HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

UC and uterine fibroids

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/10/2017 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
I have UC and am currently on generic for Colozal. (Balsalazide) I have a history of my uterine fibroids causing bleeding. I had hemorrhaged in 2012 and had uterine ablation surgery to help with bleeding, but that did not work and I am now taking birth control continuous. Since 2013 I have been stable, but know have some bleeding that has been occurring. My question is do you think my medicine (Colozal) being in the category of salicylates along with eating food that contains this component could thin my blood enough to cause this issue? Has anyone had anything like this similar happen to them?
Posted 4/10/2017 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
I was on Asacol back when I had fibroid bleeding but don't think it was involved at all. When fibroid was finally found/diagnosed/removed uterine bleeding stopped but not UC bleeding. I've been on Balsalazide (Colazal generic) for many years now and don't think it thins my blood and have no bleeding anywhere.

Try using mesalamine enemas for better healing/less UC bleeding than Canasa can do. Enemas always helped me with that. Diet mod. helped even more and haven't had bleeding in many years.

BTW I tried birth control for fibroids and it caused even more bleeding but my body never got along well with oral BC.
Posted 4/10/2017 9:30 AM (GMT 0)
Mesalamine isn't a blood thinner.
Posted 4/10/2017 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
Uterine fibroids, ugh!!!!!! Sorry to read that you have trouble with them. Supposedly, estrogen levels in the body are what most affect them, not UC meds containing mesalamine. However, the gyn 1st found 3 of mine by manual exam a couple yrs after I had been put on Prednisone for 3 mo. due to a severe UC flare. From my longer term experience with fibroids, I can tell you that ultrasound is not the best way to monitor them; if they continue to bother you, ask the gyn to refer you for a pelvic MRI with contrast. It gives a much clearer picture of where + how many fibroids are actually present. / Old Hat (36 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 4/10/2017 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
MY experience was different than Old Hat's. 4 gyn's and many tests, ultrasound, pelvic MRI could not find source of my extreme bleeding. No fibroids seen anywhere. Finally last GI found the problem in manual exam. Single fibroid was not small according to him and after operation he was like a guy who caught the biggest fish showing me the photo while I'm semi-anesthetized. He literally saved my life from bleeding away.
Posted 4/10/2017 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the advice. imagardner2... what type of surgery did you have? Hysterectomy or removal of fibroid only?

Old Hat, my plan was to hopefully make it to menopause and they would calm down. I will suggest the MRI. I am allergic to contrast so hopefully a clear enough view would be given without.

For any of you who have had surgery for fibroids what made you decide to go that route? I am terrified of surgery but want to make a smart decision.

Thank you
Posted 4/10/2017 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
I needed to have surgery (TAH) post-menopause because the fibroids got bigger + a malignant tumor developed in the endometrium, besides. A neighbor of mine also needed TAH surgery post-menopause because her fibroids resumed bleeding though she had undergone D & C procedure shortly before menopause. The point I was making is that there's a lot of variation in the nature, location, & behavior of uterine fibroids, plus that old story about their shrinkage post-menopause does NOT ALWAYS turn out that way. ***It could just be in your case that the BC formula has changed so it's no longer helping you as it used to; a general gyn I saw for several yrs before my problem worsened told me that post-2000 the BC content changes have occurred frequently, making it harder for docs to keep up with the finer points of different brands. *** Women's health issues can still be complicated even though some progress has been made in recent yrs. I was terrified to have surgery but it became my only alternative for staying alive; then I had to struggle to find a competent gyn-onc who accepted my insurance, but I finally found a terrific human being who saved me (and then relocated to practice in another state!). Try to stay calm and get the best info you can RE competent gyns & treatment centers. / Old Hat (36 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

Post Edited (Old Hat) : 4/10/2017 4:54:00 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/11/2017 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
UCandMe:

My last (and excellent) gyn found the fibroid in manual exam and removed it (simple day surgery like a c-scope). Bleeding stopped and no future fibroids or vag problems in 16 years and counting. This happened during menopause so being in new territory had no idea what was happening and why.

Friends (many) who had hysterectomies all said they'd do it again but I'm stubborn and wanted to fix the PROBLEM not remove something just because they couldn't figure out what the problem was.

I have never taken hormones and was not on the pill except for 1 month as a gyn's "try this, let's see if it helps", it didn't, made bleeding way worse.
Posted 4/11/2017 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
Did surgery effect your UC in any way? What pain meds did you take?

Also, did you notice if anything triggered your fibroid to bleed? Ex: lifting, exercise, eating any certain foods, or increase in outside temperature, stress....
Posted 4/11/2017 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Did surgery effect your UC in any way? What pain meds did you take?

Surgery was fantastic because being anemic is not good. UC didn't change but getting my body healthier allowed me to see what UC symptoms actually were, they were bad enough without fibroid symptoms added on. No pain meds for UC, just anesthesia for surgery, nothing post-surgery, not needed AFAI remember.

Also, did you notice if anything triggered your fibroid to bleed? Ex: lifting, exercise, eating any certain foods, or increase in outside temperature, stress....

Fibroid bleeding unrelated to anything external. I still don't know if the fibroid itself bled or was triggering uterine bleeding. I think it was triggering not bleeding itself but no way to know. I was amazed at how little reaction gyn doctors had when I told them about massive daily bleeding, like they didn't believe me. My primary doc however was semi-hysterical when he saw my annual blood report and ordered me to hospital for infusion. Took a while after that before gyn found the fibroid. Helluva year and still had UC symptoms which seemed less crazy than fibroid but still a daily struggle.
Posted 4/11/2017 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Well I just came back from doctor and I need a hysterectomy. Too large to do it laparoscopicly. I need either an open incision or I can go to another town and look into the possibility of robotic hysterectomy. Thoughts, suggestions and experience with either procedure greatly appreciated!
Posted 4/11/2017 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
That stinks! I hope you find someone you Ike to do your surgery if that's the route you take. I have an appointment to see what's going on with my own gyn issues coming up and I am dreading the "options."
Posted 4/12/2017 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
I needed an open vertical incision, over 5 inches, closed with 30 staples that surgeon removed on the 13 post-surgery day. Luckily, I had no pain. They gave me Propofol & Fentanyl for surgery; then I had an IV "pain pump" for self-administration the night following surgery. They disconnected me from the UT catheter & "pain pump" the next morning & gave me an oral dose of Percocet by noon. THAT WAS IT! (RNs did say that I proved exceptional in not requesting more Percocet!) I was still on IV fluids so I had to walk to bathroom & back every couple hrs., but med staff wants patients to walk anyway ASAP-- so it worked out. No pain, no groggy feelings whatsoever; it was just somewhat hard to hoist myself out of bed with the vertical incision & then to remember not to roll over on it for a few weeks, but I could generally move about w/o any problems & only had to beware of the major rule-- no lifting/pushing heavy objects for 6 weeks 'til the internal stitches fully heal. In the 1st couple weeks post-surgery I did better walking around my nearby blocks than my younger post-hysterectomy neighbor who had the horizontal "bikini" incision. / Old Hat (36 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 4/12/2017 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
Best wishes on your surgery. Maybe you need a second opinion to get a better idea of which type of surgery is the best choice for you. Doctors who own specialized equipment (robotic etc) may think THAT'S the solution to every surgery but do your own research.

Lots of women get fibroids removed, even large ones as OH did. Getting the best surgeon is always a great idea. At least you know what is causing your problems. That's good, now you have decisions.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply