Anyone here had a D&C?

[Ceebs]

Hi gals... I'm having a bit of a problem.

Due to what I would assume is a severe hormonal imbalance from dieting too hard and too long, I've been menstruating off and on for the last 17 days. (Bled for a week, stopped for 3 days, then continued for the past week.) My periods have been frequent and irregular when I've gotten near this bodyfat percentage before, but not this much.

I have an appointment with my gynecologist to have a D&C done on Thursday, biopsy purposes, and I was wondering, for those of you who've had the procedure, what can I expect? Will this screw up my hormones even more? Will it stop the bleeding? Will I be in much pain? How long will it be until I can have sex again?

Thanks in advance for any responses. I am not a happy camper.

 

[velvett]

Hmm.

Have they ever put you on birth control pills? Or some sort of hormone therapy before? If not, I don't know I would get a second opinion.

I had the very same thing when I turned 26 or 27. I fought the doctor for two years and finally gave in to being on Birth control pills and while I'm not thrilled about it I've been regular since.


You know thebabydoc would be a good person to ask.



FROM WEBMD


Surgery Overview

Dilation and curettage (D&C) is a surgical procedure that is done to locate and treat the cause of sudden, heavy bleeding. It is done by passing a small instrument called a curette through the vagina into the uterus and scraping the lining of the uterus (endometrium).

D&C is generally an outpatient procedure. A general anesthesic is usually used, though a local or spinal anesthetic may be used.

What to Expect After Surgery

The recovery period following D&C is short, and most women are able to return to normal activities within 1 to 2 days.

During the recovery period:

Mild pelvic cramping may occur for a few hours.
A slight vaginal discharge may occur.
Intercourse, douching, and the use of tampons are not usually permitted for 2 weeks.
The next menstrual period may be early or late.
Why It Is Done

Dilation and curettage (D&C) may be done to diagnose and treat problems. The procedure is used to control sudden, heavy vaginal bleeding that is causing decreased blood volume (hypovolemia) or a decreased number of red blood cells (anemia). D&C is the quickest way to stop active bleeding in the uterus. It is also used to obtain a tissue sample for testing in older women who are at high risk for having cancer of the uterus (endometrial cancer).1

How Well It Works

D&C is usually successful in temporarily stopping heavy menstrual bleeding.
Uterine tissue can be obtained for diagnosis and to eliminate other possible causes of heavy menstrual bleeding.
Small fibroids may be removed.
Recurrence


Sudden, heavy bleeding may stop for a period of time. However, heavy bleeding usually returns following D&C.

Risks

Complications from a dilation and curettage (D&C) are rare but include:

Infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries (pelvic infection).
Tearing (perforation) of the uterine wall.
Heavy vaginal bleeding (hemorrhage).
What to Think About


Dilation and curettage (D&C) may be needed to diagnose cancer of the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer) and to control vaginal bleeding that is causing anemia.

See a list of questions to ask your doctor about surgery.

http://my.webmd.com/encyclopedia/article/1825.50654

 

[grlpwrd]

I've never had one done, but just wanted to say that my prayers and thoughts are with you..

 

[Ceebs]

Have they ever put you on birth control pills? Or some sort of hormone therapy before? If not, I don't know I would get a second opinion.

I was annorexic several years ago, lost my period, and went on the pill to help normalize things after I'd recovered and it still hadn't returned. I tried 3 different pills, and had bad experiences with all of them (constant nausea and mood swings, cysts in breasts, etc), but my period did eventually come back. OC's are not an option. Although I'd love to cross my fingers and assume what's wrong is hormonal, and it will go away on its own now that I've stopped cutting, the length of time for which I've been bleeding worries me, and reproductive maladies run in my mother's side of the family, so... just in case.

Thanks for the info from WebMD.com, though, and thank you grlpwrd for your warm wishes.

 

[velvett]

BUMP!


Any new news??

 

[Ceebs]

False alarm.

It's just mono, low sex hormones, and hypothyroidism. Not the holiest trinity, but man, you have no idea what was going through my head...

A deep and heartfelt thankyou to everyone who wished me well via PM's, posts, and karma. I hope that none of you ever have a scare like I did, but if you do, I will be the first to send a "get well" card.