Thanks for that. Well I am due a scan next week after a visit to my gynae today. She suspects very strongly that my uterus is sticking together somewhere creating pockets of blood and then because there is no where for it go causes the pain, until it is reasbsorbed. She is pencilling in a vaginal hysto for Feb (i'm going skiing before then so didn't want to cancel that)... and injected me with Prostap for now to get me through until I can have the op. At least I didn't have to refer to anything I'd read... she just heard my story ..
All of what she said is exactly what was happening to me. ALthough I'm a ski bum myself, I worry for you. Please try not to be disappointed if the pain comes when you are away. Those pains came as they pleased and stopped following a "cycle" schedule. Goodluck, Lexiloo. Sounds like you're on top of it!
I had the Novasure done in the fall of 2008. Until a year or so before I had it done, I was not a person who had bad periods. Aside from changing a tampon, I never noticed I even had a period. I was 45 when I had the Novasure & for awhile everything was fine. About a year ago, I started having SEVERE cramps, but very little bleeding, i went to my OB/GYN who did the procedure (all my other OB/GYNs are retired now, this one is the only one left), & he basically blew me off, like I was overreacting or somethng. I'm almost 50 now & I'm too old for this c**p! I've ended up in th ER 3-4 times with cramps so bad I rolled into a ball. The heating pad is my best friend during this time. I don't understand why, after having a Novasure that's supposed to STOP these symptoms, actually ends up making it WORSE! Has anyone on this board ever found out why this procedure has us all feeling like this? I was really surprised at the amount of women on this board with the same thing happening to them. My dr made me feel like I was just a "cry baby" (my daughters would have a thing or 2 to say about that, him being a man & all, you know? LOL!), instead of seeing if something is actually wrong. I have an auto-immune disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, so I'm already in a miserable amt of pain every day just from the RA, I sure don't need MORE! Plus, period time always turns me into a homicidal b*tch with a chainsaw (sorry). But, to be honest, I'm starting to REALLY dread this every single month! That & I feel like I'm too old for this c**p. I already had a tubal in 2002 so I could use the biologics that treat RA, & I didn't want to do that, so I really don't want to lose more female parts (even though I'd like to rip them all out right now!!). As I write this, I'm in SO much pain from these cramps (back & front), that even 10mg of opiate pain meds I use for my RA isn't touching it. There has to be a reason why we're all going through this within a couple years of having the Novasure procedure. If anyone finds out anything about why Novasure patients have this happen, please let me know!
Hi Pink,
If you read back at my prior posts, I describe what Mayo Clinic diagnosed and what is the cause of the pain. If you don't find it, let me know.
Sorry you're in such pain. ::-)
Hi,
I had an ultrasound, and the doctor has some concerns. She ordered a CA 125, and waiting on those results. The wall of the uterus is lobulated (basically thick and scalloped), and I do have an ovarian cyst. If the blood test comes back ok, we'll wait and see if the bc helps with the bleeding. If it doesn't we'll do an endometrial biopsy. If it comes back not so good, she wants to do laproscopy. We'll see how it goes.
I had an ultrasound, and the doctor has some concerns. She ordered a CA 125, and waiting on those results. The wall of the uterus is lobulated (basically thick and scalloped), and I do have an ovarian cyst. If the blood test comes back ok, we'll wait and see if the bc helps with the bleeding. If it doesn't we'll do an endometrial biopsy. If it comes back not so good, she wants to do laproscopy. We'll see how it goes.
How did you make out? I am curios as I am in the same boat and don't know what to do.
I'm sorry you aren't well. It was a year ago that I was in pain every month. Since my hysterectomy last April 28th, I have not had any problems. I am pain free monthly. Because they left my ovaries and I am 45 years old, I am not having any premenopausal symptoms. It was the best decision for me.
Thanks for all the replies! As bad as it sounds (sorry), I'm really glad that I'm not the only person who's problems w/this procedure. Basically, all my OB/GYN's are retired now (yes, I AM that old-hahaha) & the one that's left has expanded his clinic to include dematology. Even tho the path report said that the ovarian cysts needed to be followed up on, my GYN acted like it was no big deal & that I was making more out of something that just wasn't serious. He being as man & all (wouldn't men just DIE if they had to have a period every month & can you see them having babies???? Lord have mercy! That's why He chose WOMEN to be mothers, because he know men would probably keel over if they had to go thru everything women have to go thru :D ), I guess he thought I was making a big deal out of nothing. My husband wants me to find another GYN, but it's not as easy as looking thru the Yellow Pages, closing your eyes & putting your finger on the first name. I never thought about scar tissue being the culprit. That's something I'll have to look into. Let me know what you find out. Thank you again to everyone who posted!
