Symptoms of uterine fibroids, as woman has two-stone tumour removed from her womb
When Sarah Haslam’s stomach began to grow, her friends and family assumed she could be pregnant with her third child.
But after an eight-week-long period and numerous scans, in March 2019, doctors discovered she had seven fibroids in her uterus, which resulted in her needing to have a two-stone tumour removed from her womb.
Uterine fibroids, also known as fibro tumours are growths, which are usually non cancerous, that appear on the uterus. They can cause pain and heavy bleeding.
After waiting 18 months for the removal of the tumour at Oldham Hospital, Manchester, Haslam, a XX from Radcliffe, Manchester, has now had the huge mass surgically removed.
But doctors were forced to remove her whole womb in order to save her life after the tumour had seen her weight drop by 7st.
Thankfully, despite the complications, Haslam has now returned to her normal weight and is on the road to recovery.
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Haslam first noticed something wasn't quite right in February 2019, when she had a two-month-long period.
After a check-up with the GP and an ultrasound scan, doctors discovered uterine fibroids.
Due to their small size, she was given a coil, to reduce the bleeding they were causing.
"I was spending so much money on sanitary towels," the mum-of-three explains.
"I was wearing two or three sanitary towels at a time and buying them in bulk.
"Once I was wearing white jeans and it looked like a murder scene.
"I felt bloated and incredibly weak.
"I couldn't leave my house, I had a puddle [of blood] at my feet sometimes."
Unfortunately, the coil failed to prevent the bleeding and left her in "excruciating" pain.
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After suffering a seizure at home, she was rushed to Oldham Hospital, Manchester, where doctors discovered the tumour was degenerating, which occurs when a fibroid outgrows its limited blood supply and begins to die.
This also lead to her suffering from sepsis and pneumonia.
"After bleeding for 32 days straight, I knew something wasn't right," she says.
"I'd never had a seizure, it was terrifying."
Haslam spent two weeks in hospital to prevent the infection from spreading further.
During the following nine months, she was in and out of hospital with fibroid complications and describes being able to "literally see" the tumour on her uterus growing in size.
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Eighteen months after her initial diagnosis, doctors decided to operate on the then two-stone tumour.
"I felt incredibly heavy, but so weak," Haslam recalls.
"I never left the house because I didn't want people to ask questions.
"My daughters were really worried about my health.
"I was in constant pain, and I looked pregnant.
"I had to explain to people that I was carrying a tumour, not a baby."
On 3 December 2021, Haslam underwent a six-hour hysterectomy at Oldham Hospital.
"I felt incredibly weak after the operation," she explains.
"It took me 12 months to gradually put the weight on and heal.
"I finally felt myself again."
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But her health ordeal has taken a toll on her emotionally.
"I was left with a scar like Frankenstein," she explains.
"My self-esteem is completely destroyed.
"My friends say that I've changed, I've lost all my confidence.
"It's a huge knock to my self-esteem."
Uterine fibroids: the facts
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb (uterus).
The growths are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue, and vary in size. They're sometimes known as uterine myomas or leiomyomas.
The NHS says many women are unaware they have fibroids because they do not have any symptoms, but for the estimated one in three who do, signs could include:
heavy or painful periods
tummy (abdominal) pain
lower back pain
a frequent need to urinate
constipation
pain or discomfort during sex
What treatments are available for fibroids?
If you have no symptoms, or they are mild, you may not need any treatment. In general, treatment depends on the size and position of the fibroid(s), and your wish to retain your fertility.
Available treatment options are:
medical - including pain relief, anti-hormonal treatments to help reduce the size of fibroids and relieve symptoms.
surgical - including a myomectomy (removal of the fibroids), hysterectomy to remove the uterus and/or cervix together with the fibroids
non-surgical - including Non-surgical Uterine artery embolisation (UAE). A relatively new treatment undertaken in the Xray department, which involves passing a fine catheter tube into an artery (usually in your groin). The catheter is then threaded up into the artery that carries blood to the fibroid. The artery is blocked permanently so it will not grow again and may shrink in size.
See a GP if you have symptoms of fibroids so they can investigate possible causes.
If the GP thinks you may have fibroids, they'll usually refer you for an ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis.
Additional reporting SWNS.
