Four years ago, I was rushed to the hospital with excruciating period pain. I was lightheaded, disorientated and felt like I was about to pass out. Hours later, I was walking out of the hospital with a Fibroid diagnosis and a mind racing with worry. What the hell were fibroids and why did I have them?
What are Fibroids?
Fibroids are non-cancerous tumours that develop around the womb (uterus). The growths are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue and vary in size. Fibroids affect an estimated 70–80% of women between the ages of 30 and 50 in the UK. In fact, in the UK alone, two in three women will develop at least one fibroid in their lifetime.
Often lurking in silence until symptoms like heavy bleeding, pain, and fertility issues demand attention, many women can have fibroids and have no idea.
While the exact cause of my fibroids is still unknown, my doctor informed me that they were linked to hormonal fluctuations, which can be triggered by dramatic lifestyle changes, pregnancy, stress or even medication.
Furthermore, research suggests that genetics, an unbalanced diet, a stressful lifestyle, and vitamin D deficiency could impact their growth and development.
Painful periods and living with Fibroids
Every month, the arrival of my period filled me with dread. I knew the excruciating pain I endured wasn’t normal. I would visit my GP, and I was told that fibroids were common and that I’d just have to live with them, but I knew the excruciating pain I endured wasn’t normal.
Before I realized it, my mental health was quietly slipping away as I consistently prioritized work over my well-being. I found myself in companies that viewed me as little more than a vessel for ideas, rather than a human being.
As I observed my female colleagues, it became clear that I wasn’t alone in this health struggle; many were silently suffering too – afraid to take a day off, trapped in an environment where exhaustion was normalized and self-care was seen as a luxury.
Gradually, I began to gain weight and experienced excessive bloating along with digestive struggles. As the fibroids grew, I often felt physically heavy and deeply self-conscious. Once known for my confidence and extroversion, the combined impact of fibroids and the isolating effects of COVID transformed me into a more introverted version of myself.
The fibroids not only altered my body, but also my self-esteem. The unpredictable moods, overwhelming self-consciousness, sudden insecurity, and anxiousness, along with the feeling of being a mere shell of who I once was, suddenly made sense.
The Transition
By 2022, I knew I had to make a change. I took a brief career break, scaled back my work, and took a part-time job while nurturing my long-held business idea.
Alongside these life adjustments, I changed my diet, and started going to yoga and pilates classes, embracing the holistic healing practices I grew up around. Energy healing and alternative treatments became a quiet but powerful undercurrent in my journey. I vividly remember a Reiki practitioner in 2020 telling me, “You’re out of alignment and you need to use your voice.” At that moment, I didn’t recognized the truth in her words, but now I do.
The day of the Myomectomy
Ultimately, the fibroid diagnosis led me to transform my perspective on life and myself. Because of them, I prioritised my healing and living a ‘soft life’. It was the catalyst that shifted my focus from relentless survival to reminding me that sometimes, the bravest act is to slow down, listen to your body, and nurture your spirit.
I was scheduled for surgery on Valentine’s Day 2025, the weekend of my late grandmother’s birthday. It felt like a sign from a woman who had showered me with so much love in my childhood that this was the right time to let them go.
After a long wait and carrying fibroids that had grown as large as a 22‐week pregnancy, I knew that surgery was the best option for me. I remember praying my way through the entire experience—overwhelmed by fear yet determined to move forward. By the fourth day, I was walking out of the hospital.
The light after the storm
My journey with fibroids became a turning point that forced me to re-evaluate what truly mattered. Today, as I continue to heal and embrace a softer, more intentional way of living, I stand as a testament to the transformative power of resilience and self-love. If you’re facing your own health challenges or battling the weight of societal pressures, remember: you’re not alone. Let your story be a beacon for others, and never let life dim the light that burns within you.
