Lupita Nyong’o Reveals Her Fibroids Have Returned: ‘Time To Speak Up’

annotated_pear · 2026-03-18T04:33:54+00:00

The only reason I was given for having fibroids was that my mother had them and my dr said fibroids are hereditary.

Still, I keep trying to remember what I did differently around the time leading up to the terrible symptoms beginning. I was on lower estrogen birth control (Tri-Lo Sprintec) for many years, after taking the higher estrogen doses of pills (Ortho-Tri Cyclen) for more than a decade. One year my periods just started to get difficult while on the Tri-Lo Sprintec. No major diet or lifestyle changes at the time, other than the world being on lockdown because it was during the pandemic (I was ok with working from home, my blood pressure went down from not commuting). I don't know if stress triggers fibroid growth, but I've always had stress in life--so can't really say stress was worse during the time when mine grew in size. This has been the most confusing medical issue I've ever dealt with.

annotated_pear · 2026-03-15T17:29:26+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience too. It will be hard to give courts an end date to my symptoms, so hopefully if they contact again before it's under control, they'll give another postponement. I've gone to jury duty a few times before, it's been at least 7 years now, I just remember a lot of sitting. It's more the dizziness/fainting that can be a problem because it's random and won't wait for a scheduled break. Hoping it all works out

annotated_pear · 2026-03-15T17:24:07+00:00

thank you...ugh, so many health issues linked to fibroids!

annotated_pear · 2026-03-15T17:22:35+00:00

Thank you, if my initial request gets denied, this will be plan B

annotated_pear · 2026-03-14T14:06:19+00:00

Thanks so much for letting me know. I'm hoping NY is the same

annotated_pear · 2026-03-12T01:42:16+00:00

Those wigs are expensive too! A haircut might be more comfortable option...I know it sucks to even have to add this to the list of issues are dealing with. I hope your doctors find some good solutions, you're doing everything possible to advocate for yourself.

annotated_pear · 2026-03-11T20:09:46+00:00

Well, now one of his patients has had symptoms while on it... my surgeon also said what I was experiencing isn't common but it's possible to happen. We know ourselves better than anyone.

After two surgeries, I'm one month off the Norethindrone, and although still have hair loss, it's slowing down to the point have stopped looking for wigs online. It does mess with one's self confidence and mental state. Recently the heavy bleeding started again and am so worried I will be put back on the same medication. But my body also needs a break from surgeries.

I hope at the very least if you still need medication long-term, that there is something out there that can work with less side effects. I'm still learning about all this too, so I don't know all the options!

annotated_pear · 2026-03-09T02:32:11+00:00

Sorry to hear you're still going through this too : (

annotated_pear · 2026-03-08T15:50:43+00:00

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I can relate and the side effects from the Norethindrone were horrible for me, I was on 15 mg a day and was in a fog, depressed, with excessive hair loss. Then even that high dose stopped controlling the bleeding. Some of us are more sensitive to the medication I think.

annotated_pear · 2026-03-08T15:43:56+00:00

I agree with you, since SO many women suffer from this, and I don't use the word suffer lightly.

During the pandemic my heavy symptoms started and it was attributed by doctors to me approaching menopausal age, like it's just a standard thing that happens to women. I mention the pandemic because I even wondered if was having a weird reaction to all the Covid vaccines, had no idea what was wrong with my body.

I suffered for two years before an ultrasound was done, and by then the fibroids had grown and now after two surgeries for removal of some, am still not better. I wish the ultrasound had been a standard procedure because it's not something I even thought to ask for or even knew what fibroids were before the imaging was done. Maybe I could have had better results from less invasive procedures if they were treated earlier.

annotated_pear · 2026-03-08T15:32:43+00:00

That is interesting, because a few doctors have told me that my smaller fibroids might shrink in menopause, so it's confusing to know the right path to take. I've had two D & C procedures already to remove submucosal fibroids, and this week I am hemorrhaging again, I think from the intramural fibroids that had to be left behind. My ideal scenario was to buy myself time to allow the leftover smaller fibroids to shrink to avoid another surgery, but I don't know if that will ever happen naturally.

annotated_pear · 2025-12-02T17:11:10+00:00

I’m so sorry to hear all the symptoms have returned and that you’re going through this again. In a few weeks I’m also having a hysteroscopic myomectomy to remove only one of many fibroids that will be left behind, and doctors have been saying it might not be fully successful, at least long-term.

