bleeding driving me crazy! (pregnancy and children mentioned)

Hi!
I'm new here and hoping to gain some insight

Hi...I'm hoping someone can help me.

10 years ago (I'm 34 now) I was dx with endo & PCOS....I've always had crazy heavy painful periods....going anywhere from 14-21 days/cycle....had a Lap. 12/97....

Don't know if this will help...but my paps also come back "abnormal"...

Since then I have given birth to 4 children (with infertility help)....and have had 6 m/c's...my last child was January 2009. I delivered 2 vaginally and 2 via c/s (my last 2)....overall, all were easy labors and deliveries. Getting pregnant and maintaing...not so easy....estrogen and progesterone (lack of) issues....

When I had my first c/s...for months afterwards I always had a "heavy" feeling in my rectum...no hemorroids...nothing appeared abnormal. It eventually went away up until my last c/s...it returned....it's been 14 months and it's STILL there....it drives me crazy! I'm not constipated and there are no hemorroids....and then i'm adding that to second reason I'm here....bleeding. I'm still nursing my baby 8-10 times/day....and I"m taking the mini pill....I've always been on the minipill while nursing and never had problems....until recently. My period came back in January....and then February, and lasted 12 days....then appeared again a week later for 2 days...and really from then til now it's "off".....I will bleed for about an hour in the morning (happens 3-4 times a week)...sometimes for about an hour at night some nights....there is no sex for me and my husband b/c I never know when I"m gonna start bleeding. I've also noticed vaginal bleeding when I have a bowel movement (positive it's not rectal!)...daily! There's also a "heavy pressure" in my lower abdomen...just above the pubic area...

I have an appt with my dr in May (earliest I could get in)...but in the meantime it's driving me crazy. I don't know what to make of it....I've never experienced this before....

Thanks
turtlecham

Hello!!!! It sounds like you might have Endometriosis. I was able to have 2 children while having Endometriosis. I am thinking about your symptoms and what made me think of Endometriosis. My case of endo causes me irregular bleeding. I sometimes spot here and there and have alot of cramping even when I am not bleeding. The worst is the feeling I have of heaviness in my pelvic area and the painful bowel movements. Sometime when I have a bm I feel sharp pains especially duringe period. I also have a heavy feeling in my abdomen.... It almost feels like something is going to "fall out" it is really weird. I finally saw my doc about it in Dec of 2009 and had a laparoscopy in February. The only way to diagnose endo is by a laparoscopy. I am now scheduled for a hysterectomy on 3.5 weeks. You might want to consider talking to your doc about the possibilty of endo or even adenomyosis.... There is lots of info on adenomyosis on this forum. I am truly sorry for all you are going through. Let me know what you decide to do.

Ok I just re read everything... Duh... You already have been diagnosed with endo. Sorry! What is PCOS?

Thanks for replying
PCOS = PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome....

I'm guessing my endo is flaring up....it's kicking my butt lol...

I"ve been thinking about my different options....and am glad to have found this forum...so many different experiences!

Have you ever looked into an ablation? I had that done at the same time as being diagnosed with endo so had I known that may have not bothered, BUT it is something easy to do with minor pain. I had some bad cramps for a little bit that day and that was it. I had the Novasure if you want to look it up online to see more about it. It is something to maybe try first before you take the big step of a hysterectomy.

(((turtlecham)))

What type of a doctor are you seeing in May? Have you ever seen some type of endocrinologist? Because you have both endometriosis and PCOS, an endocrinologist might be a good choice for you!

You are aware that neither endo or PCOS will be cured with a hysterectomy, right? PCOS is a disorder of the entire endocrine system, not just a problem with cysts on the ovaries. Endometriosis can persist because not all doctors are able to recognize and remove all of it and because it can be microscopic and undetected during any surgery.

While you are waiting for your appointment, I would suggest that you keep a symptom diary. Be as detailed as you can and then take the information with you to your appointment. Anything you can share could help your doctor pinpoint what is going on so the right treatment plan could be determined for you!

If you do decide that a hysterectomy is right for you, please seek at least a second opinion before heading into OR and find the most skilled surgeon you can find as far as the endometriosis. If you can, I would highly advise finding an endometriosis specialist.

In a nutshell, here is my experience in case it might help you. Once I started bleeding in 1998, I bled on any and every bcp. I ended up bleeding just about every day for two years. I did have a D&C (along with a lap and hysteroscopy) to try to stem the bleeding but it didn't work. Since the lap showed that my uterus (and appendix) was covered in endometriosis, I then had a hysterectomy.

Prior to my hysterectomy, I was having abnormal paps. Turns out, the endometriosis was the problem! All of my paps since my hysterectomy have been fine!

I did have several complications with my hysterectomy that caused a very long recovery and affected my health for many years. Also, my GYN was not able to remove all of the endometriosis so I continued to have pain and issues until I saw an endometriosis specialist several years later who was able to excise all the remaining endometriosis.

I wish you all the very best for whatever you and your medical team determine is best for you. I know that deciding to have this surgery can be a tough decision and there are many pros and cons. If there are options available for you besides a hysterectomy (Lupron, Depo Provera, aromatase inhibitor), I would encourage you to consider them.

in there!