prleebee
03-21-2008, 09:30 AM
Hi everyone, I just joined this forum and I'm hoping your insights will help. I was diagnosed a month ago after a cystoscopy with hydrodistension - my urologist said my bladder was a mess, full of blood and ulcers. At the same time I also had a laparoscopic D & C and my gynecologist found my uterus is full of fibroids. One on the right side is about the size of a golf ball and it's embedded in the muscle so it will be hard to remove.
Now here's the tricky thing. My pain has been exclusively in my vagina. I also get cramping pain where the fibroid is.
I have not had any pain in my bladder. It doesn't hurt when I void, and I don't have the feeling after I void that I have to go again. Also, I tend to void a good amount of liquid when I go. In fact, since starting Elmiron last month I can go longer between voiding.
As I said, my biggest problem is vaginal pain - and I've been experiencing this for 5 months now. I get a green burning discharge for 2 weeks following my period (no infection-I had it checked) I also get a pins and needles feeling, generalized burning and irritation, and the weird thing is, the pain is almost exclusively on the right side of my vagina. The other problem is that it is very painful for me to sit. The bones on the right side of my pelvic floor are so tender that when I sit it is really painful. At times a soft cushion isn't enough and I have to use an icepack.
Also, I'm starting perimenopause. (my gyno doesn't agree, because blood tests in October showed normal hormone levels) but I know my body. I've been every 28 days for 30 years, with the exception of my pregnancy. Last month I went for 45 days. And, I am 43, the same age as my mother when she started perimenopause and my older sister.
I think my severe vaginal pain is a combination of perimenopause, IC and the fibroids - maybe they are pressing on nerves, I just don't know. My gyno recommended taking Lupron, which is a medicine that temporarily gets rid of hormones and puts you in a state of menopause - the logic is, that fibroids thrive on estrogen, so if you remove the estrogen, then they shrink. He says once they shrink he can remove them laparoscopically. If that doesn't work he recommended a hysterectomy.
Right now, all I want to do is not experience vaginal pain and be able to sit. I'm taking Elmiron and Elavil - helping a bit with the pins and needles pain - supplementing with motrin and oxycodone when it gets really bad. Plus I'm seeing a urogynecologist on Monday. Any insights anyone can provide would be great.
Now here's the tricky thing. My pain has been exclusively in my vagina. I also get cramping pain where the fibroid is.
I have not had any pain in my bladder. It doesn't hurt when I void, and I don't have the feeling after I void that I have to go again. Also, I tend to void a good amount of liquid when I go. In fact, since starting Elmiron last month I can go longer between voiding.
As I said, my biggest problem is vaginal pain - and I've been experiencing this for 5 months now. I get a green burning discharge for 2 weeks following my period (no infection-I had it checked) I also get a pins and needles feeling, generalized burning and irritation, and the weird thing is, the pain is almost exclusively on the right side of my vagina. The other problem is that it is very painful for me to sit. The bones on the right side of my pelvic floor are so tender that when I sit it is really painful. At times a soft cushion isn't enough and I have to use an icepack.
Also, I'm starting perimenopause. (my gyno doesn't agree, because blood tests in October showed normal hormone levels) but I know my body. I've been every 28 days for 30 years, with the exception of my pregnancy. Last month I went for 45 days. And, I am 43, the same age as my mother when she started perimenopause and my older sister.
I think my severe vaginal pain is a combination of perimenopause, IC and the fibroids - maybe they are pressing on nerves, I just don't know. My gyno recommended taking Lupron, which is a medicine that temporarily gets rid of hormones and puts you in a state of menopause - the logic is, that fibroids thrive on estrogen, so if you remove the estrogen, then they shrink. He says once they shrink he can remove them laparoscopically. If that doesn't work he recommended a hysterectomy.
Right now, all I want to do is not experience vaginal pain and be able to sit. I'm taking Elmiron and Elavil - helping a bit with the pins and needles pain - supplementing with motrin and oxycodone when it gets really bad. Plus I'm seeing a urogynecologist on Monday. Any insights anyone can provide would be great.