Any day now

[cjsmith]

OK, this period can subside back into my normal daily light-flow-and-minimal-cramping ANY TIME NOW. I've been on Aleve since Thursday for cramps, and I'm going through the Tampax Super like a hay fever sufferer goes through Kleenex. Dang it all, if I'm going to cough and feel that sudden "Change The Tampon Five Minutes Ago" notification, and if I'm going to have this much cramping, then by golly I want 21 days off, too! GRRR.

I bet it's stress.

Comments

[kennita.livejournal.com]

I hope it's stress. When I had similar symptoms, it was fibroids. Google "UAE fibroids" if you think you want to know more.

Hope you feel better real soon; hugs.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Interesting thought. I've been checked for fibroids a while back, but that don' mean I don' have 'em now. Hrm.

[datagoddess.livejournal.com]

Could this be more in the long line of issues you've had in the past + stress? Are the cramps worse than usual?

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's what I figure it is. The cramps are worse than I've had in a year, but they're far far lighter than I used to deal with every month.

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

*very gentle hugs*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

Sometimes, griping does seem to work. Things are better today! (At least the pain's better. PHEW.)

[abz6598.livejournal.com]

The hysterectomy option seems to be getting good reviews over here.

Rant -- apologies in advance

[kennita.livejournal.com]

I can hardly express how bad an idea I think a hysterectomy is. The name of the game is "conservative". You don't deal with termites by burning down the house; don't deal with excessive bleeding by ripping out your insides. Mind you, my (former) gynecologist, who happened to be a surgeon, recommended surgery (when all you have is a hammer...). I did a *lot* of research, and had a UAE (uterine artery embolization, basically blocking the blood supply to the tumors with teeny-tiny beads) back when it was new and hardly anyone did them. Now it's relatively common, and I implore any woman who is considering (or faced with) a hysterectomy to look at UAE (AKA UFE or uterine fibroid embolization) first. It's the definition of "conservative"; it conserves as much as possible. If it doesn't help, the option of a hysterectomy is still there.

FTR, the procedure was cool. It was done by an interventional radiologist (not a gynecologist) through a 1/4-inch incision. I got to watch on a monitor (happily drugged). I stayed overnight, and was sent home in the morning (less than 24 hours, so I'd be an "outpatient") with painkillers, most of which I didn't use. I back at work in less than a week. Compare that to 3 to 6 weeks in bed after major abdominal surgery, likely with a permanently disrupted hormonal system (often the ovaries are removed along with the uterus) -- read, lifetime of hormone replacement. Easy call, from where I sit.

If you still give hysterectomies good reviews compared to UAE, try this article (http://www.hsc.mb.ca/nursingpractice/april_04.htm). Note: UAE is for excessive bleeding due to fibroids; if there's something worse wrong, like uterine or ovarian cancer, a hysterectomy may be in order.

[kitiara.livejournal.com]

I spent five years trying to solve my problem in conservative ways. Nothing worked for me. I was bleeding every day for anywhere from two months to a year at a stretch, and twice went into pre-cancerous condition. I didn't have fibroids. Pathology indicates my uterus was perfectly healthy - but I was genetically predisposed to hormonal issues (several other women in my family had the same problem, including my mother).

About ten days ago I had a vaginal hysterectomy, ovaries left in. I did a spinal anesthetic, and only ended up taking about five painkiller tablets (mild ones, even) over about three days. I felt like I was ready to go back to work after day four, but since the doc recommended two weeks of rest, here I am, resting.

I wouldn't advise hysterectomies as a first choice for anyone. Do your research, try alternatives, especially if you want to have children. I did not want children, and the alternatives did not work for me. It' smy rave reviews abz is talking about - after the fatigue and emotional distress that all those years of problems caused me, I finally feel *normal* for the first time in a long time. There comes a point at which you may not want to keep trying the alternatives and keep getting disappointed. And when that point happens, and you have to bite that bullet... let's just say I'm really glad I did it.

[kennita.livejournal.com]

"I spent five years trying to solve my problem in conservative ways. Nothing worked for me."

One annoyance about modern medicine: since we have more and more things to try, it takes longer and longer for them all to fail.

"I was bleeding every day for anywhere from two months to a year at a stretch, and twice went into pre-cancerous condition."

Ouch; serious anemia too, probably.

I'm glad your surgery is working for you, and that it went smoothly. Good for you for following your doctor's orders! I've known a lot of people who've gone back to work, sports, etc. too soon and injured/reinjured themselves or made themselves sick. Enjoy the rest while you can! :-)

Re: Rant -- apologies in advance

[datagoddess.livejournal.com]

It all depends on what's wrong.

I'd kill for a hysterectomy. I have dysplasia that a LEEP didn't resolve. I have PCOS, and I get ruptured cysts about once every 3-4 months. Those suckers are painful.

I have painful, heavy periods, which nothing controls. Like CJ, issues with my reproductive organs invade my everyday life almost constantly. I don't have the level of pain that CJ deals with, however.

I'm glad other alternatives were open to you. But there are issues for which hysterectomies are appropriate and a blessing. HRT isn't automatic, any more than it is for post menopausal women. And these days, it isn't major abdominal surgery.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I may well go that option... AFTER I have my messed-up abdominal nerves fixed. That's what causes a significant portion of my pain. Once that problem is confirmed fixed, then I no longer need a place to put the hormone-dispensing IUD (which is currently helping kill the pain), and I can have the uterus out. I'm looking forward to it. Sadly, the nerve surgery can take up to a year for full recovery.

[genderfur.livejournal.com]

Lissen, if you do happen to go the hysto route, do yer derndest to keep your cervix! Apparently it's possible to do so, and it contributes a lot to sexual response.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

It is indeed possible, and I know a surgeon who will do it (keeping the cervix) laparoscopically. I'm impressed.

I've also heard from women who are very pleased with the results of having the cervix gone, too. That surgery, of course, can be done vaginally, and is in some ways even faster to recover from. No risk of cervical cancer ever again either! But yeah, me, I'm leaning strongly toward keeping the cervix.

[aelfie.livejournal.com]

I'm going through the Tampax Super like a hay fever sufferer goes through Kleenex.

Now that's a vivid metaphor! (writing this one down)

You have my sympathies as I've been going through a box of kleenex a day since friday. but you win on the "this just sucks" meter.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

A box a day! Yikes! And I bet there are lots of cold/hay-fever medicines you just can't take right now, huh? BLARGH.

[aelfie.livejournal.com]

Got it in one. And the ones I can take knock me out for several hours. So I only take them at night. I can't wait to get back on real drugs again. =)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

It's the 8th now -- I'm waiting for any news! 8-)

[aelfie.livejournal.com]

you're not the only one! I'm still waiting too! =)