WTF is going on with my body(TMI) -Update and hysterectomy ?

[IrishBelle]

Backstory: I had my tubes tied during my last c-section in 2011. I had an ablation in March 2016 due to heavy periods. Since then I have had very occasional spotting but otherwise no bleeding.

Yesterday afternoon I was at work and out of no where it felt like I peed my pants. I went to the bathroom and found a large amount of blood. It came as a gush and was then minimal. I went home to change and about an hour later it happened again. A little later it happened a third time. Since then I've had bleeding like a heavy period.  What is going on with me?  Is it just my period returning or should I be worried?

I'm in Canada, home of free healthcare but it comes at the cost of waiting for an appointment. If I make an appointment with my doctor, the earliest I would get in is probably next week.   

UPDATE - I saw my doctor yesterday and learned that ablations have a 40% failure rate when the are done before the age of 40.  Mine has failed.  The doctor said that we could redo the ablation using a more aggressive technique.  However, I have a bicornuate uterus so there is a chance that some of the lining will still be missed.  

His recommendation is a hysterectomy. I've done some googling and am looking for anecdotes.  If you've had one, would you do it again. Did you have any complications?

[circa1978]

I'd make an appointment. I don't think I'd be panicked worried but I'd want to see someone.

[revolution]

That sounds like no fun. I'd make that appointment with the dr. FWIW, I'm in the US and if I had to make an appointment with my OB, I'd be super happy with an appointment for next week.

How are you feeling otherwise?

[isabel]

Ditto circa. Also, can you wear a cup in the meantime to monitor how much you're bleeding? The gushes sound sort of concerning, but it may not actually be as much volume as it seems like.

[sapphireblue]

My coworker had an ablation a few years ago and just about a month ago she got her period and it was super heavy. Like, majorly gushing out, etc.

It still hasn't gone away but is just spotting.

She is assuming the ablation is wearing off (don't know the correct terminology).

[IrishBelle]

revolution,I'm feeling a little crampy and anxious that its going to happen again but otherwise fine.

If I'm able to get in next week it would be with my GP. A specialist appointment will take much longer.

[litskispeciality]

I had issues like that with fibroids, although I haven't had an abalation. I'd see if you can get in to see your GYN and pray they believe you. In the meantime I hope you're ok!

I lived on super heavy overnight pads all day and night (the always over night purple ones that are basically diapers), not glamorus but helped a tiny bit with leakage if I could get to the bathroom soon enough.

[IrishBelle]

sapphireblue,that's not what I wanted to hear but at least I know its not uncommon.

[shauni27]

I would make an appointment just to be sure. A week for an appointment is totally normal to me.

[scout8]

I had something similar happen to me a couple months after a d & c. I ended up going to the ER because I was bleeding so much. They didn't seem too concerned, but put me on bcp for a couple of months. That worked right away. Within a day, the bleeding had slowed down significantly. Once I stopped the bcp, my periods went back to normal.

I have a friend who is a obgyn nurse practitioner. She thought it was due to my body having an estrogen only period, meaning that the progesterone part of the cycle never kicked in. That can cause heavy bleeding.

I'm guessing this is something similar for you. I wouldn't worry about it too much unless it doesn't stop or you are losing a lot of blood.

[icedcoffee]

I'd make an appointment. I think you can wait a week. I think this sounds normal(ish) after an ablation though, right? Periods come back after that, I think. Just keep an eye on it and if things get worse head to the ER.

[flex]

How old are you? It could be perimenopause.

[IrishBelle]

Thanks everyone. I called the specialist that did the ablation since my GP would probably just give me a referral. They are booking appointments for December but there was a cancellation for Monday so I took it.

flex,I'm 40.

[flex]

Sept 13, 2018 13:09:39 GMT -5 IrishBelle said:

Thanks everyone. I called the specialist that did the ablation since my GP would probably just give me a referral. They are booking appointments for December but there was a cancellation for Monday so I took it.

flex ,I'm 40.

It may be that you're on your way then.  I'm glad you're going in to check it out, though.  Better safe than sorry.  : )

[mrsukyankee]

Yup, 40s is when this started for me. It's part of the fun thing of heading toward menopause. I have to wear a light pad every single day, just in case. I did find that it mainly regulated and became more monthly versus just any old time, but when the hormones began to be a bit off, it would happen whenever. I'd check with a doctor just to be certain though.

