Nervous!

Delima,
Thanks for your reply! My peroids have been so heavy that when I stand up, it would literally gush out and down my legs! Good luck tomorrow on your big day. Know that my prayers are with you for a smooth surgery and quick recovery! God Bless!
Athena

For all you sisters with heavy bleeding ,cramping and clotting--

I was the same way. Those were the only symptoms, along with anemia. My GP told me to wait for menopause...yeah, right--probably 15 years away. Anyway, my ultrasounds and hysteroscopy were both normal. When the surgeon removed my uterus, he said it looked healthy. I felt so guilty and wondered if I had been imagining the whole problem.

Well, that was before I got the pathology report. It turns out that I had severe adenomyosis. (This is like endometriosis, but it only attacks the inside muscle layers of the uterus). Anyway, adenomyosis is difficult to diagnose with ultrasound or hysteroscopy, so many women don't find out about it until AFTER their hyst.

I have been doing some research, and hysterectomy is one of the only successful treatments for adenomyosis. Ablation can make it worse, because blood becomes trapped inside the scar tissue where the endometrium was cauterized.

So, to make a long story short, I made the right decision to have the hyst, even though everything was "normal".
11 weeks post op and feeling terrific!
Laura

i am scheduled for surgery on the 21st of Sept and the reason I am having the procedure is because I bleed every other week. There is no pain but my anemia is getting critical. I never had a abnormal pap nor do I have fibroids or anything. My doc can't figure out why I am bleeding so frequently. I decided to have an ablation to try to regulate my cycle and of course it only got worse. So this is pretty much my last resort. So honey, you aren't the only one having the procedure for excessive bleeding. Good luck w/your surgery and may your recovery been smooth sailing.

You've had some really good input here.

The only thing I could add is this: if your situation isn't life-threatening (and yours sounds like it isn't), and if you are having misgivings about the surgery (and it sounds like you are) I would postpone if I were you. Give yourself some time to get another medical opinion. There are treatments available for heavy bleeding that don't involve hysterectomy.

This surgery has been a lifesaver and a quality-of-lifesaver for so many women -- but it is irreversible. You have plenty of time to have the surgery, but why not investigate further to satisfy yourself that it is your best option?

This is only my opinion. Only you and your medical team know what's best for you. We're here for you no matter what you decide, every single step of the way. to you.

My main symptom was heavy bleeding. I had bad periods from the beginning but it kept getting worse. I literally flooded without warning no matter how much "protection" I piled on. It finally got so bad I couldn't get over the weak-knee feeling long enough to shower and go to work.

Now, mind you, this was after three different doctors today me that I was at "an age" when this happens. All three noticed the anemia and recommended over the counter iron. One claimed there was nothing on the Ultrasound to indicate a problem. The other two didn't bother with any tests other than the blood test. Not one of them asked how much I was actually bleeding even though I described it as a fire hose!

I knew something was wrong and I kept trying in spite of my natural reluctance to make a pest of myself or appear to be a hypochondriac. We are so bad to ourselves when given the opportunity!

The first thing I was asked by this doctor was how much I was bleeding. I think he indicated that more than 1 pad an hour or more than 7 days a month was technically too heavy. At that point, I was wearing 2 tampons, a heavy pad and hoped I was good for an hour without mopping up a floor. This had been going on for weeks!

Long story short (whoops, too late): I had the hyst 3 years ago today. It was surgery and therefore a big deal. I took extra care to let myself heal. I wasn't lazy, but I was careful. When I was so bored that I had to do laundry (I think that came at the 2 week point) I picked up 2-3 pieces at a time and threw them over the rail to the level below. Then I made my way downstairs and picked it all up again 2-3 pieces at a time until I had a washer load. I'm laughing now remembering that month of September in 2002. Each morning my husband would try to put the pans I thought I would want on the stove so I wouldn't lift anything.

Anyway - my life is so dramatically different now that I would say to anyone who is on the fence - go for it! You have to make this decision for yourself, with the advice and help of your doctor and your partner, BUT it gave me so much life back that I can not imagine doing it any different.

Of course you are worried. But don't let worry or fear stop you from taking care of your own health. You can't take care of others if there's nothing left of you. This has to be your choice, but please know that a successful outcome is possible - I'm living it.

Alaz -

My symptoms are like yours - heavy, heavy periods, clots, and the infamous GUSHING! Like my worst high school nightmare come true, to leak through at inopportune times!!

I flip flop back and forth some days about the surgery, but I have exhausted almost all other options. The only one I passed on was cryo-ablation, because my dr. said it won't work in a bicornuate and partially divided uterus - heart shaped w/an interior wall. Heart shaped - how romantic! LOL

I am looking ahead to post-op, to being able to wear normal clothes any time of month, to not having to use the portapotty at the beach to change tampons every 30 minutes, to not having to wear a tampon, pad, and then an extra pair of undies and pad under that 'just in case', then having such a severe gush that it leaks anyway!!

Thoughts and prayers with you - keep us posted!

april

Hi Alaz,

I am sorry but as yet I can't tell you about sex after the op (DH wishes I could, ) as I have not been for my six week check yet (its actually at 11 weeks shortage of appts). Will get back to you on that one.

I am 38 years old, married with 2 children (boy 16 and girl 13). I have tried every available medication for heavy bleeding and found I was swapping one set of problems for another. I also had a D&C which made no difference. My periods were destroying my life and my families.

I was scared, and wondered if I was doing the right thing before hand too, but this op was the best thing to happen to us, whether the pathology report finds something or not. I don't think I could have carried on another year the way I was never mind until I hit the menopause.

Lots of s
Angela