New here - need advice re: next step

Hi everyone -

I found this site a few weeks ago and am really impressed by the level of information and support.

Here's my situation: I'm 40 y.o., no kids and don't want any, on BC since about age 20.

In October 2005, I had a horrific menstrual cycle with huge clots, going through a tampon and supersize pad every 15 minutes. However, there was almost no pain and only a little discomfort. Didn't go to a doctor at the time because I work for an attorney who does bankruptcies and this happened the last week before the laws changed. We were a bit busy, as you might imagine.

The next few months were better excepting a few minor, short-lived flooding incidents. Then in March, 2006 I had another whopper, with bleeding as bad as the time before but also uterine pain so bad I couldn't walk. A few days into that cycle, I got horrible stomach pain, it felt like everything was twisted around inside me and even after the constant pain subsided my insides would hurt when I walked or ate. I went to the doctor and she did a vaginal ultrasound and said I had a fibroid about an inch across. She put me on iron supplements (I was horribly anemic but didn't realize the symptoms as such) and prescribed Vicodin.

Since then my cycles have been uniformly awful, lasting between 10 and 16 days, coming at unpredictable times and with very odd bleeding patterns. Sometimes I will think they've ended and then for two or three days in a row will have mostly no bleeding except for one sudden discharge of bright red blood. Other times they just go on steadily...and...and on...and on. The pain is always bad for at least a few days and sometimes more, and sometimes it's worse than bad to where the pills don't help.

I haven't had any stomach pain as bad as the March cycle since then but I often have some stabbing abdominal pain, as well as a pinching or tugging sensation on one side or another.

This has all become par for the course but in the last several days I've had several bouts of nausea, vomited a couple of times, and have had a lot of stomach discomfort (as well as some uterine pain). This is all post-cycle.

So, finally, here's my question: I finally got off my butt and have a doctor's appointment (with OB/GYN) for Tuesday, March 6. I'm pretty convinced at this point that it's more than just one inch-wide fibroid causing my problems. Maybe it's grown, maybe there's more than one now, maybe I have adeno, maybe endo, maybe stomach problems that have nothing to do with anything. WHAT DO I ASK FOR IN THE WAY OF FURTHER TESTS?

Should I get another ulrasound? MRI? What about a laparoscopy? When I saw the doctor a year ago she said she'd do whatever I wanted but I'm just not sure what that is. I'm not opposed to a hysterectomy necessarily but I need more info on what's wrong first and am not sure of the best way to get it.

Thanks in advance for your help! I'm really glad I found this place!

Welcome to Hystersisters!

I would make a list of all your symptoms and problems, being as precise as possible. I would also make a list of all your questions including what type of problem could you be having and what would the diagnostic testing be for each. I would expect you will have a physical exam, probably blood work, and another ultrasound. It may depend on those results what will happen next. A CT scan may also be ordered.

Some conditions rarely, if ever, show up via diagnostic testing (endo & adeno to name two), thus if they are suspected, your doctor may try to eliminate any other possible conditions through testing before moving toward surgery.

Knowing your symptoms and communicating well with your doctor will help you to start trying to find out what is causing your problems.

in there and many best wishes to you!