[MixedBerryJam]

Sept 13, 2018 13:09:39 GMT -5 IrishBelle said:

Thanks everyone. I called the specialist that did the ablation since my GP would probably just give me a referral. They are booking appointments for December but there was a cancellation for Monday so I took it.

flex,I'm 40.

Oh jeez you're triggering all kinds of memories for me. Once I hit ... maybe it was 42 but close to your age ... began what I called my "no upholstered furniture days,." They were always very irregulat but in addition they became longer and heavier but less frequent. It lasted for a couple of years, and the worst one started in late July and lasted into early October. I was put on pitocon a couple of time, as apparently the contractions it brings on was supposed to help. I don't recall that it did. I don't recall anything really helping except the passage of time. I don't know if there is any correlation, but I had a super easy menopause. I like to think God thought I'd already paid my dues and cut me a break.

[IrishBelle]

Updated in OP

[auntie]

My mother had a hysterectomy for bleeding caused by fibroids at 42. This was in the days before ablation was routinely done. She had had a couple of "failed" D&Cs- she'd be OK for a couple months and then Bam!

The only complication was that she needed blood for a couple of days because she was in bad shape, but once the surgery was done she did really well and recovered with no problems. Her surgeon left one ovary because of her age and she went through an uncomplicated "natural" menopause around 52.


The first thing she did after was to buy all new panties and a pair of white pants.

[IrishBelle]

Sept 18, 2018 16:23:23 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Hmm. I’m 40 as well with a history of endo and very heavy and painful cycles. Several doctors have said a hysterectomy is a last resort. Do you have fibroids or any other diagnosis? What about hormonal birth control? Mirena or pills? I’m back on pills after two attempts and they couldn’t get the mirena in.
I mean your doctor knows you and you history but it seems maybe a big step when they haven’t tried anything else.

How is the bleeding now?

No fibroids but I do have polyps. I was on the pill up until I had the ablation. It make my periods predictable but there were still heavy.  An IUD most likely wont work because of the shape of my uterus. 

I had heavy bleeding for 5 days but its just light now.

It is a big step and that's what is making me pause.  

[Captain Catnip]

I had a total abdominal hysterectomy with left salpingo oopherectomy due to endo and fibroids in 2016 and then this past April had the right ovary and tube removed laparoscopically. I've felt so much better and on top of the issues I had my ibs and fibromyalgia symptoms are also gone. I take a low dose antidepressant for hot flashes because my endometriosis specialist said that hormones can cause the endo to come back if they missed even a speck. All in all I feel great, though.

Eta: I was 30 at hysterectomy and 32 at oopherectomy

[minionkevin]

My mom had a hysterectomy bc she had uterine cancer. She did not get to have it laparoscopically, because of the tumor. Most people I know that have had them lately have had it via a laproscopic procedure and have recovered well within a few weeks, some even a few days. My mom’s case was ~6 weeks, like a childbirth, but she had a c/s like scar, and also had multiple lymph nodes removed and her internal organs moved around in order to do so.

[dirtyred]

I had a hysterectomy.  Greatest thing ever!  No more constant discomfort, no more gushing blood, and two weeks of absolutely no housework or cooking.

[IrishBelle]

minionkevin, thanks for sharing. It would be done laparoscopically.

[IrishBelle]

Sept 18, 2018 17:06:14 GMT -5 dirtyred said:

I had a hysterectomy.  Greatest thing ever!  No more constant discomfort, no more gushing blood, and two weeks of absolutely no housework or cooking.

Thank you for sharing. I'm happy to hear yours went well!

[dragon's breath]

I had a similar path... Tubes tied at 25, ablation at 28 (because of constant bleeding, even on the pill), ablation didn't "take" so I had a hysterectomy at 29 (just the uterus). That worked great for about a month when I was bleeding again. We waited to see if it would go away, but it didn't, so I had "hysterectomy part 2" a year later (not sure exactly what it is called) when I had the cervix, and more endo spots removed. Turns out the cervix had been the source of much of the bleeding, not sure why they didn't catch that the first round, because as soon as the doctor touched it, it bled heavily. Ovaries are still there so that I don't have to do hormone supplements.

I was back at work at a physical job (electrician) a week and a half after the first surgery. I was back a week after the second one, pulling cable, etc. It did hurt, but not so bad that it kept me off work. The worst was bending over, or the time when I had an asshat cut me off in traffic and I had to slam on the brakes-- the seat belt dug in and it was a few minutes of horrible pain.

