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Feeling scared

Grams67
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I don't really know what to say but at the moment I'm in a bit of a tizz and am looking wondering if anyone else has experienced what I am and can offer advice? I'm 54 and for the last 3 months or so have experienced a number of symptoms that have led to me being referred to the post menopausal bleeding clinic.  It started with lower back pain which I initially thought might be due to poor posture from working from home since the beginning of the pandemic.  I had physio but it didn't help.  Then came lower abdominal pain and needing to wee more - difficult to explain but like cystitis without the burning when I pee, dragging feeling and almost like trapped wind but in my groin (I honestly don't know how else to explain it). This got worse and combined with the back pain I spoke to my GP thinking maybe it was a kidney or urine infection. I saw her three weeks ago and a urine test came back neg for infection but there was blood present.  Then I had vaginal bleeding and she immediately referred me. I was told I was menopausal around 7 years ago and had the mirena coil fitted around 5 years as part of my HRT  (I also have estraderm patches).  I've had no bleeding since having it fitted.  I've lost about 2.5 st since March last year (deliberately) but just recently I've been really nauseous when I wake up and when I do eat I get full very quickly.  I'm going for a hysteroscopy tomorrow and am freaked out (GP has given me some diazepam to take because I'm terrified about having this without a general).  I've also (stupidly) been googling symptoms for ovarian and womb cancer and am now convinced I have it.  Has anyone got any words of advice or tips for dealing with this?  Clearly I havent had a diagnosis but I just want to make sure I ask all the right questions and get answers quickly.  

TIA 

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    Hi

    Firstly Im sorry you are here and feeling scared.

    I have had 3 hysteroscopies now , 2018/2019 and one last wednesday
    All have been awake with a local in the cervix
    Its not the most enjoyable afternoon out ( and you dont get a badge or a biscuit after which im still quite miffed about actually LOL )
    My ladies plumbing has been the bain of my life with a history of PCOS resulting in no kids and periods that either dont bother for years or then decide to become as regular as clockwork but make your house look like your a mad axe murderer on the side :(

    Right yes all you symptoms are in the check list of reason to be concerned 

    But.. and heres the but .. there are loads of reasons why you could be getting alot fo them
    I have terrible wee issues , as in its like im busting and i mean screamy angry need to wee now busting and when i do go theres almost nothing maybe enough to 1/3 fill a cup so annoying and lack of sleep keep waking and needing a wee is exhausting, half the month Im awake all night changing cos of heavy bleeding and the other half cos i need a wee

    As for tomorrow . firstly , the bigges thing .. relax... if you tense up it will go badly and they might say forget it and want you to go back and have it done under a general. 
    Its more embarrassing than painful, in fact i feel nothing pain wise I can feel them in there routing about etc but its not painful ( in fact the car journey busting for a wee was more uncomfortable than the procedure and the return trip)

    Im surprised they havent done a trans vaginal scan before the hysteroscopy. This would show up things like polyps fibroids and hyperplasia ( I ahve all 3) but although its scarey none of those are necessarily something you have to worry hugely about.
    if you have a coil and its been in 5 yrs it might be worth asking if it could be removed tomorrow as it will be at the end  of its life now ( another reason you might have started bleeding again lots of people think they have finished the change and they havent) 

    just try and breathe, dont be embarrassed or you'll tense up and just think they do see this everyday .Ive got into the mind set now Id much sooner go for another hysteroscopy and polyp removal than go to the dentist LOL I really really hate the dentist LOL 
    as for questions ask about lumps bumps lining thickness and waiting times for pathology, if theres no lumps ( plyps and fibroids etc) which can cause the pressure on the bladder making you need a wee etc make sure you mention this and ask about prolapse position of womb is it pressing on your bladder etc 
    main thing relax. stay calm and although its hard to not just want to get dressed and run dont let the situation and procedure make you feel the victim and forget everyhting you should have asked or want to know about whats happening. When you get home and calm down its too late and then youve got no one to ask.

    I am sure you'll be fine. 

    take care x 

     

  • Offline in reply to mandi67

    Thank you so much for responding. I'm sorry to hear you've had such a terrible time however I have to say your humour in sharing made me smile for the first time today .  It's good to know it's not too painful - this was the thing I was most worried about because it sounds horrendous! The indignity I can live with .  Actually I was going to ask if they could remove the coil while they were there as I also wondered if this might be the reason for the bleeding.  I will definitely do that now.  And thank you for the really helpful questions to ask.  I was also shocked they've gone straight for a hysteroscopy (as was my GP) but maybe they will do a scan too - guess I'll find out tomorrow.  I hope that your results come back with some answers.  Take care, and thank you again for your kind reply xx 

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