Womanly troubles

ashleigh · Dec 29, 2006

Ok, for years I have suffered extreme pain blah blah, and to cut a long story short was told it was likely endometriosis in which I had all the symptoms, I saw a specialist who spoke to me only but had no other tests,no scan, no laparoscopy etc and basically it was just left at take the depo injection and see how it goes so I did that tho pain hasn't eased, and was menstruating for 2 months straight, so I saw my GP again and he gave me hormone tablets which should of stopped it (I thought the depo did that anyway)

So I have believed until now it has been endo, now they think it could be hormonal instead, I have now been menstruating for 3 months straight, and nothing is easing, the menstruating problem nor the servere pain and the other symptoms...my GP did mention as a possibility they may bring on an early menopause ( oh the joy of that) but I want to know exactly what is wrong with me before taking that step, it's been years and I'm beginning to think even they don't know.
Has anyone had hormonal problems? or anything similar..while it 'was' endo I had something to go on at least, now I give up! I'm seeing my GP next week, should I be more forceful as it feels i'm being pushed from pillar to post, and I just want an end to it all.
I know it's a bit personal, but would like to hear of anyone elses experiances if anyone is willing to talk openly about it.

kluchetta · Dec 29, 2006

I think they should try some very specific hormonal tests - FSH, LH, and there's another I can't think of! I don't have endo, but I was starting to break through and have a period every couple of weeks, and getting migraines, so I switched bc pills and it regulated things very well. Actually too well. Now I haven't had a period for 6 months. Not like I miss it, LOL! Maybe seeing a gynocologist might help...

ashleigh · Dec 29, 2006

I'm going to make note of things, so I know more so what I want to say to him, I always tend to get these things in my head and they disappear once I'm in the room...so by listening to others I can prepare by their experiances what I need to put forward, make suggestions etc.

sarahp · Dec 29, 2006

Oh no, you poor thing - go see a specialist and don't leave until they can give you some definitive answers!

I need to go see someone as well - I'm only getting a week to a week and a half break between periods at the moment and it's driving me nuts!!!!! And I hate how here in the US the person making the booking wants to know what's wrong with you. I work in an all male environment, so need to find a good time to google for "gynecologist" without someone looking over my shoulder, then sneak away to ring from somewhere that nobody can hear me... Sigh.

naturestee · Dec 29, 2006

Are you currently taking birth control? I have a lot of hormone-related "woman" issues since the beginning and this helps quite a bit. I tend to have very long periods that would increase in length until they just wouldn't stop. BC would fix it, doc would take me off, and a few years later it would be back. Then in late high school/early college I started getting severe pains. I couldn't walk, couldn't work, and prescription Ibuprofen not only made me loopy but didn't do enough for the pain. So I went back on BC pills again and after several months the pain decreased. Not totally, and I do sometimes still have very painful, nauseous periods. But I can usually work. And it keeps the length controlled. I still have a long period for being on the pills, but not anywhere near as bad.

BTW are you anemic? I have a lot of problems with that due to the blood loss. Iron pills are good, but you need Vitamin C to help use it.

I've never had hormone tests. My doc is pretty sure I don't have fibroids or anything as everything feels normal.

abbycats · Dec 29, 2006

I went through a real tough time with female problems in my 20's. I had pain, heavy periods, etc.. I went through hell for 10 years. Finally after years of going to the female doctor and complaining he took me serious. They did extensive tests and found precancerous tumor in my ovary as being part of my problem. I was actually 18 when all my problems began.

For 10 years I was told it was hormones, That the pain was caused from constipation and blah blah blah... They almost had me convinced my problems were all in my head.

My best word of advise is to stay on top of them. Keep going back to the Doctor, and get tests done, be assertive with these doctors!

If I would have ignored my problem I probably would have wound up with ovarian cancer, since that tumor was precancerous.

natalie_ca · Dec 29, 2006

3 months?!

Have they checked your blood work for hemaglobin? You probably are anemic by now!!! Start taking iron pills!

Have they done a D&C and biopsy?! If not they should! See another gyne if you need to.

Are you heavy? Do you have rapid body hair growth? Thinning hair line? Losing more than about 100 hair on your head per day? Dark facial hair? Thicker (as in some hairs are thick and not fine) facial hair on your upper lip, chin or cheeks or neck? Is your period irregular IE: you don't get one every month unless you are on birth control? Is your period sometimes very light (only a day or two) and some being almost like or like a hemorrhage? Some or all of these symptoms could be the result of polycystic ovary syndrome which is extremely painful because cysts grow on the ovaries and literally twist them. I have that and sometimes I feel like someone has reached inside of me and is ripping out my insides!!!!

