womens' issues questions

[atydev]

My experience

My experience

I was on the depo shot and was told not to have another one so I did not. It was due end of sept. by first of Oct I was bleeding like a stuck hog. So by the week before thanksgiving 6 weeks of bleeding had taken its toll on me I was dizzy and short of breath. I went to the ER I had a positive tilt and very low pressure. I was admitted my INR was 5.7 but my blood count was dropping. I was put on prevaro shot instead of depo prevaro because of the estrogen content. I came home bleeding had slowed down but not stopped. By the week after thanksgiving I was back in the hospital because the bleeding was worse. My blood count was 7 and the positive tilt was 35/24 needless to say I was bleeding to death. Surprise my INR was 1.9 it took a blood transfusion 2 pints and hormones to stop it. I now have to get my bc shot every 10 wks instead of 12 so this does not happen again.

 

[EsmereldaPea]

Hysterectomy Alternative

Hysterectomy Alternative

I have a healthy heart (thank god), and I am on here for my mother's sake. However, I felt a need to butt my nose in as a woman who just had a hysterectomy (TAH/BSO) last summer. Although mine was a very complicated case, even a "normal" hysterectomy is not without its risks and problems.

The uterus is important even after childbearing years as it supports the pelvic floor and can help prevent prolapse of other organs. If I'd had a choice, I would have kept mine.

An alternative to a hyst to stop heaving bleeding is something called endometrial ablation. There are several different procedures, but basically, the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) is destroyed so that the healthy uterus can remain, but the periods stop or lessen tremendously. It doesn't work for all women, but is worth looking into.

I dealt with endometriosis for 20+ years, and it almost (literally) killed me. By the grace of fate and the talent of a unbelieveable surgical team, I now have a prognosis for a relatively normal and pain-free life!!! I encourage any woman who experiences a lot of pain with her period to get evaluated for endometrosis or other causes of pelvic pain (there are chronic pelvic pain clinics out there - one at the University of Michigan Hospital). But find someone with experience with these things, not just a regular gyn.

My 2 cents . . . hope you don't mind me nosing in here . . .

Esme

 

[catwoman]

I had a total hysterectomy 20 years ago (03/1985, at age 34) due to endometrial hyperplasia and endometriosis. The hyperplasia was the primary reason -- 3 very heavy periods a month.
I had been having increasing pain w/ my periods for a number of years prior to the surgery. Don't know if it was due to the endometriosis (undiagnosed until the surgery), but that was possible.
I had ignored much of the problem until January 1985. Had a D&C, which didn't help. Then had the hysterectomy. I resisted the hysterectomy much like many people are in denial of needing VR surgery -- not because I objected to the surgery but I thought there was a "magic" pill that would cure the problem.

My mother had problems carrying me and was given some Rx to prevent miscarriage. We suspect it may have been DES -- diethylstilbesterol (sp?), which was later linked to reproductive problems in the women's daughters. I had various problems for years.

My advice: Try to determine if your menstrual problems aren't related to a gynecological problem that has been tolerated without being fully diagnosed. I was very surprised to need a hysterectomy at age 34.

BTW, I haven't had any problems with prolapse. I never had any children, so perhaps that's a factor in not having problems.

 

[Sherry]

In response to Esme, my gynecologist has suggested that ablation therapy to me several times rather than risking the pill. I'm going to do one or the other before summer because these periods are driving me crazy, especially as a teacher. We have 90 minute blocks, and it's hard to leave 34 sophomores in a room by themselves while I visit the ladies room

Al, we still adore ya... afterall, I got to witness you eating "possum meat" at the reunion. It doesn't get any better than that.

 

[Guest]

I never doubted. The forum is just that - the free flow of ideas. I've argued in a murder trial and against New York medical school professors. I had no student this week and saw 80 patients on my own!! Talk about not having bathroom time!!

 

[Lisa in Katy]

My GYN and the hematologist decided against ablation because of the potential for continued periods (usually light) after the procedure. They decided that if I still had bleeding, chances were that I would end up with the same problems as before the procedure - continued, possibly heavy bleeding caused by Warfarin (in their opinion). Actually, my sister had that procedure about 6 months ago. She had no period the first month, but has had periods every month since, and they are not as heavy, but lasting longer than before.

 

[Raecee]

I'm a Newbie

I'm a Newbie

I am new here and have been on the look out for this site (Unknowingly) for some time now. This past year I have been slowly going down hill and not realizing it. The end of Aug I lost all feeling in my left leg below the knee and did not know why. I ended up in a small hospital w/ my Husband, scared .
I am a 32 year old Mother/wife. And have only been in the hospital 3 times in my life... when I was born, when I needed stitches, and when I gave birth to my wonderful daughter. Needless to say I learned to distrust most doctors and stayed away unless I just couldn't aviod it. Now, I can't avoid it and am looking for others who might understand where I am and am going.
After hours at this hospital they whispered and spoke a strange language and the next morning I was in an ambulance headed for the Methodist Hospital in Houston. I was still okay w/ what was happening.. which wasn't much. At this time I still had no clue as to who, what, where, when, or why. I could only just hold on for the ride. Thankfully my Husband was there w/ me and our wonderful Neighbors were looking after our daughter.
It wasn't until the Surgeon told me I had to have surgery to remove the blood clots that it hit me. I Had Heart Problems. I was absolutely terrified, but still held it together. The night before the surgery I was on the phone w/ my husband that I broke.. my terror of not being in control got to me and I cried. Needless to say my husband came and stayed w/ me. I do not recall anything other than waking up after the surgery, but apparently proceeded to remove everything from my body and go home.. they knocked me out deeper and had to replace everything.
After that I ended up taking numerous tests.. ( some of which I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy if I had one.. they hurt so bad). And the cardiologist told me that my mitral valve was nearly destroyed and most likely from Rhumatic Fever as a child. I couldn't beleive it. There's no way.. I would have remembered something like that, but apparently it didn't take much for Strep Throat to turn into R F even with penicillan. Then I was really scared, and knew my husband wouldn't be able to stay w/ me all the time. Luckily my Mother In Law was with me when D couldnt be. And our daughter was being watched over by his Home Town and going to school there. I felt lucky to know that they were all pulling for me.
Anyhow, I had my surgery and after Nearly a month I wanted nothing more than to get out of the hospital.. I had not been outside the entire time, due to the monitor I HAD to wear 24/7. After the Heart Surgery My bp was so low that the nurses would check on me quite often and would go so far as to wake me too. I finally got to leave and went home w/ my MIL so someone was with me and could hook me up to my antibiotics and give me my shots (prior to warfarin).
I lasted a week, I got so bad I couldn't speak a sylible without taking a breath. I could not walk very far because of the swelling, but I had not gained more that a few ounces a day. Apparently that's all it took. I went to my check up at the cardiologist and I knew I would have to go back in. He sent me to the Lung Doc. and rushed me to a room. I was there for a bit over a week just to get off the warfardin so he could drain my lungs. And let me tell you.. It Hurt !! It was another week (so it felt like) before it reexpanded.
That was from the last weekend in August to the begining of Oct. We have relocated according to his job, in his home town now. I have an appointment w/ a new cardiologist Dr. Sweet the 19th. I plan to bombard him w/ all my questions and queiries then, but felt it was important that I connect w/ others who understand what I have gone through and know what my future may hold.
I take my warfardin religously and non aspirine pain killers quite often. I have been on my period for 2weeks now and am looking forward to getting off of it. I need break my No Doctor habit and go see about getting the situation fixed. I am not on BC, but would like the women's outlook into it. I also am thinking of Breast Reduction because they are killing me (I still sleep with binding on) and my scar is protruding because of them.
I only hope ya'll make it through my blah blah blah and see the real me. I look forward to learning all I can and thank you for listening (as the case may be lol).
Rachel

 

[joy]

