Birth control pills prior to surgery

Hi, my name is Laura and I am scheduled for June 12th. My problem is due to heavy bleeding and cramping. I am taking birth control everyday and still have been bleeding for the last 8 days. I am going to be so glad to have the bleeding end. I had a D&C March 1st but that didn't help. Doctor thinks it is due to infection. I have been having problems for over a year. In February I was prescribed Agysten (SP?) and that did not even stop the bleeding. My question is has anyone else had this problem. I have been reading this site for a few weeks but usually birth control pills seem to stop the bleeding. I go in for preop June 6th, so I can ask the doctor whether I can continue taking BC up until surgery. I am assuming I will be able to.

Also, I am an attorney who is a solo practitioner. I am becoming very nervous about having to take off so much time. I can't believe I will be unable to work for so many weeks. But it appears I am in for a surprise based on what I am reading on this site. The last time I took two weeks off was in 1989!

Laura,
I am not sure what to tell you about the bleeding. I think you well get the best information from your dr as he knows what your body is doing.

Unfortunately it is a full 6 weeks that you must take off. Please remember that you will only have once chance to heal from this surgery and it is best to do it right so that you dont have things http://www.algy.com/anxiety/disc/smilies/bombani.gif on you!

6 weeks really flys by quickly! Let yourself have this time.
Blessings

Hi Laura, you're not the only one who has taken birth control pills and still bled. Before my hyst, I bled non-stop for 11 months. During the whole of this time I was on bcp, at times really strong ones, with the addition of extra estrogen and I even had a depo-provera shot to put me into menopause. None of these stopped my bleeding. During that time, I also had a D&C and 2 endometrial ablations, they did not stop my bleeding either. I had no relief until I had my hyst back in February.

No one could tell me why I was bleeding like this until after my hyst when a biopsy of my uterus found a small fibroid buried deep within the uterine wall. This was thought to be the cause of my bleeding, while endo on my right ovary was believed to have caused my pain.


What kind of hyst is your doctor recommending? I had a laparascopic supracervical hyst and was only off work for 4 weeks, then I worked 1/2 days for a further 3 weeks. Some women take less time off after this procedure, but my doctor recommended four weeks at the least.

Laura

Hi Laura,
I have been where you are now and I sure know what you must be going through. I had continous bleeding and became anemic. I went through high doses of birth control pills, progestrone, and depo provera. Nothing really helped me at all. I wanted to have a d&c but they told me it wouldn't help me. So I scheduled the hysterectomy.

I also had an LSH like the other sister here had. I was released to go back to work in two weeks and worked half days the first week and then full time (6 1/2 hours) after that. It is a much less invasive procedure where the uterus is removed through a laparscopic incision and the cervix is left intact. The tubes and ovaries can also be removed at the same time. This is for women without cervical disease and can't be done for those who had very large fibroids. If taking time off is stressing you out (like it was me) ask your surgeon if he performs the procedure and if you are a candidate for it.
Best wishes on your surgery.




shelle1962

Hi Laura,
I was on Aygestin for about 3 weeks. I was bleeding non-stop for 3 months and had been on BCP's for years and years. I was also given a shot of depo-Lupron and nothing stopped my bleeding. I was taking 4 Aygestin pills a day and it didn't even help. I had numerous fibroids and a polyp that was causing the bleeding.

You will need the time off to recuperate. I always say that your health comes first and foremost. You have to take care of you. I really could have gone back to work at about 4 weeks (I had an LAVH) but was in no hurry to go back. You only get one chance to heal properly.

Good luck to you!!