A WOMAN who looked pregnant has finally lost her "bump" after surgeons removed a tumour the size of a newborn baby.
Maria was found to have a 17cm fibroid growing in her womb.
The 42-year-old from North London chose to manage her debilitating symptoms without surgery for 10 years, carrying the 6lbs mass around.
The growth left Maria with a large pregnancy bump that lead to strangers assuming she was expecting her first child.
And after being asked so frequently when she was due, Maria even made up a due date to save the embarrassment.
But after battling against the physical effects of her fibroid – which has worsened since 2014 – Maria made the brave decision to undergo surgery.
And last month, Maria had the large mass removed and was left stunned when shown the photograph of it.
Now, finally fibroid free, Maria is looking forward to the future and if hoping to educate others by sharing her story.
The best piece of advice I could give anyone living with a fibroid is do your research and get it removed while it's still under 7cm
Maria said: "Looking at the photo of my fibroid was surreal, I never imagined it would actually be so large.
"It was almost six pounds and had begun affecting my day to day life.
"But now, two weeks since my operation, it's such a relief to no longer have my bump and explain why I look pregnant to strangers.
"I wish I had the surgery as soon as I was diagnosed. I was keen to try and treat my fibroid naturally without surgery.
"These including herbal medicines, acupuncture, changing my diet and exercises in breathing and movement.
"And although they allowed me to continue with normal life for a decade with minimal pain and normal periods, they were not halting the growth of my fibroid.
"By the summer last year I looked heavily pregnant and it was no surprise when strangers began asking when I was due.
"Sometimes I would explain it was a fibroid but it was happening so often that in the end I would go along with it and tell people a due date.
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"The best piece of advice I could give anyone living with a fibroid is do your research and get it removed while it's still under 7cm."
Maria was first diagnosed with a fibroid in 2007 and despite being offered surgery before her fibroid reached 17cm, she opted for alternative medicines.
She added: "It was a big operation and at the time they offered surgery, my fibroid was only 5cm in length and I wanted to manage the problem naturally.
"But by summer 2016 the tumour was huge and depending on my period cycle, very noticeable.
"It was also affecting my relationships as I was self-conscious.
"I was bending over some bed linen when a woman said 'congratulations' and asked when I was due.
WHAT ARE FIBROIDS?
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb.
They are very common, affecting around one in three women – most often between the ages of 30 and 50.
The growths are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue and vary in size.
Many women show no signs of fibroids and so are unaware they have the growths.
Those who do have symptoms could experience:
– heavy or painful periods
– tummy pain
– lower back pain
– a need to pee a lot
– constipation
– pain or discomfort during sex
In rare cases fibroids can affect pregnancy or fertility.
The exact cause of the growths is not known, however scientists know they are linked to the hormone oestrogen.
If a woman experiences no symptoms, treatment is often not needed.
But, for those who do show signs, drugs to relieve the symptoms is the first step.
From there, if they prove ineffective, surgery is an option.
Source: NHS Choices
"I had worked out that I looked up to 28 weeks pregnant at my worst but my bump fluctuated depending on the time of the month.
"The pictures of my bump before my surgery are when my fibroid was at its worst, my stomach size would fluctuate and it wouldn't always look so large."
"It has been exhausting living with a fibroid and I couldn't be happier that I am now rid of it for good.
"I'm also keen to start a family one day and I knew I couldn't try while carrying a heavy fibroid."
Maria opted to pay privately for her surgery and did a lot of thorough research beforehand.
She said: "I had my surgery at Parkside Hospital and I avoided taking any hormone treatment as I knew that by striking my smaller tumours, it would be harder for them to be removed.
"I didn't know if I'd managed to keep my womb until I had woken up after surgery but it was such a relief knowing my large tumour and the smaller ones had finally gone.
"Doctors had tried to shrink by having a lazer treatment called, MRI-guided percutaneous laser ablation, three times, before my operation.
"And although it worked and took the pressure off my bladder in 2011, it quickly grew back.
"I wish I'd had my pregnancy bump removed through surgery a long time ago but I'm so relieved it's over.
"I now can't wait to feel myself again, start exercising and put the most difficult months of my life behind me."
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