|
Post by lrwhit on Sept 30, 2008 10:05:55 GMT -5
Please Please Please, will someone reply to my post above (lrwhit aka Loreen) I am worried that I'm going thru with the hyst and what if the pain during sex is still there.... Anyone know???
|
|
|
Post by staceys on Sept 30, 2008 18:50:39 GMT -5
Hi Loreen,
I wish I could have an answer for you, but since I have never had a hysterectomy, I cannot answer you. Since I am not a medical professional, I do not know if this is right, so in my own opinion, I would think painful intercouse is caused by the endo implants outside of your uterus. I would think that if you have a skilled surgeon that can successfully remove these implants, then it should take care of your pain. I'm not sure if removing your uterus will relieve your pain independently of taking care of the endo outside of your uterus, unless of course it is somehow that your uterus is causing your pain causing your pain during sex(adeno, fibroids, something else?? I don't know - I'm not familiar with conditions of the uterus that can cause pain during sex).
Have you had laps in the past to remove endo or is this your first surgery? If this is your first sugery, I would be extremely cautious about allowing them to perform a hysterectomy, especially if they are only removing your uterus. There have been several women who continue to have endo recurrences after a hysterectomy, even if they remove the ovaries. If you leave the ovaries in, then your are still producing estrogen which can cause any unremoved or incompletely removed implants or microscopic endo to grow and then your are back to square one. Even if the ovaries are out, endo implants can produce their own estrogen (from my understanding) and can continue to cycle and grow. On the other hand, if you've had multiple surgeries and exhausted all treatments, then maybe a the hysterectomy is a good choice. I feel that it's a very personal decision and only you can know when it's time. I personally feel, that a hysterectomy is a last resort and I would only consider it if I have seen multiple docs and received several opinions. I know your surgery is on Friday, but is your doc an OB/GYN or a specialist like a reproductive endocrinologist or pelvic pain/minimally invasive surgery expert? A lot of times, your OB/GYNs are not as educated in endo; I would always advise seeing a specialist.
My original RE has recommended removing my ovary b/c of recurring endometriomas (3 in the past two and a half years). I have seen another RE last week who has said NO WAY and I am scheduled to see a surgeon who specializes in pelvic pain / minimally invasive surgery on Thursday. I feel as if my original doc has not exhausted all options, in fact, he's only tried Lupron and one progestin only pill before saying let's take it out - I do not agree with it, so I'm seeking outside opinions.
As you know hysterectomy is final. If you are concerned at all, I would not hesitate to cancel your surgery or explicitly let your surgeon know that in no way shape or form should they perform a hysterectomy during your procedure.
Good luck to you. I hope this helped!
|
|
|
Post by lrwhit on Oct 1, 2008 2:48:35 GMT -5
Thank you for your reply, You gave me a lot to think about. I had my first lap back in 89 at the very young age of 19 and was informed I have endo and basicly, I needed to deal with it.
I know a lot has been discovered in 20 years and I hate to admit it, I did exactly what the doctor said, I delt with it. He was a fertility specialist who told both my husband and I that the pain from sex was in my head. He said we needed more foreplay and lub, which by the was was not an issue! I was so young that I just figured he was the doctor and knew what he was talking about. As I got older, I was scared to ask about painful sex because I felt it was me.
I tried the pill and the specialist I see now wanted me to try Lupron but when we read the side effects and the fine print, we decided against it. The statement on the Lupron packet said they followed x amount of women to see "when" their endo came back, thats a bandaid....Everything just feels like a bandaid, as soon as the bandaid falls off, there is the sore again, never healing.
I have been dealing with endo for 20 plus years and the pain and pressure is just to much. I've been told I have a spactic colon, IBS and my rt ovary feels like its going to explode when i ovulate and during sex. I'm sooooo over it...Would anything good come from a hysterectomy??
|
|
|
Post by jeannine on Nov 18, 2008 10:17:50 GMT -5
Hi Loreen,
I was just surfing through this pain thread and wondered how you made out with your surgery. I am scheduled to have an exploratory lap in Jan with a possibility of a partial hysterectomy. I have fibroids with possible endo. I don't have pain with either exams or sex, just cramps afterward sometimes.
|
|
|
Post by mrsfullwood09 on Feb 28, 2009 20:59:27 GMT -5
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Thats how I knew something was wrong! There was always pain during sex and after, pain during the exams. I had my first lap a week ago, havent had sex yet.....So I'm wondering what its gonna be like. Any one know?
|
|
|
Post by italialynn on Oct 19, 2009 15:50:26 GMT -5
Ugh. I had a routine (every 6 months) vaginal ultrasound today and it didn't look so hot I've had a lot of left-sided pain the past few days, and low and behold I have another damn cyst. On one hand it's nice to know there's a source for my pain, but on the other, I'm tired of having them!!!! Having the U/S probe stuck in there for a good 15 minutes jabbing my lady parts didn't help so much either. It made me have a severe case of super-angry-ovary.
