Re: working with fibroids

[Guest guest]

D1Breeze,

I work at home (thank goodness), but last year when my fibroids were causing

long periods/excessive bleeding, clotting and etc., it was very hard to even

work at home. I couldn't make social plans, appointments, even grocery

shopping/shopping was difficult. I would have to have extra clothes, pads,

etc. in the car & my purse. I always made sure if I did go out when bleeding

heavily, there was a nearby washroom. It was very frustrating and almost

humiliating. Then there was the pain & cramps. I used to go out with those

Therma-care sticky things adhered to my abdomen for a little relief. What a

pain. Glad I did the UAE. Good luck to you.

[Guest guest]

I have a pretty intense job and now work limited hours which really seems to

help. Some days when my period is particularly heavy, especially day one and

two, I just go with the flow (ha! so to speak) and if I don't feel like

working, I don't go. I know sometimes people are relying on me but I have to

think of myself first. The way I look at it is there is no point dragging

yourself out of bed if you are exhausted from all the blood loss. But I do

find, if you accommodate for the tiredness by going to bed early and not

overdoing anything else, you can feel a lot less tired especially in the am.

And I have to point out, I bleed so much...when I take out the bathroom

garbage bag during my period (and this is just the first two days) and it is

filled with soaked pads (and nothing else) it weighs about 3 lbs. - it's just

awful. I even have " period " panties...separate ones that I only wear during

my period - old ones that will inevitably get stained or have already been. I

just hope I'm never in an accident when I'm having my period, I'd hate like

hell for some stranger to see my awful panties...lol.

[Guest guest]

I'd keep an extra set of clothes in the car for one thing. I got so sick I took

volentary lay off but this isn't possible for everyone. It's so embarassing to

go to the bathroom all the time.

dlp229 wrote:

Hi

just wanted to know if anyone out there has a demanding job, how do

you work with fibroids all this bleeding and pain.Is anyone else

having this problem, I am, it is very hard for me to get out of the

bed sometime..I dont like to go anywhere but home close to the

bathroom. HELP!

[Guest guest]

You just deal. I don't know how I did it. It was miserable. I was

in constant fear of bleeding through all the layers of protection

between me and my clothes. I left meetings every 30 minutes to

change my tampon. I took way too much ibuprofen. I know just how

you feel, wanting to stay near a bathroom, and I know that many of

the women on this group know it, too.

I have no advice, only empathy. Be well.

Jen

> Hi

>

> just wanted to know if anyone out there has a demanding job, how

do

> you work with fibroids all this bleeding and pain.Is anyone else

> having this problem, I am, it is very hard for me to get out of the

> bed sometime..I dont like to go anywhere but home close to the

> bathroom. HELP!

[Guest guest]

OH BOY do I know what you are going thru. I had a laparoscopy, hysteroscopy and

a D & C in August 2002 to try and correct some of my bleeding problems. My quack

gyne at that time said I had one intramural fibroid and that the D & C should

correct some of the bleeding. I trusted her and went ahead with the surgery.

