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[ucprof]

Wish I could justify having the whole damn organ whipped out, but I don't think my insurance would think 'I don't like it and I don't want it' was a particularly convincing reason.  Plus the idea of risking vaginal prolapse is scary.  (Is that a significant problem with recent surgical methods?)

If it causes chronic conditions that interfere with your daily activity (and constant bleeding would be one) it should be grounds (insurance wise) to have it out.   I think the surgeons know how to handle that.  It can be cheaper than myomectomy because they don't have to repair the uterus, just take it all out.
As far as prolapse goes, I would imagine that keeping the cervix would help. Other than the usual post-surgical swelling, my body is pretty much the same and behaves the same except that I don't have the problems caused by the uterus.  I had a conservative surgery, kept the cervix and one ovary.  If you do it, get an excellent surgeon, they will make all the difference in the outcome. 

[frogfactory]

I'm pretty sure the bleeding is a side effect of the Implanon, not a result of another condition.

We'll see what nursey says...

[frogfactory]

Nursey didn't even need to do an exam - just handed me a referral to a gynae to have the implant whipped out next week. 

Any bets on how long it takes Depo to eliminate bleeding again?  First time around was so long ago, I don't really remember how it went.  I was more or less period free after a year, at least.  I feel like I took not bleeding for granted for such a long time!

[llanfair]

FrogFactory, you were wondering about vaginal prolapse after hysterectomy - maybe that depends on which way the surgeon goes in after the uterus? (ie. maybe that's an issue with the vaginal approach.)

I had an abdominal hysterectomy which took my cervix as well, and I haven't had any vaginal-prolapse problems at all.

[unoriginal]

Ugh. 

My endometrial biopsy showed some inflammation, few endometrial cells.  In other words, I was bleeding so much that the doctor didn't get enough cells for a biopsy.  Oh joy.

I'm STILL bleeding.  The IV Premarin given at the hospital slowed things down somewhat, but now it's picked up again back to where I was before, despite the Premarin pills that I'm taking.

Consult with the radiologist tomorrow about uterine artery embolism.  Another appointment with my doc next week about the bleeding issues.  Maybe she'll repeat the biopsy.  Maybe she'll do another ultrasound - the last one was in June.  I don't know, she's on vacation and so I didn't talk to her today.  I'm SICK SICK SICK of this. 

Hysterectomy is sounding better and better, but the permanence makes me hesitate.  That, and I'm not excited about major surgery and the associated recovery.  Or possible surgical complications.  Dang, I'm just too young for this.  If I were 50 - menopausal with grown kids - the decision would be a lot easier.  I'm 'only' 37. 

[ucprof]

Hysterectomy is sounding better and better, but the permanence makes me hesitate.  That, and I'm not excited about major surgery and the associated recovery.  Or possible surgical complications.  Dang, I'm just too young for this.  If I were 50 - menopausal with grown kids - the decision would be a lot easier.  I'm 'only' 37. 

It's not that bad the H and at 37, with conservative surgery you are much more likely to have something recur again before you hit menopause.  Think about it.  The only reason I did not do something sooner was that I was able to keep the pain down with heavy doses of NSAIDs every month.  Bleeding was not my issue so much, but pain was, lots of it.  Thank you celebrex, vioxx, and ibuprofen.  If it were not for the cox2s.....well I could have had it done at your age rather than my 40s.  But if you get the H go with a very very skilled surgeon.  This is a big operation and give yourself minimum 6 weeks off for lap. surgery and 3 months for full abdominal incision.  You might not need that much time but you want to be able to take it if needed.  Also don't let them push you around if you think something's wrong with you after surgery.  I had complications
from surgery and had to be pushy about getting back into the ER to get it treated. 

[llanfair]

I had 6 weeks' recovery after an abdominal hysterectomy at 35, and I've never looked back.  Do explore your options, but don't rule this one out - permanent it certainly is, but that permanence is a Good Thing when you're bleeding yourself white.

[frogfactory]

I'd totally go for an elective hysterectomy if I were confident the risks of side effects was small (including ectopic pregnancy and vaginal prolapse).

But, at 28 and childless, I doubt even the NHS would agree to the plan, let alone my cut-throat US insurers..

*sigh*

Looking forward to some more very impressive bruising from having the Implanon removed on Wednesday...

[secretweapon]

I'd totally go for an elective hysterectomy if I were confident the risks of side effects was small (including ectopic pregnancy and vaginal prolapse).

But, at 28 and childless, I doubt even the NHS would agree to the plan, let alone my cut-throat US insurers..

*sigh*

It would probably depend on your postcode!

Looking forward to some more very impressive bruising from having the Implanon removed on Wednesday...

Ouch.  Good luck with that.  Hopefully you'll see a dramatic improvement that will make it worth the bruising.

[frogfactory]

Here's hoping!  The actual contraption involved in putting the thing in was scary enough. While in theory I'm cool with the idea of making an incision under local and pulling the thing out with forceps is fine and dandy, I'm kind of icking out about if it's adhered to tissues and if I'll get that sick anaesthetised tugging feeling while it's pulled out.  I'd almost be happier to do it myself (having done my own IM injections many times and several of my own piercings) if I had access to lignocaine.  Of course, I could probably order it from Sigma via the lab.  Shame I didn't think of that before...

[wegie]

Hope everything came out smoothly frogfactory!

OK. So the principle of perimenopause is generally lighter, shorter, less painful, but possibly more frequent, right?

Sigh. So much for the principles . . .

[concordancia]

So, I was standing in class and I suddenly felt like someone had thrust a flaming sword into my lower abdomen. I am assuming this is bad?

I took a handful of Midol and it subsided for awhile, although now I am feeling a dull pain - maybe I was just distracted by trying to figure out whether or not I was going to survive for the rest of the teaching day.

[msparticularity]

Hope everything came out smoothly frogfactory!

OK. So the principle of perimenopause is generally lighter, shorter, less painful, but possibly more frequent, right?

Sigh. So much for the principles . . .

Nope--for me it was waaaaay heavier, and terribly painful. Also, sometimes more frequent. It wasn't until I got into real menopause that things got lighter, shorter, less painful and irregular.

[wegie]

Hope everything came out smoothly frogfactory!

OK. So the principle of perimenopause is generally lighter, shorter, less painful, but possibly more frequent, right?

Sigh. So much for the principles . . .

Nope--for me it was waaaaay heavier, and terribly painful. Also, sometimes more frequent. It wasn't until I got into real menopause that things got lighter, shorter, less painful and irregular.

Ah, deepest sympathies.

I already have painful, but I now seem to have acquired lighter (sortof good), more frequent (hey! let's start with a week of light spotting (preceded by pre-cramps and psycho-wegie, of course) the week before we're officially due!) and even longer than before (once we've finished the week of spotting, let's just go on normally, OK?).

I see large bills for padding and painkillers in my present and future . . .

[llanfair]

Concordancia, did that pain go away for good? I take it you're having your period right now?

Hope things settle.  If not, do see your doctor!