Endometrial biopsy 3 weeks ago awaiting results.

Hi there, I have been bleeding very heavily for over a year ( five years prior with nothing ), I’m 52. Unfortunately my gp practice is not good,(tried to move, put in a complaint, and now they are quite not wanting to help me, with anything, ever )and I have been fobbed off till about six weeks ago when I sent photos of the blood soaked pads in the e- consult.It got them moving and in two weeks I had an ultrasound which showed a “prominent” womb. A couple of weeks after I was given a date for the biopsy. In the letter it said take some otc pain relief. 
The uterine biopsy day arrives, I was taken in early, so no chance of the paracetamol and ibuprofen working in time. I was asked some questions and then was shown across to the examination table with the stirrups. I was left to undress my lower half and get on the table. At this point, I did not know what to expect. (Both my friend and my hairdresser had been in for the same biopsies and both were unable to go through with it because of the pain. Cue detailed descriptions for me to hear. )

I believe I had a pipelle biopsy. I saw the white long thin tube, then I was asked to shuffle my bottom down a bit. The doctor inserted the speculum and opened it. She exclaimed “ oh, you’re bleeding” I said well yes, this is why I’m here at the post menopausal bleeding unit !! I’ll be honest, I didn’t feel the tube going in at all. Then the activity happened. I felt the strangest sensation inside. Like  I was being whisked inside, lots of movement,and it seemed like the pipelle was being moved up and down and twisting- to me it felt like being pregnant and the baby was moving about a lot. I’ll be honest, it felt tickly almost. The doctor asked me if I was alright and I said “ I’m ok, no, I’m okay “. Seconds after this, the tube was removed. I did see it was streaked with blood, but I had been bleeding anyways. I cleaned myself, popped on my clothes, and sat down at the desk to be met by my “ sample”, which I did pick up and examine. It looked like bloody fluid. 
I did have the odd slight cramping intermittently for a couple of days, but my bleeding stopped, and 23 days later, I’ve had no more. I’m still waiting on the results. It will be what it will be, it’s outwith my control.
I just wanted to let others know, as I was expecting terrible pain hearing stories and reading about it, it may not be what you are expecting, and I would hope for others the same experience that I had. I went in effectively with no pain relief, as it was only30 mins prior that I had taken the meds. I was confused when the biopsy was happening because how I felt was not how I was supposed to feel, given others experiences. I don’t have a particularly high pain threshold, my mind was expecting pain and I left thinking did the doctor do the procedure correctly? I’m not sure if the bleeding and therefore the cervix was more open than it would normally be and this meant insertion was easier. At no point of the sample collection was there pain either. 

I am hopeful but also prepared for bad news, as this was the whole reason for having the biopsy. It seems no one around me wants to speak of such things, and it’s only my husband and myself, so I just wanted to be in contact with others who I could maybe discuss and help support  each other. 

I had the audacity to phone the gp to see if my results were in, only to be told they don’t deal with it , it will be the gynae dept who will contact me ( according to gp receptionist ), offered me an apt in five weeks to see doc for something unrelated which I declined -it will either improve or it won’t. It wasn’t an emergency so didn’t want to take up their time that day for an emergency apt someone really needing one can get. If the results of my biopsy mean further action is required, I dread to think of the hoops I’ll need to go through at the gp to see them . Had I waited the six weeks for the vaginal exam there, then got the scan and biopsy, I would still be waiting for these ! Really has been the most negative thing up to now about this whole situation. I cannot fault the hospital staff at all or the doctor who was very relaxed and sociable.

Are others experiencing terrible service from their own gp s also ? 
Will I get a letter from the hospital, what am I to expect re contact for results? 
if you got this far, thank you for taking the time to read this, any comments would be invaluable.

  • Hi Wombwithaview (I love your username!), 

    It sounds like you have had a really unpleasant experience with your GP practice and I am sorry that they have been unwilling to help you. I am glad that you have managed to have that important biopsy though and thank you for sharing your experience on here which will no doubt be useful to others who are currently going through something similar. It will be reassuring to others to hear that you didn't experience much pain. 

    I hope that coming here and sharing your story will give you the opportunity to meet others who have also been through an endometrial biopsy before and that they will tell you more about how it all went for them and how they were informed about their results. I am not sure myself how you will be contacted about results but on our page on the endometrial biopsy, it mentions that you should be getting your results within 1 to 2 weeks so as you haven't been getting anywhere with your GP, it might be worth doing what they told you and getting in touch with the gynaecology department and asking them to give you an update on these results and don't hesitate also to mention that the GP surgery told you to contact them and that you just want to know when and how you should be receiving these results. 

    Feel free also to contact our cancer nurses on freephone 0808 800 4040. The lines are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and they will be happy to give you guidance and answer questions you may have. 

    Best of luck chasing these results. I hope that you get somewhere - and if your GP surgery continues to be difficult to deal with, perhaps you could consider moving surgery if there is another one nearby as you should not be having to deal with all this stress!

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator