Previously Perimenopause TMI - Now, The Results and options

[thekarens]

So far this is what I have learned:

1) I have hypothyroidism my results were 3.49.

2) I have a cyst on my right ovary 3cm

3) My uterine wall might be thickened 2cm. This is hard to tell because it depends on where in my cycle I'm at and I can't tell because I've been bleeding on and off for 2.5 months. I just started bleeding again last night after a week off, so it might be "normal?"

4) I had a polyp on my cervix

5) Just going to the doc jumped my blood pressure to 140/80


Treatments so far:

1) Biopsy on the uterine wall

2) Polyp removed from the cervix and also sent for biopsy

3) Started synthroid


Possible future treatments:

1) Birth control pills

2) Endometrial ablation (sp)

3 Hysterectomy with one ovary removed


If the biopsies come back as cancer or possible cancer in any way shape or form I'm going to have the hysterectomy and tell him do not pass go, do not collect $200.

If they come back normal I'm just not sure. I'd like everyone else's thoughts and opinions.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and share in my neurosis :)

[shootingstar]

You may not have wanted children anyway or past child-bearing years ..but just fyi, a sister of mine had 1 ovary removed in her 20's: she had 2 normal children thereafter. They are adults now.

What were your symptoms anyway re in the reproductive area? I'm not a doctor, I'm just wondering since....uneven periods, dull pain, lumps? Just something for any of us to also check out and not leave unattended.

[thekarens]

I'm 43, my children are grown. I went to the doc due to irregular menstrual bleeding.

[OakLeaf]

((((((thekarens)))))) Sending my wishes that everything's accomplished with a minimum of pain, no complications, and favorable test results.

[Over50Newbie]

I am 58 and had an endometrial ablation at age 50 for heavy menstrual bleeding. Best decision I ever made! It is a quick, just about pain free, outpatient procedure that changed my life. I highly recommend it for heavy bleeding.

[thekarens]

Thanks Oak.

Over50, did you have anything besides heavy bleeding? The extra thick uterine lining is what freaks me out the most.

[thekarens]

My nerves were shot and I couldn't wait any longer, so I called the docs office this morning and they said my tests were negative, everything looks fine...yay me!

So, to get the bleeding straightened out I'm thinking I'll just start with the pill and go from there. It's possible that the thyroid and/or the polyp were/are the cause of my problems. It's hard to say.

[e3rdpower]

I very reluctantly went back onto the pill per my doc's recommendation to control perimenopausal too-frequent bleeding, and it's been great. She said I could take them continuously to keep a more stable hormone level instead of taking the placebo pills, and that's what I've been doing. It's not a high enough dosage pill to completely shut down my own hormonal fluctuations, (I get occasional breakthrough bleeding) but it is WAY better, and I'm not sure I want to go to a higher dose pill. I am taking the generic of Mircette, Azurette. Good luck!

[indysteel]

My nerves were shot and I couldn't wait any longer, so I called the docs office this morning and they said my tests were negative, everything looks fine...yay me!

So, to get the bleeding straightened out I'm thinking I'll just start with the pill and go from there. It's possible that the thyroid and/or the polyp were/are the cause of my problems. It's hard to say.

I'm so glad your results were negative! What pill is she recommending? I've been on Loestrin 24Fe since 2006. I originally went on it in an effort to better control menstrual migraines. It's considered "low (estrogen) dose," but they have an even lower does version of it on the market now called LoLoestrin. My OB/GYN offered to put me on it, but I hestitated to try it because he basically said that I needed to use back up birth control with my DH during the first few months. At 43, I really don't want to get pregnant at this point.

Since pregnancy is not a concern for you, it might be something to consider. Loestrin is generally effective--assuming no other issue like fibroids--at lessening the flow and duration of your periods. Mine last 2-3 days, typically with minimal bleeding. Minus the initial adjustment period where my mood was, um, off, I've liked it. Of course, it's worth noting that I'm not a doctor and that every pill poses some risks so I don't want to make it seem like BCPs are totally benign.

