Finally giving up?

[Bex-ttc]

It's been a year since we did our third round of ivf. My periods have slowly been getting worse again, to a point where I struggle to go to work. I've seen the gp, been referred to the hospital and then been back to the gp. All of them have said I should go back on the pill or get a coil. My husband and I had already decided to go down the adoption route but we're wanting to move closer to family & friends before we start that process. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I was hoping for the miracle to occur whilst we were going through the moving process. Going back to birth control seems like such a final decision but I can't continue with my periods the way they are! I've picked up my prescription for the pill and am due to take it tonight.... Am I doing the right thing?!

[Hollibob]

Do they know what’s causing the bad periods? Do you want them to do some investigation into it?

I wouldn’t say you are giving up, just taking a different path...

Our path has taken us to DE’s, but we had an 18 month break whilst we dealt with a redundancy, close family death and had a house extension done...you have to do things when it’s best for you.

I did worry about the time that passed, but doing a round of treatment then, wouldn’t have been a good idea...

[Bex-ttc in reply to Hollibob]

I've had endometriosis in the past but an ultrasound didn't show any up, just a possible polyp. The dr at the hospital said she could have a look by hysterscopy, but followed that up with and then I'd put a coil in because you have given up on having children haven't you! I think I just wanted to feel like I was being listened to but didn't.

I feel exactly the same about taking the break, even between this and doing the adoption, but I know it makes sense to be in the right place, location wise and mentally, to do these things.

I hope the DE route works out for you. 🤞.

[Hollibob in reply to Bex-ttc]

The endo never really goes away and ultrasounds don’t often show it. Sometimes MRI’s can show bad cases that involve the bowel. It sounds like they’ve just taken the easy option to be honest which is annoying.

See if you can get a referral to a specialist centre

bsge.org.uk/centre/

After my first laparoscopy I was convinced/advised to have the mirena coil to slow the regrowth, but we weren’t TTC to conceive then. I also had a 3 month course of Zoladex. I can’t say my body agreed with either.

The second laparoscopy was three years later after we’d been TTC for six months. There was still endo there.

I wasn’t seen at a specialist centre, just a gynaecologist referral and I remember him saying to me that he only lasers it away and that if I needed further treatment, then I would need to see someone else. I wish I’d had the correct referral in the first place and I’m sure that not everything was removed, but who knows..

After our miscarriages, we had testing and one of which was a hysteroscopy which was normal.

Thanks for your wishes..I’m currently 14+5 and every day is a worry still!

X

[Bex-ttc in reply to Hollibob]

Yes, I went on the mini pill after my laparoscopy and bowel resection as wasn't TTC then. But have been off it for nearly 5yrs now and things are back to where I started. I moved areas in between and my drs now just don't seem to be as knowledgeable as my old ones. However we're moving back to where we lived before so perhaps I'll be able to go back to my old Dr!

Congratulations.... I'm sure every day is still a worry I hope everything goes smoothly for you now! Xxx

[AnnieAnnie]

Hi there sorry to read about your painful periods, I can sympathise, I too have suffered from the age of 12 with these for which I was prescribed mafenamic acid. At 19 I went on the pill, which did seem to help, especially the mini pill. However I came off the pill in 2011 and the pain was horrendous, my gp prescribed naproxen. After starting ttc I stopped the naproxen in 2016 when we were referred for ivf, and since have been prescribed codeine (some times even that doesn't touch it!). Are you able to take something to control the pain rather than go back on the pill at the moment? Only you know whether it is the right thing to take your pill. Good luck with your decision xx

[Bex-ttc in reply to AnnieAnnie]

Unfortunately it's not just the pain, they're also really heavy, which with my job as a Radiographer is difficult to manage. And I also usually get really bad diarrhea too! I can't afford to be taking time off work every month.

[AnnieAnnie in reply to Bex-ttc]

Mine go through stages of being heavy and diarrhoea/constipation. I usually suffer the first 3 days but am lucky enough at the moment to not work, so a lot more manageable especially taking the codeine. I can imagine being a radiographer it's not possible for you to be on high dose painkillers either. Not many options open to you and the only one that will help is the one that none of us would want to do. I think if the pain is so unbearable and the pill is the only option, then you will have to go back to the pill. I know once I have managed to have my own child (or DE or adoption) I would like to have a hysterectomy, I have had enough of periods! xx

[Bex-ttc in reply to AnnieAnnie]

Yeah.... No strong painkillers for me! I think I will be going back on the pill, and hopefully we'll get to start the adoption process later on this year.

Good luck with your journey whichever way it takes you. Xx