Any advice/opinions/thoughts? Gynae related

[ZeaMays]

My periods make me very ill (d&v) and each time I am ill it takes longer to recover. Now I am not getting better at all (they cause bowel problems and pain). My periods are also getting heavier each month, I am having to use a mooncup and a towel.

I was refered to a gynae about 3 years ago who couldn't find anything wrong and suggested I go on the pill despite knowing that it doesn't agree with me. 18 months ago I had had enough and tried various pills again. The ones that cured my period problems made me depressed, cerazette made me suicidal in just 3 weeks.

I saw a different gynae on Thursday who is going to repeat all the tests and if the results are the same he is willing to preform an ablation or a hysterectomy. My choice which one as he is not sure the ablation will fix the d&v. If I have the ablation and it doesn't work within 4 months he said I could have a hysterectomy.

I am 30 and childless. Dh and I do not want kids but even if we did we would choose not to because I have a health condition that means I have a 50% chance of getting ill if I got pregnant. 'Ill' could mean slightly off colour or weeks/months in hospital or maybe even dying.

My mum had a hysterectomy for heavy periods but I can't talk to her because she "wouldn't be upset" if we didn't have children, she would be "absolutely devastated". So it would be nice to hear what other people have to say especially if they have been in similar circumstances.

What on earth did this gynae actually do three years ago?. This person could not find anything wrong?. Hmmm, what was actually done in terms of investigation at that time?. Was a laparoscopy performed?. BTW tests such as blood tests, swabs and internal ultrasound scans do not detect endometriosis if it is there.

If you do not already do so I would suggest you keep a daily pain (do a scale from 1-10) and symptom diary as this can give the gynae clues.

I would also be asking this new gynae bod you are seeing whether he thinks that endometriosis could be a possible cause. You need a diagnosis first and foremost. Endometriosis can cause pain, heavy bleeding (also fibroids can cause heavy bleeding so they need to be looked for as well) and problems with stomach and bowels because endo can also get onto the intestines.

If it is endometriosis I would think long and hard about having a hysterectomy because endo can recur post hyst. This surgery also does not address any endometriosis deposits that could be also on the bowels.

You will need to be very persistent in order to get answers, do not be fobbed off.

I saw the unanswered question and was going to write pretty much what Attila wrote. I'm surprised the gynae of 3 years ago couldn't find anything wrong.

This isn't normal for menstruating women, so something is causing all the symptoms you're getting. Don't be fobbed off, push for a diagnosis.

The first gynae was useless but endometriosis was ruled out by laparoscopy. No fibroids either. As far as I am aware everything was tested. I was also referred to a (good) gastro and had lots of horrid tests but the only thing found was a gluten intollerance.

All the tests will be repeated before I make a final decision.

No real answer OP but am marking place as I too suffer from d&v while having my period. I've had it ever since my first one and have tried a variety of things to cure it. When I was a teen I was prescribed anti nausea drugs which helped a bit; in my 20s I realised that some of the nausea was because I was in pain (strangely I hadn't been able to separate the two sensations before then) so taking stronger pain killers helped. TBH the most helpful thing was eating healthily and avoiding caffeine in the week before I was due. Tedious I know!

Having babies seems to have sorted me out a bit but it probably helps that in between being pregnant and breastfeeding I've only had about 7 periods in the last 3.5 years. I'm dreading them coming back properly, particularly as they picked up a fibroid while scanning my last pregnancy, there is a strong family history of horrible gynae problems due to these. TBH if I could have had a hysterectomy at my last c section I probably would have done, to save myself another 20years of this....

Coldhands my first period was amazing, I felt so contented and blissfull. Every other period however has been hell. I have tried everything too and nothing works. I am really pleased I have this choice, even if I do nothing it will be my decision and not just what I have to do.

Cerazette stopped my periods for long after I stopped taking it and it was amazing. I didn't have to consider what would happen if I leaked or was sick and I could go out whenever I wanted!

Has anyone suggested an artificial menopause with prostap, zoladex or similar?
If not ask. It may well buy time until you want kids - and if you can't see this as a possibility in the future because of other problems, you'd at least know that taking your ovarian hormones away makes you better .

No one has suggested that Theas18 I will ask about it.