Re: adenomyosis Fact, Symptoms (Flooding), Web sites, Statistics

[Guest guest]

Diane

I will divide this into a few categories so you can

choose what to read

Fact:

->Adenomyosis once called endometriosis interna is

when the endometrial layer invades and begins to grow

inside the muscles of the uterus. (technically:

endometrium (the thin innermost uterine layer) are

found within the myometrium ( the uterine muscles)

->Adenomyosis comes in two types difused where it

enlarges the whole uterus with no apparent cause AND

Focal Adenomyosis which is when the area appears on a

test to have a definite edge

->Adenomyosis(focal) looks like fibroids on the

sonogram and usual MRI.

->Adenomyosis can be identified with a MRI with a T2

differential

->Adenomyosis has no known cause or cure

->Adenomyosis can be removed with a hysterectomy

usually (if any one calls it a cure we will fight)

->The diagnosis of adenomyosis can only be absolutely

made after the uterus is inspected post hysterectomy

Symptoms

PAIN (supposedly this begins as tenderness during

period,during sex, when pressure is applied. As the

area grows so do the problems and the levels of pain)

HEAVY BLEEDING (this symptom comes from two areas) -

-First cause: as the uterus is enlarged it has more

area so you have a heavier period. The amount of

bleeding here is determined by size of the uterus and

the hormonally induced endometrial thickness.

-the second cause of heavier bleeding comes at later

stages " The uterus has large blood vessels that come

through the myometrium to feed and supply the

endometrium. Really heavy bleeding occurs when the

uterine muscle cannot do its job of contracting around

these vessels. This is important because after the

endometrium is passed out, the basilis layer may be

very thin, which could expose the raw muscle surface.

This means that the large vessels can pump blood

directly into the uterine cavity if the muscle cannot

contract well. "

Statistics

->20 to 65 % percant of women have adenomyosis

depending on who is collecting the statistics

->80% of women with adenomyosis have another

pathologic process in the uterus; 50% of patients have

fibroids, approximately 11% have endometriosis, and 7%

have endometrial polyps (benign outgrowths of

endometrial tissue)

-> 80% of women with adenomyosis have been pregnant

-> it is most commonly found in women in their 40s and

50s

Some of my favorite statements from the web sites

listed (can you hear the sarcasm)

" 1st choice therapy Hysterectomy is probably over 80%

effective in eliminating pain and abnormal bleeding "

" Adenomyosis is a benign disease of the uterus "

" only 15% of cases of adenomyosis are correctly

diagnosed before surgery "

" The only definitive treatment for adenomyosis,

therefore, is total hysterectomy (surgical removal of

the entire uterus) "

" Take frequent hot baths to relax muscles and relieve

discomfort. Sit in a tub of hot water for 10 to 15

minutes. " This can be a mess when flooding.

http://www.justeves.com/mm/adenomyosis.shtml(this one

is wishy washy and at times wrong)

http://www.centerforendo.com/news/adenomyosis/adenomyosis.htm

(information appears correct for the most part)

http://www.fibroids.net/html/adenomyosis.htm lots of

statistics and must read for stats)

http://www.wdxcyber.com/dxppn011.htm (heavy on the

info)

CAUTION ALL THESE SITES CAN CAUSE DEPRESSION

YOU ARE WARNED

[Guest guest]

e,

Thank you so much. It gets a bit confusing sometimes

trying to sort all the different problems that we can

have.

I had a myo when I was 21 ( I'm now 48) because I was

told I had a cyst the size of a (here we go with the

fruit again..male gyno) grapefruit. I had been having

pain and bleeding almost none stop. My gyno sent me

for a test which injected dye and then took some

xrays. After that everything happened so fast and I

was young and afraid to ask questions. My gyn told me

that I might wake up having to had a hysterectomy. 21

and scared. Well Thank the big guy, because my gyno

was able to perform a myo and save my uterus. I went

on to have a baby boy (naturally) 4 years later.

Then when I was 42 I had a polyp removed. I asked more

questions, but still not enough. Out patient surgery

no real recovery needed.

Now the fibroids at 48. I don't know if that is what I

had when I was 21 but it sure sounds like it. I still

want an outcome like I had 27 years ago. I feel the

information I have the more power I give myself to

make a decision that's right for me.

I haven't read the articles you included yet but will

later on today. Thank you again for the information

and putting it in a way that we can understand.

Diane