Post-menopausal bleeding - consultant appointment and worried

[ChristmasFairyLiquid]

Hoping someone can give me some words of reassurance or at least an idea of what to expect.

I had a post-menopausal bleed (felt exactly like a period - 5 days long with sore boobs in the run up) last month.

Contacted the doctor as you’re meant to and had an ultrasound and internal scan last week.

Have just been called for an appointment with a consultant at the hospital on Saturday which has terrified me. Does anyone know if this is standard, or what it might mean, or what I can expect? Thank you for any info.

@ChristmasFairyLiquid @I am in a waiting time situation too. It's horrendous. I'm imagining the worse situation possible. I had a scan after one bleed ( which was same length and symptom as a period) 14 months after last one. Scan shows normal endometrium everywhere except one place where it is 6.7mm. Doc says it might be a polyp but doesn't know. Now I'm imagining that she said that so not to worry me! I'm a wreck. I live alone, no family except very elderly parents, no friends where I live. Not told anyone apart from a friend who lives in a different country. I'm already planning ' what ifs' which I know I shouldn't. I'm blaming myself as the doctor said twice that I was high risk because I'm overweight ( put on loads going through menopause) and childless.

Sorry you’re going through this alone - my imagination would run away with me too if I had too much time on my own to ponder. I’m also getting stressed about backache and various twinges I’ve been getting - it’s very easy to work yourself up into a state isn’t it?!

But I’m sure doctors don’t give false hope just to make people feel better - overall I think they tend to be pretty truthful. So if she said she thinks it could be a polyps, I’m sure that is what she thinks.

And I hardly think being childless or overweight are things you should be blaming yourself for here, we all have different risk factors for illness, many of which are out of our control.

Fingers crossed we both have good outcomes. Do you know when your latest results are due back?

@ChristmasFairyLiquid results were due in ' a week or so' which was last Friday. So probably tomorrow or Tuesday.

She just said ' it might be a polyp'. I've worked myself into a right state.

@Ann1968 just popping in to say hello and provide sisterly solidarity whilst you wait for results.

Polyps are pretty common I think so hopefully that's the cause.

I know what you mean re imagining worse case scenarios. I have done that all my life. Mine manifests in role playing in my head, scenarios in quite a lot of detail. In therapy I had a long time ago the therapist explained that this is part of a normal human coping mechanism. We expose ourselves to worst-case scenarios then play them out to test and have a dry run of how we might cope should the worst case arise. It's the brain's way of preparing us for potential hard times. Unfortunately/ fortunately (depending on actual outcome!) we mostly don't need the worst case scenarios. The issue comes when we either over-synthesise , or repeat it so much it becomes an all-consuming obsession that bears no relation to reality, and is out of proportion with the actual risk. The worrying becomes worse than the actual problem!

So, if you are obsessing, come on here and talk to us so we can help you break out of that destructive pattern. If you are just running through horrible potential then that's OK, if distressing, and you are definitely not alone.

My current worries (most are very out of proportion and almost comedic but including them here to share the kind of shit that goes through my normally sensible , rational head)
Supposing I need to have a hysterectomy. Shit. Major surgery just when I've recovered from another big illness and am getting my life back. Gah, no sex for weeks. 😳
What if it's cancer and I lose all my hair ? 🧑‍🦲
How would my kids and DH cope with me being ill again (I've had a lot of illness over the years)
Bugger. I haven't signed my will yet. And I haven't worked out my funeral music 😂
What if the delays to my screening are allowing nasties to grow unchecked. I might just have to hunt down the horrible consultant (who belittled me) I saw last time and punch her repeatedly in the face 🥊😑😮🤓😂 (I'm not normally a violent person ) I might get arrested 👮end up in the slammer and not get any treatment at all 🤪

See, a ridiculous set of worries for what's probably a hormone imbalance treated with a different hormone regimen. You are not alone.

Grrrr. Sorry.

Just called the hospital because on Friday they cancelled my pre op assessment and hadn't provided a new date.

They've now said it's not cancelled at all. Just moved rooms.

I mean what the actual? Supposing I hadn't gone ?

What a waste of time and anxiety. But on the plus side I'm comforted for 14 April procedure. 😆

@ooooohnoooooo no!! What a rubbish communication fail - very lucky you rang them,

Hope it’s full steam ahead from here and - obviously - a positive outcome.