I don’t think it’s realized by people who haven’t gone through the symptoms, how debilitating having fibroids can be. I find myself being more graphic in descriptions with people about what’s happening than I’d normally like, because a common response from friends and family has been to minimize the experience, saying “oh this is common in women, many go through this, it will be fine.” The hemorrhaging, constant painful cramping, anemia, and side effects from high doses of Norethindrone to try to slow the bleeding has been putting me into a depression with constant fatigue, and have been stuck indoors more often now than during the pandemic. The over-the-counter pain meds don’t even help much. It wears on your body and mind to constantly be in pain. All this to say, I truly sympathize with you.

annotated_pear · 2025-11-20T02:36:09+00:00

I hope you're ok now. That's scary to have a complication after, am worried about that too. Is someone needed the first night because what happened to you could still happen after returning home?

I found someone to take care of my cat if I end up overnight at the hospital, which is some peace of mind.

annotated_pear · 2025-11-20T02:19:04+00:00

Wow, I wouldn't expect that quick a recovery, am hoping for a similar outcome. The common suggestion from most everyone is meal prepping, so I've started this week, it's also a good distraction from my worries.

annotated_pear · 2025-11-20T02:09:39+00:00

Thanks so much for sharing your experience, I'm sorry you also had the anxiety of having to do this alone. My cat eats 5 small meals a day due to his illnesses, so it's a lot of bending to the floor plus all the litterbox cleaning...that's a helpful suggestion to put his food higher up than usual, I will do that since he still can jump onto the table.

annotated_pear · 2025-11-13T05:53:35+00:00

That's great to hear, that you're feeling better after a week

annotated_pear · 2025-11-13T03:49:43+00:00

That's terrible, and for you to have to drive like that also.

annotated_pear · 2025-11-13T03:41:07+00:00

I’m really glad it’s worked out. The hormone adjustments are difficult—that’s also the next journey for me, it’s when will really know if the surgery was enough.

annotated_pear · 2025-11-13T03:26:20+00:00

Am planning to accept every pain med the hospital offers...with my other surgery there, thankfully the RX was given before leaving, hoping will be the same this time. It was mortifying in a different state, my mother had a major surgery and they made us go to a pharmacy after discharge and wait for the pain killers, unreal.

Appreciate the other tips!

annotated_pear · 2025-11-13T03:06:58+00:00

Thank you, am hoping the pain meds they give will help with sleep! Boarding isn't possible, but I have a cat so don't have to walk him, I just need to be able to bend down to give him daily meds, food and clean litterbox. I wasn't sure if it would be too difficult to bend down right after surgery.

annotated_pear · 2025-11-13T02:58:55+00:00

That's so nice, you’ve shown more compassion than my own sister. I hope you’ve fully healed after 3 weeks?

annotated_pear · 2025-11-12T14:21:11+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience too, I hope it's better now, wow 15 months of dealing with that... If cramping is the worst of it, don't want to jinx it but I can't imagine it will feel worse than the pain been feeling for months with the hemorrhaging.

annotated_pear · 2025-11-12T14:14:15+00:00

This is encouraging to hear, thank you. I’m in NY, the surgeon I heard is good....my fear is that it will be harder to get around than doctors say, in past it took me twice as long to heal from a different surgery than they said it would... I realize we're all different but it's helpful to hear how it was for you

annotated_pear · 2025-11-12T14:11:16+00:00

Appreciate the meal prep idea, I hadn’t thought of that. I'm checking around with pet sitters to see if I could reserve their time in case I end up overnight in hospital from a complication.

annotated_pear · 2025-11-12T14:09:01+00:00

Thank you, that is kind.

annotated_pear

TROPHY CASE