I have a gynae appt on Tues and am getting rather nervous. anyone around to calm me down a bit?

[Aero]

Have been bleeding weirdly for several months and GP has referred me for investigation. It may sound dim, but I'm not really sure what to expect.

Should I take someone with me? No-one really around as my sister will be babysitting and dh will have just returned to work after our holiday, so will be diffiecult for him to get home in time. I will be driving there.

Saw the GP just before holiday and got a speedy hosp appt for Tues.

Am also getting worried about what the problem might be.

Hiya I had this. They did an internal and had a look, also took some swabs. Have also had internal scan but that was more for the pain than the bleeding. They were very lovely and kind.

There will be a nurse there so you wont be alone. The doctor will more than likely want to do an examination. Probably with a speculum, the same thing they use to do a smear. Your GP should have already done some swabs to check for infection, they will do this if you havn't had them done.

You can take someone if you want.

The Gp couldn't take a swab because of the bleeding.

I've been basically bleeding (little bits and old brownish blood) non stop for about nine days or so before the heavier bleeding of a normal period. Then my period for another five days or so. Then I get a break for a week or so and it all starts again.

I stopped taking the pill in March (dh had snip), but I'd have thought anything related to that would have settled down by now. At first I put it down to missing the odd pill (while I was still taking them), but it's just got worse rather than better over the last few months. Last week on hols, my period finished, then two days later I bled bright red (sorry if tmi) into loo. I got a bit panicky then, but there's been no more since.

As long as I'll be ok to drive after, I'll be fine on my own I think.

I just know I'll be so nervous that I'll totally tense up which won't really make things easier for me.

Also meant to say Thanks for replying.

Good luck - I went to my appointment for heavy bellding on my own, and I wish i hadn't, as I was kindly treated and all, but was recommended a hysterectomy and that came out of the blue - I was in shock and tears.

do tell someone that you're going and give them a ring, if you can't bring anyone.

Good luck and hope the problem is a simple one, easily fixed. Sounds like they might take bloods to check your hormone levels, so I would wear a dark coloured shirt with loose sleeves - nothing worse than having to wriggle out of a tight sleeved top to have bloods taken, and then to have a blob of blood on the sleeve from where the plaster came away.

Good luck!

when I was in hosp I had really heavy bleeding and they did swabs anyway (messy!!!) so be prepared for that

Whats it your most nervous about that actual examination or what it is thats wrong? (like for example I wasnt too bothered about the examination as I had had similar in the past. was more worried about what was going on. But I know some people are really really nervous about examiniations etc down there)

Thanks zazen - that's the sort of thing that worries me regarding going on my own. That they might say something I'll be shocked about etc. Mil would normally babysit and I'd have asked my sister to come, but MIL is currently convalescing following a recent fall when she fractured her hip! I haven't even mentioned this to her or my mum (who lives in N Ireland). I don't want them to worry.

If I'm honest, both giraffes. I hate any examinations 'down there'. I can't help tensing up. I almost passed out when they attemped to put a mirena coil in. Needless to say I didn't go back for a second attempt!

I'm more concerned with the bigger picture though, so have no objections to examinations happening. it's just that I find them difficult to put myself through.

I'm worried about what is going on. I've never had period problems before and up until recently, they've been fairly regular.

I also sometimes get a dullish dragging feeling in the lower tummy area around the times that I am bleeding.

I don't want to google it at this stage though........

I have had more exams "down there" than I care to remember (and I've seen photos of both my ovaries and uterine cavity post op), I know how you feel but it wil be okay. The fear is often worse than the reality.

You need to know why exactly this is happening and I would focus on that.

Do mention all symptoms you've been experiencing. You need to tell him exactly how your the nature of the periods have changed. If you have kept a "symptom diary" to date I'd take that along with me (infact I would advise any woman with "period problems" to keep a symptom diary). If you've had any pain mention that too.

Write down any questions you want to ask well ahead of time (no question is daft), you don't want to leave there thinking, "oh I should have asked about...".

You will also be asked about your menstrual history and also what happened around the time of birth (did you have a c-section for instance or any infection post partum?).

My guess is that you will be examined or scanned internally to see if there are any fibroids present. These can cause symptoms of heavy bleeding.

Good luck for Tuesday!.

No advice here but just wanted to wish you luck

I had to go through this last year. As other posters have said, you will probably be examined and may have blood tests as well, to check hormone levels, etc.

If possible, do take someone with you. I had a very good friend with me last year and I couldn't have coped without her support.

If they advise that you need a scan quickly, please don't panic (easy to say, I know) as the scans can show up stuff like fibroids.

Good luck.

Thanks everyone. I always seem to start threads like this late at night when everyone is settled (except me) and my mind gets carried away with all the worrying.

My mum had fibroids. I don't know if these things can be related to family history.

My bleeding isn't heavy though. Light and old seeming and sometimes smells unpleasant (oh god - I can't believe I'm telling you this). It's not painful (just the usual monthly cramping) and tbh is more of a nuisance than anything else at this stage.

Thanks for helping to reassure me. I haven't kept a diary as such, but I have noticed a pattern of events so will tell them what I remember.

Have just been talking with dh. Was feeling a bit like he wasn't sharing my (bigger picture) concerns. He's going to try and get home in time to come with me to the appointment.

My sister is ill though (throwing up), and isn't looking great for babysitting. Hopefully she'll be feeling better tomorrow and dh won't have to stay home with the dc instead of coming with me.

I just wish I could stop worrying........

Have been and am back. It wasn't as bad as I'd imagined thankfully, nevertheless not the most pleasant experience I've ever been through. The consultant, however, was lovely, gentle and professional and has taken a biopsy of the lining of my womb. I'm also to have a scan shortly.

He thinks nothing serious, and is happy to fit a mirena for me to relieve the symptoms. This has been tried before by my GP and I almost passed out with the pain, but he assures me that it can be done and I can have a local anaesthetic to make things easier.

The nice thing about it (if there is one) is that I saw the consultant at the local private hospital (as NHS patient under new choose and book system). The service was soooooooo lovely. Would be nice to be able to afford it! Not that one should have to pay for it, but the courtesy shown made the whole experience considerably easier. I didn't feel rushed at all, and that I had time to ask the questions I wanted answers to, which is different from what I'm used to as I always worry about taking up too much of a a doctor's time!

Nothing wrong with the local NHS hospital at all, but they are often understaffed/overworked there and the little things that make the big differences can sometimes be forgotten. I felt like I was the most important person in the room this evening and it made an unpleasant experience a whole lot easier.

I felt a bit like having a free upgrade at the airport! Would be lovely if everyone's hospital experiences could always be like that.

Having said that, I would never knock the services provided by our usual hospital. We've always been treated well there.

Just glad it's over (for now anyway), and I feel much calmer about it all.

hey well done Aero !

Thanks MAS

Well done Aero!
The worrying is worst isn't it?
I live in Ireland and had to pay 180 euros to be seen by my private consultant (even though I have medical insurance).

Sounds like you went to the right place and had a calm experience. Keep us posted with your results / feelings OK