Like your input!!!!

I'm 45....have been fighting anemia.....

have a ferritin iron storage of 4....trying to build it back up.....

I have been wiped for well over a year....I have realized.....I have many symptoms of perimenopause......and have for 6 years now....

Since getting on iron supplements.....I have had two AWFUL cycles...very heavy.....large cots quaters to double half dollar size....back pain....yucky stomach....

I was put on Progestrium.....and the second cycle was actually worse.....

I go for an ultrasound tommorrow.....my guess is it's fibroids....I have heard mixed things on hysterectomy's....

And most say keep your ovaries....however.....my mother died at 69 of ovarian cancer....

I feel everytime i get to feeling better with the iron...i get one of these periods and am back exhausted again....the Progestrium has helped wioth the other symptoms....

My first instinct is....take it all out.... I would appreciate Everyones input....Thank You!!!

Hi Dona,
I'm sorry you are having problems and also that you lost your mother to ovarian cancer. Maybe your ultrasound will help you find some explanation that will lead you to a clearer decision. I tried several conservative treatments before making my decision, but I didn't lose a relative to ovarian cancer either. I hope you get some relief from your symptoms soon.

Let us know how you are doing.
Sistabeth

Hi Dona,

I agree with Sistabeth. It sounds like your ultrasound will help you narrow down what is going on. The "not knowing" can be difficult.

Before I was diagnosed with fibroids at 46, my periods were getting heavier and I had zero energy. Truthfully, I thought the heavier periods meant I wasn't drying up at 46 (boy was I wrong!!) and the tiredness I thought was from just getting older. Again, I was wrong. Both were side effects of my fibroids.

After I was diagnosed, I decided to get two opinions. I felt I had to weigh my quality of life with heavy bleeding and fibroids. Okay...what quality of life!! I researched all the alternative methods and hysts and I decided on a hyst since I was past child bearing years and my period would not be missed. And my Drs said my fibroids would probably keep growing.

Today, I am 7 months post op and fibroid free, no more periods and no more b.c. I have my quality of life back.

Dona, it sounds like you are going through all the inforamtion you can. Just take your time and you will make the right decision for yourself. We Hyster Sisters are here to help if we can. Do not feel alone.

Best wishes,

Mary

It sure sounds to me like you would feel 150% better after surgery because you sound miserable now. You poor thing. You must be one tough gal to endure all that! So so many women I've talked to say, "You won't believe how much better you'll feel afterwards" regarding hysterectomies.

I have fibroids 5cm and 11cm plus many more and endometriosis in my navel and God only knows where else. We'll find out Monday when all comes out. I've only been really uncomfortable for about 5 months or so. Before that I thought I probably had fibroids but they weren't giving me symptoms, except gaining more of a tummy.

Good luck to you. The ultrasound should tell a lot. Don't be surprised, like I was, when they had to take pictures vaginally also. It was painless....I just wasn't expecting that.

Joyce

Joyce,

Can you have endometriosis in the navel? I have a lot of sensitivity and pain in that area all of the time. I have just been putting up with it knowing that it will be better soon.

I am having everything taken out to help keep the endo from reocurring. I have been a little nervous about taking hormones after. My Dr said that it is the best thing with endo and adenomyosis.

Good luck with your surgeries.

Lori

Yes, endo in the navel is rare, but it has even been found in the lungs and the brain in other rare cases.

My navel and the area around it had been very sensitive. Clothing and even the weight of a bed sheet at times was too much. Then in September I noticed bleeding in my belly button. I went to the E.R. because it was Sunday and I was scared and they told me "staph infection", gave me a cream and antibiotics and sent me home. When it didn't clear up, my gyno suggested seeing a dermatologist, who in turn suggested doing a biopsy (ouch!). That's how I found out it was endometriosis.

My doctor was very surprised too. She's seen endo in a patient's abdominal scar before, but not there. Hopefully my surgery this Monday will take care of it. AND hopefully if I do HRT, the endo will not come back.

Joyce

I have noticed some of the same symptoms. It is sensitive constantly and hurts if I touch the area. I am sure that if endo is there the doctor will find it.

Thanks for the response.

Lori

Sending (((HUGS)))) your way.
You must be feeling horrible with an iron store of 4.. I have never heard of anyone having a store that low. My lowest was 7 and I felt horrible.
I personally would be taking ovaries if you decide to have the hysterectomy... you don't need them and that would ease that worry that you must have of inheriting the disease.
Best of luck.... hope that everything works out for you.