….to be worrying over 2 week referral hospital appointment?

[KrustyTheKat]

So I’m 46 and post menopausal. I’m currently taking HRT and have not had a period since before 2019. I’ve had no incidents of spotting/bleeding in all this time.

About 4 weeks ago I had the worse stomach cramps ever! Like excruciating period pains. I then had some very light spotting.

I contacted my GP expecting him to say maybe change HRT or something along those lines.

He asked lots of questions and because I’ve been getting constipation and my stomach is very bloated he’s sent me for blood tests, a faecal test (for bowel cancer) and he did a 2 week referral to the hospitals gynaecology department for an urgent scan for cancer!

My appointment is on Tuesday and as the time gets nearer I’m getting more and more worried.

I’ve had no more spotting incidents but have had intermittent bad stomach cramps

Has anyone been in this situation before? Can you tell me what happened please?

@Akite I’m having a scan and seeing the consultant tomorrow which is good as I’m hoping they should be able to tell me there and then what’s going on.
A virtual handhold would be great 😊. Good luck tomorrow, I’ll check back in tomorrow afternoon

@Akite @KrustyTheKat good luck for your appointments today x

Hi @juicy0 , thank you. How did your daughters appointment go? Hope all I well

I went onto the 2 week pathway due to a suspicious ovarian cyst. 2 weeks and 3 days after the MDT meeting I was in hospital having a hysterectomy because they just weren't sure what the hell was going on in there. Traumatic but all is good now.

@KrustyTheKat her ultrasound went well and all looks normal thankfully. Still needs further tests to get to the bottom of her symptoms but looks to be hormone or bowel related

@juicy0 That’s good news so far then.

I’ve had my appointment. So the consultant asked me some questions then did the vaginal ultrasound. She said my ovaries are fine and there are no fibroids but there is a small area where the womb lining is slightly thicker (measures 6.6mm should be around 4mm she said).

She said she’d like to go in a take a sample of the lining but when she tried she couldn’t get into my cervix so she’s referred me for a hysteroscopy which she said should happen within the next few weeks.

Im glad that bit is over and she didn’t seem too concerned so I’m a bit less worried

I'm pleased to hear it went well and you're feeling less worried. Hopefully it won't be too long before they can carry out the next procedure. I think the waiting and not knowing is so difficult x

glad it went well @KrustyTheKat, that's one over and done with! And for your daughter too @juicy0 .
mine is not till after work which is a loooooong time to go still. Been very busy this morning though so no time to dwell on it.

@Akite Good luck later, let us know how you get on

KrustyTheKat, I have recently undergone a hysteroscopy for the same thing.
Not to alarm you but this is a procedure which should not be done as an outpatient and certainly not without pain relief.
I urge you to find out if they offer you the choice of a ga, which I would advise you to accept, if not at least find out what pain relief they offer.

Hi @crimsonlake the consultant did say I could have it under a GA if I find this procedure too painful. She suggested I take painkillers 1 hour before the procedure.
Is it really painful? Did you have it without a GA?

The two painkiller suggestion is ridiculous and a totally inadequate pain relief. I strongly suggest you have the procedure under GA.
Unfortunately I was not given the choice and was not even advised to take painkillers, tbh I did take a couple beforehand as I had a headache.
I was offered gas and air at some point as it took three attempts to take a biopsy from my womb.
Pslhub.org, is just one campaign group against painful hysteroscopy.

My appt went well, scan didn't find any problems so it seems like it was just unexplained bleeding.

@Akite that's great news, what a relief for you

@Akite Thats good news

It's incredibly variable. Some women don't get much pain and say it is only slightly worse than a smear. Others find it really painful.

If it was me and I trusted the gynaecologist to stop if I needed her to (crucial), I would give it a go without a GA. However, I was worried that I was going to be pressured into continuing even if it was too painful, I would opt for a GA.

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow Yes you’re right, it seems to be very different for everyone. The doctor I saw was very reassuring that if I found the procedure too painful they would stop then refer me to have a GA.
I’m definitely giving it a go without the GA

MissLucyEyelesbarrow, I am assuming you have gone through this procedure yourself?
KrustyTheKat, good luck with whatever you decide and come back and let us know.

My friend has just had this exact thing.
she’s older than you but out of the blue began spotting then virtually a light period and dragging pains In her groin and tummy.

All turned out her HRT needed adjusting.

UPDATE:
So I’ve just had my hysteroscopy and thought I’d update my thread.

I had to wait around for about 45 minutes initially as they were running late which added to my already heightened anxiety.

Once in the staff were really nice and reassuring and honestly it was so much better than I was expecting.

I had no pain when the tube went in and they had a look around and took some pictures. Then they did the biopsy, that was about 30 seconds of period like cramps and then it was over.

Its now been over 2 hours since the procedure and I’m having intermittent light cramping and light bleeding.

I know everyone is different but my experience was really good in terms of pain and discomfort during the procedure.

That's good to hear, OP - hope you are relaxing now, and fingers crossed for a nice clear result ASAP.

@TheYearOfSmallThings thank you. I’m feeling good just now and the cramps have all but gone