Woman has six years of agony before docs remove tumour the size of a grapefruit
A lawyer has shared the agony she endured for six years before doctors finally removed a grapefruit-sized growth from her womb along with 15 other benign growths.
Dawn Heels, 40, had a stressful job as a commercial lawyer in 2016 when she first experienced abdomen pain that worsened as time went by. She says her male GP dismissed her symptoms of painful heavy periods that would last up to two weeks by recommending Ibuprofen.
When Dawn later asked for a female doctor in 2016 she was sent for an ultrasound scan that revealed she had two fibroids on her uterus. Fibroids are benign tumours made of muscle or fibrous tissues that typically develop in the wall of the uterus. The discovery changed nothing for Dawn; she says she was told it was a “common issue” for women and to manage her symptoms at home each month.
Dawn's incision from open myomectomy surgery to remove fibroids in January 2022 (Michelle Morgan Davies)
It was discovered Dawn had 16 fibroids which had stopped her falling pregnant (Michelle Morgan Davies)But after enduring six more painful years of debilitating symptoms Dawn used her company’s private healthcare to explore her options.That’s when it was discovered she in fact had 16 fibroids, one the size of a grapefruit that was blocking access for implantation which is why she had been unable to fall pregnant.
Dawn, who lives in Berkshire with her partner and 5 month old daughter (unnamed for privacy reasons) said: “Over the years my symptoms worsened, it affected my work life and my social life. I always needed to be near the toilet or planning my next time to go. Heavy bleeding with gushes and clots were hard to manage when I needed to give presentations at work.
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Now the mum of a young daughter, Dawn said the health issue affected her work social life for several years (Michelle Morgan Davies)“But there were other symptoms to manage too - pain in my bum cheek and legs, frequent urination, painful sex, I was exhausted all the time and we were trying for a baby and nothing was happening. It was so disheartening. Then the extreme bloating caused me to look pregnant which was frustrating because I’ve always kept fit and had a flat stomach. I just knew something wasn’t right in my body.”
In a moment of desperation in 2021 Dawn confided in a colleague about the extreme symptoms she was experiencing and they encouraged her to research the help available through the company’s private healthcare benefit. Dawn said: “From my first consultation everything changed. I finally felt listened to and my consultant wanted to get started with active investigations immediately because of how long I’d been suffering.
“I had an internal transvaginal ultrasound to give a better picture of what was going on and that revealed I had six fibroids and one was very large, the size of a grapefruit and it was causing a blockage that was stopping me from conceiving.
Dawn in hospital in January 2022 (Michelle Morgan Davies)
The 40-year-old now shares information and resources with over 13,000 followers on her Instagram account (Michelle Morgan Davies)“An operation was scheduled as soon as possible to remove the growth and in January 2022 I had an open myomectomy - a major surgical procedure that is similar to a c-section but it goes deeper into the womb to remove fibroids. After the surgery several layers of stitches had to heal and I bled heavily while managing a lot of pain.”
Unfortunately Dawn’s recovery wasn’t straight forward and she needed a blood transfusion after becoming unwell from her heavy blood loss. She added: “Finally after six weeks I was able to get myself up, washed and dressed to feel nice for the day.”
After her surgery Dawn was shown an image of the fibroids her surgeon removed. She was shocked when it was revealed she actually had 16 growths, not the initially diagnosed two or six. She said: “Seeing them was a complete and utter shocker. When the surgeon said he could see why I was in so much pain I felt so validated after years of being told to just deal with it.
“I wanted to keep the pictures as a symbol of what I have been through.” Post surgical recovery Dawn says her periods came back light and pain free and her stomach was flat and muscular with no bloating.
She said: “I had no bulges, I felt well and I actually felt angry. I couldn’t believe what I’d been through for years when a period could happen and be no big deal. ”Then just six months after surgery Dawn fell pregnant the first month they tried again.
And in March 2023 her daughter was born. Dawn, who is currently on maternity leave, said: “Our baby was wanted for so long and everything I went through to be able to conceive and bring her into the world has made me fiercely protective of her and of my family and our energy.
“I have been so motivated with purpose by everything I have learned and experienced during my experience with fibroids that I have built a community online where women who are going through the diagnosis or treatment of fibroids can come and be supported and take away materials and insight that will help them to advocate for themselves.”
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Dawn shares information and resources with over 13,000 followers on her instagram account @dawn_heels. She added: “On the NHS most women are still waiting 9-12 months for an op. I decided to speak out about my experience with everything uncovered because I didn’t want to shy away from the taboo topics if my experience could help other women.
“It has helped me too to support other women because the women’s health sector is under researched and needs more support and resources. I built the community that I had needed back in 2016. The sad truth is we have to arm ourselves with knowledge and shout louder to be heard. So in my work online and at events as a speaker I want to help other women to find their voice.”
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