introducing myself

Hello Ladies
I'm new to the group and just wanted to take a minute to introduce myself. My name is Vickie. I'm 45 years old and live in San Diego, CA. I just found out 2 weeks ago that I will be having a hysterectomy within the next couple of months. I don't have a date yet, but I'm sooo relieved to be seeing light at the end of this tunnel!
Here's my story....I have always had very heavy periods and honestly thought that it was normal to bleed that way. Once I hit my 40's everything just started getting progressively worse. Not only was the bleeding just crazy heavy, the cramping became almost unbearable. Then the bleeding became almost constant....I would have only a few days each month when I wasn't bleeding or in pain. Unfortunately it took a while for me to find a doctor who would take my problem Seriously. Two years ago I ended up in the emergency room with uncontrollable bleeding and found the doc I have now. I had an endometrial hydroablation done 17 months ago and had good results with it for about a year. For that year I had no bleeding, no pain, no symptoms of any kind. In october of 2003 I started bleeding again and having terrible cramps. Also, around the time when my period should be I get alot of pressure in the area around my rectum with almost an urge to bear down (anybody else get this?) We still don't know for sure what's causing all of this. One theory is that my original problem may have been adenomyosis (nothing showed up on the sonogram before the ablation) and the ablation caused those cells to be trapped in the muscle wall with no place for the blood to go because of the heavy scarring that the ablation causes. Now the sonogram shows some strange looking spots in the uterine muscle that were not there before. Of course I've been biopsied, poked and prodded to no end! So that's where everything stands as of now. I'm looking forward to getting a surgery date and putting all of this behind me. Right now I'm not afraid at all but I'm sure that might change as the day gets closer. Hope this isn't too long! I'm so glad to have found this site!
Vickie

Welcome! You will love it here, there is an awesome amount of support and information available...

You will soon be addicted, too

Melissa

Welcome Vicki
I am really new here too. You will find a ton of support and love here!

We are all addicted to this site, and check it often for new posts. Send all your questions, concerns, problems, vents,etc here, and your sisters will probably have an answer.

You mentioned the problem with "pressure" during your period. I get that too. It's likely due to the fact that my uterus is stuck to my bowel, not to mention the adenomyosis. The only problem is, that it feels like I gotta go, but I CAN"T!!!

anyways, it's nice to meet ya.

take care
Tam

Hi Vicki,
So nice to meet you. I didn't find this site until after my surgery 2 weeks ago. My surgery was scheduled so quickly and before I knew it... It was history. I'm 42 ... TVH,BSO,HRT.
I went in to the DR in Jan for a sinus infection... and came out w/ a scheduled hysterectomy. What a shock. Never had a problem, never even a mention of a hysterectomy in my OB history.
You will NOT get more anxious and nervous as the day approaches. I didn't really. I was just so glad the day had arrived and that it was going to be over with.
This is a wonderful site. I love it.
Take care.... Don't put too much time between now and your surgery date. That's one thing I wished I would have done it even sooner. I had about 6 weeks of wait... and that was enough.

Have a good day. Sandra

Welcome!!
I am fairly new also but have become hopelessly addicted.
Everyone here is so caring, and there is a wealth of info to be found.
Best of luck to you! I truly feel I would have lost my mind by now if it were not for my sisters (TAH 4/22/04--two fibroids "my twins" severe anemia, blah blah blah!) I just wish my DH were as understanding!!
Anyway stay in touch!
21 days and counting !!!!

S.

Welcome. I am very new here also. There are so many questions that I have! I have had problems for a long time now. It seems like they all started after my tubal. Irregular, heavy, painful periods. I complained about this every time I went to see my doctor & he tried many different things. I finally tried a uterine ablation last Spring. For about 6 months I had no periods. Then they started coming back, same as before. Totally irregular, painful. Two weeks ago I had horrible pain real low on my right side. I have had it before with my period but it usually went away after a day or so. This time it didn't go away. Had just had pap & it was normal so even though I really felt that it was my right ovary causing all the pain I went to my regular doctor. They did a cat scan to rule out appendix & so forth. He really felt that it could be a bowel problem. Cat scan showed fluid in my uterus & cyst on right ovary but they didn't feel that the cyst could be causing as much pain as I was having. Did pelvic ultra-sound. Showed fibroids & enlarged uterus. They wanted me to see GI doctor. Just had colonoscopy done. Removed a polyp. Wainting for biopsy results on that. Really thought they would find something more from all these tests. Finally talked to OB-GYN & told him I wanted the Hysterectomy. He had been willing to do it last year but I was nervous about taking off work. Am scheduled for 4/21. My sister had one two years ago. She also developed similar symptoms as me after having a tubal. She had routine exam & doctor concerned after manual exam. Did laproscopy to do biopsy & found her filled with endometriosis. She had complete hysterectomy & feels great now. I really thing they are going to find the same thing with me. I have really bad pain during sex & just all the time now. I can't wait to have my surgery & hopefully start feeling better. Glad you are here. It helps to have women that understand!

Good morning ladies. I have been reading and learning so much on this wonderful site, thank you. When I saw the introducing post I decided to jump in.
I have'nt seen this discussed here and was wondering if anyone has had a similar experiance.
I am self employed and have had no insurance for years. I have seen numerous Drs since 1996 for pain on my sides, heavy periods w/ large clots, and pain with sex. I have heard many of the same things all of you have, my favorite being " those cysts should'nt hurt that bad ". I have been on and off bc pills for years. I have had Auntie Flo since Nov. and am tired of dealing with this. I am schedualed for a TVH on 4/5 . Finally to my question. Because of my insurance situation I pay cash for everything so my Dr is kind of going in blind. I trust him completly,he delivered both my kids and is Chief of staff at the Castle.But to save me some $ he has'nt done any tests. It kind of scares me because so many of you know exactly what your Dr is going in for. He believes most of my problems are due to fibroids, but will check everything. What do you think ladies?

The only real test I've had is the pelvic ultra-sound & is all that showed is fibroids & enlarged uterus. I really feel like my dr. is also going in kind of blind. I really think that they will find alot more in there based on all the pain that I have, as well as some problems that I'm just now finding (through this web site) out may be related such as bowel & uninary problems. It sounds to me, from what I've been hearing, that alot of times they don't really know what they are dealing with until they get in there. Best of luck to you.

Vickie, I just wanted to say hi from another Californian! I am near Sacramento. I've been through a lot of the same issues you described and will be glad to get this over with.

TusconTami, My Dr is also Chief of Staff and the only "test" he suggested was the pelvic ultrasound. During the test they discovered my uterus was enlarged and also found the "octuplets". I think all Dr's go into surgery "kinda blind".

Best wishes to both of you (and everyone else).

~Leslie~

Hi Vickie...
Just wanted to say welcome. I'm somewhat of a newbie. I've been registered since near the end of February but only now couragious enough to post anything always takes me a bit to get the comfort level. But I have to tell you, what I've found on this site is support, support & more support . I think you're going to love it.
Deb
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