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Symptoms not so bad
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04-13-2003, 09:23 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 97
Hysterectomy: April 29th, 2003
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Symptoms not so bad
Hi ladies;
As I explore this site, I see that many women are in terrible pain and miserable for most of the month, if not all month. Here's my concern...
I went to the doctor because the first couple of days of my period were ruining my life. I had to call in sick for work the first 2 days of my period because the bleeding was so bad I couldn't leave the house. I had to plan any trips around my period and it just seemed ridiculous. I didn't really FEEL too bad. I had developed a stomach which no amount of exercise would get rid of...but shrugged it off to getting older.
I can't tell you how thrilled I was when my doctor told me I had at least 2 fibroid tumors (I actually have 4). He told me they were rather large and should probably come out. Now that I know about these tumors I can see that I look about 3 months pregnant and I'm pretty sure I can feel at least one of the tumors. It now makes sense why when I would insert a tampon it would go in horizontally (fibroid pushing stuff out of place), and why sex was so uncomfortable. But overall I wasn't miserable. I don't want these fibroids or the heavy periods but I kind of feel like an imposter here. Anyone else having surgery but they don't feel miserable?
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04-13-2003, 11:26 PM
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Guest
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Posts: 479
Hysterectomy: May 6th, 2003
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Symptoms not so bad
Officer
In 2000 I had my first ultrasound (ABD&pelvic) because at first it was thought that I may have Gallbladder problems, the ultrasound showed that I had a possible Subserosal Fibroid and a Retroflexed Uterus, no other findings were discoverd. I was unaware of any female problems at that time and I had very little cramping. In 2002 I had Ultrasound #2 (transvaginal) I started having increased cramping, pain in my back and I was putting on the weight, this Ultrasound showed 4 fibroids a RT ovarian cyst the Uterus still backward facing. It all went down hill from there!At first I felt like something was not quite right, but now I feel the pressure, the pain in my back and the cramping and heavy bleeding, and I look about 13 weeks too!! I can say that 1 or 2 weeks out of the month life is GREAT as far as the remainder MISERABLE so I'm kinda 1/2 & 1/2. I wish you the best of luck
Waiting for May 6th
Ding
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04-14-2003, 04:33 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 102
Hysterectomy: April 15th, 2003
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Nor were mine...
Hello, LA:
Back in 1998, my doc felt a slight "mass" on the lower right region of the pelvic area and sent me to ultrasound. Ultrasound showed very small, multiple uterine fibroids. I had had a history of heavy bleeding and some clotting two out of five days of the menstrual cycle, with NO cramping, no need for iron supplements and no other complaints. As a matter of fact, I have had only very mild cramping, if cramping presented itself at all, associated with the menstrual cycle, my entire adult life. I went my merry way until this January of this year, when I noted a minor discomfort in that same ol' area, and only when seated. The vague discomfort would be relieved by simply standing up. Back to ultrasound, which revealed an enlarged uterus, monster-sized uterine fibroids (one of the largest is on the right, externally), and later, following a D&C for only the purpose of obtaining an endometrial biopsy, uterine polyps and no other abnormalities were found. Repeat ultrasound found a complex ovarian cyst, the size of a normal ovary. CA125 levels were raised. Between February-March of this year and now, there has been lower left and right pelvic pressure- and and occasional stabbing-like pain ever since, slowly increasing every day. Abdominal bloating, common for some women, didn't present itself until approximately a month ago. "Please take a seat" takes on a whole new meaning for me today.
So everyone is a bit different, yet many share a common thread. I had had my chance to explore other alternatives, but too late now. So, that is my story, one which doesn't necessarily mean yours will present itself in the same manner. Reading this web site will bring you quite a bit of information, and I am not an expert; however, if I would recommend anything to a women with your history, I would say to stay in frequent contact with your physician(s).
Good luck to you in your journey,
Susan
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04-14-2003, 05:38 AM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 6,053
Hysterectomy: February 5th, 2002
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Symptoms not so bad
Hi,
My fibroids were first diagnosed in 1998. What sent me to the DR was a period that just wouldn't end. My PCP sent me to a GYN. I had an u/s. Uterus was the size of a 6 week pregnancy. I was put on Provera 10 days a month to control the bleeding. It did its job for a few years, but made me kind of crazy, I referred to it as "drug enhanced PMS", but otherwise nothing like the debilitating pain, etc that I read a lot here. I did have two or three days of each period with very heavy flow, and large clots, and bad cramps, but hey cramps are part of it I didn't worry about them.
Fast forward to Oct 2001. My period started and wouldn't stop. I took the provera on schedule, it slowed a little but didn't stop. I had a visit to my sister planned, so I went anyway. The bleeding got really heavy again, with HUGE clots, terrible cramps, just felt awful. When I got home my period had been going on for 29 days. I called the DR's office, they sent me for a blood test and told me to keep taking the provera daily, no stopping. A couple of days later I had an apt with DR. Uterus was now the size of a 16 week pregnancy and I was severely anemic. DR said it was time. My period finally stopped after 46 days.
The symptoms creep up so slowly that you think you feel normal, it isn't until after surgery that you realize how bad you actually felt before. I feel so great now, I have energy to do things, I can't find the words to express the difference.
Everyone is different, there is always the possibility of complications, some people have trouble getting their HRT right, so maybe you won't feel the same way after. I just know that I don't regret it in the least.
Best wishes!