Not all women respond the same to birth control. Some need a stronger one others a more mild one because they have break through bleeding between periods or a long continuous period.

Birth control pills / hormones / implants are not for everyone and that could be your problem too. Some women can't use those types of things at all and have to rely on other methods such as diaphram and/or condoms.

Eitherway, seek out another gyne who is prepared to run some tests on you to find out what is wrong.

In the meantime take Ibuprophen for the pain and use a hot water bottle or heating pad on the area to help with the pain.

halfpint · Dec 29, 2006

I did allot of that when I first started going through the change, I did have a D&C.
I started going through it when I was about 45 I was done by the time I was 50 or so. What a relief

chrissyr · Dec 29, 2006

I'd get a laparoscopy done if I was you. I had all that pain and periods from hell. My gyn at the time thought I had endo, too. Did the lap, found severe adhesions and the next cycle came around, I was in heaven! Ok, I miscarried 6 months after the lap (only 6 weeks along) and all the pain and crap slowly started coming back. I went years thinking I had endo. After all, the doc flat out told me "I think it's stage four". Went to a new doctor, for other issues, and got a whole battery of testing done (by the way, no endo anywhere in me). I have MTHFR C677T and have been on certain vitamins for 2 months. My periods are becoming wonderful again. I have pain for 3 days, bleeding for 5 days and only take my Ibuprophen every 4 to 6 hours instead of pain for 5 days, bleeding for 7 or 8 days and taking my ibuprophen every 1 to 2 hours like before. So, if I was back in your shoes, I'd demand the lap and every blessed blood test known to man to find out what's going on.

Good luck!

fwan · Dec 30, 2006

I would change doctors or go to a new specialist, 3 months bleeding? thats just too abnormal, and i know if i had it, my mother would rush me to hospital

lakeriedog · Dec 30, 2006

Definitely go back to your doctor, but ask for a referral to another doctor for a second opinion. You can ask to be sent for bloodwork, and to Endocronologist also. Write down what you want to tell the doctor about your symptoms and make a list of your questions. Bring a pen with you and write down your doctor's answers, or check off what you've asked.

I started having problems when I was 39 with long (nearly continuous) and heavy periods. At first the blood work all showed normal estrogen levels, so I was sent for a pelvic ultrasound which showed that I had a lot of cysts. At the time I had an IUD for birth control, so my gynecologist thought it could be causing some problems. We decided that she should go ahead and do a biopsy of the cysts and remove the IUD just in case. I was negative for any cancer...but after the surgery I never had another period. I thought maybe she gave me a hysterectomy without telling me!

Anyway, more blood work was done and lo and behold my estogen was decreasing and I was told that it was just Menapause...apparently my symptoms were all caused by perimenapause. Even so, I am glad that my doctor checked everything out. Right now, I think I am at the tail end of the menapause because the physical symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats) which were mild and rare have stopped. The emotional mood swings were pretty bad, but are much less frequent now.

calico2222 · Dec 30, 2006

I would definitely try to find another doctor for a second opinion. Sometimes I think some doctors use "endo" for "I don't have a clue". If they haven't done any tests on you, you really should find someone that will!

Cysts were my first thought when you mentioned the pain. I haven't had them but my best friend did and it sounds very similiar (but, I am NOT a doctor so don't think I'm trying to diagnose!)

I had break through bleeding while on BC and after tests they found out I had genital warts, which could have caused cancer but they were caught in time and taken care of.

Hopefully, its just something minor and easily taken care of but if you are in that much pain you need to find out.

clairebear · Dec 30, 2006

Have you tried consulting a differen't doctor?

ashleigh · Dec 31, 2006

Thanks everyone, it certainly helps to know others have gone through same or similar, not that I'd want you to!

Rather than quote everyone, I'll try and answer your questions, though i'll probably forget some!

I am on birth control, the depo injection which has in the past stopped my periods although not this time, I have also seen a gyno/specialist at the hospital who just spoke to me, no pysical tests were done, I have seen 3 different GP's at my health clinic, one thought IBS as it troubles my bowels too( sorry to share that!)that's also why endo was thought of, another said no it's hormones, and the last agreed it's hormones..a couple of months ago I had blood tested and wasn't anaemic, though I could well be by now! I was tested not due to my troubles but my heart keeps fluttering constantly...anyway, it just feels like they are all ganging up together and palming me off with this and that, and not wanting to give me any answers, or do anything further to find out the answers!

I know I need to be firmer now, it's just you should be able to trust what they say, but as it makes me so miserable I just want it to go away, I have really just had enough, and the early menopause is a huge decision to make, but I don't want to just agree to that if it's not needed.

ashleigh · Dec 31, 2006

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

3 months?!

