it will stop your periods; it's removal of the ovaries which will bring on a surgical menopause.
I have read that removing uterus will cut blood supply to ovaries, and impact ovarian function, even tubal ligation can damage ovaries.
As for LC and estrogen connection, there is one IMHO. Estradiol as well as other steroid hormones, made of Cholesterol, and it also takes saturated fat to make cholesterol, so diet higher in fat and cholesterol will result in higher estrogen. Carbs (especially whole grains and high fiber vegetables), block some of the estrogen from being re-absorbed from intestines back into liver, and carry it away with waste. So low carb can alter steroid hormones production in our body.
Fat cells make estrogen (estrone) mostly when ovaries shutting down, during and post-menopause. Before that estradiol is principal female estrogen and is made in ovaries. Being overweight messes up all hormones in general because of higher insulin level, that impairs ovarian and adrenal function in young females.

[quietone]

So, I thought I'd post what I've found out.

First, had to fire my current doctor. After I did, her office said it would be 2-3 weeks before I could get my records...I already have an appointment this Thursday with someone who was recommended to me...so i bypassed the doctor and got my records from the hospital that did the sonogram and MRI.

So...I not only have fibroids, I have something called adenomyosis. This is not endometriosis, but similar because endometrial tissue somehow gets into the muscular wall of the uterus and grows etc just like endometriosis.

I suspect, based on info and my symptoms, that I've had this since the birth of my last child...and the fibroids have been around only about 6-7 years.

Plus, when they did the sonogram they saw the follicle getting ready to burst open on the right ovary (ovulation) which means I ain't even close to menopause.

So, for now, until I see the doctor, I'm thinking that a hysterectomy is in order. I'm very tired of feeling this way and dealing with this stuff.

[galatia]

Sorry things have gone so badly with your doctor. I hope you'll update after seeing your new doctor. I am suppose to go in for a hysterectomy July 31st. We'll see if I make it. I'm wearing myself out changing my mind every 15 mins. http://forum.lowcarber.org/images/icons/icon9.gif

[LisaS]

well, my ultrasound came back -- and the good news is all that I have is fibroids - now what (if anything) to do about it. as the tech said "has anyone mentioned that your uterus is REALLY big?"
well - I go back to my gyn-onc in Sep - maybe we'll discuss options then- even though this isn't his area of expertise per se.

[quietone]

Well, if the sonogram shows your uterus is "really big" then it might be worthwhile having an MRI.

That's part of what I have with the adenomyosis and it wasn't seen on the sonogram...I actually would have just thought I had only fibroids and only one of those, if I hadn't of done the MRI.

[quietone]

Back from the third dcotor now and nothing but good news.

She thinks the adenomyosis is just a part of aging and not serious because of where it was found. But she said it does cause pressure and won't go away until I go through menopause.

But re: the fibroids and extreme menstrual problems. I've pretty much decided on an ablation using HTA and at which time she'll use a resectoscope to remove the fibroids.

Of course, if the adenomyosis is cuasing more of the symptoms that we suspect, then I may have to eventually have a hysterectomy.

But I'm good with this for right now. I will just be out of commission the day of and the day after the procedure (or so), except heavy lifting etc for two weeks. It's an immediate fix too, so I feel pretty good about going this conservative route for now.