Thickened Womb Lining - Heath Anxiety - any positive outcomes (please)

[SnotandBothered]

Hello

I am a health worrying and have spent my whole adult life trying to get on top of it, but I am usually worrying about something that hasn't happened yet and am eventually able to rationalise.

Following an ultrasound this morning, I am finding it much harder to stop spiralling and wondered if anyone has any 'non cancerous' outcomes they can share whilst i wait....

Background is menopausal for about 18 months then had a light (brownish) bleed about two months ago. Ultrasound including vaginal this morning and whilst ovaries looked ok, there was thickening of the womb lining - approx 7mm. I was told that the safe range for my age is >5

I am being referred for a biopsy but the sonographer offered very little reassurance other than to say that 'sometimes' it might be something else'.

Has anyone had a similar reading with a happy outcome? I realise that doesn't mean I won't be diagnosed with anything but just to keep my head above water whilst i wait?

Thank you

Yup, mine is thickened but all good. I was told a name for it but I have forgotten what it was. Like you I was menopausal, I had unexplained bleeding and weight loss but nothing sinister was found.

I had the same. All was fine after hysteroscopy and biopsy. Just turned out to be a peri symptom. Chances are you'll be completely fine

I have had endometrial hyperplasia and polyps and it was just related to the progesterone element of my HRT not working as well as it should. A change seems to have sorted it out.

I have had an ultrasound and four hysteroscopies in the last year and have seen the inside of my uterus onscreen more than i have seen some close friends.

Thank you for sharing your experiences.

I am trying to stop myself from googling. It's really hard for me not to sink into blackness and I really don't want the kids to see my worry. You are really helping.

It's called a bulky uterus and it really could not be more common - so you don't need to worry yourself about 'positive outcomes.' It literally is just 'a thing', found in women who are either older or who have had children. It means precisely nothing in the vast majority of cases

Ha, me too -- or at least I'm awaiting the ultrasound for the same thing. I should think we'll both be fine, but good for you for getting things checked out.

I had it too. Started my period after Christmas holidays and it hadn't stopped by the end of February so I had it checked out. I was diagnosed with a thickened lining and was told it was really common in peri-menopause. They did the ultrasound and biopsy (all-clear) and then the mirena coil was recommended to help with the incessant bleeding. I was really unsure of it as I too have a bit of health anxiety but it has been wonderful. After a couple of very painful periods I haven't had anything but light spotting since May!

👋 another bulky uterus here! Fibroids and years of peri menopause, mirena coil sorted me out and gradually thinned the lining. Was chatting to my lovely gynaecologist last week at my mirena replacement appointment who Said thicker lining is frighteningly common in peri and menopausal women and is nothing to be concerned about (I had a biopsy some years ago and got the all clear).

I am really really appreciating these responses. Thank you.

I left the appointment today feeling awful. She made it sound quite bleak so this thread is helping me keep a lid on the panic and recognise that it might not be 'worst case scenario'.

@rosie39forever

I am really heartened to hear the GP comment. Unless the woman yesterday saw something that she isn't sharing with me, I am not sure why she couldn't at least have said "It's not uncommon - try not to worry for now" or something. She honestly gave me nothing but a sad, serious face.

I am really sorry to bump this and be annoying and needy.

It has been getting very difficult to keep a lid on things the past couple of days. I have had crampy lower tummy pains (something I haven't had since my periods stopped nearly two years ago) and lower back ache and I am reading everything into this.

I have been on MN for over fifteen years. I know nobody can diagnose me as I have pointed out to many many posters but i am coming here instead of googling , as I know that google take me.

I don't even know what i want... Yet more reassurance I suppose that a slightly thickened womb lining and lower back ache/period like pains doesn't always lead to a worst case scenario diagnoses.

I was doing ok, then two things happened. The twinges started and didn't stop, and then a friend - not close - but someone I recently reconnected with died suddenly this week aged forty-two and a picture of health from the outside, and those two things (along with the waiting for the hysteroscopy and biopsy) have tipped me into a real panic. I feel like a bit of a selfish twat. There are people battling properly diagnosed, and life threatening conditions (even within my circle of friends) but I am finding it hard to breath, speak, smile, act normally as inside I am jelly.

