pill

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Anita and Therese:

Thanks for the response. The loestrin reduced my periods from 18-21 days to the

7, but over the years the # of heavy days (and amount of

bleeding during those days) increased significantly. My fibroid was only

" found " in January, although I was sent for an ultrasound back in

1991 for an enlarged uterus. (No fibroids seen, BUT they only did the external

version, not the internal one where it is clearly visible.)

Anita, I too want to avoid surgery, but think (at 47) that I've still got quite

a few years before menopause left, so don't want to

continue suffering. I have a consultation with an IR on Friday to see if I'm a

good candidate, given location and size.

Therese, good luck w/your myomectomy on the 15th! We'll be thinking of you!

Marilyn Arnold

WDC area

Therese Barraco wrote:

> Dear Marilyn and Anita

>

> I am on Loestrin also. It has helped my bleeding somewhat, but not as much

> as I hoped for. I've had two periods since going on the pill and they were

> lighter than usual, but I still had some flooding (just not for 24 hours

> straight!). Clots were still bad. With the pill there is less endometrial

> buildup to shed, but the fibroids can still cause heavy bleeding because

> they interfere with the uterus' ability to contract and because they are fed

> by large networks of blood vessels.

>

> I've had complications from a D & C so I'm not sure how much bleeding I can

> blame on the pill. My doctor has had me on the pill continuously since the

> D & C so I won't have periods, until just before my myomectomy scheduled for

> May 15. I still have spotting to light bleeding, but this week has been

> better! I suspect Loestrin's low levels of estrogen and progestin may be

> keeping my body hormonally at the point right before my period is supposed

> to start. Before I was on the pill I was charting my temperature every

> month. I would always spot or bleed lightly for one day before my

> temperature actually dropped, unlike the examples in all the books which

> show the temperature dropping on the first day of bleeding.

>

> I know some people have had better results with higher dose pills, but my

> doctor does not want me exposed to that much estrogen, so I'm just living

> with the bleeding for now. I will be glad to get off the pill after my

> myomectomy if it is successful.

>

> Therese

>

> Re: re: pill

>

> Dear Marilyn,

> Loestrin didn't work for me at all. I was bleeding constantly. I am now

> taking aygestrin and it is helping alot. I am bleeding minimally. I am 45

> and I too am trying to avoid surgery. It scares me and I don't want to be

> laid up for several weeks.

> Good luck to you

> Anita

> Re: re: pill

>

> > MTang:

> >

> > I was on lo-estrin for 8 years to control heavy bleeding (2-3 weeks),

> beginning at the age of ~39. Yes, it reduced the bleeding to one

> > week, but over the years my heavy days became much heavier and the cramps

> became more severe. I am now 47 and, like you, are no longer

> > concerned about fertility.

> >

> > I went off this in Jan, with a shot of depro-provera which caused me to

> gain 25 pounds (size 8 to 14 pants in just 2 months) and then I

> > bled for a month straight, 2 weeks of hemoraging. I'm now on a higher

> dose of BCP -- Ogestrel, which has kept the heavy bleeding at bay.

> > I'm NOT happy about the weight gain!! Very discouraging.

> >

> > I'm pursuing options to address the fibroid, and have an appt w/an IR next

> week to talk about UAE.

> >

> >

> > Good luck to you.

> >

> > mtang51@... wrote:

> >

> > > I am new to this group but have been reading the posts with great

> interest

> > > because I really don't know what to do about my fibroids. Even though I

> am

> > > older (49 yrs old), the blood tests have shown that I am not ready to

> begin

> > > menopause yet. My bleeding had been heavy so the doctor started me on

> > > Loestrin. since the Pill causes fibroids to grow and mine (numerous)

> have

> > > continued to grow since the diagnosis several years ago, I am wondering

> if I

> > > am doing myself more harm than good. Doctor wanted to use the Loestrin

> to

> > > control my bleeding and to a certain extent, it has helped. At least I

> don't

> > > have the heavy bleeding and clotting that I used to have. This is

> supposed

> > > to be low-dose estrogen/progestin combo so would that make a difference?

> > > Just wondered whether any one else has used this. I notice that a major

> > > concern of others on this site is the preservation of fertility. That

> is not

> > > a worry of mine but I am just trying to avoid major surgery. However, I

> also

> > > understand that even after menopause, the fibroids do not go away.

> > >

> > >