Posted by Kaysey on October 17, 2001, at 17:15:17
In reply to Re: Anne, thanks and with regard to your situation... » Kaysey, posted by AnneL on October 17, 2001, at 0:10:19
> Hi Kaysey,
>
> From what I understand, adenomyosis is a fairly common condition in women in the 30's and 40's who have had children. Adenomysosis is just a slightly enlarged uterus that has endometrial glands (that produce the lining of the uterus) growing inside of the uterine muscle layers. Many women have painful periods (thank God I don't), but the big tip-off is heavy, heavy periods! (Did I emphasize heavy enough?!!) Diagnosis by a GYN who is very skilled with transvaginal ultrasound is usually very accurate.
> But the wierd thing is that most cases of adenomyosis are discovered after the uterus is removed! So symtomatically and by transvaginal ultrasound we are making an assumption that I have adenomyosis. All symptoms disappear with menopause, but I think I have about 14 more years to go!! Oral contraceptives work in a minority of women to help control bleeding, but for the vast majority hysterectomy is a viable option if you don't want to keep having blood transfusions (just kidding - but I am very anemic!) The Mirena
> IUD (LNG 20) is an off-label use for adenomysosis and/or women with menorrhagia (excessive bleeding). It worked with my first period! I hardly had one. You can see why I am loath to give this up. I don't have a Pdoc at the moment but I spoke to the hopefully new Pdoc today and we will arrange the appt. for next week. I am doing better on this than any other hormonal agent I have ever used and this has the smallest amount of systemic hormones of any other method including Norplant. The good thing about Mirena, is that the serum levels of levonorgestrel are even. There are no peaks and troughs like the Pill. Wish me luck and thank you for asking about me. :) P.S. Do you think you might try Yasmin? AnneHi Anne:
I was wondering if the new vaginal ring (I know it has been FDA approved--uncertain as to availability) would also be an option for you? It is a combination device--is there potential exacerbation of your problem with the addition of estrogen? I am uncertain as to what the progestin compound is.
I am very interested in trying Yasmin. I will probably wait a month or two (when I know for sure whether or not I am going to get through this doctoral program) to ask for it. I am reluctant to start a new ocp right now, even though I am dissatisfied with Ortho-cyclen. It always takes me 2-3 months to see how compatible it is. I also read about another new ocp (Cyclessa)--but couldn't find out much about it. It is produced by Organon and is a degesterol (I think misspelled that)and ethinyl estradiol combination...the FDA page only had this not the dosage. But I read in a summary statement elsewhere that it is triphasic and the Estrogen component is 25mcg (which is different than all the others). I am going to try to find more about it--but if it is triphasic... I don't know.
Thanks again, and continue to let us know how you are doing and how the Effexor adjustment goes.
Kaysey
poster:Kaysey
thread:80411
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011015/msgs/81516.html