Just a quick update. When I got a copy of the report, it turns out that I have a solid mass next to my ovary (and a simple cyst in my ovary). We did another ultrasound 6 weeks later after being on progesterone, and the mass is still there. I'm seeing an oncologist next week, and we'll see from there. It may be benign, but I'd rather be safe that sorry. The progesterone did help my bleeding; however, I had unfortunate side effects (blurry vision and horrible headaches). I have a feeling that my options are narrowing to a hysterectomy.
You know, there have been several people @ my rheumatologists office who have suggested a hysterectomy. The thing is, I had to have a tubal in 2002 because my dr was putting me on a biologic & you can't get pregnant, etc. I cried during the whole thing. I wanted the choice of having or not having any more babies MY choice, not because I "couldn't". I know that sounds irrational, but that's how I felt. But my RA was SO bad, that I went ahead & did it. I was 38 & already had 5 pregnacies & 3 kids (@ the time our youngest child wasn't even a year old yet) & thought it would selfish to have more when so many people cannot have kids. I guess having another surgery like that would be the answer, but I'm not far from menopause, so do I want to have another surgery I don't want or do I wait it out? That's the dilemma I'm in. Plus, whenever you have surgery, you have to stop your biologic & that will make my RA worse for quite some time. I just don't have an answer & my periods are making me into a homicidal b***h with a chainsaw :D. Just kidding of course, but that's how I feel. The heating pad is my best friend once a month for a period of days. These cramps are SO bad, even my RA pain meds (& they're opiates) don't even come close to touching the pain.I did have a question: do you have to take any hormone pills now? Thank you!
I am completely freaked out after being on several forums and reading all these quite similar stories. I had the Nova Sure ablation surgery at least 4 years ago. I decided it was the most wonderful life changing thing I had ever done! I had many many years of pain and suffering, failed treatments, embarrassing messes, and basically loss of quality of life for a week a month. So, after I recovered from this procedure (mild cramping for a few days) and seen what life could actually be like, minus my horrendous debilitating periods - I found it to be nothing short of a miracle! (which I told everyone!!)
Fast forward to yesterday- woke up feeling achy,tender breasts and what I thought was bad stomach ache.Blew it all off. After being up an hour or so I started getting pain shooting across my lower back- which i dismissed as something w/ my herniated disc's.
Within another hour both the pain in my abdomen and back had got so severe, I could not ignore it. I took 2 aleeve. These pains continued to get worse and also I became slightly nauseous. I kept feeling like I could pass out, and also pressure to urinate way too frequently. During one of these trips to the restroom, I realized I was spotting- bright red. WTH??? I sat there dumbfounded, after all theses years of nothing??
As the day went on- the pain just kept increasing until I could hardly stay on my feet to work. The flow never changed from just spotting but yet was in agony! By evening-I laid on the couch with a heating pad, ate more Aleeve, and had a few beers hoping to dull the pain. Nothing helped. I was up and down in so much pain all night long which now was also radiating down my leg, and going to the bathroom bc the pressure was still there. After one trip to the bathroom- I was freezing- like teeth chattering, body shaking chills. I put on flannel pants and cocooned under the blankets just miserable. I finally slept for a little just before the alarm began ringing- when I did awake, I was drenched it sweat and feeling dehydrated. Almost as if a fever had broke.
This morning, I am still miserable- wondering how I am going to make it through the day. I decided to do a little "Google-ing" since I will not be able to call the DR who did my procedure for hours yet. I am shock by all the horror stories I have found! And even more disturbed by the scores of Dr's who have not taken all these women and their pain/symptoms seriously!
I don't know what my Dr will have to say, but after reading of so much despair and agony, I do know- this is NOT how I want to spend every month for years to come!
Hi Doreen,
I'm so sorry to hear you are in so much pain.:( I would go see your doctor today if possible. They'll probably send you for an ultrasound and blood work.
In my case that showed a mass; however, after talking to the oncologist, they think it is endometriosis plus adenomyosis. I'm scheduled for a partial hysterectomy on April 17th with the da vinci robotic assist. Everybody is different and finding out what is wrong in your particular situation is important.:) It turns out my uterine lining is completely grown back (who knew that could happen with an ablation!).
