31, very light bleeding, but on the road to a hyst

I'm 31, and had a tubal and ablation at 29. The tubal I wanted first and foremost, and have loved having it, no question. The ablation.....I had that because even ON birth control pills, I could bleed a great deal. Without the pill I was having 'accidents' at work--I'm sure you all know the story!

Since then, I've developed pain in my abdomen. I had a lap and had adhesions removed, and one single spot of endo. The surgery didn't help the pain at all, though.

I also bleed 14-20 days a month. Now this is where I lose people, they don't see the need for a hyst or understand why this is, for me, ruining my life.

My bleeding is light. Sometimes enough for a tampon, sometimes not quite enough so the tampon hurts. Without a tampon I have to wear a pantyliner (I'm not a fan of pads). This goes on for 14-20 days, with SOME level of pain daily. Sometimes, so bad I miss work and take every pain drug I can get my hands on (blinding, horrible, pain. Far far worse than post-surgical pain).

I'm getting married on Halloween, so my doctor is giving me birth control pills to try and help me out here. This time, however, they're not working. I don't have pain, but I'm bleeding EVERY SINGLE DAY. I'm on the 5th type of pill, and still bleeding.

This is life ruining for me. Both my fiance and I are disugsted by 'period sex', there's no changing that. Light flow, barely there flow, or heavy flow...it all the same as far as intimacy goes. I'm a highly sexual person living a sexless life. We aren't going to bother scheduling a honeymoon unless by some miracle this bleeding stops.
I'm also extremely sore from the constant use of pads and tampons.

I'm so depressed over this I can hardly get out of bed in the morning. Every morning when I wake up and there's blood on the toilet paper I cry. I don't want antidepressants---unless they stop the bleeding and I can have sex again, they won't help.

My gyn has no doubt that I will have a hyst. At the moment I can't afford the co-pays on my insurance, and I don't honestly know how I ever will. The amount I'll owe might as well be millions, as we won't have the money. I'm still trying to pay off the last surgery...they only give a year. Miss one payment and it's off to collections!

I'm also afraid, as I'm sure most of you are or have been. She's planning to take my cervix to make sure I have no more bleeding (if I go through a hyst and have more bleeding, I'd probably never get out of bed again). I fear scrarring, pain, sexual dysfunction....the regular fears I'm sure!!

This is long, and depressing, but it feels SO good to type this out to other women who have uteruses that won't cooperate.

Has anyone else had their bleeding worsened by the pill, rather than helped or stopped?? Have you ever had 'unstable endometrium' mentioned?

I don't regret my tubal, but I DO regret the ablation. At least I could've gone on a pill again and not bled evrey single day

I am sorry things are so frustrating for you right now.

Is there an endometriosis specialist nearby?

I ended up with my hyst as I bled for two years almost daily. However, I did have clots and heavy bleeding along with lighter days. I tried one birth control after another. Finally I had my lap endo was found, and more than one spot. At the time of my lap I also had a D&C which did not stop the bleeding either.

Eventhough only one spot of endo was removed from your body, it is still possible you have more endo. For one thing it can start microscopically. For another, not all doctors are trained to recognize its various forms and appearances.

And the amount of endo one has does not dictate the amount of pain. I was basically pain free with stage IV (the highest level) of endo. But my GYN has personally seen women who were maybe stage I and they were in horrendous pain. If you do any reading about endo, you will find that this can be quite common.

We have many Endometriosis Resources you can read through to learn more about endo. I do not know that endo is your problem but it could be.

Continue to work with your doctor but consider a second opinion. Another doctor who is more familiar with endo may have additional treatment options and suggestions for you!

Take care!

Krystal I had a tubaligation in 1995, and a couple of other procedures years later including the ablation. I too took numerous types of birth control pills and nothing ever worked. The ablation stopped the heavy bleeding but I was still having a period every two weeks and in between I was spotting. My husband and I aren't in to period sex either so our active sex life has diminished. Recently I had a period for over 2 months and that was the straw that broke the camels back for me. I am tired of beign grouchy and moody b/c I am always on my period. My LSH is in 3 days adn although I am nervous, I can't wait until this is over so I can get my life back. Life is too short to miserable day in and day out. I have a way out and it's the LSH and I am very glad I made this decision. So is my husband.

Wow I'm so happy that there's other people out there with the same story. It's been almost 4yrs that I've tried different birth controls which none of them helped with the bleeding. I've had a D&C with no luck. It's been 60 days now that I've been bleeding. I'm going in for hysterectomy on aug 23 and can't wait to be able to have sex once again with my DH. Also can't wait to feel less tired. I belive this to be the best decision I could make for myself.
Krystal my prayers go out to you for I know how you feel. This site has so much info so I hope you take the time to read and make a decision that best suits you. And if you have question post them your Hyster Sister are here to help and support you.
Take care and best of luck!

Thanks everyone!

My doctor specializes in menopause and hormones, so at least she's probably one up from those that specialize in obstetrics (she no longer does that). At this point, an endo specialist would probably want to do a lap....and there's no way I could pay for another one of those! I dream of saving up for the hyst. Not to say I'll never stop in for a 2nd opinion, I just know there's not much out there other than ablations (done that!), combined oral pills, and progesterone only (done that too!)...and of course the ol hyst. (I work in pharmacy, so if there's one thing I know, it's what drugs are out there! heh)

I also have the short term goal of enjoying my wedding and having a honeymoon. I've just been crying all day over the whole thing.

For those of you had had no relief with the pill, how did it act with you? Did you have ANY relief, and then the bleeding returned? Did it just stay the same as if you weren't taking anything? Get worse?