my decision

i read that some women decide not to have hyst and have other procedures to calm there periods. my dr recommended this also but i have decided a hyst would be better for me and my mental health. i had to miss work again today because of my period ive been bleeding now for about 5 out of 7 weeks. sometimes just everyother day but i cant do this anymore. im stressed . i went out to dinner with my family last friday and had to cut dinner short and run home because i just started bleeding out of nowere. i cant go a day without some form of protection . it is all driving me mad. i just want to be normal and not worry about a period. sex now is out of the pict. has been for some time . am i rushing with this decision...

If I had a choice, I would opt for the least invasive procedure possible. I would ask my doctor to list my choices and the advantages/disadvantages of each and then I would make my choice.

Choosing an alternative to hysterectomy might actually help. You can always have the hysterectomy at a later date if the procedure doesn't work, but if you end up trading one set of problems for another (and it does happen sometimes) you can't go back. Hysterectomies don't come with a guarantee.

Take the time to read the messages here. Check out our "Road Less Traveled" and "Bladder Matters" forum. Check the "Hormone Jungle" even if you decide to keep your ovaries because your ovaries may not *wake up* after surgery and you may need HRT.

Make a list of questions to ask your doctor as you read. Together with your doctor you will be able to make the best decision for you.

I opted for having an ablation last year. It worked for a few months but I am going in for a LAVH/BSO on 9-26. Had I known that the ablation would only have worked for a few months, I would of skipped it and had the hyst to begin with. Saved time, pain and money.

I had a myomectomy 5 years ago and got less than 7 months of relief from that procedure. It seems that the fibroids and polyps just love all that new blood flow to the area and come back ( for some) bigger and more uncomfortable. I commend the medical profession for developing these procedures for younger women who wish to bear children. However I am so glad I decided on TAH/BSO even though I am 52. I wish I had done it earlier.

My personal opinion is I would get a second opinion. I think having a hyst for controlling bleeding is rushing into it.

I don't know you age so will say that if you are in perimenopause (time leading up to menopause, say over 40 at a very rough guess) your problems would fit with oestrogen excess and that is what causes the bleeding.

I would discuss other alternatives first, you have many. For example, Mirena intrauterine coil, Prometrium which is a natural progesterone which is micronised so it can be metabolised when taken orally, a D&C, endometrial abalation.

I would get your hormones tested as well, personally and everything here is my opinion only, I would be very suspiscious of any doctor who recommends surgery for bleeding especially if you are nearing menopause or in perimenopause. Unfortunately this is a common symptom of perimenopause which I think is treated far too commonly with a hyst when there are so many other options available.

If you are younger you will still benefit from the above because you can still be oestrogen dominant which causes endo, fibroids and excessive bleeding.

Good luck

last night made my decision. in 24 hour time i went through 22 tampons and 6 pads. i was hysterical all night. i could not stop crying. i had to miss work agin today. i want my life back. im only 32 i have a tubal already had that at 22. i honestly cannot do this anylonger.i have no life at this time. i cannot leave home now until this stops. if i move a muscle its like niagra falls with a barrel coming out...i thought about going to the hospital last night but what r they gonna do??? so i didnt. i really feel a hyst is my way to a life...

I've been where you are and can relate to the feelings of wanting a permanent solution. However, I urge you to not make such a major decision in the haze of pain. In the end I chose myomectomy and am 15 weeks post-op. It still remains to be seen if it will be effective in the longer term, but I'm glad I chose at least to try this lesser invasive approach - this once. If my symptoms return, then I'll be going straight to the hyster lineup. I too was recommended intitially for a hysterectomy, but only because the gyne wasn't trained on the other newer procedures. After much discussion, he finally referred me to another gyne at a teaching hospital. I was 38 when my problem started and was far too patient with my family doctor and first gyne as it's now over 2 years later that I'm finally getting relief. Good luck to you

Just came back from my ob/gyn. I am 34 years old and am going through much of the same problems. I have veeeeery heavy bleeding, topped off by extremely bad cramping, so I have been missing days of work also. I have seen 3 doctors now. My newest is actually taking this as seriously as I am. With the other things I have tried, I am now down to 2 options 1-Hysterectomy, or 2-Mirena....I am just doing my research about this option now. It is an IUD that is supposed to reduce or hopefully stop my periods altogether. If it works, it should only have to be changed every 5 years. Like you, I'm at my wits end. Trust me, you aren't alone with this. Maybe this would be an option for you also??