Page 2 | Thickened womb lining / peri / Health anxiety aibu to be freaking out

perimenoworrier · 2023-09-06T08:38:35+00:00

I recently had an ultrasound due to the last 2 or 3 periods having some brown spotting mid cycle . I have a lot of peri / meno symptoms as well, I'm 44 soon I went for my follow up gp appointment and everything looked normal apart from a small amount of endometriosis which apparently is nothing to worry about. But I also have a thickened womb lining I've been referred to gynae next week (I am private which is why it's so quick). But I'm scared in case i need a hysteroscopy which gp said was a possibility. not worried because of the procedure but because it will be more waiting and worrying 😭 . Plus more money as I'm paying privately I have horrendous health anxiety so I'm freaking out. I daren't google. so i wanted to know if anyone else has had this and whether it was just hormonal and wasn't anything sinister The dr said I shouldn't worry and that it is common in pre menopausal women esp those who are near or in peri. She offered to refer me on the nhs so I did not have to pay but advised that if it was NHS it would be about an 18 month wait in our area which reassures me slightly as it would not be considered urgent on NHS. I'm also 3 days late on my period (defo not pg) , last month I was 2 days early. Before this I was very regular so I am wondering if this is another peri symptom Any advice or hand holds would be useful . My gynae appt is next Tuesday.

Losttree2023 · 06/01/2024 10:08

I've had six hysteroscopies now and continued issues with womb lining thickening.

What I'd say is -

Take the painkillers they suggest beforehand and bring something sugary with you for afterwards.

Take someone with you if you can.

It is incredibly rare for it to actually be cancer, and it can take a while for biopsy results to come through (with my first one it took six weeks). Try and reassure yourself of how rare it is. I had a polyp and the percentage of those that are cancerous is less than 2% I think. If they were really worried they would tell you. I've previously had reassurance while they've been doing the procedure that, all being well, things are looking good.

You have the right to ask them to stop and repeat the procedure under general if you can't cope with the discomfort. Don't feel sheepish or embarrassed about that, your wellbeing matters. The pain varies for everyone. For me, they've mostly been okay and less bad than I was expecting. I wish I hadn't worried so much before the first one, it took over my life.

I hope it goes well. Take care.

janicegarvey · 06/01/2024 09:10

JFDIYOLO · 06/01/2024 00:52

Find out about all your anaesthetic rights and options for the Hysteroscopy.

Be aware if they do find anything they will likely want to take it out there and then.

Think in advance whether you will give your consent or not, as that is surgery.

Best not to drive to the appointment - have someone take you.

All best - I'm told 90% of cases are not cancer (my third bleed incident didn't require a hysteroscopy after all, just intravaginal scan and visual examination.).

Thank you very much for all this information I really appreciate it

Unfortunately I've got no choice but to drive myself to my appointment, I'll just have to cross that bridge if or when I come to it

I'm honestly not scared of the pain anyway.

(Also, realised I've had a name change fail 🤦‍♀️ but never mind)

Haggisfish3 · 06/01/2024 01:11

As an aside op I take duloxetine for my health anxiety and it has been life changing-like turning the anxiety tap off.

JFDIYOLO · 06/01/2024 00:52

Find out about all your anaesthetic rights and options for the Hysteroscopy.

Be aware if they do find anything they will likely want to take it out there and then.

Think in advance whether you will give your consent or not, as that is surgery.

Best not to drive to the appointment - have someone take you.

All best - I'm told 90% of cases are not cancer (my third bleed incident didn't require a hysteroscopy after all, just intravaginal scan and visual examination.).

janicegarvey · 05/01/2024 15:06

Just wanted to update that I have my date for the hysteroscopy

It's next week and I'm absolutely shitting it

I'm not even scared of the procedure tbh, although it doesn't sound great 😩 I'm scared in case anything untoward is found and I'm also scared of the wait 😔

Diorama1 · 15/09/2023 14:30

Op glad to hear your update. I went on progesterone only pill for very heavy periods/thickened lining/other peri symptoms and it has been amazing.

