I posted last week about taking B Complex for my bleeding and my whole story is on the Fibroid board if you want it, but, basically, I need some advice.

My doctor wants me to start Aygestin again tomorrow because my bleeding (from Jan. 7) hasn't stopped since my last appt. with her on Jan. 22. That was the original plan - to give it two more weeks and then, if it hadn't stopped, re-start the Aygestin. The bleeding has slowed down considerably since I last saw my dr., but it's still there. It's nothing near what it had been like, which was some form of hell, to be honest. And that's my biggest concern: although the Aygestin may stop it again, I know what happened the last time I went off of it! I was absolutely miserable the first few weeks of January with exceptionally heavy bleeding, huge clots, etc. I don't really care to relive that again any time soon!

I'm also going to a second doctor on Monday, for a second opinion. I wonder if I should just go in "as is" so he can see the situation, without the possible benefit of the Aygestin. I'm not the kind of person who usually "disobeys" my doctor(s). But I just don't know what to do in this case.

Well, since nearly fifty people managed to read my post and not even give me an "I don't know what I'd do" as a response, I've made up my own mind, without any input from anyone.

You know,I came to these forums because it seemed like people would be supportive because we're all in the same boat, so to speak, and I really need some support right now. But I guess it isn't going to happen.

I'm sorry Sam. This is the first time I've seen this post. If it were me and I was going to a new doctor so soon, I would wait. I mean how much could a couple of days hurt and to take the meds now would mask the problems you are having. But that is just my opinion.

Have you ever had an ablation? I haven't but I have heard wonderful results from those women who have had heavy bleeding like you are talking about.

Also want to say that the board is usually very quick to respond. I'm not sure why your post is only showing up now with your latest response and didn't show up earlier when you first posted it. (I usually just click on the 'View new threads' link and don't browse through all the topics).

Please let us know what you have decided to do and the outcome.

Sam-

I really dont know what to say to you except to say that you must do what you feel is best - If the Aygestin didn't quite work out the last time, why is your doctor wanting you to re-start it? I've been through my own bleeding woes and became extremely anaemic during my worst moments. It took me a year to get my ferritin levels back to within the normal ranges -- I've bled continously for 6 months, give or take a couple of days --- I had heavy bleeding with flooding and the whole thing was horrendous so I know how you feel. Have you been for all the tests? Hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy? ---

The Mirena IUD was recommended to me a couple of years ago, it stopped the bleeding within 3 days but I hated it. The side effects were intolerable for me -BUT it did put me back into a 28 day cycle -- but that was some time ago and I am again dealing with a continual bleed that has now lasted for 10 days --- I am trying progesterone cream -- I am cycling it --- in a few days I will re-start it again and from experience the bleeding will taper off and stop. I am experimenting with the cream at the moment - it's all trial and error -- it's all we can do to try and fine a way to relieve the peri symptoms...not easy. At the moment I am feeling really crappy --- my feet hurt, I am very fatigued and my stomach hurts BUT I know it's because the progesterone levels in my system have fallen and I also know that when I resume the cream I will feel better --

And by the way, you CAN disobey your doctor -- Maybe a second opinion would be good for you? But bear in mind that doctors are not gods and dont know everything and certainly most are not aufait with perimenopause. Who else knows your body better than you? If you dont feel right OR you feel something isn't working for you then go and seek a second opinion --- Try and do your own research too, becasue knowledge is power --

In the meantime try and take Ibruprofen (which I think I mentioned already) and Vit C ---

I hope this helps --


By the way -- you will get lots of support from this forum -- it's just that some of us might be feeling too crappy to reply or they haven't got an answer to your question --- Please dont get the wrong impression - we are all here for you

Carol,
Thank you for responding. I have decided to just wait until Monday, for the same reasons you gave. I think a different doctor needs to see what's going on without the medicine covering it up.

My gyn said an ablation won't work for me because I have a 5 cm submucosal fibroid. She said a hysterectomy is the only option, which is why I'm getting a second opinion. I know fibroids of that type can cause bleeding, but I also think being 47 and peri can cause bleeding, too.

