Fibroids and riding

Any of you ladies have uterine fibroids? If so, have they affected your riding at all? Energy level, endurance, willingness to push yourself, etc. Regular heavy bleeding is not one of my symptoms, so I can't blame it on blood loss.

I'm really wondering if I'm making up excuses for ending my season feeling less strong than I started it. Hubby even made a foot-in-mouth comment about me not riding as strong as earlier in the season.

Contrary to my signature, some late season rides did feel like they were going to kill me.

Anyone with a similar experience?

I have the end of the season blahs to, as far as not riding as strong, because I have totally waxed myself during the season. No fibriods, so I have no comparison to that. This year, however, I was extra tired and symptomless (no heavy periods and what not) so I go my blood checked at the doctor. I am anemic for some unknown reason. They, nor I, have figured it out yet.

Maybe it could be one of those reasons that you feel tired. Just a thought.........

I have a small fibroid, and the main problem I have it that I have a lot of break throught bleeding that appears to me to be compounded by riding ( mountain biking) It's a real pain ( not literally) . Sometimes it's spotting, sometimes it's a flood. This is a real drag when I'm 10 miles into the mountains on singletrack. So, I always have tampons stashed somewhere in my pack.

I'm experimenting with natural progesterone cream as an alternative way to treat fibroids. I'm following the concepts laid out by this doc:

http://www.johnleemd.com/

on the benefits of NATURAL progesterone. ( not progestin, not stuff made from horse urine)

As for not riding strong, what I've found is that you can't be ON all the time. I mean, so what if you aren't riding strong. Maybe, if you've had a long season, it's your body's way of telling you to slow down and enjoy the scenery and have some fun.

Irulan

I definitely know the difference between feeling ON and feeling OFF. It happens regularly during a season, but it's different this time. I try hard to listen to what my body is telling me and to slow down when I need to, but something is not right when I have to get off and walk part of a hill I haven't walked all season, even on an "off" day. It's similar to the feeling of bonking in that no matter how much you want to and how much you try your body just isn't physically capable of doing more. For me, riding "strong" is both a physical and a mental thing. I could be doing a casual, fun ride, enjoying the sights and call it a "strong" day because I'm in a good mental place. This extended "off" period really has me frustrated, and, at times, embarrassed. Perhaps it will resolve itself over the winter break. I'm just curious if the fibroid has any connection, and if so, am I the only one to go through this.

Dirt Girl asks "Any of you ladies have uterine fibroids? If so, have they affected your riding at all?"

yep, nope, not at all.

I'm just slooooow, but can blame the 'broids ;-);)

Dirt girl,

Have you seen your doctor for a complete physical lately? Sounds like some blood work and a check-up might be in order. It is certainly possible that your fibroids could be causing your recent "off-ness", but I'd get checked out overall just in case, especially since, as you say, this isn't your usual "off day" type of thing. Your body is telling you something - just what, it's hard to say. Could you have developed exercise-induced asthma? mtbstarr's suggestion of anemia is another possibility, or perhaps thyroid issues??

Good luck and please let us know if you find out something.

Emily

emily_in_nc,
I'm due for a physical in January. I have been to the GYN about the fibroid, although I've been asking friends and coworkers for new doctor recommendations as I haven't felt right at this place for a while. The final straw was last week when the first thing they mentioned was hysterectomy. I've been doing research and have an appointment with a new doc who can't get me in until next month. I'm told she's worth the wait as five of seven people I've spoken with recommended her. For insurance reasons I won't bore you with, I have to wait until January to see my internist for a physical although I could still make a regular appointment this month.

A good test of my energy level this winter will be on the Nordic ski trails when we are able to go. If it was a case of my body needing a little time off, I haven't done much but walk for most of the last month, so I should be rested.

BTW, I LOVE your bike! And that's a huge compliment from this mountain biking gal. I have been looking around at road bikes. Seriously thinking about a Specialized Sequoia if I could get my hands on an extra small to test ride.

Thanks everyone, for the suggestions.

Eek- I'd run the other way fast if the first thing out of thier mouth was "hysterectomy" too. There are a lot of advances in treating fibroids, I'd definately get second and third opinions. After my first post, the anemia thing crossed my mind too.

My tendency is to look for alternatives to the western medicine's "drug and cut" philosoply that some docs have, hence my examnation of the roll of progesterone in the reduction of fibroids. I have one small one is all, we'll see what they say at my next check up. I'm giving the progesterone 6 months and I'm tracking changes.

Irulan

second, third, fourth....also depends on your age, they tend to go away or reduce at menopause so you might be able to "wait it out". I agree, I'd shy away from a Dr. who's knife happy.

my roommate has uterine fibroid cysts and they found her to be anemic! she doesn't have breakthru or heavy bleeding either but her blood seemed to be weak. have not a clue if they're connected but shes been complaining for lack of endurance and stamina also and is hoping the prescribed iron will help!

I recently turned 40, so menopause could be a long way off.

