I decided to write my story down...just in case it could help someone...I'm Diane and now 46, I tell everyone I'm an old 29.

Ever since I started having periods they have been heavy and long. They would always run 7 to 10 days or more. I started out on birth control pills at 14. I was just an up and down rollercoaster after that. Couldn't take the pill because of such bad headaches.

I have been lucky...I never had a problem in getting pregnant. Just heavy bleeding. I have 2 teenagers 18 and 15 and I've been married for over 20 years. It wasn't until a few years ago that things started getting unbareable.

The day came when I was standing in the kitchen and blood was dripping on the floor that my husband put his foot down and told me I had to go get help.

The first doctor I went to I was not comfortable with...he wasn't giving me any options...did do an ultra sound and only found one small fibroid tumor on the outside of my uterus. So I started searching the web for another doctor...and boy did I hit the jack pot.

I went to see her and she started giving me options, other than surgery....(would you believe, I still wanted to have another baby) So we decided to try the IUD. The IUD did control my heavy bleeding and my blood and iron levels came back up....but I never stopped bleeding. And through my doctors appointments and more ultra-sounds...my doctor was gently trying to get me to have the hysterectomy. So after 6 months of bleeding...I gave in. We knew my uterus was large..and with one fibroid...that is all we knew. I was also tried of wetting myself so while she had me open I was going to have my bladder raised.

I had my surgery...and when she removed my heavy uterus my bladder raised on it's own. Later she told me that she could feel something in my uterus, but she didn't cut it open. She sent it straight to pathology. They found 4 tightly compact tumors inside my uterian wall. They were large and we have no idea how long they were growing.

My hospital stay was interesting...they put tape on my incision (which made blisters) washed my tummy in iodine..(had a beautiful purple rash) and my first meal of real food had mushrooms on it....allergic to them also...and all of this was written on my wrist and in my chart...wonder how many people read your charts.

Came home from the hospital with staples...was taking percosets....found out allergic to those too...hives. After my stables came out...I develped an infection in my incision...she had to reopen it and my hubby had to start packing it twice a day so it will heal from the inside out. That was fun!!! From December 8th to March 5th...I couldn't take a bath!!! Yep, I got a bit ripe....I've made comments how I love my bath.

You know what...I healed...in a lot of ways...I came to terms in not having anymore children. Now, I finally feel free.