[Alty]

So so what are you going to do to fix this? Your kids need their mon, the dogs need you, heck even Rod needs you.

Rod needs me the most. The kids can fend for themselves. He'd die without me. ;)

I'm going to demand answers. I have an appointment next week, and I'm going to demand more than pills, but an actual solution! Surgery, more banding, whatever it takes, and I want to know why I haven't gotten a period in 5 years if the blood tests show that I'm not in menopause!

Because you're right, the kids do need me, and the dogs, and especially Rod. :)

[J_9]

Okay Alty, I have a list of what you should ask the doctor...

1) What are my hematocrit and hemoglobin levels? He should give you 2 numbers. One number for the hematocrit and one for the hemoglobin. Write those down and let me know what they are. Don't accept "normal." You want the actual numbers.

2) What are my FSH and LH levels. Again they should be 2 numbers. Again, don't accept normal, you want actual numbers. This will give you your menopause answer.

3) Is it common practice to treat rectal bleeding with iron rather than finding the actual cause of the bleeding and correcting that problem? What is the solution to this problem? You can't keep putting a bandaid on it, so to speak, you want an actual solution. Taking iron supplements is not a solution.

4) I would like to have a referral to a gastroenterologist. Don't take no for an answer. Your children need you. Rod needs you.

Lastly, you need a better diet. I know you hate cooking. Make it fun for the family. Plan menus for the week, you cook, they clean up. They cook, you clean up. Do you have a crock pot/slow cooker? These recipes are easy peasy and can be very healthy.

[talaniman]

Have you considered a second opinion?

[Wondergirl]

Five hundred greenies to J_9!!!!!!

Alty, an added benefit with the cooking part is that your kids AND Rod will not only learn more about healthy eating with family meal planning, but will do the actual cooking. One of the best things my mom did for me was allow me in her kitchen even as a little kid and had me making meals for the family (and cleaning up, "wash as you go") before I was a teen. Your kids will be going off to college or into their own home before too long. They need to know how to do stuff.

[Alty]

WG, my kids cook meals all the time, and bake, from scratch. Not worried about that at all. :)

[Wondergirl]

WG, my kids cook meals all the time, and bake, from scratch. Not worried about that at all. :)

Yaaaaaaaaayyyyy!!!!!

[teacherjenn4]

Not sure if this matters, but I had a D&C about 6 years ago and haven't bled either. My doctor runs blood and says I'm not menopausal either.

[Alty]

TJ, that matters a lot, because all the issues started when I had to have to emergency D&C. My body hasn't been the same since then. That's when the anemia started, that's when the issues with my period started (not all at once, I still got periods for many years after, but they were never the same as before the D&C, and then suddenly stopped 5 years ago. Before the D&C I would have periods so regular that I could tell you the day and time I'd get it. After it would sometimes be months between getting it, sometimes a year and then when I did it would either be very light, or so heavy that it felt like I was miscarrying again).

[teacherjenn4]

I was trying to remember when they stopped. I know it tapered from slight periods to every few months. My Dr. said I had a lot of scar tissue, but bloodwork says I'm not in menopause. I'll be going in the next couple of months for my annual checkup and I'll let you know what he says about me. By the way, he is a specialist dealing with infertility and other female issues, not a regular Ob/GYN. I know you don't have the same kind of insurance as the U.S. but be pushy and demanding. Your health is important and when I had terrible insurance, I made tons of phone calls to bypass the system. I wasn't going to wait for 6 months to see a specialist. Demand help immediately.

[DoulaLC]

Not sure what tests were done, but you might want to ask your gynecologist about the possibility of Asherman's Syndrome. That may be a possibility, especially since it started after a D & C.

[Alty]

Not sure what tests were done, but you might want to ask your gynecologist about the possibility of Asherman's Syndrome. That may be a possibility, especially since it started after a D & C.

Thank you Doula. I will definitely mention it during my next visit. :)