Search Results for: blog adenomyosis my story part 1 when normal is different

Alternatives to Hysterectomy

Posted on by

Each year, approximately six hundred thousand women undergo surgery to remove the uterus — a hysterectomy. For many women with menstrual difficulties, hysterectomy seems like the best (or only) option. However, a study from UCLA found that nearly seventy percent of women could have been treated with non-surgical means — with equally positive results. In some cases — uterine cancer, for example — a hysterectomy is the best option. In other cases, you may want to investigate non-surgical alternatives. If you have heavy, painful periods but may want to become pregnant in the future, talk to your doctor about hormone … Continue reading →

Menopause and Lack of Sleep

A lot of women in the early stages of menopause are finding that their worst problem is the lack of sleep. A recent survey of women between the ages of forty-three and fifty-five in the early stages of menopause looked at the severity of symptoms, including hot flashes, day and night sweats, mood issues, forgetfulness, sleep difficulties, and vaginal dryness. What constitutes “early stages” of menopause? Three years or less from your last menstrual period. Of the more than one hundred highly symptomatic women who responded to the study, the majority said difficulty sleeping was the worst. More than ninety-four … Continue reading →

Advance Planning Before Mom Has Surgery: While At The Hospital

In my last guest Blog I wrote about the fact that on Monday I will be having surgery and some of the things I have done to prepare my home and family. This Blog is about the planning I need to do for the time I am away at the hospital. Hospital stays are typically as short as possible in years past I might have expected to stay for five or more days, but this time I don’t expect to be hospitalized for more then a day of two (if I am lucky it will be 2 days!). Short or … Continue reading →

Advance Planning Before Mom Has Surgery: Home and Family

This Monday, I will be having surgery, and my estimated recovery time is the standard 6-weeks. While I’ll be able to do many things after the surgery I know I won’t be doing everything I usually do. The idea of catching up after recovery is more frightening to me then the surgery itself. After all this is going to be my 8th time to have an operation so, I have a good idea what I am in for. I’m not in the mood to fall too far behind this time. So, rather then have my whole world of responsibilities stand … Continue reading →

Adenomyosis: My Story Part #3 Surgical Options Hysterectomy

It’s impossible to determine just exactly how I developed Adenomyosis. Many women apparently don’t have the symptoms that I had, when my normal cycle changed. Most often Adenomyosis isn’t diagnosed as easily as I was. My testing only required a Pelvic Ultrasound and an Endometrial Biopsy. Many times Adenomyosis requires MRI’s and often this problem isn’t diagnosed until after a hysterectomy. I did have two cesarean-section babies a little over one year apart in 1983 and 1984. Following the birth of my second child I developed Pelvic Inflammatory Disease which required intensive antibiotics to clear up. In 2000 my husband … Continue reading →

Adenomyosis: My Story Part #2 Pelvic Ultrasound and Endometrial Biopsy

In the first Blog of My Story shared some of the symptoms I was suffering with. My Normal was Different and all of my annual tests came back normal. My hormones were normal and I showed no signs of menopause. I was left to survive the holidays in pain and worry waiting for my next doctor’s appointment. In January I had a Pelvic Ultrasound. A small amount of saline water was placed inside my uterus to help see if there was “something” inside of it that might be causing the enlarging and hardening my gynecologist noticed. But, everything inside looked … Continue reading →

Adenomyosis: My Story Part #1 When Normal Is Different

When my symptoms first started it was easy to consider what was happening as something to be expected. My wonderful sister’s-in-law, long-time-friends, and any woman just slightly older suggested what was happening me–might be “The Change!” After all they had all been told by their gynecologists that they needed hormone replacements and were going through early stages of menopause when they were my age. Some were even younger! So for a long time, I just thought this was what early menopause was like. Never knowing when that time of the month might be. Feeling cramps and horrible discomfort with little … Continue reading →