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Want hyst for extreme period pain
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05-24-2004, 08:13 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 130
Hysterectomy: February 24th, 2006
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Want hyst for extreme period pain
Hi, new here, but have been reading posts for a while. I have had painful periods ever since I started when I was 13 years old. After my first child, the cramping was greatly improved; however, I started experiencing a one time severe cramp at the end of my period after about a year. Didn't think too much more about it until after my second child and now a year later the pain has returned. A few months ago, the pain happened at the end of my period and was so severe that I was sore for several days afterward. Each month I have had more episodes of this "cramping." Went to the doctor in March and they were 100% sure it was cysts on my ovaries. Gave me Bextra to take and prescribed amitryptalene (sp?). I chose not the take the ami because of not responding well to anti-depressants in the past. The Bextra helped a little bit.
Then, had an ultrasound in April which revealed NO cysts and everything looked healthy. During my period last week, I had the extremely painful "cramp" three times. I wanted to die (and yes, I was taking the Bextra straight through and it did nothing). The last one hit me in Walmart while checking out. I barely got the kids and groceries in the car. Drove home clutching the steering wheel hunched over and screaming in pain. When I got to my house, I decided to go to the MIL's for help (thank goodness she's up the street). I was afraid I would pass out in the yard and no one would be there. So after that episode I called and made an appointment for this week to see the doctor again.
I'm not sure how I'm going to convince them that this is severe and that I just know something is wrong (not just dysmennorhea). I also have heavy flow along with it. If it was just the flow I'd be okay, but along with the pain, I really want to just get it all out! DH and I have had many discussions about it too. Plus, my own mother suffered from fibroids at my age (I'm almost 31) and she went through almost the exact same thing I'm experiencing and ended up with a hyst at 34. She was a new woman after her surgery. I even told my doc about this and she kind of laughed at me.
The doctors who were sure it was cysts said they wouldn't do a hyst on me because it wouldn't help with cysts. Now the ultrasound showed that it wasn't cysts so hopefully, they will want to help me for real instead of prescribing more drugs. If not, I'll be going somewhere else.
I'm just frustrated that they don't seem to take me seriously. I don't know how many more months I can go through this. From the research that I've done, my symptoms are similar to adenomyosis. The pain I experience is more severe than what I went through at childbirth (yes, the doc laughed at that one too). And my flow is dragging on and on longer each month. I also have problems with migraines and have had several boughts with gallbladder attacks during that last year. So I have enough pain!
It feels better to have that out! Thanks for much for the support and creating such a wonderful community.
Thanks,
Dinksgal
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05-24-2004, 11:10 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 1,242
Hysterectomy: June 16th, 2004
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Want hyst for extreme period pain
I am very new to this site also. I have an appt with the gyno this wed. And I am going in fully loaded with both barrels cocked and locked and loaded! etc.....LOL
I have every detail written out about my problems....major and minor write them ALL down!
I have done a lot of research on the internet and have learned a lot here at hystersisters. I have been printing info out. If you don't have a printer, go to your local library and you can get info printed off the net for a small fee. Sometimes like 10 cents a page.
My goal is a total hyster. Uterus, ovaries, tubes, cervix....take it all!!!!! The last few years of my life. Ugh!
You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Keep coming to this site....it is wonderful!!!!!!
PS: Remember to arm yourself with all the information you can before seeing your doc. Locked and loaded! LOL
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05-25-2004, 03:32 PM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 3,391
Hysterectomy: November 29th, 2001
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Want hyst for extreme period pain
Hi Dinksgal,
It can be soooo frustrating when it seems like the doctor makes light of your pain! Have you asked your doc what might be causing this specific type of "cramping" pain during your period? It sounds like cysts have been ruled out. Were fibroids ruled out too? It does sound as though this could be adenomyosis, but endometriosis is another possibility.
When you don't know for certain what is causing the pain (are you sure this is your uterus? Could it be something else?) then who knows if a hyst really is needed or if it will "cure" the pain? You certainly don't want to go through major surgery if there isn't a very high probability that you won't have this pain again. I know you say it occurs during your period - do you ever have this pain any other time?
Before you make a final decision, I highly recommend that you get at least one other opinion from another gyn. And push for some sort of diagnosis or theory as to why this pain is occuring.