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04-14-2003, 05:44 AM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 82
Hysterectomy: March 13th, 2003
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Symptoms not so bad
My fibroids were found after I told DR that I had been having what felt like continuous menstrual cramps for two months. They weren't bad, but annoying and I knew something wasn't quite right. The following week we did the ultrasound and saw two fibroids (turned out there were alot more very small ones). That was where the cramping was coming from. We also found a large cyst by my left ovary.
If the only thing we had found had been the fibroids, I don't know if we would have done the hysterectomy or tried other options. The cramping was something I could have put up with for a while, but I had also been very tired. I am hoping after full recovery, I have more energy.
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04-14-2003, 06:33 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 1,489
Hysterectomy:
Surgery Type: SAH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Symptoms not so bad
I would not feel like an imposter if I were you. Frequent absences from work (2 days per month is excessive-could get you fired), discomfort during sex (It's not supposed to hurt), planning your life around bleeding and looking pregnant is not a high quality of life, even if you are not writhing in pain continuously.
I also could not insert a tampon, had discomfort during sex, bladder and bowel symptoms and very heavy bleeding. I had cramps (managed with meds), but not pain all month long. I finally had a TAH 3 years ago for fibroids and I now wish I hadn't waited so long. I think you get "used to" your symptoms gradually over the years; After it was all over and I felt so well, I realized my symptoms were worse than I thought pre-surgery. Also , the fatique I had been suffering for years is gone, and I can accomplish much more each day.
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04-14-2003, 06:49 AM
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HysterSister
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Posts: 6,979
Hysterectomy: May 23rd, 2002
Surgery Type: TAH
Ovaries: Removed both
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Hi,
I also felt like an imposter when I first came here over a year ago. I'd read all of the problems and pain that the other ladies were experiencing and felt that my piddling little problems were nothing. Of course, those piddling little problems including multiple fibroids, heavy bleeding to the point of needing hospitalization, and anemia. But I didn't have the pain the other ladies suffered with.
That is, until two weeks pre-op, when I foolishly was poking around on my tummy one evening, trying to feel the fibroid "twins." I poked a little too hard and ended up in severe pain for the rest of the evening. The pain eventually lessened to a constant dull ache which persisted until my surgery. I was having to take Darvocet that whole two weeks, just to be able to do my job.
As it turns out, my little "poking" episode had caused one of the fibroids on the outside of my uterus to twist around on it's stalk and die. It ended up breaking off and was found free-floating in my abdomen during surgery.
So, even though you may feel that your symptoms don't compare, just remember that if what you are experiencing is effecting your quality of life, then it's something you need to have taken care of. You never know when worse things will develop, so get treatment now before you have to find out.
Best wishes and s,
Lisa
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04-14-2003, 07:29 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 107
Hysterectomy: February 21st, 2003
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Symptoms not so bad
I had lots of bits and pieces symptoms like you add them one at a time , alot of things I thought were the result of time {back aches ,bladder and bowl troubles, water retention killer cramps bleeding clotting..ect...] I too was thinking maybe I don't need to do this yet{DR wanted ovaries gone soon because of family history]-I has TAH/BSO 2/21 path came back I was full of junk ovaries ,tubes,uterus-I wake up every morning feeling so much better-I haven't taken a thing for my back -no pain- did the bladder sling -no more pads or wet pants-no more bleeding and wearing black or checking the chair when you get up! [I also was able to throw away those dreaded period panties}I still tire easy but I feel GREAT- I think the makers of Motrin may go out of bussiness, I haven"t taken any since!Before surgery I took them daily !you wont realize just how much this ruled your life until after ! You will feel so much better.
Cyn
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04-14-2003, 08:05 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 35
Hysterectomy: May 12th, 2003
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Symptoms not so bad
I don't feel horrible. Just the first 2 days of my period. The rest of the time I have some pain that comes and goes, but it is not unbearable. If it were just that pain I could deal with it. Those 2 days though are bad. I am also so very tired all the time. I was told that is a symptom of endo...so I am hoping after I recovery from the surgery, I will feel better in general.
Someone told me they did not realize how bad they were feeling all the time til they recovered from the surgery and felt great! I hope that is the case for both of us!
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04-14-2003, 08:06 AM
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Guest
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Posts: 170
Hysterectomy: April 22nd, 2003
Surgery Type: LAVH
Ovaries: Kept 1 or both
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Symptoms not so bad
My story is pretty much the same as what most of the other ladies wrote. I didn't have killer cramps, pain during sex or non-stop bleeding. I did have increasingly heavier periods, which I just got "used to" until I was talking with a friend and she started complaining about how her and her daughter would use almost one whole box of tampons each month together. I told her I use a whole box by myself plus about 1/2 box of napkins. Then I went for a yearly exam and my IM thought my uterus felt enlarged and sent me for a vaginal US, which revealed that my uterus is severely retroflexed and retroverted, but no fibroids and according to the measurements taken during the ultrasound, my uterus was normal size. During all of this my periods were very heavy with large clots for about 2-3 days each month, lasting about 8 days. I was missing work, skipping church, planning vacations around my periods. On days that I absolutely had to keep going, I carried all my "supplies" in a backpack. The final clincher for me was when I bleed through everything onto my clothes and the chair I was sitting on in church. I was so embarassed. I made my poor husband walk directly behind me on my way out of church so no one would see my "accident" I then went to a gyn for help and tried 2 different types of hormones, which didn't help. He wasn't willing to do a hyst; he basically told me to "deal with it" so I got a second opinion and now am waiting for my hyst.
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