SO glad I did this!

First, a little history:

First period at 13 (on my birthday, no less - happy birthday ), cysts by 14, on BCP by 15, after that, smooth sailing until 19 when I had a probable miscarriage. Ever since I was a child, I had migraines, but noticed increase in my teens and definitely cycle-related, so off of the BCP at 20. Moved in with my husband at 21, married at 24, no birth control of any kind, but no pregnancies and migraines under control, so attributed that to BCP and went on with life. We weren't trying to get pregnant, but we weren't actively preventing it, either.

Age 25, positive pregnancy test! Was told by doctor that I was about 6 weeks along, but then had spotting and severe nausea and cramps. A week later, in the ER due to severe abdominal pain and cramping...pregnancy was ectopic and had ruptured through my right tube. I was 15 weeks along. Tube repair done abdominally.

Age 26, another positive pregnancy test. Ultrasound revealed heartbeat in right tube again. Laproscopic surgery to remove pregnancy. One year later, another ectopic pregnancy in right tube. This time, the right tube could not be saved. Right tube removed by laproscope.

Fast forward a few years and by 30, my periods were normal in length, but migraines returned with a vengeance. Used all the meds I could, but eventually all stopped working, so was given Oxycontin for migraines. It helped, but I couldn't work on them and so had to take a day off once every month or two for it. By 34, flow increasing and a heavy fullness seemed like it would NEVER go away in my pelvis. Still no pregnancies - had a test done and found left tube blocked. No reason why. Was told I could do IVF as my uterus looked fine. Decided against IVF.

Add to the list back pain and suspected IBS. Also suspected RA. I was a mess and starting to feel bad and bloated all of the time. Finally at 36, my specialist recommended that I get Novasure ablation, as my flow started to become a flood on days 1 and 2 of my period, I was anemic, and my migraines were beyond the help of even Oxycontin.

Had Novasure in May of 2011 and it was wonderful for about 5 months! Light flow, anemia resolved itself, and migraines pretty much gone! Yay!

One thing, though, is that after Novasure, I had terrible cramps. I was taking my Oxys for cramps and it just didn't help! I told the doctors, but they said decreased flow and resolution of migraines was such a success, could I just use a heating pad and Oxys and be a trooper? Well, I did, for about 4 more months...but then I started to bleed heavier and heavier, migraines returned and so did anemia. It felt like my uterus was trying to exit my body on it's own!

So finally, after 2 ER trips and suspected endometriosis and 2 ultrasounds that found cysts all over my left ovary and a 'mass' along with fibroids in my uterus, my specialist suggested a hysterectomy. I had no choice but TAH, since there was a 'mass' that she could feel, but that tests weren't picking up.

So March 22, 2012, I had my TAH. There was a massive ball of scar tissue encasing my left ovary and that was all twisted up in my left tube. The fibroids in my uterus had been scarred over during the ablation and had created pockets of blood that could not escape, and the ones that didn't scar over were bleeding profusely. On top of that, the adhesions were attached to my bowels and pushing my internal organs all over the place - the nurse commented at my post-op that she can't believe I was walking around and working 50 hours/week before surgery...well, me, either!!

So now, just over 2 weeks out of my surgery, I am sore, sure! I am slowly feeling better each day, though. The pain in my left pelvis is gone and my IBS has completely resolved (never was IBS - my bowel was constricted with scar tissue, for about 7-8 years!!) and my lower back pain is gone as well. Had a migraine in the first week - a real headbanger for 2 days - and also a little emotional, but that's because my left ovary was taken out and my right ovary is sluggish.

I am very happy so far, though, and look forward to a life of pain-free living I took the scenic route and realize now that I have been in constant pain for almost 10 years and that makes me sad, but glad, too, because it's over now.

Only the best to my 'Sisters here - they helped me pre-op and continue to support me post-op...I can never truly repay the women on this site for everything they have done to help me, but I can post my story and hope it helps others.

Peace.