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mala
Hong Kong
774 Posts |
 Posted - 07/21/2013 : 20:47:50
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The burning/pain in my vagina is getting worse. It was diagnosed as atrophy (common enough in menopausal women ) by 2 gynecologists. But the prescribed medication which is basically a low dose of vaginal estrogen to improve the lining did little to improve things. The pain waxed and waned till it it became pretty constant.
I had 3 urine tests and all 3 came back negative but the swab test showed positive for Strep B . Pap smear was normal
So I went back to my first gynecologist. I had tested positive for Strep B the first time but since many women test positive without symptoms, we had decided not to do antibiotics & just see if the estrogen worked. Now I am on augmentin twice daily for a week to see if the infection has anything to do with the pain.
During my examination she discovered that my fibroid had grown a bit more just 7mm more so now its 6 cm by 6.7 cm. Although the growth may seem insignificant its not. After menopause fibroids are supposed to shrink. My estrogen levels are nearly non existent so she is worried that there are other reasons for the growth & wants me to surgery to remove the uterus as well & ovaries & of course the fibroid.
When she palpated the fibroid, it was quite painful.
So my symptoms at the moment are
Burning in the vagina which feels like its more on the right side.
Increase in pain when sitting.
Pain in back which seems to radiate down .
Pain in the front right side lower abdomen.
General tenderness in the lower abdomen.
Is this TMS or something else?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks
Mala
"It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know
what sort of disease a person has." ~ Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.)
Mala Singh Barber on Facebook |
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altherunner
Canada
511 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2013 : 22:03:52
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| Have you looked into bio-identical hormones? I am looking into it for my wife, she had early menopause, and some related problems. |
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mala
Hong Kong
774 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2013 : 01:52:30
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Al, I have but even bio identical estrogen can cause the fibroid to grow which what we don't want. The fibroid needs to be removed first & then maybe hormones?
Mala
"It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know
what sort of disease a person has." ~ Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.)
Mala Singh Barber on Facebook |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2013 : 06:34:52
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| If I had to hazard a totally non-professional, shoot from the hip opinion (my specialty anyway), I'd recommend following up with the medical advice. I would get a second and even 3rd opinion. I suspect it's real. |
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mala
Hong Kong
774 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2013 : 18:41:44
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Art, Thx. I am going to see another specialist on Friday & if not satisfied will seek another opinion.
The burning pain is still bad despite a week of antibiotics. My back which was ok is now again very sore. Exhaustion levels are at a all time low. Took my BP these last few days and its like 96/54 , 97/57, 102/65.
Mala
"It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know
what sort of disease a person has." ~ Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.)
Mala Singh Barber on Facebook |
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altherunner
Canada
511 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2013 : 21:17:43
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| My wife's niece visited, and is still doing well with the supplement she started from Lorna Vanderhaege. She has type 1 diabetes, and polycystic ovary syndrome. She has lost weight and has to use less insulin. She used to have to go to the hospital once/month on average. She has not had any more cysts for a long time. |
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EileenTM
92 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2013 : 21:46:05
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Mala, I dont know where you are with regard to menopause, but when I was perimenopausal I developed a rather large ovarian cyst, almost 6lbs. I had about 6 months of back pain that came from that. Once the cyst was removed, the back pain went away.
I did not have the burning you refer to, but my sister did. That is unfortunately quite common in menopause. No estrogen!
I also had fatigue and other symptoms. They seem to have mostly gone away.
The hormonal chaos around menopause can be quite intense, judging by what I experienced and what I have heard from many other women.
Some of my friends take hormones, some don't. I could not due to my liver enzyme deficiency. It is worth getting several opinions and finding a really good doctor.
Other women are a good source of this information.
Most of the symptoms resolve with time.
Good luck,
Eileen
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2013 : 05:45:28
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I don't know how you women do it. :>) We men just gradually crumble, which ain't no walk in the park either come to think of it.
Everyone here over 55 say, who'd like to lop off 15 years, raise your right hand...
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Edited by - art on 07/24/2013 05:46:27 |
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mala
Hong Kong
774 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2013 : 23:57:32
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Al
I'm so pleased for your niece & hope that you can find something that will work for your wife.
Eileen
That was a large cyst you had. My fibroid is much smaller only 6.5x6 & then there are smaller ones . I had a lot of them (about 15) removed 15 years ago when the largest was 11cm but kept my uterus. My doctor says there is a chance that things are getting a bit crowded & there is a possibility of adhesions. Of course the worrying thing is why the fibroid is still growing when there is no estrogen.
I did go to a doctor here who is famous in the field of bioidenticals last year & after waiting nearly 2 hours to see her spent nearly US$2000 on various supplements & hormones. And she recommended vitamin injections. When I went back to see her after 3 weeks she again made me do more tests without really much discussion . I just got this idea that she wasn't interested in me but only in trying to sell me stuff. Maybe I should have given her more time but I just got so frustrated. I was on DHEA, thyroid supplements, estrogen, testosterone, D3, Magnesium & zinc. It was too much!!!