And your health anxiety sounds v familiar. I think a lot of us probably do this sort of thing, I certainly do, and slightly ironically I think it’s worse because I have been lucky enough to be in good health mostly, so I tend to take it for granted unless the smallest thing goes wrong and then I catastrophise. Hugs to you 🤗

My similar bleeding has been investigated twice with hysteroscopy. Nothing untoward. Mirena coil pretty much stopped it.

Agree ask for GA for hysteroscopy.

Thank you 😊 - pleased yours has turned out nothing to worry about (twice! - stressful) and hope the same is true for everyone waiting on results.

Hope everyone waiting for results is doing ok.

I have a pre-assessment this afternoon for my hysteroscopy on Thurs … I find I’m fine in between times and can forget about it all but as soon as I have anything to do with the doctor or hospital I’m a nervous wreck again 😭.

Blood test results still not back from last Tuesday 😫 - just rang the dr and they said they can take 5 working days so on that rumbles…

All so stressful. Well wishes to the rest of you 💐

… also they keep referring to the hysteroscopy as a ‘surgery’ which is freaking me out slightly 🙈

Hello @ChristmasFairyLiquid they always say that when GA is involved. And also because they might take out polyps if they find them.

And surgeons. They just like to strut and be all surgeon-y 😬

If you are on The NHS app your results might show on there before you hear direct. Worth checking.

I bought another packet of oanty liners today. I'm 60 next month. 😩

Fecking hormones. But my body is quite clever and generally behaves so I'll not get too cross with it.

Thank you @ooooohnoooooo - good point about the surgery (and surgeons 🤣) - I’m quite nervous about it now as I’m not good with this sort of thing (I’m not sure any of us are, really) - but will try and be brave.

The procedure is now making me more worried than the outcome - not sure if that’s a good thing or not!!

Fecking hormones indeed - though like you, I’ve got off quite lightly up to now so should be thankful for that really.

I’ve had one under g and you really know irking about it. In, under and out was my experience. And if you think k of the ga as intravenous gin and tonic (other alcoholic drinks are available 😆) then it gives you something to look forward to 😎

I like the GA/G&T analogy! 🍸

Fingers crossed my local is enough but if not I will be thinking of G&Ts!!

How is everyone doing? - any results/updates? Hoping for good news for all those waiting on investigations.

Hysteroscopy day for me - eek. All handholds and good vibes welcome (I’m deliberately avoiding another thread I’ve seen about hysteroscopy pain 🙈)

No news for me yet!

Sorry to hear that - the waiting is a nightmare isn’t it?! I still don’t have the results of my blood test done last Tuesday (ie 9 days ago 😫)

Reporting back…

I had my hysteroscopy this afternoon with local anaesthetic (which is a little jab into the cervix, like the one you’d have in your gum at the dentist).

I took 2 paracetamol about 30 mins before this.

For me, the whole process wasn’t too bad at all - uncomfortable rather than painful. Realise this is different for everyone and there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to who suffers more - but for me the thought of it was much worse than the reality. Like a bit of period pain but not actual sharp pain IYKWIM which I think was what I was scared of.

Still waiting to be discharged so obv may have more period type pain to come later, but for me, the process wasn’t too bad at all. More scary in prospect with an operating theatre and about half a dozen people 😳 - I don’t think I’ve had as much undivided attention since I had a c-section.

The consultant said she’d be surprised if the results were bad as only 5.5mm womb lining, but I should get them in a couple of weeks.

Happy to answer any other questions anyone might have about it.

All best wishes to you all and thank you all for the support on this thread, it’s really helped me out and I hope been helpful for some of the rest of you too xx

Glad it went well for you.

Thank you 😊

Glad it went well @ChristmasFairyLiquid

Ooh @ChristmasFairyLiquid that's such good news. I'm glad it went well.

Onwards and up . Have a fab weekend!

Thank you, obviously there are the results to come (I was so het up about the procedure I almost forgot it wasn’t the be-all-and-end-all!) but I’m v relieved it’s over and 🤞 for the outcome.

Good vibes to you too.

Well having thought the bleeding had stopped there is a little spotting today. I'm three weeks into the six week wait for results of my biopsy wish it would hurry up and arrive

Ah @Chrysanthemum5 I hope you get the results soon and all is well … feels like such a long time when you’re waiting, doesn’t it?

I still don’t have the blood test results from my cyst blood test 🤷‍♀️ - I’m half scared to keep looking for them on the app as my initial consultant said they might be high even if it’s benign 😳 so not sure how meaningful they will be without an official explanation anyway…