How were you diagnosed? (pregnancy mentioned)

Ok.. I had one vag birth 8 years ago, a MC with D&C 7 years ago and had paraguard IUD placed, removed the IUD to get PG with my 3 child, and birthed my 3rd child 2 years ago. Again, I had a paraguard IUD placed because I really loved the first one I had. Then about a year after my 3rd child was born the problems started. My periods had been regular for almost a year then it's like my period started and pretty much never quit. The dr. left my IUD in and didn't think it was the problem, we tried Progesterone & BC to control the bleeding, but no success.
After that the Dr. wanted to remove my IUD to see if that would stop the pain and bleeding.
I said no, not with out a tubal. (soo done with having babies!) The dr. then decided that as long as I wanted a tubal & I'm in surgery anyway, we should go ahead and do the following-

tubal, IUD Removal, D&C, Hysterscopy, and Ablation.

Then if that doesn't fix things then we could do a hystrectomy.

Soooooo I had the laundry list done about a week and 1/2 ago. No bleeding since then, but I still have terrible cramps. Not worse than the cramps I had before the proceedure.

Sooo My question After all this wild rambling is... How did your dr. diagnose what was wrong with you????
I mean.. Mine seems to be taking a shot in the dark. My symptoms dont really seem to fit into any one particular catagory. Perhaps I have Aendo? IDK.. If so.. From what I read I probably waisted $$$ on the ablation. BUT I rationalize that buy not having to go back and do that later & figured they might as well do that JIC so see if it would help
My dr. has pretty told that if this didn't fix it my only other alternative is hysterectomy or live with it.
I think it would help me make a decision if I knew what the problem was instead of - "Abnormal uterine bleeding" .
& No... I'm not really worried about "loosing my organs" per say. I just REALLY can't afford to be off my feet for several weeks- I got two kids & a full time job.
Oh... & If I have the hyst I will get rid of my ovararies too cause I watched my Grandmother die of ovarian cancer. Ya.. the homoes would be nice, but if I'm going to have a hyst and major down time I want no worries for the rest of my life. KWIM?

Oh... I know this is a long ramble, but I had to get all my thoughts out!!!! & I know I should prolly just sit tight and discuss all my concerns with my dr. at my follow up apt. on Nov. 3rd... but heck. I'm impatient! & My tummy cramps make me worry that the ablation and stuff didn't work & that I'm facing having to do a hyst. Ugg! & if I had some sort of diagnosis then maybe I could alleviate my fears of future hyst. or I could go ahead and start planning to save my vacation days.
UGGGG

hi Cline2993,
i basically started getting my worst symptoms after my second son was born. Heavy periods, clotting(more so in the last few years, my youngest is 10), and lots of double over cramping. In fact the cramping would sometimes start at ovulation tiime and through my period. I refused and IUD(creeped me out and my mom had one that had perforated her uterus ended up w/ emergency hyst.) Then the gyno recommended ablation, but he had only done 6 HTA (the hot water one). I was not going to trust my vagina and uterus to a 6 time doc as mmuch as i loved him as my gyno. So long story short I found another doc who turns out to be world renowned (sp?). He did a vaginal ultrasound and sd he thinks that I have andenmyosis but can only tell after hyst and pathology. He sd he would do ablation if i wanted to, may help bleeding but he did not think it would help cramps. He figured i would be back in his office w/in 6mo for a hyst. I weighed all of my options and went with the laprascopic hyst on october 7th. Pathology came back as yes.....andenmyosis. I am 13 days post op and doing well. Hope this is helpful and i did not babble on too much.

Thanks so much for your response! Ug... much to my dismay- this morning at just 13 days post ablation I had actual bleeding. Fun times! & the cramps have never stopped... I'm begining to wonder if my ablation was for naught. BUT since I was already going under for surgery I guess it was worth a try. It will be interesting to see what my dr. says about that, but it will be 2 more weeks before I go back for my follow up.
Oh.. and as dirrected I did call my dr. about the bleeding this morning, but I guess it's not a big concern since she's never called me back. Ugg. I wish I had more options for doctors in my area, but nooo I actually live smack dab in the middle of WYOMING, so drs are limited. & i just can't see driving 5 hours to denver for Dr. apts. just yet.

I was diagnosed after a laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, and D&C. For me, the lap found the endometriosis that had been causing all my problems. Thus, the D&C didn't work to stop by bleeding (and neither had any of the variety of hormone methods we had tried for the last couple years).

Keeping a detailed journal of all of your symptoms can help your doctor determine what is going on. If adeno is suspected, some find that MRI can help with diagnosis.

Before you decide a hysterectomy is right for you, I would suggest seeking at least a second opinion.

I am sorry you are still cramping and now dealing with bleeding. If you don't hear from your doctor soon, you might want to call again.

Sorry to hear about the bleeding today! I hope your doc cld you back by now. I agree w/ the previous post, definately get a second opinion. Maybe go to the pre-op site and the post -op site and start a new thread "Anyone From Wyoming" You may be surprised who responds. Maybe you can get a name of a doc then. Please keep us updated. Best of luck!

Oh.. just an update- My dr put me on an antibotic and told me if the bleeding didn't stop in 3-4 days to call back. & It hasn't.... sooo I'm going in for an exam this afternoon.

Just frusterated. UGGGG! Maybe she'll figure out something to fix things this time & I'm sure she probably has all my lab tests from teh hysterscope and biopsy by today.

It's so nice to have a place to VENT!