Sorry to come across as snappish before. I'm just very stressed by this whole situation and imagining all kinds of bad things.

Thanks for responding.

I was told I have a 5 cm submucosal fibroid from an ultrasound in Oct. I had an endometrial biopsy in Oct. '07 that was negative, but my doctor didn't feel we needed to do another yet. I haven't had a hysteroscopy. I guess the doctor was putting me back on Aygestin only because it stopped the bleeding temporarily last time and that's the goal at the moment - to stop it. I'm taking iron because I was very anemic back in October, but I managed to bring it up considerably by the following month. I'm back on it because it dropped slightly in January and my iron stores were still low. I've tried ibuprofen but, oddly, it seems to make me bleed more. Go figure. B Complex vitamins have helped me the most.

I have these moments where I completely freak out and think I have cancer, but those words have never come from my doctor. Nothing was noted out of the ordinary on the ultrasound besides the fibroid. And I was on the Aygestin, then off it, then on Premarin briefly last month to try to stop the bleeding (made it worse), then off it, so I know my body and hormones are just in a state of shock at this point. The bleeding has let up a lot at this point, but it hasn't gone away, which, as you must know, is pretty depressing.

I apologize, as I also said to Carol above, for coming across as snappish. I'm just getting to my limit with this. Thanks again.

Dear Sam26

Welcome to the Forum,am so sorry but I did miss your Post.

The bleeding thing is very draining,mentally and physically.I had it quite a lot when switched from one HRT to another.Had all the Tests-everything normal Thank God.So the Gyno. said"Since you insist on taking HRT,you will have to live with it"Very comforting

Fibroids can cause quite alot of bleeding and while I do understand your worry about cancer,believe you me if the Doctor had even a suspicion of that he would be going through even further tests

Don't forget that anxiety which leads to stress can make the bleeding worse so feet up,nic cup of Herbal Tea and read a good book or magazine

Please keep us posted
Hope all will be well soon
Warm Wishes
Elizabeth

Thank you, Elizabeth. I know the doctor would be all over me with tests if she suspected anything; my brother-in-law, who is a family practioner, told me as much just last week. He also cautioned jumping into a hysterectomy, while admitting gynecology is not his specialty. But he did agree I should seek another opinion.

I just have terrible, terrible, health anxiety and any time anything shows up the slightest out of what I expect (and I did NOT expect a fibroid, believe me), I'm suddenly worrying I won't see my children get married and have their own families. I've been trying to relax a little more, especially since my appointment is just a few days away.

As some sort of luck would have it, my second-opinion doctor is having a talk about making the hysterectomy decision tonight at a local hospital, so I'm going with my mom (who is an absolute saint) to see what he has to say and what he seems like. He's an renowned robotics surgeon in my state, but my brother-in-law said not to let that put me off of him. He said he knows a lot of surgeons that won't recommend surgery if they don't see a need for it; they don't all jump on the surgery bandwagon just because they're surgeons.

I just feel overwhelmed, I guess. I went to my gyn because of irregular periods, thinking maybe birth control pills or, most extreme, an ablation would be suggested, only to find out I have this fibroid and she wants to do a hysterectomy. And it's been downhill ever since. The past month has been just awful and I don't know whether I can fully blame the fibroid - because I've never experienced anything like this ever before and obviously, with a 5 cm fibroid, it's been there a while - or if it's the playing around with hormones. Good thing I'm not a drinking woman.

Hey all,
Just wanted to say real quick that I went to the talk my second-opinion doctor gave and I'm pretty sure he'll end up being my regular gyn after Monday. He was very informative, and, to my surprise, didn't push hysterectomy as the answer to all women's problems. He also didn't "advertise" for himself and what they do at his practice (and they are considered excellent surgeons in this area), which was a relief as well. He really went over all the different ways of treating gynecological problems.