|
|
|
Post by ouchy on Oct 19, 2009 17:14:13 GMT -5
Sorry, italialynn! Any idea what type of cyst it is?
|
|
|
Post by italialynn on Oct 19, 2009 17:46:43 GMT -5
Don't know yet...waiting for the doc's report! It wasn't too big, about the size of a golf ball. I'm not worried. Just bummed is all.
|
|
|
Post by sweety on Jun 2, 2010 5:36:29 GMT -5
Hi, I know nobody has posted in here for a while.. but i'd like to share.. I used to have no pain during sex but from last few months I have started having pain sometimes(just at the opening not inside- as if the opening of the vagina is stretching). I get this pain even during pelvic exams. Recently, I had a strange pain even inside during sex and had this pain even when a gyn was cleaning my vagina with bitadine(sp?) for HSG. Also she was unable to insert a speculum. It feels as soon as something touches deeper into the vagina, it pains.. I don't know the cause of this though, a gyn told me 'its in my head'.. n so my new surgeon told I am having 'vaginismus'. Anyone else being told about "vaginismus"? I am too over occupied mentally with the Lap that I have no mind left running on this side
|
|
|
Post by Karen on Jun 2, 2010 6:31:05 GMT -5
Nope, haven't heard of that, but that sucks! If you're still having issues after your lap, ask your doc about a pelvic PT referral! There's a thread on it in the natural treatments section. Basically, when you have chronic pain, it affects the other muscles around the source of the pain. Pelvic PT can help! Some women find they feel better after their lap, although I was in the group that had awful pain during an exam 2 weeks after my lap. It's a mixed bag. But it is NOT in your head!
|
|
|
Post by hellsbells on Jun 2, 2010 12:19:52 GMT -5
I've heard of it. It can actually be emotional/psycological related and basically the muscles of the vagina contract and won't let anything in. Constant pain could do that to ya! Gentle massage and relaxation and playing with 'objects' can help I believe! Good luck!
|
|
|
Post by JC on Jun 2, 2010 14:50:33 GMT -5
Interesting. I've never heard of that word although there are tons of reasons to have pain where you have it. Definitely emotional/psychological reasons can contract your muscles and make this painful. Also the pain you describe deep inside could be your cervix. A lot of women who have endo have an extremely sensitive cervix (the opening to your uterus). Normally you shouldn't be able to feel your cervix being touched but for us, the endo can cause it to be overly sensitive which makes things like sex/exams very painful. It's usually a cramping sensation but it can also feel like a stabbing pain.
Also, the uterus is suspended by ligaments in the abdominal cavity. Kinda think of it as being suspended by stretchy bands. When we have sex, these ligaments stretch with the motion of sex and deep penetration. The stretching of these ligaments is normal and painless but for women like us who have endometrial tissue growing on them it can cause inflammation of these ligaments and pain with sex. During sex you may sometimes feel a ripping, stabbing, or a pulling type pain usually followed up by cramping. The stabbing pain is usually at it's worse during deep penetration because this is when the ligaments are being stretched the most.
The pain at the opening that you described, that's only been the last few months? Have you ever had that before?
|
|
|
Post by sweety on Jun 3, 2010 7:54:50 GMT -5
The pain at the opening has started only a few months ago.. N I have noticed its more with certain sex positions.. but anyhow I am able to cope with it..
Update: I had a vaginal ultrasound and color doppler today.. the radiologist was just awesome, she was so considerate and gentle that I din't have even a bit of pain today, I am more relieved that I had no pain.. The findings were which I already knew though - endo + cyst + hydrosalpinx..
Jenaya she told me the exact thing which you wrote about the uterus being suspended by some ligaments which may cause pain due to endo tissues..(she's telling me this may b the reason of the navel pain I am having from continously 4 days!!)
|
|
|
Post by JC on Jun 3, 2010 10:21:57 GMT -5
I'm glad the radiologist was good to you. The navel pain, um OW!! What's also interesting about endo is how symptoms come and go. The endometrial tissue responds to your monthly hormonal fluctuations just like it would if it were in the uterus. So some parts of the month, usually when hormones are high, symptoms can be worse. Have you thought about tracking your symptoms through the month? You might find that your flare ups can be predictable with your cycle. I would recommend you keep a journal over maybe 3 months. Write your symptoms daily but track it according to your cycle, not the calendar month. Start "day one" on the first day of your period. Each hormonal cycle starts on the first day of your period. "Day 14, my stupid left ovary hurts like hell." "Day 20, I feel fine today" etc... Here is a chart of how our hormones fluctuate through the month. Compare it to the chart. You might be able to see what hormone is messing you up the most according to when your symptoms are at it's worst and which hormone is at it's highest level. Writing all this down can possibly direct your doctor to prescribe a better medication for you that suits your needs. Here's the chart:
|
|
|
Post by JC on Jun 3, 2010 10:22:35 GMT -5
Personally, my symptoms are WAY worse at the estrogen peaks. That's when I feel at my absolute worst. ugh I hate estrogen.
|
|