… and thank you 15:31!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who had an ablation (I have adenomiosis and it was recommended), do you still get your period at all? If DH hasn't been snipped, do you still use BC?

I'm glad I found this … I thought my flow was heavy in having to change my super plus every 2-3 hours! Kudos to you ladies who have to do it every hour. I can't even imagine.

Nope. After the initial bleeding/watery weeping (2 weeks) stopped, I had a couple months where I needed a panty liner for one day. Then, it was 6 months where I'd see a little pink when I wiped every other month. But now, nothing. It's lovely.

Any serious complications? It freaks me out to get involved in an "optional" procedure.

Anonymous wrote:For those who had an ablation (I have adenomiosis and it was recommended), do you still get your period at all? If DH hasn't been snipped, do you still use BC?

I'm glad I found this … I thought my flow was heavy in having to change my super plus every 2-3 hours! Kudos to you ladies who have to do it every hour. I can't even imagine.

Nope. After the initial bleeding/watery weeping (2 weeks) stopped, I had a couple months where I needed a panty liner for one day. Then, it was 6 months where I'd see a little pink when I wiped every other month. But now, nothing. It's lovely.

Anonymous wrote:At my checkup several months ago I asked my doctor what I could do about extremely heavy, and getting heavier with age, menstrual flow. Her first 2 recommendations were BC pill or Mirena. I'm not interested in either - I've had Essure for sterilization so I don't really feel like taking BC.

So she suggested ibuprofen as soon as it starts. This is the first month I've remembered. I was googling dosage amount and it seems to be all over the place - regular dosage (200 mg), double dosage (without going over daily recommended amount), etc.

If you've had success with ibuprofen lightening your flow, what dose do you take?

You should have been offered Novasure with your Essure. It's not too late to get it. I day outpatient. Do it on a Friday and make sure your doctor gives you a prescription for the good stuff. This is the important part: Check into a hotel after. Do not go home! Your family will swear they won't bother you. They are either lying or delusional. The hotel is your best friend. Get close and personal with your heating pad. Order light food via room service (nothing that would cause a big poop). Sleep as much as possible. Come home on Sunday afternoon.

Anonymous wrote:Ibuprofen has never lightened my flow, but it has helped with cramps and discomfort.

+1

It won't decrease your flow.

For those who had an ablation (I have adenomiosis and it was recommended), do you still get your period at all? If DH hasn't been snipped, do you still use BC?

I'm glad I found this … I thought my flow was heavy in having to change my super plus every 2-3 hours! Kudos to you ladies who have to do it every hour. I can't even imagine.

Anonymous wrote:Try Lysteda for your flow. I too never get cramps during my super heavy flow, but it's like a slaughter house for many days. Lysteda is a pill you take on the 4 heaviest days, three times a day. It works miracles! I do have a day or two of fairly heavy flow, but then it lightens up a lot.

I use this but now on the generic version. Works awesome. I used to bleed through pad after pad and now have a light to normal flow. Plus you only take the pills during your cycle which is easier to remember than the pill.

Anonymous wrote:pp who had hysterectomy- did you have your ovaries removed? Just wondering about hormonal issues.

No, there was no need to remove the ovaries. I do have a small cyst on one ovary, but it was nothing that they worried about.

I had a single-incision, laparoscopic hysterectomy. They went in through the belly button (about a 2 cm scar inside the button), and the uterus came out through the vagina (while I was under). There have been no hormonal changes and I still get acne now and then which I attribute to the "monthly cycle" but I have no other symptoms of a cycle. It was an easier recovery compared to three births (vaginal deliveries). I hate to recommend a significant surgery -- but it was less scary than I had imagined it to be when the doctors first suggested it. The first 48 hours were the worst b/c it's hard to move when your mid-section is swelling from the trauma that is surgery. But the results are FABulous! I never have to think about "can I go camping?" "can I go swimming" "am I leaking when I stand up?" "how long ago did I change the tampon AND pad" etc. I just live life without a thought of problems down there. It's freedom! (I had been on the pill for 20 years, so that wasn't helping reduce the flow at all.)

pp who had hysterectomy- did you have your ovaries removed? Just wondering about hormonal issues.

