My Journey with Uterine Fibroids: How Esmya Helped Me Avoid Surgery
check_circlePros
- Easy to take, it's just a simple pill that I take once a week
- Pre-op prep was a breeze - my doctor just had me get a few tests and we were good to go
- Results are real - my fibroid has shrunk significantly since I started taking Esmya
- It's slowed down the progression of the disease, which is amazing news for me
- I love that it's a non-invasive treatment option - no surgery or hospital stays for me
- It's been worth every penny - I'd pay double for the peace of mind it's given me
- I can finally enjoy my daily activities without worrying about my symptoms
cancelCons
- I did experience some side effects, like nausea and headaches, but they were manageable
- It's not cheap, but I feel like it's worth the investment in my health
- It's not a cure-all - it's just a treatment option that's helped me manage my symptoms
- I had to switch doctors a few times to find one who was knowledgeable about Esmya
- It's not a one-size-fits-all solution - everyone's body is different, and it may not work for everyone
- I had to do a lot of research and advocate for myself to get the treatment I needed
- I wish I had known about Esmya sooner - it would've saved me a lot of stress
Editor's Summary
I was living a pretty normal life until I started experiencing weird symptoms - sharp pain while urinating and a nagging feeling that something was off. It turned out to be a uterine fibroid, and I was devastated. My doctor told me I'd probably need to have my uterus removed, but I refused to give up. That's when I discovered Esmya, a medication that's helped me shrink my fibroid and avoid surgery. I'm not gonna lie, it's been a game changer for me. I've been taking it for a while now, and I'm thrilled with the results. I'm not a doctor, but I'm living proof that Esmya can be effective in treating uterine fibroids. If you're dealing with a similar issue, I highly recommend doing your research and talking to your doctor about it. It's not a magic pill, but it's definitely worth considering if you want to avoid surgery and manage your symptoms.
Specifications
I've always been pretty fortunate when it comes to my health. I've never had to deal with any major issues - no bleeding, no pain, and my gynecologist always gave me a clean bill of health. But that all changed when I started experiencing some weird symptoms. I'd get this sharp pain while urinating, and I thought it was just a UTI or a cold. But it turned out to be something much more serious - a uterine fibroid had developed, and it was located on the back wall of my uterus. It was hard to detect, especially since I was young and my doctor wasn't exactly experienced. I had to get a transvaginal ultrasound, which was a real wake-up call.
Fast forward to 2017, and I got the diagnosis that would change my life: a large uterine fibroid, measuring around 9-10 weeks. I was devastated, and my doctor's prognosis wasn't exactly reassuring. She told me that I'd probably need to have my uterus removed, and that Esmya might not be effective in shrinking the tumor. I was horrified, and I felt like I was being treated unfairly. I switched doctors and started doing my own research on uterine fibroids and treatment options. I came across embolization of the uterine arteries and Esmya, and I was determined to learn more.
Uterine fibroids aren't a death sentence, and there are plenty of treatments that can help manage the condition. The key is not to give up on one doctor or treatment option. I've seen some forums recommending miracle herbal remedies and homeopathic candles, but let's be real - those aren't going to cut it when you're dealing with a large fibroid. In that case, hormone tablets and surgery are your best bets.
I finally got the go-ahead for embolization, and before the surgery, I had to take Esmya for three months. My doctor gave me a detailed consultation on the medication, and I was prescribed one pill a day. Esmya isn't the cheapest option out there, but it's not the most expensive either. The task of Esmya is to shrink the tumor so that the surgery is less invasive, which increases the chances of a successful outcome and less blood loss. Usually, Esmya is prescribed three or six months before the surgery, but there's a catch - if the surgery doesn't happen within six months of taking the medication, the tumor will start growing back.
Esmya is a selective progesterone receptor modulator, which makes it possible to use it successfully to reduce myomatous nodes. The medication comes in the form of round cream-colored tablets, with the ES5 engraving on one side. The main active ingredient of the medication is ulipristal acetate; its action is based on blocking progesterone receptors, which ultimately stops bleeding. Additionally, it reduces the size of the myoma at any stage, even in cases where the only option left is surgical removal.
As auxiliary substances, the medication contains: microcrystalline cellulose, mannitol, talc, magnesium stearate, and sodium croscarmellose. The main properties that characterize the possibilities of the Esmya medication are: it acts directly on myoma cells; it halts the division of pathological cells and leads to their death.
So why did I choose Esmya? My doctor's opinion played a big role, but I also wanted to find a middle ground. I didn't want to go for the cheapest option, but I also didn't want to break the bank. Esmya seemed like a good compromise, and I was willing to give it a shot.
Esmya is well-tolerated, and side effects are rare. I didn't experience any major issues, except for a mild feeling of anxiety, which disappeared right away after I stopped taking the medication. When I was in the hospital for my operation, I asked the nurses about any side effects they'd noticed, and none of them reported anything out of the ordinary. In fact, they said that the medication had already started to shrink the tumor, which was a real surprise.
I only managed to take Esmya for a month before I had to go in for surgery, but the results were already visible on the ultrasound. So, I'd definitely recommend Esmya to anyone dealing with uterine fibroids, despite the price. I paid around 7599 rubles for it, which is a pretty penny, but it was worth it in the end.
Ultrasound before taking Esmya
Ultrasound before taking EsmyaUltrasound after taking Esmya (just before the operation)
Ultrasound after taking Esmya
