A new medical issue for me.

Longhorn · 02-21-2008, 11:29 PM

I've mentioned in passing how I've been experiencing a "marathon period" for the last several weeks. I just figured it's due to being perimenpausal. I've even joked that it's like the grand finale at the fireworks show.

Today I had my annual gynecological exam and it appears that there is a "growth" or "mass" in my vagina. I'll see a GYN specialist next Thursday. The nurse practitioner who did today's exam said she'd never seen anything like it. She mentioned that I could end up getting a hysterectomy.

The "C" word was never mentioned and there's no point in speculating. I'll be happy if an operation is all I need. Of course, the first question that crossed my mind is, how much weight will I lose?

ellebrookes · 02-21-2008, 11:32 PM

<3

sending some love from indiana.

steph_co · 02-22-2008, 12:10 AM

Gees, LH...I'm sorry to hear that. Another operation...but you're right that would be the least of evils. LOL - I'd be thinking the same thing about the weight. haha...keep up the positive thinking.

Longhorn · 02-22-2008, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellebrookes

<3

sending some love from indiana.

Thanks, elle! I was born in Indiana so that means a lot to me!

Longhorn · 02-22-2008, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steph_co

Gees, LH...I'm sorry to hear that. Another operation...but you're right that would be the least of evils. LOL - I'd be thinking the same thing about the weight. haha...keep up the positive thinking.

On one hand, I'll be glad to stop having periods! And surgery doesn't make me nervous, especially after my positive experience with Lap Band surgery. I understand that in some cases, a hysterectomy can be done vaginally. I'll let y'all know what I find out next week and whether this is how I'll be spending Spring Break.

shortgal · 02-22-2008, 07:17 AM

I'm glad you had a postive thought (losing weight) when you found out about this problem. I probably would have thought... oh no, this will make me gain or stop losing weight...

Weight loss can affect our estrogen levels, wonder if that had anything to do with it, especially when we're at that menopause age.

Hope everything goes smoothly for you. Please let us know.

Longhorn · 02-22-2008, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortgal

I'm glad you had a postive thought (losing weight) when you found out about this problem. I probably would have thought... oh no, this will make me gain or stop losing weight...

Weight loss can affect our estrogen levels, wonder if that had anything to do with it, especially when we're at that menopause age.

Hope everything goes smoothly for you. Please let us know.

I asked my NP about that but she didn't think it was related. And she definitely saw and felt something. I took some Tylenol last night that really helped but the pain is back this morning. I guess I need to take it more regularly. It was easier to ignore when I thought it was menstrual cramps.

Thanks for the kind thoughts!

shortgal · 02-22-2008, 09:11 AM

Didn't mean there wasn't anything there, just wondered if estrogen
imbalances could have caused the sudden apprearance of the mass.

Weight loss seems to have such an effect on PCOS, so seems perhaps the two could be related.... but I guess it doesn't matter how it got there... still has to be dealt with.

I guess I'm so used to Dr's blaming everything overweight people get on their weight that I'm doing it to.

You know they say,well lose weight and your cholesterol will go down and then I have skinny friends with cholesterol problems, so it makes you wonder.

Take care and try not to worry.

GreenChrysalis · 02-22-2008, 09:33 AM

Hi Longhorn ~ so sorry to hear you're dealing with this issue! My mother has been perimenopausal for the past few years and dealing with marathon, heavy periods. It was debilitating, she had to wear both a tampon and a pad and change them out just about once an hour. She didn't have a growth, but she was recently diagnosed with endometriosis. A few weeks ago, her doctor performed an edometrial ablation. It's being touted as an alternative to a hysterectomy, and basically, all of your uterine lining is removed. For most women this either stops their periods completely or significantly reduces them.

I was wondering if your doctor mentioned this as a possibility, or if the growth/mass would rule it out completely? I know my mother wanted to avoid a complete hysterectomy if possible due to the whole hormone issue. Best of luck and keep us updated!

Longhorn · 02-22-2008, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortgal

Didn't mean there wasn't anything there, just wondered if estrogen
imbalances could have caused the sudden apprearance of the mass.

Weight loss seems to have such an effect on PCOS, so seems perhaps the two could be related.... but I guess it doesn't matter how it got there... still has to be dealt with.

I guess I'm so used to Dr's blaming everything overweight people get on their weight that I'm doing it to.

You know they say,well lose weight and your cholesterol will go down and then I have skinny friends with cholesterol problems, so it makes you wonder.

Take care and try not to worry.

You know, it didn't occur to me about the hormonal changes actually causing a mass. At the point in the discussion that I brought it up, we were talking about possibly putting me on progesterone to kind of "clean me out" but that was before she physically saw or felt the mass. She's not an expert so I'll be interested to hear what the gynecologist thinks about it. I did mention that the medical profession doesn't know nearly as much about our bodies as we think they do! Not their fault but we're pretty complex.

Longhorn · 02-22-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viridescence

Hi Longhorn ~ so sorry to hear you're dealing with this issue! My mother has been perimenopausal for the past few years and dealing with marathon, heavy periods. It was debilitating, she had to wear both a tampon and a pad and change them out just about once an hour. She didn't have a growth, but she was recently diagnosed with endometriosis. A few weeks ago, her doctor performed an edometrial ablation. It's being touted as an alternative to a hysterectomy, and basically, all of your uterine lining is removed. For most women this either stops their periods completely or significantly reduces them.

I was wondering if your doctor mentioned this as a possibility, or if the growth/mass would rule it out completely? I know my mother wanted to avoid a complete hysterectomy if possible due to the whole hormone issue. Best of luck and keep us updated!

Thanks for the information, viridescence! The hysterectomy was just mentioned in passing so far. I'll hopefully know more after my visit next Thursday but even then, I may need to undergo some tests before we start considering treatment. However, this is the kind of information I need to know and I'm glad to have. Thanks a bunch!

Skinny_Jill · 02-22-2008, 12:18 PM

Longhorn,

I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this. I hope the solution is an easy one. Let us know what happens.

Jill

Shalee04 · 02-22-2008, 12:44 PM

Longhorn, sorry to hear about this new medical issue... I know all to well the hell having a marathon period causes, I had one for almost 3 years, I finally had to have a partial hysterctomy in June of 06. The contant bleeding had actually gotten life threatining in my case. I opted for the partial instead of the ablation as they couldn't guarentee no more bleeding to me with the ablation, also I kept my ovaries so I could still have a baby with a surrogate (we had been trying for years to get preggers) But anyways I will keep you in my prayers that everything works out for you.....

Oh yeah I lost 10 lbs after that surgery. :-D

Longhorn · 02-22-2008, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skinny_Jill

Longhorn,

I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this. I hope the solution is an easy one. Let us know what happens.

Jill

Thanks, Jill. I sure will keep my November buds up to date.

Longhorn · 02-22-2008, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shalee04

Longhorn, sorry to hear about this new medical issue... I know all to well the hell having a marathon period causes, I had one for almost 3 years, I finally had to have a partial hysterctomy in June of 06. The contant bleeding had actually gotten life threatining in my case. I opted for the partial instead of the ablation as they couldn't guarentee no more bleeding to me with the ablation, also I kept my ovaries so I could still have a baby with a surrogate (we had been trying for years to get preggers) But anyways I will keep you in my prayers that everything works out for you.....

Oh yeah I lost 10 lbs after that surgery. :-D

I'm very fortunate that future pregnancies are not an issue. I had a tubal ligation years ago a few months after my last child was born. I really appreciate you sharing your experience and wish you the best in becoming a mom!