CorsairMac, thanks for telling me about your roommate. I'm not feeling quite as crazy now. Let me know if the iron is helping her out.

I guess even though one might not have the bleeding problem, these nasty things live on our blood. I get all grossed out when I think of this as I get a mental image of an internal leech sucking the life right out of me. I best look in to this anemia thing...

Irulan, please keep me posted on your research project.

I had been suffering from Fibroids and endometriosis for close to 14 years, (43 yo) and finally had a hysterectomy last year. I had really heavy bleeding, lots of pain, bowel problems, etc. Alternative medicine remedies never worked for me. Towards the end of uterushood, I was bleeding about 50% of the time and generally felt horrible. A hysterectomy was the right answer for me. I haven't felt this good in a very long time. (I still have one ovary, which helps.)

Surgery is an extreme solution, but sometimes life can suck. Keep an open mind and be thankful your situation isn't extreme. It is frustrating that there aren't more solutions for quality of life health issues for women.

Ride on,
Sarah

I've had a fibroid that comes & goes. It's definitely hormone related. It has never affected my riding, though. Sometimes I ride stronger during my period because I have extra stress to off load. How big is your fibroid? Mine can get golf ball sized (and I'm a pretty small woman.)

I second the complete physical recommendation. Also, look at your diet. Are you doing low carb? That can zap energy.

The problem with progesterone creams is that some are not readily absorbed. If you can get a doc to prescribe something from a compounding pharmacy, you'll know how much you're getting. Warning - a side effect of progesterone is lethargy. If you're very sensitive to progesterone (as I am), you really need to be monitored. I am 50 and I take a troche (under the tongue pill that melts) of estrogen, tiny bit of progesterone and testosterone. You said you're 40 & far away from menopause but your hormones might be changing slightly. The problem is - our hormones constantly fluctuate. So, even though we might be having hot flashes, night sweats & an uncontrollable urge to rip faces off, our blood tests could show that we're "just fine."

Could you be overtrained? All of our overtraining thresholds are different. If your diet hasn't been optimum & you've been under stress, overtraining could happen more quickly.

Just my $.03 (inflation, you know.)

I'm not completely ruling out surgery at this point. I just think it's one of the LAST options to consider. It's scary when a medical person doesn't even mention there are lots of options. How many people go to that office and just accept what they are told? Scary.

My fibroid is currently 5.1 cm, about half a centimeter larger than it was in March. I'm a small lady, too.

Low carb? No way. If anything, I have to watch that I don't swing the other way and eat too many carbs. Over the years, my husband and I continue to refine our diets, but we could always do better. Sugar intake is my latest thing I'm trying to watch.

I definitely have fluctuating hormones! Something else to discuss with a doctor. Until I read some of the information on fibroids, I was thinking my symptoms might just be a sign of perimenopause and a body that's getting older.

I don't think it's overtraining at all. I know some serious riders and many of the women on this forum are serious as well, but I'd put myself into a more recreational class. I guess it's all relative, though. If I compare the 40-year-old me to the 20-year-old me, then I certainly am a more serious exerciser now than I was then.

Again, thanks to everyone for the discussion. It's provided lots to think about.

just a thought, when I had to cut out my sugars - I went thru a "sugar" withdrawal - lethargy, irritability, even sleepiness until my body adapted to not having the sugar in my system. Granted - my insulin is out of balance - or was - so I don't know how much that contributed. Is it possible this is a "diet change" issue? Course the other thing with all our bodies - it could be a combination of Several things but we can only describe how we feel at that time which makes it hard for the drs to tell.
And Amen to the peri syptoms but the "normal" blood test! Thank the holies I found a dr this year Finally who listened to ME and had some faith and didn't just go on "test results"!

I've read that there is an option where they can take the fibroid off, but leave the uterus intact. I want to say it is "fibroid ablation" or something like that.

The good thing is that when you go into menopause, your fibroid will probably go away.

Dirt Girl, I have a Specialized Seqouia and she is great!! I miss riding as we are having major snow here in Michigan! I look at her parked and miss her!!
I am 50 and no longer have periods! Woo-hoo! Menopause hasn't been bad at all.

Well, my blood tests are fine and the doc says I don't have anemia or a thyroid problem. She had me do a lung capacity test which came out with very good numbers. So, I don't know what to think. I haven't been on a bike since the end of November (cold weather riding weenie that I am), so it's hard to tell if anything is still going on. While hiking or XC skiing, my heart rate seems to get unusually high very fast, especially on hills, but I can still keep going if I don't push myself super hard.

Doc wants to see me again next week. I think she's thinking it's all related to depression as I mentioned I've been mildly depressed. Hum, lingering questions about the fibroid (and whether or not it's responsible for the fullness and my pouching stomach--or did I really eat more holiday treats than I thought I did?!), doctors that want to cut me open, cold weather...is it any wonder I'm feeling a bit blue?

I envy you gals with the year-round riding weather. I ride in colder weather than I used to (the right gear makes a ton of difference), but I still have rather weak limits.

Phew. Thanks for the vent.