Let us know what you find out, and my thoughts are with you. I know the whole thing is scary. The not knowing and wondering is what kills me.:)
Blessings,
Dia
Hi Doreen & Dia,
So sorry.... I know you are scared and hopefully have had a chance to talk with your doctor.
The first time I got the "death pains" (that's what I've always referrred to them as)... I thought it must be a kidney stone. The pain radiated around my back... but with your fevers/chills/frequent urination, I'm wondering if you have some type of infection along with it.
Hopefully you've had a chance to talk with your doctor and they have seen you to address the issues.
You have to be a strong advocate for yourself in these cases from what I've found. Telling your doctor that you have found many cases online of women who are having problems post ablation didn't seem to work for me - in fact, I think doctors cringe when you mention what you're reading online.... but I can tell you that you are not crazy and you must advocate for yourself until you find a doctor who will listen and do something about it.
Hope you are feeling a bit better.
Lisa
So sorry.... I know you are scared and hopefully have had a chance to talk with your doctor.
The first time I got the "death pains" (that's what I've always referrred to them as)... I thought it must be a kidney stone. The pain radiated around my back... but with your fevers/chills/frequent urination, I'm wondering if you have some type of infection along with it.
Hopefully you've had a chance to talk with your doctor and they have seen you to address the issues.
You have to be a strong advocate for yourself in these cases from what I've found. Telling your doctor that you have found many cases online of women who are having problems post ablation didn't seem to work for me - in fact, I think doctors cringe when you mention what you're reading online.... but I can tell you that you are not crazy and you must advocate for yourself until you find a doctor who will listen and do something about it.
Hope you are feeling a bit better.
Lisa
I had a endometrial ablation several years ago (approximately 8) and just started experiencing this incredible pain in my lower abdomen on occasion about 1 year ago and I had no idea why. As I had my ablation done 8 years ago and was 53 so I didn't associate the 2 for a long time. The first time the pain was so bad I couldn't stand it I went to the hospital and they told me I was probably just constipated. I couldn't believe it. My regular doctor sent me for various tests including an ultrasound, MRI etc until after seeing a gynocologist and having a D&C I finally put it all together. He also told me that at least 50% of women who get ablations end up having hysterectomies which I did not know. I just had to go to my calendar and see the dates that I had missed work each month were the same. I also have fybroids and had a tubal ligation which can make the pain worse. The pain is so bad that pain killers such as tylenol 4's barely touch it but in addition to that the frequency of the attacks has also been increasing until it is almost daily now. I am taking way too may pain killers now waiting for my partial hysterectomy (leaving ovaries) which is in 3 weeks. I cannot wait to have the hysterectomy and end this pain which is getting worse and worse. Reading everyone's blogs has helped me considerably. It really helped me knowing that there are other women out there who are having the same issues.
Hi Redrunner1,
I'm glad you have found this site. It's really scary how many people have stumbled across this blog but I know it helped me tremendously as well - not to know that others were experiencing pain, but just to understand what was happening to my body.
Like you, my pains became more frequent and were certainly not spread apart by a month. I recall being in a restaurant one day, feeling the pains coming on and 20 minutes later by the time I got home, I was absolutely miserable and in so much pain. To those of you who are taking tylenol products, please be careful to monitor just how much you are taking. Large amounts of Tylenol on a continued basis can be very detrimental to other organs in your body.
My doctor at Mayo ended up prescribing a pain killer that was like percocet without the tylenol in it. It was a tiny little pill but was helpful in the sense that it knocked me out and when I was asleep, I didn't feel the pain.
My thoughts are with you as you journey through this process.
I'm glad you have found this site. It's really scary how many people have stumbled across this blog but I know it helped me tremendously as well - not to know that others were experiencing pain, but just to understand what was happening to my body.
Like you, my pains became more frequent and were certainly not spread apart by a month. I recall being in a restaurant one day, feeling the pains coming on and 20 minutes later by the time I got home, I was absolutely miserable and in so much pain. To those of you who are taking tylenol products, please be careful to monitor just how much you are taking. Large amounts of Tylenol on a continued basis can be very detrimental to other organs in your body.
My doctor at Mayo ended up prescribing a pain killer that was like percocet without the tylenol in it. It was a tiny little pill but was helpful in the sense that it knocked me out and when I was asleep, I didn't feel the pain.
My thoughts are with you as you journey through this process.