Gynae apt next week after cervical bleed - terrified

Two weeks ago I found myself staring at some bright red blood in the toilet. Called the doctor straight away and got apt 7 days later. On examination she said "it's coming from the cervix. There's something there I'm not happy with and I'll be referring you urgently to Gynae". Her serious matter of fact tone stopped me in my tracks. My apt letter came yesterday for next Wednesday and I feel sick at the thought of what they'll find. I had felt fine physically but now am experiencing symptoms like leg pain and pain in my abdomen. I also keep feeling I want to pee a lot. I've had no more bleeding. I have had treatment previously years ago for abnormal cells and have always kept up to date with smears, my last being 2019 and all fine. ive always had bad health anxiety after losing my mum to cancer whe she was only 47.  I'm 44 with two kids and a husband and I just can't get it out of my head that I'm facing some life changing news. 

I just don't know how I'll cope... 

  • Hello Sooz and welcome. 

    I can appreciate how worried you are about what’s happening, but you are being seen quickly which is a good thing. Anxiety can cause a lot of physical symptoms when we know there might be something wrong but don’t know what it is yet-the mind is a very powerful thing! 

    There’s no way of knowing until you see a gynaecologist exactly what’s going on, but try not to let your thoughts run away with themselves at this stage-easier said than done, I know, but things are not always as bad as you assume they might be. 

    I’ve been through cervical cancer twice in the past three years, so I understand the anxiety, but am not suggesting  for a moment that you may have cancer-just saying I can empathise with the position you find yourself in now, and the worry you are experiencing. 

    You wonder how you’ll cope. Well, no matter what the results are you will cope because you have to, and the not knowing is far worse than knowing what something is and having it treated if necessary. 

    If you need any support or advice, please reach out, but I hope things go as well as possible at your appointment. 

  • Minska thank you for your reassuring reply. You are so right, the mind is a powerful thing. Roll on next Wednesday and some answers hopefully. 
     

    im sorry to hear you've had to deal with this twice in recent years.  You are so brave. Sending lots of healthy best wishes. 

  • Hi minska 

    My symptoms seem to be getting worse, going through my abdomen round my back and down my leg. I've found myself scrolling through this forum and spending the past four days crying and not sleeping. I've read more of your story through your other posts and just wanted to say that your positivity comes through and has brought some comfort. X

  • Hi Sooz

    I have tried since my diagnosis to be of a very positive mindset. I stayed away from google (thankfully!) and concentrated all my energy on getting well and following the advice of my wonderful team. I can’t say it has always been easy to be positive, but that’s only human-we can’t be upbeat all the time, but I believe that it has a huge effect on physical health. I think of worrying as being like sitting in a rocking chair-it gives you something to do, but doesn’t get you anywhere. If you worry, and there’s nothing wrong, you have spent time worrying for nothing. If you worry and there is something wrong, you go through the worry twice.

    I’m not sure it’s necessarily helpful to spend a lot of time on a cancer forum without a diagnosis of cancer-it wasn’t something I even thought about doing before I had cancer, I have to say. It would have served to increase my anxiety, which I was trying very hard to avoid, and I saved myself the sleepless nights and tears that obsessing about a worst case scenario might have caused. And I never assumed I might have cancer. It didn’t cross my mind. So the first time I had to face that worry was the day of my diagnosis, almost 3 years ago now. x

     

  • Minska you are totally right. your second paragraph above is the first thing that's jolted me back for days. So I'm going to close my iPad and take the dog for a walk and meet my daughter from school. The sun is shining. 

    xxx

     

  • Excellent decision. Sooz! We can go down a rabbit hole of anxiety if we let ourselves. xx

  • Hi there.. how did you get on? I have just replied to your comment on a previous post of mine. I had same as you earlier this year but more discharge than blood but no pain. Colposcopy revealed only ectripion. Fast forward 6 months and due my smear next week thankfully as I am worried I have missed my period for the past 2 consecutive months which is unheard of for me (35 and not pregnant) and got terrible pelvic pain, goes into back and down  legs 

  • Hello, had an appointment with the consultant who took one look and said it was cervical ectropion so same as you.  He was very good and spent time checking everything to reassure me all was fine. As terrifying as the urgent referral was, I'm so glad the gp took it seriously and I'm thankful for the quick appointment. 
    My next smear is June next year. I've had no more bleeding but still have lower back/leg pain so think a trip to the physio is in order. 
     

    hope all goes well at your smear and def mention the missed periods. Xxx