Art,
I am 55 this year & both my arms are up. Does that mean I get to lop off 30 years????
Thanks guys.
Mala
"It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know
what sort of disease a person has." ~ Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.)
Mala Singh Barber on Facebook |
Edited by - mala on 07/25/2013 00:35:38 |
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EileenTM
92 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2013 : 20:36:47
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Mala, Before I knew that I had the enzyme deficiency, I went to a couple of different doctors who were specialists in Bioidenticals. To me it seemed that they also wanted to sell me alot of stuff. In the US doctors have figured out that women with menopause symptoms will pay almost anything for relief.
Many don't take insurance and their fees can be quite high.
I spoke to someone in NY who wanted to enroll me in her monthly supply program without even seeing me in person.
A good gyn knows how to prescribe bioidentical hrt such as patches and can also watch your fibroid. Seemed like that specialist had you on alot of things. My cyst was not a fibroid, but I did have some of those in my 40s. Now at age 62, all those are gone. Don't know if any of this helps. But the hormonal issues I think are separate from tms. Good luck.
Eileen |
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mala
Hong Kong
774 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2013 : 19:12:09
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I have seen 2 very good doctors here. The last one who will do the surgery did a very thorough check & talked me thru it . There are 2 fibroids he can see & there may be others too. The bigger one is almost the same size as the uterus & has no blood flow. When he moves it I feel pain & he also showed me that when he moves it, it pulls the bowel which means there could be adhesions. When he put the scanner over the smaller one it showed up bright red which means there is some sort of blood flow. It could be that its bleeding or it could be something else. He suggested that I consider removing the fibroids & uterus but wants to keep the ovaries if they r OK. He will do keyhole surgery.
Although both doctors are 99% sure there is no cancer, just that 1% doubt so I have tentatively booked surgery for the 9th August.
My neck however has been giving me a lot of trouble & I have been feeling tired & exhausted for nearly a whole month now & so I went back to talk about this to the doctor. He has suggested that I could postpone it & get myself fit. He suggested I get some physio & build up strength. This of course goes against the whole idea of TMS.
So I was wondering what to do & what you think? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thx
Mala
AN UPDATE. Just received an email from the doctor . He wants me to come in a take a course of antibiotics before the surgery. Seems the swab he too shows E coli. Now this is worry because just 2 days before seeing him I had finished a course of antibiotics for Strep B. THIS IS VERY WORRYING. 
"It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know
what sort of disease a person has." ~ Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.)
Mala Singh Barber on Facebook |
Edited by - mala on 07/30/2013 22:01:59 |
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altherunner
Canada
511 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2013 : 21:06:44
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I read : "A Smart Woman's Guide to Hormones" by Lorna Vanderhaeghe.
I am an avid reader, so I read it to help my wife. There was a chapter on fibroids, I should have copied it here, but I forgot to.
You can see her on youtube, I don't know if she has a lecture on them. i do remember that there was a lifestyle change involved in getting rid of them for good, so they don't return after surgery. |
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EileenTM
92 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2013 : 21:59:01
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Mala, It sounds like you have a very competent doctor for the surgery. Your neck could be tms regarding the surgery and even the very small 1% chance it might not be benign.
In my case they thought it was 50/50 that I had cancer. I can tell you that was a very stressful 6 week wait as they don't do biopsies. Lucky for me it was benign. I kept my uterus and left ovary.
The cyst had completely enveloped the right ovary so it came out.
One thing that helped tremendously was a visualization CD for surgery. Basically self hypnosis.
I played it a couple of times a day before and after surgery. I also made a CD of music I wanted played while I was under, basically my favorite songs. At the post op visit, my surgeon wanted to know what supplements I take because he said he had never seen anyone heal that fast. I had full incision surgery.
I take no supplements. This all supports Ace's keys of healing and the power of self talk.
The CD came from Belle Ruth Naperstak. I am guessing these days you can probably download it. Even though you cannot "feel it" doing anything, it is very powerful.
I hope this helps.
Eileen |
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mala
Hong Kong
774 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2013 : 22:03:54
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Just an update to my last post.
AN UPDATE. Just received an email from the doctor . He wants me to come in a take a course of antibiotics before the surgery. Seems the swab he took shows E coli. Now this is worrying because just 2 days before seeing him I had finished a course of antibiotics for Strep B. THIS IS VERY WORRYING. I have an appt. to see the doc on Friday.
Eileen , Al, thx , am dashing out. I will respond soon.
"It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know
what sort of disease a person has." ~ Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.)
Mala Singh Barber on Facebook |
Edited by - mala on 07/30/2013 22:17:29 |
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Your advice & thoughts please.