If ablation isn't possible for you and you are living with flow so heavy that you are leaking and avoiding activities, I strongly suggest you investigate a laproscopic hysterectomy. Did it about 18 mos. ago and I LOVE not having to worry about the period anymore! I kind of feel like I have a guy's mindset now (I don't know how I ever put up with that silliness and I'm so thankful I don't have to now).

I know hysterectomy is a scary word b/c people are thinking of a gigantic slice down the middle and being off of work for a month --- not so anymore! It's not a walk in the park, but SO worth it to be FREE from the chains of bleeding all over the place. On the 4th day post-op, I walked the kids to school (ever so slowly), and I could have worked 1/2 time at that point. Most people take about a week off.

Of course, I've heard great things about ablation, but it may not be 100% cure for the bleeding and you still have to take BCP after the ablation b/c there is a chance you could get pregnant. I also was not a candidate b/c of a 2.5 cm fibroid. So, hysterectomy was the only option the docs were recommending. BTW -- make sure you go to a PEVLIC SURGERY SPECIALIST and NOT to a gen. Ob/Gyn. The pelvic surgeons can do it with a single small incision inthe belly button. The ob/gyn that I saw wanted to do the big slice down the middle with 6 weeks recovery. It's nearly malpractice in my mind to even offer the latter when the former is available. The only reason the ob/gyn had for doing the large cuts is "that's what I know how to do and it's faster" (for her during the surgery -- not for the patient during the recovery). If you end up investigating a hysterectomy, make sure you are talking to someone who does a lot of pelvic surgery and knows how to do things laparoscopically.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of you ladies with heavy periods and cramping could have endometriosis. I am not surprised that OBGYN 's only suggestion is BCP.

http://www.endo-resolved.com/symptoms.html

Ibuprofen will temporarily ease the pain but will not solve the issue . Especially to the mother of teenage daughter, please find a specialist who would treat your daughter. I wish I was diagnosed as a teenager and not as a 35 year old woman when my fertility in adversely affected beyond repair.

Did you ever have kids?

no, 2 years later, 2 laps, 6 IVFs and no kids. I will likely never have a child genetically related to me.

I'm sorry

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All of you ladies with heavy periods and cramping could have endometriosis. I am not surprised that OBGYN 's only suggestion is BCP.

http://www.endo-resolved.com/symptoms.html

Ibuprofen will temporarily ease the pain but will not solve the issue . Especially to the mother of teenage daughter, please find a specialist who would treat your daughter. I wish I was diagnosed as a teenager and not as a 35 year old woman when my fertility in adversely affected beyond repair.

Did you ever have kids?

no, 2 years later, 2 laps, 6 IVFs and no kids. I will likely never have a child genetically related to me.

Anonymous wrote:All of you ladies with heavy periods and cramping could have endometriosis. I am not surprised that OBGYN 's only suggestion is BCP.

http://www.endo-resolved.com/symptoms.html

Ibuprofen will temporarily ease the pain but will not solve the issue . Especially to the mother of teenage daughter, please find a specialist who would treat your daughter. I wish I was diagnosed as a teenager and not as a 35 year old woman when my fertility in adversely affected beyond repair.

Did you ever have kids?

All of you ladies with heavy periods and cramping could have endometriosis. I am not surprised that OBGYN 's only suggestion is BCP.

http://www.endo-resolved.com/symptoms.html

Ibuprofen will temporarily ease the pain but will not solve the issue . Especially to the mother of teenage daughter, please find a specialist who would treat your daughter. I wish I was diagnosed as a teenager and not as a 35 year old woman when my fertility in adversely affected beyond repair.

My pediatrician told my teenage daughter (who has very heavy periods) to take ibuprofen for the three days PRECEDING the period. Try that. It didn't sufficiently help DD so I took her to my gyn. to put her on a BC pill that would reduce the flow: Generes Fe. Much much improved.