[thekarens]

I won't know exactly what pill the doc will recommend until tomorrow. It's been so long that I've even had to consider birth control that I have no knowledge about what's on the market now. I appreciate the suggestion though.

Funny story, obviously I told the doc that I was a lesbian and had been with my partner 13 years. He still insisted on a pregnancy test before the biopsy. I told him that he had obviously skipped a class in med school if he thought two women could make a child on their own, especially when one of them has already had a hysterectomy :-) I don't think he thought I was funny.

[indysteel]

I won't know exactly what pill the doc will recommend until tomorrow. It's been so long that I've even had to consider birth control that I have no knowledge about what's on the market now. I appreciate the suggestion though.

Funny story, obviously I told the doc that I was a lesbian and had been with my partner 13 years. He still insisted on a pregnancy test before the biopsy. I told him that he had obviously skipped a class in med school if he thought two women could make a child on their own, especially when one of them has already had a hysterectomy :-) I don't think he thought I was funny.

That is funny. It's also really wasteful and frustrating. I'm a lawyer, so I get the CYA, but come on. When a woman who is either sexually inactive or is sexually active with another women states that she is not pregnant, why not just take them at their word? IMO, it's absurd.

[thekarens]

That is funny. It's also really wasteful and frustrating. I'm a lawyer, so I get the CYA, but come on. When a woman who is either sexually inactive or is sexually active with another women states that she is not pregnant, why not just take them at their word? IMO, it's absurd.

I've had that argument a few times over. I wholeheartedly agree. I always tell them I'm willing to sign whatever they need, but they never agree.

[Melalvai]

I had a hysterectomy and one ovary removed at age 31. I kept my cervix so I still have monthly bleeding. I also said "if it's cancer take it all out" because I had elevated CA125. It wasn't, whew. A couple years ago I discovered that if I don't eat any sugar at all, the monthly problems go away. Of course I no longer have heavy bleeding but I had some painful cramps (in the cervix I guess) that don't happen if I've been sugar free for at least 2 months. And monthly diarrhea/ bloody stool/ painful poops is less pronounced or entirely absent if I'm sugar free. Best of all is the absence or attenuation of mood swings. So once I discovered this I wished I'd tried changing my diet sooner. Maybe I wouldn't have had a ruptured ovarian cyst!

When our cat was hyperthyroid the vet gave us a special diet. She wouldn't eat it so I don't know if it works or not. Does diet help control thyroid problems in humans? I know some people can manage their diabetes with diet alone.

[indysteel]

There are foods to avoid if you have a hyperactive thyroid (anything rich in iodine). And some people with thyroid disease are also sensitive to gluten or have celiac disease, but I'm not sure that diet alone can cure thyroid related disease. Frankly, for many with severe forms of hyperactivity, I don't know that they have the luxury of playing around with their diet with the hope of getting the disease under control.

[Melalvai]

Somewhat timely here, I just had another cyst rupture on my remaining ovary. :( So no, merely eliminating sugar from my diet didn't prevent that.

[Eden]

I've had that argument a few times over. I wholeheartedly agree. I always tell them I'm willing to sign whatever they need, but they never agree.

It's because no matter how much you swear it's true and what you sign, (and what the dire consequences may be) some people will still lie.... my dad's cousin died because she lied to an anesthesiologist.... For the doctor simply testing everyone a) catches the people who have lied and b) relieves him/her from making what some people perceive to be a judgement call about a person's lifestyle.

[Over50Newbie]

thekarens - just heavy bleeding with no other symptons. But the bleeding was so heavy that it was very much interfering with my daily life. The endometrial ablation literally changed my life! And the best part was that I totally stopped bleeding and went through menopause soon after, which my ob/gyn said was quite common.

[TrekDianna]

So glad your tests were negative. I had a hysterectomy a bit over 5 years ago. Best thing I ever did.

[thekarens]

Thank you, I'm very grateful as well. I decided to start with drugs and go from there. Hopefully it will help with the cyst and bleeding. I go back in 3 months for another ultrasound.