Pathology report

Hi everyone,

I should get my pathology report next week. I'm both nervous and excited to get it.

The reason I chose to have a hysterectomy is because my periods had become SO painful. I felt like I was in labor each month. Plus, I had this dull ache all month long... just an annoying ache. I also had spotting between periods for a while, but then that stopped. My periods also became heavier, but that was not the main reason for my surgery. My periods were not so heavy that I could not tolerate it.

I had an ultrasound and that showed I had small fibroids, but they were small enough to where it wasn't a real reason to have a hysterectomy. But, the ultrasound showed the uterine lining was abnormal. So, they did a biopsy, and that came back benign, which is good. That is when my doctor suggested I have adenomyosis. Of course, with adenomyosis, you can't diagnose that until the pathology report.

SO, the reason I'm both nervous and excited about my pathology report is I was SURE my doctor was going to tell me after surgery that my uterus definitely did not look normal. I have been so bloated for months, my abdomen has been so tender so it has been hard to wear anything tight around my waist, running became hard for me because the pounding starting to make me cramp.... and the list goes on. So, I thought for sure the doctor was goign to visually SEE that my uterus had issues.

Well, my doctor told me after my hysterectomy that he saw the small fibroids, and they were very small. But, he said other than that, my uterus looked totally normal! I was shocked! I could not believe it.

He then said we'll have to wait to see what the pathology report says.

So, now I'm really nervous that the pathology report will say NOTHING was wrong. But, I KNOW I was having painful periods, and I know what I felt. The fibroids could not have created that pain, so something else was causing the pain.

However I'm excited to get the path report back because I DO think it'll say adenomyosis. At least it better!! haha.

I guess I'm wondering has anyone ever had painful periods like I had, but then the path report came back showing nothing?? Or, has anyone had the experience of having a hysterectomy, and their doctor said after surgery their uterus looked totally normal? If so, did your path report show your uterus was not normal??

I never had painful periods before in my whole life until about 8 months ago..... so I know that this is something new that has been happening, and even my gut feeling has been telling me that something is not right.

Anyway, I'm just on pins and needles, and I'm so afraid that if it comes back saying there was nothing wrong but the small fibroids, I'm so afraid everyone is going to think I made all of this up! All i know is I do not make up pain. I know what is real. :-)

So, I guess we'll see what it says.... and the fact the ultrasound showed that my uterine lining looked abnormal.... I wonder if my doctor did not inspect the lining? Maybe he just leaves all of that up to pathology.

Ok, so I guess I should just stop stressing.... it's out of my control. there is nothign I can do, but I just am hoping so much that the path report comes back saying an explanation for my pain, which is WHY I had this surgery!

Well, no matter what, I don't regret it.... honestly, the thought of never having another period in my life is worth it. But, just knowing i won't have any more pain.... that is worth it!

Thanks everyone.... I'll let you all know what the path report says once I hear!

-Kathy

Hi Kathy I had painful periods for my entire adult life, and no one ever told me that wasn't normal. When my uterus was removed, the pathology came back normal, which was what I expected. (I had the surgery for prolapse.) Aren't painful periods normal? I mean, part of what happens in the hormone cycle is that prostaglandins cause cramping of the uterus, and that's totally normal.

I guess I would not be at all surprised if your pathology report comes back normal - or not. The thing is, it's all water under the bridge at this point. I would encourage you to try to put it behind you and focus on moving ahead with your new life.

Best wishes for a continued smooth recovery.

s,
-Linda

Hi Linda,

Thanks for your response. that is a really good point. I definitely am so happy I had this done because I'm SO done with dreading my period each month, and having my period control my life, is what it seemed.

That is a good point that it is normal for periods to be painful. haha. I actually had never thought of it that way, as crazy as it sounds! I guess I hadn't thought of it that way because I was one of the lucky ones that for my whole life (well, ever since I started my period) until a year ago, I never had cramps.... I'd maybe get a dull ache for about 1/2 of a day and then that is it. But, this past year, I started getting violent cramps out of nowhere. So, that is why I felt it wasn't normal... but you ARE right... cramps are normal.

Well, you are absolutely right! Thank you for putting this in perspective. It is all water under the bridge, and it doesn't matter really what pathology says because all I know is everything is better now, and I can move on and enjoy this NEW life! I truly am so happy i did this. I can't wait to get past this recovery part where I feel 100% normal, but I know that will be soon.

Thanks so much!!

Take care!!

My doctor told me he thought I had Adenomyosis, but my pathology report showed NO adenomyosis, just endo on the surface. I don't care about that - my pain is gone and that's what matters!

I was so sick of the heavy bleeding too, so I would have had it out anyway! I was so tired of periods I could just drop-kick my uterus like a football right into a dumpster! I am celebrating now, by giving all my tampons away!

My appendix was full of endo and my doctor said he thinks that's why I always had a low-grade fever, had swollen lymph nodes and felt so weak and tired all the time. If he had not taken my appendix, he said I would probably still feel lousy - he said it was like having mild appendicitis every single day! I can't believe how long I had that junk inside of me. Yuck! This surgery was soooo worth it!!!

Goghfish89,

You made me laugh when you said you could drop kick your uterus right into a dumpster. haha!! I felt the same way. During my periods, I was telling people I was about ready to reach down my throat and just pull it out! haha.

I also had my appendix out. That is another strange thing. I had a CT Scan, and the scan showed that my appendix was enlarged, so my doctor said it needed to come out. I was fine with that since there is no need for an appendix anyway, and it can only cause problems in the future.

Well, my doctor told me when he took my appendix out, that also looked totally normal. Weird..... why would a CT Scan show it is enlarged but it looked normal in person? Who knows.... it is out.

Was your doctor able to SEE that your appendix was full of endo when he took it out of you, or did you have to wait for the path report to say it was full of endo? I am wondering with my appendix if there was something that was not visible to the eye that was wrong with it, and that is what the CT Scan was showing?

Again, who knows.... I have such a hard time with "waiting" for things. haha. I had a hard time waiting for this surgery, and I DO think that was the hardest part, and now it's eating a hole in me wondering about this pathology report, when really, it doesn't matter what it says. My uterus is out of me, and I am just SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy to never have another period in my whole life. I am just so happy I did this.

I am also giving all my tampons away!! It'll be fun.

Take care!!

My pathology did show adenomyosis
I did tell my doctor that I hoped I did not have the surgery for nothing. He asked me if I felt better and I said yes, that my back pain was gone and he said well then it wasn't for nothing.

So if your feeling better it wasn't for nothing

My Dr said my uterus looked normal after my surgery. But my pathology report showed adenomyosis.