Off the topic of fitness but need advice

[Kimenem]

I was diagnosed with a liver hemangioma on Monday. They found it while doing an ultrasound of the gallbladder, which is fine by the way. They called it an "incidental" finding and said it was small and to have another ultrasound in 3 months. I did some checking and, after reading posts from a couple of people here who had one, it seems there is (or could be) a link between these things and estrogen. Well, if any of you have read my previous posts about bcp, I've been on them for 16 years. Coincidence???????????????? Anyway, apparantly they can rupture which is bad news and it was suggested that women do not take bcp if they have one. I have an appt with the surgeon who will be doing an endoscopy to check for an ulcer tomorrow and will ask him about it. I also have an appt with my gyno and will ask HIM about it. I want to stop taking bcp and use Mirena as it doesn't contain estrogen. BUT, I'm terrified that my hair will start shedding again. I know it's sounds silly to worry about that but I went through a shed last November and it hasn't fully recovered yet. I know I could wait and see in 3 mos what it's done and go off the pill in a year or two, but I ask again....has anyone who was on bcp for awhile and came off experienced the hair shedding? What would you all do?? Also, does anyone know how easy it is for these things to rupture; you know, excluding things like a blow to the stomach or car accident?

Thanks so much...
Kim

 

[maddiesmum]

Kim:

I haven't been through all these different experiences. I justw anted to post a little something to reassure you that your post did not get lost in the ether. You sound panicky right now, and I can totally understand why. What can I tell you to calm you down a little? I have experienced a lot of hair loss over the last 3 years. My dctors and a dermatologist told me it was because the horendous stress in my life had pre-aged my hair follicles and I now had the hair of a 60 year old woman. That is very hard to accept. It was then, it still is now. A large part of the cotinuous depression I feel is due to the hair loss. Femininity, in culture, is never defined and pictured with receeding hairlines and bald patches. So, why do these doctors think that we can be at all reconciled to our loss? In my case, the intitial 2 ytears of shedding was drastic and swift. This year, it has slowed down some, but continues. I am gradually reviewing my internal image of myself, hoping to match it up with the reality in the mirror, but it 'aint easy. You, however, seem to have other problems going on in addition. It will not be easy to do, and I feel that what I am about to say is somewhat platitudinous, but...please try to focus on the bigger issue of your liver health and try to shelve some of the anxiety about your hair. Once the liver issue is being taken care of, I would be very keen to see a gynecologist specialist and an endocrinologist and have frank discussions with them about the hair loss-liver-estrogen links. It may be that your bcp days are over. Would that be so terrible? If your hair loss is directly attributable to the coming off the bcp, it sounds as if your scalp would eventually recover. They all recommend Rogaine. I used it for 2 years. Worked like crap, as you can imagine. I am resiged, myself, to becoming a wig wearer in a few years time. I am not the sort of person who can tough it out ging bald as female. It isn't me, and I also have a badly shaped head. It would not be a beautiful sight.

So, your post wasn't lost or ignored and someone here is thinking about you. I don't have any other advice or shared experience to give, except that I would do a lot of research of my own and see the best doctors I could to get healthy again. I think maybe artificial hormones are not in your future Kim?

Please be healthy again, soon. All the best,

Clare

 

[lesliew1]

My mother took hormone replacement therapy for years after her hysterectomy, which she had at 40. She was taken off it when she turned 70 and a year later was diagnosed with a liver hemangioma. She had no symptoms of one, they diagnosed her after they found a "mass" on her liver during a bone density test. Anyhoo, her doctor said she could have been born with it and it's nothing to worry about. I didn't know they could be estrogen related.

BTW, she's 78 and going strong. Thank God!

From what I read about them, they are rather benign, although I can understand your concerns completely! At least your doctor is aware of it and you'll be monitored. Come to think of it, I don't think my mom has ever had a follow up.

 

[Kimenem]

update

Well I saw the surgeon today and he showed me the size of the hemangioma by drawing it on paper...it's about the size of a pencil eraser. He acted like it was no big deal and didn't seem concerned about an estrogen relation. He did mention another type of benign liver tumor that is affected by estrogen. I told him I had been wanting to stop the pill anyway so he said this would be a good reason. He also said that about 20% of the time they go away. He scheduled me for some kind of scan/x-ray and endoscopy to check the gallballger again and for ulcers. Nothing else was said about the liver except that my regular doc would follow up with anoother ultrasound in a few months. Still scared about coming off BCP though. Have an appt with gyn in 2 weeks and am now thinking a tubal may be in my future.

 

[buckeyegirl]

I read your original post, but hadn't had time to reply, but I'm so glad you found it it's nothing to be concerned about...I know, easy for doctors and everyone else to say, but it does sound so small, so I definitely think you should ease your mind a bit.

Regarding BCP, I just went off too about 2 weeks ago after having been on for a few years. It wasn't helping my migraines or pms, and I also have pre-hypertension which could be the bcp, so that worried me so much, I took myself off...I'm a bit worried about horrible periods again, sore boobs, and the like, but, I don't know, I feel better about it for some reason. Back to condoms...oh boy!

Good luck, and don't worry!

Heidi

 

[Kimenem]

Heidi - I know what you mean about going back to pre-bcp. I had horrible cramps and irregular periods. Not too worried about that though. I'll handle it as long as I have my hair How long had you been taking the pill?