Hi!
My story is very long but here's the bare bones:
Started menses at 12y10mo. Was very irregular. By 15, started keeping track b/c I never knew when I was going to start- would have 2 in one month, skip 3 months, etc. SUPER painful, "my-insides-are-falling-out-of-me" cramps for entire 6-7 day (heavy) period. By the time I was 18, I was pretty sure I had endometriosis. I started on the pill and remained on it until I was 30 & decided it was time for a baby.
Waited 3 months to get hormones out of my system and got pregnant one month after that- unfortunately, it was a blighted ovum and had to have DNC. I thought the m/c was the reason for my depression, but I came to realize later that it started earlier- it started when I got pregnant....
Waited to try again for a while and, when I was ready again, got pregnant quickly- nearly exactly 1 year later. Found out I had a "tipped" uterus. Had horrendous pre-partum depression, though I didn't know that was a "thing" at that time. Had to have a c-section and then suffered awful post-partum depression and anxiety.
Got pregnant again when my baby was about 10 months old. Again suffered pre-partum depression. Had another c-section, and again postpartum depression. But, this time I got treated- glory hallelujah!
I had decided to never go back on hormones (The Pill) once we started having babies b/c I was on them for so long and b/c I knew I was so sensitive to them, so, once I weaned my second baby, it was the first time since I was 18 that I didn't have any hormonal additive coursing through my body. And it was HELL.
I had THE WORST PMDD and got back on antidepressants and yet still, every hormonal peak would send me to the edges of despair. (I wish I was exaggerating.)
The only good thing, actually, was that I was finally regular in my cycles. (!!)
This meant that I could warn my husband when the "good" week was going to fall. One week out of three that was pain free and/or mentally stable. This was not a way to live!
Nov. 2015 finally got a sonogram that confirmed polycystic ovaries. HOWEVER. I did not/do not have any other symptoms of PCOS, so I do not have the syndrome. Just painful, polycystic ovaries.
My Dr put me on a progesterone only "mini-pill." I lasted 4 months b/c I bled 3 out of those 4 months. AAAAAAGH!!!
I got off of that Jan 2016- a little over a year ago.
In this last year, my moods have been more stable (got my meds down, coupled with monthly acupuncture, which I HIGHLY recommend!) However, my hormonal peak times (ovulation and menses) have gotten worse and worse each month.
"Ovulation" starts around day 7/8 I get bloated, my ovaries start hurting, my back hurts, I get a fullness in my abdomen, my upper thighs and hips hurt.....it gets worse and worse.....I get horrible abdominal pains, nausea, bowel pains, intense indigestion and nausea, a feeling like someone is standing on all my internal organs.....and then I ovulate....
Things slowly abate by day 17 or so....then, day 21 rolls around and my uterus starts gearing up.... I still get ovarian pains...and cramps....and bloating.....day 26/27, INTENSE migraine, cramping....spotting.....(this is all new within the last 3-4 months)....then day 28/29, FULL BLOWN PERIOD....cramps, exhaustion, etc. Day 2- 6.....spotting....?
I got an MRI a few weeks ago and met w/a gynecologist who dx me with both endometriosis and adenomyosis, along with my retroverted and (thanks to the endometriosis!) retroflexed uterus.
Y'all. I am done. DONE.
My husband has had a vasectomy. My uterus has caused me nothing but misery since I was a teen. I've got my 2 beautiful kids and I KNOW I do NOT want any more (my psychological health alone cannot handle it!)
SOOOOO. I have scheduled a laparoscopic partial hysterectomy (uterus only (OH YEAH! Turns out my ovaries are now fine- no more cysts! CRAZY!!!!) for April 29. I'm only 37, so this is.....weird.... But, man. I'm tired of all the pain and misery! I so can't wait for menopause, too!
I am......I don't even know. Excited....nervous.....anxious..... ? EEEEEEP!!!!!!!
I just finished my last ever period and I'm just now realizing how strange that is....25 years of "my friend" and now.....pooof! No more....
I just hope and pray everything goes well for my surgery.....
Upcoming hysterectomy 4/29: (Talk abt preg/kids) Retroverted/flexed Uterus w/ suspected endometriosis & adenomyosis