Maybe suggestions for controlling those feelings would help too? I'm being impatient with DC because I am so scared.

I'm so sorry you're feeling this way OP. How long until your appointment? Could you tell your GP about these new symptoms, explain how worried you are and see if they can get the appointment moved up at all? They might be able to prescribe something to calm you down as just saying 'it will be alright' probably isn't going to cut it.

Can you try and focus on just the present moment? I have a mantra I use when I'm flying that I repeat over and over which is 'I'm ok RIGHT NOW'. It helps me calm down when I'm catastrophising the future i.e. thinking we will crash. I don't ever fully settle but it makes it manageable.
Hugs to you OP, anxiety is so horrible.

Chin up OP! You're going to be just FINE. Bulky uterus is normal in the vast majority of cases

I was told I had thickening of the uterine wall in May 2019 and in June I had a hysteroscopy and endometrial ablation under general anaesthetic. I had a few very light periods after the operation, my uterus was too big for the ablation machine (go me!). I seem to be fine now & haven’t had any bleeding for 15 months . I hope you have good news.

Hi there, although not menopausal (currently pregnant) I have endometriosis and was more recently diagnosed with adenomyosis as similarity my uterus lining was showing a thickened appearance. I haven't been able to have anything done as I wished to conceive but they did explain ablation can be used to thin the lining out and reduce the associated cramping. Wishing you all the best xx

I totally understand your fears, I too have awful health anxiety. I have had gynae issues for quite sometime. Back in 2013 an ultra sound scan revealed I had a uterine wall thickness of 19mm with uterine polyps present also. Since then I have had endless scans and 2 hysteroscopies with biopsies and polyps removal. The thickness has since been measured anything from 7mm to 11mm and the last scan a few months ago was measured at 13.5mm. I also get ovarian cysts. I have been awaiting my 3rd hysteroscopy since last August but due to Covid it’s been on hold and I have eventually been given an appointment for 13/9. They offer me the mirena each time but I put it off as I’m scared from the horror stories online but I’ve had enough, I have awful periods and at 48 I’m probably in peri too so feel crap from that. I am also very anaemic and wished I’d done something years ago. I still don’t want the mirena but have had enough and am hoping I can get to the menopause with it in then have it removed.

Also must add, I’ve had many, many ultrasounds and all sonographers are different, some chat constantly and talk about everything they find on screen, others say very little, I hate those ones because being a major worrier I fill in those blanks myself with the worst case scenario.

Thank you all.

@FoofOfTheWalkingDead - I will try the mantra thing. "I'm ok right now" is simplistic and true enough that it might just work. I DO catastrophize and it gets to the point where I can't even speak to my family because I am so self-absorbed in my 'imagined worst case scenario' that I just don't have capacity to be normal with them. It's ridiculous, self-indulgent and I hate it. I will try your suggestion.

Thank you @OctaviaTriangle. That's exactly what I want to hear

And thank you everyone for sharing your own experiences. I can't tell you how much this thread is keeping me from spiralling.

@Thewholeshackshimmy. Yes! Don't leave blanks for me to fill in, because I will fill them in with the bleakest imaginable outcomes!!!

@SnotandBothered I know this is a very old thread, but how did you get on? Well, I hope. Currently having similar worries.

Hi @JoeLovesGina it turned out fine.

Just as everyone had predicted. I should have come back to update. Sorry

Had the hysteroscopy and all was well. The people doing the hysteroscopy were much better at communicating that the ultrasound team and gave me a running commentary - "just doing this" and "we're just doing that" and "all going fine" and "feels normal" etc.

They didn't really give me any reason for it being thickened but ABSOLUTELY concurred that it's fairly common.

One thing I will mention is that I found the hysteroscopy quite unpleasant. I have (I think) a reasonably high pain threshold (delivered 2 babies with zero pain relief) but it was the sensation I really hated. It felt like an electric shock wizzing about up there. I had turned down any kind of numbing or sedative but with hindsight, I would have taken it. Just a thought.

Good luck with your investigations and take comfort from the absolute truth of this thread - it's common.