Hi Rachel, welcome to the site. THere are actually quite a few of us who have had rf and not even know it until we have a tragedy. I was 5 months pregnant with my second child when I found out about my heart. I had an excellent team of doctors though and had a mitral valvuplasty to get me through my pregnancy. When Erik was 3 months old I had my mitral valve replaced due to severe mitral stenosis and mitral regurge of 3+ and getting worst. I felt aweful the entire time I was growing up, and never knew why I had so little energy. My family just wrote it off as laziness. I had a bovine valve because I am so young, and have a very active lifestyle, so my cardio and surgeon both agreed that a mechanical valve wouldn't last very long in me, and so I decided to take their advise. You have to trust your doctors though. Anyhow, we're all doing well, and still kicking! Where are you located, and are you moving? I know of good doctors in Seattle. I am moving either to Italy or Japan within the next year, with the navy(my husband is the sailor). If you just moved to Texas, there are quite a few people that live in Texas that could probably recommend a good cardiologist.

 

[Guest]

I'm the warfarin guy, not one who has been through all the surgery etc, but I can assure you that before the week is out, you will have more friends and advice from people who have stories that closely parallel yours. Joy was just the first. You won't believe how many people have been down this road. Your location of SE Texas and the fact that you had surgery in Houston tells me that you are in the best of medical hands. There are a few others who can equal the heart surgery that is available in Houston, but they are very few. Thanks for sharing your story.

 

[Raecee]

thank you

thank you

Thank you for your warm welcom. I look forward to learning more about this whole situation. I remember very little about the whole of my time there. I was told that it was kinda like childbirth and that I wouldn't remember (or would forget) the pain. I mostly recall the people I met and all my doctors. lol I ended up w/ 4 of them .
I tell my Mom how lucky we were that we had moved back to the area and that I couldn't have asked for better than Methodist and The DeBakey Heart Center, or my doctors Dr. Rafael Espada (Cardiovascular & Thoracic surgeon), Dr. Milton Klein, (Cardiologist) and others.
Since our move was so sudden we are staying w/ family until I start work and can get our own place here. So my puter time is limited.
Look Forward,
Rachel

 

[Raecee]

Forgot to ask....

Forgot to ask....

Sry bout that.. was deuly interrupted. I actually wanted to ask the women if there were any questions I should ask my new Cardiologist (will see him on the 19th) that I dont' know about(which in this case is well all). I don't know of anyone personally that has had a valve replacement and would love your input on this. Oh, Yes! The men too. I am releived to find that my period will run long while taking warfarin ( guess I'll end up on iron pill too since I'm feeling a bit run down). Other than the ticking I constantly listen too and the soreness of my chest (mostly from the top of the big scar) I don't even notice that I have had any surgeries. Once again thank you for all you have and will do.

Look Forward,
Rachel

 

[Guest]

One important thing is to not become pregnant while taking warfarin. Weeks 6 to 12 are the most harmful for the baby. This may be dose related but it is very risky.

 

[Guest]

In today's Archives of Internal Medicine, a doctor wrote a letter to the editor discussing the relationship between menstruation and coronary heart disease. Here is the concluding part of the letter.
"I believe that menstrual blood loss alone could explain the protection against coronary heart disease in premenopausal women. Possible mechanisms include lowered blood viscosity, lowered blood pressure, lowered coagulopathy, or reduced body iron."

 

[Guest]

I just saw a woman who said that the doctor told her that warfarin saved her life. She is in her 70s and started warfarin. In just a few days she had a vaginal bleed. The doctors checked it out and removed a tiny tumor from her uterus. The doctor said that it was unusual to find such a small tumor. The warfarin caused it to bleed much sooner than would have been expected and as a result she had it removed while it was still tiny.

It has been known for many years that warfarin probably has a small effect in preventing cancer. Today there was an article published in the journal Lung Cancer that shows how warfarin exerts this effect in lung cancer by stimulating the activity of natural killer cells in the body. This is not a big enough effect to have everybody run out and start taking warfarin to prevent cancer, but it is a lot better news than has been associated with most drugs lately.