He waited afterwards so some of us could speak with him and ask private questions and I liked how he was attentive towards every one. He didn't rush anybody. I had a chance to introduce myself, told him I was seeing him Monday, and asked him a few questions because they'd been on my mind. In the end, he told me to not take any more Aygestin as it was going to cause more bleeding than it would prevent, and that it didn't sound like a hysterectomy was the absolute only option for me. Of course, we'll have to see more on Monday, but he thought that a hysteroscopic procedure could possibly work for me. I feel better about some things now and I'm not so apprehensive about my appointment on Monday. I'm glad I went tonight.

(((Sam)))

Sorry I missed your original post. I haven't been through what you are experiencing but I sure will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Sounds like you are on the right track with a good doctor. Keep us posted on how your Monday appointment goes.

Take care.

Bella

Hi Sam.
Sorry to hear you are going through hell with this bleeding. I had a bad time of it last year, I was bleeding for twelve weeks. due to fibroids . Had a D&C and at the same time had a merina iud placed it has been eight months since I had the merina. It did take a couple of months to slow down the bleeding, but for the past six months life has been good no bleeding. So far " touch wood " no side effects no head aches no weight gain actually lost seven kilos. I know pet we are not all the same and what suits one may not suit another.

So good luck with your doctor and I hope life will be a lot easier for you.

Best Wishes Gizzie

Hi, Sam....I have not experienced the heavy bleeding, but just wanted to say, that if it was me, I would be doing exactly what you are doing, and seek that 2nd opinion. I think it is great that you got to go to that doctor's lecture and ask him some questions. I hope that helps to ease your mind a little bit. He sounds like a reputable doctor. I hope things turn out good for you.
Take care! gardenbear

That is great, Sam -- I'm glad you went for a second opinion. Sounds like a good doctor

A 5cm fibroid is not all that big though it can wreak plenty of havoc. I was told mine was/is around 12cm. I recall being very freaked out when first diagnosed but over the years I just sort of learned to live with the bleeding though it was the hardest thing I have ever dealt with. Fibroids seem to be a fairly normal part of the transition for many women yet hysterectomy was mentioned to me over and over again as my primary option. Finally, the bleeding has stopped. You are in the thick of things right now...this too shall pass. It will be interesting to see what the new doctor has to say.

I've been told by some people that 5 cm is big and others have said it isn't. All I know is I had no idea it was there until it showed up on an ultrasound, so it wasn't causing me any problems with my bladder, bowels, etc. It wasn't lareg enough for me to notice, in other words. Funny thing is that I didn't really freak out when I was first told about it (and I usually freak out about everything health-related). It wasn't until I stopped the Aygestin and went into this bleeding frenzy that I started to panic. But my current (soon to be former) GYN caused some of that panic because of the whole hysterectomy issue and me not having insurance to cover it. And I don't want to imply that she wasn't sympathetic about the bleeding, but she just seems to have the opinion that I'm over 40, I'm not having any more kids, I have an issue with a fibroid, so have the hysterectomy and be done with it.

I keep telling myself exactly what you said: "This too shall pass." I think the new doctor will suggest hysteroscopic myomectomy; that's what he seemed to be talking about last night. I'm looking forward to the appointment, but I'm nervous about another ultrasound. I hatehatehate medical tests of any kind.

Sam,
I'm going through the heavy bleeding/fibroid thing too. Just saw a new doc today. He wants to do the Merina IUD thing, but I'm uncertain about it. I hope you're doing better than you were in February.

You said you're glad you're not a drinking woman. Alcohol just causes me to get overwarm and I don't need any help with that.

I am doing better, thanks. My new doctor has me on a birth control pill that is controlling the bleeding a little better every month now and while it's not perfect, it's something I can live with for now. He thinks I'll need a hysterectomy, too, but he's willing to work with me for a while. He's been great, actually! The Merina was never mentioned to me by any doctor I've seen, so I can't speak about whether that works or not. I'd reached the point where I was willing to try just about anything, though.

Amazingly, I don't get hot flashes (yet!). I'm just ready for the whole thing to be over, though. In my next life, I want to be a man!

My periods have been very irregular this year. I get very bloated before my period and my breasts especially hurt. When i got my period last time i continued to have bloated breast while i was having my period. has anyone had this experience? anybody done anything to help with this? thank you