As far as pain meds, I was on nothing stronger than Advil after the second day, and only took that for the first few days.  It really wasn't that bad at all (having my tonsils out as an adult was 100x worse!  Pain and hell for two weeks.)

Life has been great since then, no more issues! I wish I would have just started with the hysterectomy and skipped the years of pills, etc.

[zoomzoom]

I had an ablation at 39. I'm 47 now. After 2 months of super light spotting, I haven't had a period since.

At the time, there were 2 patented procedures - one with a wand and the other with a balloon. I went in for my initial procedure but the wand couldn't expand all the way (my uterus was too small) so they canceled it and rescheduled me to have the balloon procedure done. No regrets. Now, looking back, having a one-size-fits-all wand makes zero sense to me. I mean, not every uterus is identical. I don't even think they perform the wand procedure anymore. So, that being said, is there a way to find out which procedure they used? My OBGYN said the lining growing back is extremely rare so I'm surprised that yours would say it fails 40% of the time. In all of my research, I have not read that to be the case. IF mine were to fail, I'd have the ablation redone. I'm not sure that I'd want a total hysterectomy, tbh.

[IrishBelle]

Sept 18, 2018 17:23:35 GMT -5 dragon's breath said:

I had a similar path... Tubes tied at 25, ablation at 28 (because of constant bleeding, even on the pill), ablation didn't "take" so I had a hysterectomy at 29 (just the uterus). That worked great for about a month when I was bleeding again. We waited to see if it would go away, but it didn't, so I had "hysterectomy part 2" a year later (not sure exactly what it is called) when I had the cervix, and more endo spots removed. Turns out the cervix had been the source of much of the bleeding, not sure why they didn't catch that the first round, because as soon as the doctor touched it, it bled heavily. Ovaries are still there so that I don't have to do hormone supplements.

I was back at work at a physical job (electrician) a week and a half after the first surgery. I was back a week after the second one, pulling cable, etc. It did hurt, but not so bad that it kept me off work. The worst was bending over, or the time when I had an asshat cut me off in traffic and I had to slam on the brakes-- the seat belt dug in and it was a few minutes of horrible pain.

As far as pain meds, I was on nothing stronger than Advil after the second day, and only took that for the first few days.  It really wasn't that bad at all (having my tonsils out as an adult was 100x worse!  Pain and hell for two weeks.)

Life has been great since then, no more issues! I wish I would have just started with the hysterectomy and skipped the years of pills, etc.

This is what is making me think I should go for it. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[IrishBelle]

Sept 18, 2018 17:25:53 GMT -5 zoomzoom said:

I had an ablation at 39. I'm 47 now. After 2 months of super light spotting, I haven't had a period since.

At the time, there were 2 patented procedures - one with a wand and the other with a balloon. I went in for my initial procedure but the wand couldn't expand all the way (my uterus was too small) so they canceled it and rescheduled me to have the balloon procedure done. No regrets. Now, looking back, having a one-size-fits-all wand makes zero sense to me. I mean, not every uterus is identical. I don't even think they perform the wand procedure anymore. So, that being said, is there a way to find out which procedure they used? My OBGYN said the lining growing back is extremely rare so I'm surprised that yours would say it fails 40% of the time. In all of my research, I have not read that to be the case. IF mine were to fail, I'd have the ablation redone. I'm not sure that I'd want a total hysterectomy, tbh.

He used the rollerball.  He said that because of the shape of my uterus, there is no guaranteed that he would get it all.  I also have a septum that was partially removed during my last ablation.  

[JayhawkGirl]

I’m reading along... tubes tied at 38, ablation at 40, seems to have failed. I had the flooding as well. I’m back on BCP to help but am back to lots of random bleeding. I’m pleased to see the recovery responses. I know I have a fibroid again and I think the hysterectomy I’ve been trying to avoid may be inevitable after all. Now to figure out how to do it while carting the kids around...

[zoomzoom]

IrishBelle, interesting. I haven't read about a rollerball procedure. Perhaps that's a Canadian procedure? IDK. But, man, it was the best thing I've ever done. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. And, I have about 4 friends who have done it, as well, and they've never had an issue.

Best of luck to you to get this figured out quickly and permanently!