After my surgery, I was still bleeding heavily and my doc gave me the option of

hysterectomy or taking Lupron to try and shrink the fibroid. I chose the Lupron

over the hyst....I was told that the Lupron would completely stop my periods so

knowing this and thinking I was going to be fixed I applied for and was hired

at my new job in October 2002.... Well, let me tell you girlfriend ~wink~ My

FIRST DAY ON THE JOB....I started flooding....I WAS DEVASTATED!! I had to keep

running to the bathroom every 20 minutes....hoping that my new boss wouldn't

notice....yeah right. I actually think she thought I was having some diarrhea

due to the stress of starting a new job....lol. I can laugh now...but at the

time it was my worst nightmare come true.... The bleeding never stopped thru

October, November, December, January and February. Yup, you heard me right...I

bled for 5 months straight! Trying to learn a new job, give my best performance

and have a smile on my face every day was very, very stressful for me....totally

stressed each and every day, anemic and in constant pain....it was just

horrible! I discontinued the Lupron in December after my fifth shot.....due to

the fact that it never stopped my periods...I actually think it just messed my

hormones up enough to cause the continual bleeding....and then after dumping my

first gyne and finding my current one who immediately did a MRI....I found out

that I have many, many fibroids AND NOT JUST ONE LIKE MY FIRST GYNE TOLD ME I

HAD....Some are submucousal and others are intramural and some a combination of

both. So, anyhow....almost 6 months into my job and I am still there....dealing

with the flooding and the pain....I finally told my boss about the fibroid

problem and told her that I was making every effort to correct the issue as

expeditiously as possible and that I would understand if that was not good

enough. She really didn't say much other than that she really hadn't noticed a

problem with me and my work ability...shew....I guess I really pulled the wool

over her eyes....~smile~

I am scheduled for a Laparoscopic Myo in April...2 days after my six month

anniversary and although I hate to take time off of work so early into a

job....I have come to realize, with the help of the L.O.L...(Lovely Ladies of

the List) is that it is just a job... My health and wellness should be first

and foremost and that I MUST do whatever it takes to make myself as healthy as

possible. When I am flooding....I just politely excuse myself...no excuses

necessary. After all, I did not ask for this problem...Please don't let

yourself get too stressed over this...it is unhealthy and it only makes things

worse...believe me, I know how you feel...I was right there in your

shoes....accept the problem and do whatever you have to do to find a treatment

that is best for you... That is all you can do. It is not your fault that

things are like this...all you can do is try and help yourself by reading and

learning about the options that are out there for you...This group is what

helped me 100 %. I felt very alone until I joined this group...after all....who

else wants to hear about the flooding, clots and pain? We are here for you!

Hang in there! Life sometimes throws us curve balls...we just have to get the

right attitude and play hard ball! Here's to wishing you the best of outcomes!!

Jenine

***Play Ball! "

working with fibroids

just wanted to know if anyone out there has a demanding job, how do

you work with fibroids all this bleeding and pain.Is anyone else

having this problem, I am, it is very hard for me to get out of the

bed sometime..I dont like to go anywhere but home close to the

bathroom. HELP!

[Guest guest]

The same here I have period panties...well I am the same way I just dont go

to work.Its hard for other people to understand what were going thru, during

these tough times also.they ask me Why dont you come to work...cant wait

until i have my AUE , I JUST HOPE IT SUCCESSFUL, TIRED OF GOING THRU

THIS..Its been since October, I really dont see how some women put up with

this for years..

take care

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

DEBBIE L. PORTER

[Guest guest]

Okay I feel like a whimp! Bleeding for months? Oh my. I bled for a

straight month until the Lupron shot. I got laid off in Oct. Didn't look to

hard between Thanksgiving, parents 50th anniversary, Christmas, Jan. 25th

wedding anniversary. Feb. the " flood " . I really need to find a job soon. My

unemployment runs out soon. But want to take care of the evil fibroid first.

Jenine, I like you don't want to start somewhere and then be exuse

me.......time off, etc. I don't know how you did it. What a woman! No

wonder you are REALLY anemic! I hope everything works out for you. My blood

count is good now. But every day I wake up and feel like #$?! Anyone else?

Even though the blood work is good? I perk up a little during the day but by

night I am so tired. =-( Wahhhh!

Have a great day!

W.

[Guest guest]

" I really dont see how some women put up with

this for years.. "

Fear, Isolation, not knowing options, doctors telling us that our

ONLY option is hysterectomy. I am one that put up with it four four

years because I was told for four years that my only option was a

hysterectomy. It was just last month that I had a hysteroscopic

myomectomy for a submucosal fibroid. I am on my second period now,

hardly bleeding using regular tampons. I am still staying home today

because I can't believe that I am having a normnal period for fear

that this is a dream. I am still in shock that a simple operation

solved my problem.

> Its hard for other people to understand what were going

>thru, during these tough times also.they ask me Why dont you come to

>work...cant wait until i have my UAE, I JUST HOPE IT SUCCESSFUL, TIRED OF

>GOING THRU THIS..Its been since October, I really dont see how some women put

>up with this for years..

[Guest guest]

Dear DIBreeze--

If you think your employer would be sympathetic/understanding (as opposed to

seeing you as the next-in-line to downsize), clue your supervisor(s) in so

that they will understand why you spend so much time in the bathroom, etc.

It will reduce your stress. Let them know you are seeking medical

solutions, but otherwise, they have no right to know unless you want to

disclose. You don't even have to tell them that it's uterine fibroids, just

that you are bleeding excessively/all the time, whatever is the truth. They

might suggest that you go out on disability for a while, which may work for

you. They do have a right to inquire if your absences/behavior interferes

with your job performance, so you might want to pre-empt their inquiry by

letting them know that you are concerned about your job performance.

Hope this helps. I know it's hard to discuss these things with employers,

but it's not your fault and you have nothing to be ashamed of.

Faryl

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I can relate. Many times I needed to go home from work because the bleeding

went through 2 pads, underwear, and clothes! I am 50 and am beginning to

notice a slight decrease. Nevertheless, I am having an MRI next week.

cj

>

>Subject: working with fibroids

>Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 01:04:33 -0000

>

>Hi

>

> just wanted to know if anyone out there has a demanding job, how do

>you work with fibroids all this bleeding and pain.Is anyone else

>having this problem, I am, it is very hard for me to get out of the

>bed sometime..I dont like to go anywhere but home close to the

>bathroom. HELP!

[Guest guest]

At 3/25/03 09:51 PM, MLic975220@... wrote:

>Then there was the pain & cramps. I used to go out with those

>Therma-care sticky things adhered to my abdomen for a little relief. What a

>pain. Glad I did the UAE. Good luck to you.

Can you tell me more about the " thermal care sticky things " ? Is this a

form of pain medication?