It took a couple of months for the bloating/light bleeding to calm down but it has been a life changer for me. Good luck.

janicegarvey · 15/09/2023 13:50

@Mercurial123 oh god how come you had to have a full hysterectomy if you don't mind me asking ? I hope I don't have to

Mercurial123 · 14/09/2023 12:28

janicegarvey · 14/09/2023 10:48

@Mercurial123 oh no did it ? 🙈🙈 I definitely don't need to be any more angry I'm already quite angry a lot of the time thanks to peri 😆

Yes I'm glad she has referred me but was kinda hoping she would say it wasn't necessary. It's good i am being checked out but it's just that it's more waiting and worrying. 😢

I wouldn't worry. Your Dr said it wasn't urgent. I had to have endometrial biopsies every 6 months for monitoring. It never concerned me. I was happy that my Dr was vigilant. I ended up having a full hysterectomy.

janicegarvey · 14/09/2023 10:49

Oh no name change fail (I am the op !)

Ah well 😳😳😳

janicegarvey · 14/09/2023 10:48

@Mercurial123 oh no did it ? 🙈🙈 I definitely don't need to be any more angry I'm already quite angry a lot of the time thanks to peri 😆

Yes I'm glad she has referred me but was kinda hoping she would say it wasn't necessary. It's good i am being checked out but it's just that it's more waiting and worrying. 😢

Original poster

perimenoworrier · 12/09/2023 19:16

Pushkinini · 12/09/2023 18:14

As someone who was in her 40s, perimenopausal, with a thickened womb lining which did turn out to be cancer, even if it is anything sinister, endometrial cancer is very treatable. I'm still here 3.5 years later and apart from no internal bits, I'm fine. Hope it all goes ok OP.

Oh I'm so glad you're okay now 💐

OP posts:

Pushkinini · 12/09/2023 18:14

As someone who was in her 40s, perimenopausal, with a thickened womb lining which did turn out to be cancer, even if it is anything sinister, endometrial cancer is very treatable. I'm still here 3.5 years later and apart from no internal bits, I'm fine. Hope it all goes ok OP.

Mercurial123 · 12/09/2023 17:38

perimenoworrier · 12/09/2023 17:13

So I saw the gynaecologist and she is not concerned but has suggested it may be worth having a hysteroscopy

She says based on my ultrasound it is not urgent and I have no other risk factors. She reiterated it is very common in pre menopausal women and they only really tend to be concerned if these sort of symptoms happen post menopausal

so she has referred me on the nhs so I don't have to pay. She says waiting times aren't actually too bad in our area. However I'm still going to get a price for a private one so if it is taking ages to get an nhs one I may yet still pay for it

She has also said I can try the progesterone only contraceptive pill as that can help minimise bleeding by making periods lighter

So generally good news really although I was kind of hoping as per PP she would be able to check me over without the need for a hysteroscopy.

Surely, that's a good thing that's she's cautious and ordered the test?

I was on progesterone, and it made me very angry. I had to stop after a couple of months.

Great news, you must be relieved.

Original poster

perimenoworrier · 12/09/2023 17:13

So I saw the gynaecologist and she is not concerned but has suggested it may be worth having a hysteroscopy

She says based on my ultrasound it is not urgent and I have no other risk factors. She reiterated it is very common in pre menopausal women and they only really tend to be concerned if these sort of symptoms happen post menopausal

so she has referred me on the nhs so I don't have to pay. She says waiting times aren't actually too bad in our area. However I'm still going to get a price for a private one so if it is taking ages to get an nhs one I may yet still pay for it

She has also said I can try the progesterone only contraceptive pill as that can help minimise bleeding by making periods lighter

So generally good news really although I was kind of hoping as per PP she would be able to check me over without the need for a hysteroscopy.

OP posts:

Original poster

perimenoworrier · 10/09/2023 17:43

Spiderysummer · 08/09/2023 13:31

Glad you feel happier, hope it goes well on Tuesday.

Thank you 🙏 and thank you everyone for your help and support on this thread

I will update on Tuesday 😬 x

OP posts:

Spiderysummer · 08/09/2023 13:31

Glad you feel happier, hope it goes well on Tuesday.

Original poster

perimenoworrier · 08/09/2023 12:48

Spiderysummer · 08/09/2023 09:26

Don't be so hard on yourself! It's hard not to worry. Hope you manage to speak to your Dr.

