Hi everyone! Glad i found this website...Hope i can write and not confuse anyone!!..I am a 51 yr. old white, starting or into menopause. Have 2 grown children. For the past two years, yes two years!..I have been having monthly (but not timely) periods, lasting approx 2 weeks. They are extremly heavy, with clots ranging from the size of a quarter to the size of a plum..I cannot wear tampons, as the blood flow is so heavy they get pushed right out of my body, i usually end up wearing 3 pads, and a pair of depends underwear!..Have some lower back and left leg pain, but that occurs mostly during the evening during sleep, it will wake me up.
...When i was about 28 yrs old, about two years after the birth of my first child, i developed a fibroid the size of a football..Doc, removed that, and also my left ovary and tube. ...So now here i am, 51 and bleed/clot like crazy...finally went to my OBGYN about 3 weeks ago. Got blood/urine test/PAP/Mammo/bone density..She seems very concerned with my bleeding issues..All the previous tests were normal She ordered an ultrasound of my uterus the tech told me i had a significant fibroid...I went in yesterday, for a biopsy, will know the results when i go back on March 13, 2009..My OBGYN also mention that for the size of my uterus the fibroid is rather large, like a a grapefruit...She mentioned the possiblity of a hyterectomy..But we will discuss my options after the biopsy comes back...hopfully benign!...I dont mind the fact of a hysterectomy, but told her i did not want general anesthia, as i am a heavy smoker, and am scared to death of not waking up..she suggested doing an epidural, in lieu of going "under"...My concerns are many..I know i may be jumping the gun, since i dont have biopsy results yet, but i am really scared about the whole ordeal...My first ibroid that was removed eas benign..I know i should not have waited so long to go to my OBGYN,,,but its too late now, you knwo what they say abouthind sight being 20/20??...Well..i guess i am just asking about having a hysterectomey/having an epidural instead of general/And if anyone else has had a similar situation as mine!..Any advice/help/info would be really appreciated!!..I will also check back after i get my biopsy results on March 13th..Thanks to all!