Keep us posted on what you find out and how you are doing. I hope you get a more definitive diagnosis soon.
Beth
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05-25-2004, 03:44 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 154
Hysterectomy: April 23rd, 2004
Surgery Type: TVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Want hyst for extreme period pain
Hi dinksgal,
If I didn't know better, you were describing me before my hysterectomy. I, too, would scream in pain and be doubled over. :cry: I am in sales, so I drive a lot, and one time I even had to pull off the side of the road and lie in the back seat until I could continue. I missed several days of work each month.
My doc also gave me the Bextra but told me to take it the very second my period started..and continue to take it every 12 hours until it completely stopped..is that what you do? It did help a little bit, but not much. I would lie in the bathtub at night in the hottest water I could stand to try to ease the pain. It was hard because I passed such huge clots right out into the tub, but I tried everything I could for some relief.
Not sure if you are into aromatherapy, but rubbing clary sage oil on your stomach helps a little bit too. LIke I said, I tried it all.
If your doc is laughing at you and not listening to you, find another doctor. Fortunately for me, my doctor listened and agreed to do the hysterectomy. It wasn't that bad. I didn't even take the pain killer in the recovery room, because the pain I had then was not anything like what I had with the cramps. To this day (a little over 4 weeks post op), I have only taken Advil.
Good luck and let us know how you are doing. I didn't find this site until after my surgery, but it has been a godsend. I don't know where I'd be without it.
You get a few good laughs, too, sometimes.
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05-26-2004, 06:11 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 130
Hysterectomy: February 24th, 2006
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Want hyst for extreme period pain
Thanks for your replies.
Yes, I take the Bextra as soon as I start and continue every 12 hours. It helped at first, but not the last few times. It does help with what I call "regular cramps." I got the seering pain anyway.
I only get the bad cramps with my period and sometimes the soreness will continue afterwards. I feel like it is my uterus, but I haven't rule out other possibilities yet. When I was talking to my CNM (I see her for all OBGYN stuff and then she refers to the doctor at that practice for anything out of her realm) and she told me that laproscopy would be the next step, but it sometimes led to more problems (huh??). I tried to get my next appointment with the doctor there, but he was booked for months. So I took another appointment with the CNM and it's tomorrow. I don't think I'm going to get anywhere, but at least she knows how many times I've been in there so far.
When she did my internal exam a few months ago before the cysts were ruled out, she said she felt a firmness in my uterus on the side I was feeling pain. But nothing further on that at that time.
Oh and I didn't mention this the first time, but I have also tried being on the birth control hormones too (ortho, depo, etc.). I usually get bad depression taking them. Last fall when Seasonale came out I jumped on it because I thought reducing my pain for 4 times a year would be great. However, after being on it for 2 months, I developed depression again and had a breakdown (I was also working part time and in graduate school along with having my family to take care of). So I got off the b/c and felt better within a few weeks. I don't like this pain, but I don't like having suicidal thoughts either--that's really scary. And that's not the kind of person I am or want to be.
Thanks everyone for your advice. I definitely want to know what is causing this pain, but I also feel like if I'm going to have to have exploratory surgery anyway then why not just have one surgery and get it over with. (Afterall, even though I quit my job last month, I'm still in grad school and have classes coming up so one surgery and recovery is about all I have time for.)
Why does this have to complicate our lives so much???
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05-26-2004, 10:46 AM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 3,391
Hysterectomy: November 29th, 2001
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Want hyst for extreme period pain
Hi Dinksgal,
The CNM might have mentioned that lap surgery can create other problems because ANY time you have abdominal surgery, even lap surgery, you run the risk of developing adhesions. Adhesions can cause new problems and pains.
I do hear you about not wanting to endure multiple surgeries, etc. But keep in mind that a hyst is typically considered a last resort option after other treatments have been tried and failed. While most women do just great after a hyst, there are risks and some women have less than perfect outcomes. So you need to be fully aware and informed of this possibility.
In the end, only you can make the decision that feels right for you. Whatever you decide, we'll do our best to provide support. It would be nice if the decision was easier ... but for most of us, it is not that easy or clear-cut.
Sending more hugs your way as you evaluate your choices.
Beth
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