Have they checked your blood work for hemaglobin? You probably are anemic by now!!! Start taking iron pills!

Have they done a D&C and biopsy?! If not they should! See another gyne if you need to.

Are you heavy? Do you have rapid body hair growth? Thinning hair line? Losing more than about 100 hair on your head per day? Dark facial hair? Thicker (as in some hairs are thick and not fine) facial hair on your upper lip, chin or cheeks or neck? Is your period irregular IE: you don't get one every month unless you are on birth control? Is your period sometimes very light (only a day or two) and some being almost like or like a hemorrhage? Some or all of these symptoms could be the result of polycystic ovary syndrome which is extremely painful because cysts grow on the ovaries and literally twist them. I have that and sometimes I feel like someone has reached inside of me and is ripping out my insides!!!!

Not all women respond the same to birth control. Some need a stronger one others a more mild one because they have break through bleeding between periods or a long continuous period.

Birth control pills / hormones / implants are not for everyone and that could be your problem too. Some women can't use those types of things at all and have to rely on other methods such as diaphram and/or condoms.

Eitherway, seek out another gyne who is prepared to run some tests on you to find out what is wrong.

In the meantime take Ibuprophen for the pain and use a hot water bottle or heating pad on the area to help with the pain.

See knew i'd forget one!
My periods were mostly heavy, since the 3 month bleed they have been light here and there but mostly really really heavy.
I have had no facial hair or anything similar, no thinning hairline but do lose alot of hair, though I have hair down my back and have always lost alot when washing it etc.

I always got my period regular every month before this, even since the pain, it's just the past 3 months its changed dramatically, no amount of painkillers work, but it is eased with a hot water bottle and a beautiful cat who always seems to know and kneads or just lays on my tummy.

kluchetta · Dec 31, 2006

Have you had a thyroid test? I know you can get very heavy periods with a low thyroid, thinning hair, intolerance to cold. And I THINK (not positive) heart palpitations...

ashleigh · Jan 1, 2007

I have yes, because my nan had trouble with that they did test me for it, all my blood tests came back clear.

catsknowme · Jan 1, 2007

Originally Posted by Ashleigh

See knew i'd forget one!
no amount of painkillers work, but it is eased with a hot water bottle and a beautiful cat who always seems to know and kneads or just lays on my tummy.

You can also try herbs to relieve the pain. Either strawberry leaf or raspberry leaf capsules or tea bags, and you can try marshmallow root in addition. Take 4 capsules the first dose, and 2 thereafter.
I successfully used those herbs during my 2nd childbirth delivery, and they work for kidney pain, diarrhea cramping, asthma lung pain. Several docs told me that those particular herbs haven't been indicated in interfering with other medications; a pharmacist said the same thing (I have weak kidneys and even ibu can cause bleeding and a psuedo-kidney/ureter/bladder infection).
Sending {{{{{{{mega healing prayers and vibes}}}}}}} to you! Please keep us posted

susan

squirtle · Jan 1, 2007

Ashleigh-
I tried to pm you, but your mailbox is full. I am copying and pasting this info because I don't want to type it out... I just prefered pm'ing so I didn't have to post anything too personal on the board, but I edited it

I just read your thread and had a few suggestions/ questions that you could mention to your doctor...

I have had some problems with hormone imbalances.... Different hormones than yours though because mine was prolactin. But when I first started having problems, they sent me in for MRI's to have my pituitary gland checked. The pituitary gland controls much of your body's hormone secretions. Small tumors on the pituitary gland are not all that uncommon and can cause fluctuations in the hormones released.... too much or too little. They are most often benign (and not dangerous) and medicine is administered to control the hormone they are affecting. This just came to mind when reading your thread, and if your doctor hasn't mentioned it, I thought you might like to run it by him.

Have you had blood work done to check your hormone levels? If not, I would demand that be done before anything else. If they pin point the hormone, they can begin finding the cause...

Good luck!

Oh, my prolactin problem was easily fixed with a change in bc pills

pat · Jan 1, 2007

You've had some great advice...the simplest and best bit being see a specialist - ask for the referral, and have them do a workup..not just talk to you.

I agree with having hormone levels checked, an ultrasound (have they checked for fibroids, ovarian cysts etc?) at the least these two may steer them in the right direction.

3 months of this after a history of no such troubles demands they get to a definite diagnosis.

I will always regret not pushing enough when I had an issue (and was misdiagnosed...and I have medical training - RN - for heavens sakes but didn't stand up enough for myself), to get a second opinion. Once I found the right specialist, I found out what was going on and could make some decisions.

Wishing you an answer and to feel better soon!

Womanly troubles

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