Thank you 🙏

The dr finally rang and she has reassured me a lot

She explained re the 2ww thing that different cases are more concerning or less concerning. So the slightly more concerning ones would be urgently referred whereas the less concerning ones are just referred routinely. She says I am in the less concerning category. And she reiterated again that she is not worried and neither was the Dr who scanned me

Obvs she has no idea if they'll suggest a hysteroscopy or not but she says they possibly won't need to so everything crossed.

So just gotta wait til gynaecology appt on Tuesday but I do feel a bit better

OP posts:

Spiderysummer · 08/09/2023 09:26

Don't be so hard on yourself! It's hard not to worry. Hope you manage to speak to your Dr.

Original poster

perimenoworrier · 08/09/2023 07:59

KnittedJimmyChoos · 07/09/2023 21:32

Op you are not being a wimp at all.
I'm sure you have but can you try and take your mind off it. Netflix?
Books?
Excersise?

Thank you

I really feel like I am being a wimp though, I hate having such bad health anxiety

Books, Netflix and exercise is exactly what I'm doing to try and take my mind off it. It isn't really working though 😩

I am going to ring GP again and see if I can speak to her today.

OP posts:

KnittedJimmyChoos · 07/09/2023 21:32

Op you are not being a wimp at all.
I'm sure you have but can you try and take your mind off it. Netflix?
Books?
Excersise?

Original poster

perimenoworrier · 07/09/2023 21:18

Spiderysummer · 07/09/2023 19:27

Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you when I said I was on the cancer pathway. I wasn't seen within 2 weeks as I suspect there were more urgent cases ahead of me. My Dr had to follow guidance, which was based of the actual thickness of my lining. Hopefully it's a good sign that you are not on the pathway. Having done some research most cases are nothing to worry about. Hope all goes well.

Oh no it's okay no need to say sorry - it's me I'm being such a bloody wimp

I wondered if there was different degrees of thickness that determine the urgency. as the GP did say that if it had been worrying they'd have got me in quicker but then a few have said theirs was on 2ww

I wanted to ask GP this, but she did not ring back today which was annoying tbh seeing as how much I'm paying 🤦‍♀️ and she did say at the appointment to call if had any questions.

OP posts:

Spiderysummer · 07/09/2023 19:27

Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you when I said I was on the cancer pathway. I wasn't seen within 2 weeks as I suspect there were more urgent cases ahead of me. My Dr had to follow guidance, which was based of the actual thickness of my lining. Hopefully it's a good sign that you are not on the pathway. Having done some research most cases are nothing to worry about. Hope all goes well.

KnittedJimmyChoos · 07/09/2023 19:26

@Giggorata @perimenoworrier

Thank you both.
I have had that scan.
They said all OK but I get trouble on one side.

Op good luck.

Original poster

perimenoworrier · 07/09/2023 18:01

Giggorata · 07/09/2023 17:32

Thanks for your good wishes, perimenoworrier, and mine back to you. 💚

Actually, Mercurial123 is right. I forgot to mention that I pre-dosed on max strength solpadine before the procedure, which also helped.
I was glad that I took some extra pills with me, as the cramps afterwards were a bit fierce, but thankfully short lived.

(BTW, it was a standard full bladder ultrasound, KnittedJimmyChoos, followed by another done internally with a wand, just to confirm. They were able to make accurate measurements of the uterine lining.)

Yes mine was a full bladder scan which was quite uncomfortable 🥴 then I was allowed to have a wee and come back for the transvaginal one .
So I'm guessing with both they can see everything

And you are welcome let us know how it goes (and I will as well incase it helps anyone else)

OP posts:

Giggorata · 07/09/2023 17:32

Thanks for your good wishes, perimenoworrier, and mine back to you. 💚

Actually, Mercurial123 is right. I forgot to mention that I pre-dosed on max strength solpadine before the procedure, which also helped.
I was glad that I took some extra pills with me, as the cramps afterwards were a bit fierce, but thankfully short lived.

(BTW, it was a standard full bladder ultrasound, KnittedJimmyChoos, followed by another done internally with a wand, just to confirm. They were able to make accurate measurements of the uterine lining.)