Scan for postmenopausal bleeding today

[KatyMac]

I'm not especially worried, as I changed my hrt and it seems to be connected with that - I'm going back on the old one after my appt

But I've had this before and the first time I had an un anesthesized hysteroscopy which caused severe pain, they carried on when I asked them to stop and I had days of physical/mental trauma afterwards

The next time I went in gibbering about "I'm not having a hysteroscopy without an anesthetic" "you can't do that to me again" etc in a very confused and quite irrational way & I was told off and informed my other one 'hadn't been that bad' & 'of course they stopped when I asked' & they were very grumpy and said I was over reacting - I probably was

So today is a different place (clinic not hospital) & a hysteroscopy is unlikely because it's a clinic (which I think is why I'm calm)

But if I get referred to the hospital, how do I ensure I don't get an un anesthesised hysteroscopy again - is it worth carrying several signed notes saying I don't want one

Over reacting? Me? Yes!

You just keep your knickers on and say no

I think that's very dismissive when I have explained how anxious I am

I think you will have to explain to them
that you are very anxious and please could they offer you a GA. Obviously the process would include a pre op etc but over on The Menopause Matters website forum, plenty of women have had a GA for hysteroscopy.

It's a very invasive procedure and you put yourself in a vulnerable position.

I've had 2 and they were fine, but equally, I can appreciate the anxiety they can cause.

Good luck 🤞

I had such a bad experience it's left me insecure and unable to communicate effectively

Oh dear. Best thing to do, is either write down what you want to say, or ask someone to advocate your wishes on your behalf?

I'm sorry you had such a distressing experience the last time. They cannot do any sort of procedure on you without consent, so practice saying the phrase "No, I don't consent to that, I would like an anaesthetic for this procedure." Over and over if needs be.

Hi @KatyMac I am in similar position in that I’m due to get hysteroscopy next week but (for various reasons which make me believe it will be very painful) I don’t want it without a GA. I phoned the clinic to tell them this immediately on receipt of my appointment letter. The secretary who took my call wasn’t nice and I didn’t trust she would pass my concerns on, so I have since written a letter to the doctor and emailed it to them.

I think you should do the same so that you are well prepared and don’t get accused of being difficult or time wasting on the day.

We are all different and cope differently with things. I don’t know what’s happened to me, (well, meno I guess) as I used to take everything in my stride with things like this, but I simply cannot face the thought of this procedure. I think it’s the thought of the vulnerability, pain being administered on me by instruments being put in my body. I’ve read so many stories of it being excruciating. 😣 best of luck with it.
I referred to NICE and RCOG guidelines in my letter, as clearly best practice is to offer women proper pain relief/anesthetic. They don’t do this as it is quicker (and therefore cheaper) not to. I am never going to fall for the ‘’pop 2 paracetamol first and everything will be fine’’ line. Let us know how it goes.

"Only 30% of women have problems"
"It's easier for us without anesthetic"
"The pain isn't that bad"
"It's more cost effective"

The second time I had a scan they wanted to do a hysteroscopy but decided as I wanted a ga it wasn't necessary....looks like they made the wrong call - I'd better check when that was

Thank god for mumnet

My online diary says I had a pipeline biopsy in July 2018 which was the horrific pain & I couldn't cycle home

Then ovaries out in Oct 18 - they cocked up the hrt big time!

In Feb 20 I had a ga/hysteroscopy for post meno bleeding and a polyp removed and a d&c type thing for a thickened lining (this caused Jo end of problems as my mum was also in hospital and DD had to go up to stay with her when she was discharged as I couldn't as was having surgery - my mum never forgave me!

In Jan 22 I had bleeding again and a scan - they wanted to do a hysteroscopy but changed their minds when I said it had to be under GA

God I'm a fussy bugger!

& now I have been up half the night with lower belly/back pain, like period pains I guess - I guess everything got 'disturbed'

I was really not expecting to be in pain this long!!

Do you have anything like endometriosis?

Not that I've been told - I had some scarring and adhesions removed in 2018 at the same time as my ovaries which may have been from my exploding ectopic in 2000)

I was talking to a hcp about the bleeding and he said oh your results just arrived i have a 42 x 42 x 41 mm subserosal fibroid (growing outside the uterus possibly on a stalk!)

4.8mm uterine lining so thats fab (it's less tha 5mm which is the cut off)

& 30% of women having an internal scan have bleeding, they could have told me that on the day!

Watch the subserosal fibroid. They can grow and become painful over time.

Really, I may be at that stage already 🙄

All the info I could find online is for premenopausal women

It's a myth that fibroids shrink with menopause. Oestrogen may also contribute to their growth.

Think a fibroid on a stalk has a name, but just be mindful of it. They can grow and press on organs. Usually benign but nasty blighters. My advice: get it removed sometime in the future.

It's my second and it wasn't there 2 years ago, I do t know how fast these things grow

I've beennon higher oestrogen for about 4 months and I've just reverted ro the previous level as I didn't think it was agreeing with me

What were the circumstances that this HCP told you your results? Out of hours at a weekend? It's left you worried and confused and no HCP should have access to your records unless they are your GP or you're in hospital. A receptionist isn't supposed to pass on this info because all it's done is left you worried and confused because the HCP (whoever they were) wasn't qualified to interpret them, presumably @KatyMac

He wasn't a nurse practioner but something along those lines; he was triaging (hes a paramedic) my phone call about the bleeding and was very knowledgeable and reassuring about that - just knowing other women bleed was reassuring to here (I just checked he's an Advanced Clinical Practitioner)

And it was 3pm on a Friday, he went off to talk to a gp and phoned back at 4:40 explaining they had written to gyn and were expecting a reply in 3/4 days about what to do (I'm compiling a list of questions to ask then)

He explained he was not supposed to deal with the test results as I was a "complex case" but my results would be on the app for me to see anyway within an hour or so and given the timing he was going to go through it with me (after checking with the GP)

Tbh I came out with more info and a more structured action plan than anything I've been to the gp for in years

He clarified the spelling for me so I could Google, he gave me the info about the bleeding he told me what symptoms to look out for and when to come back (rather than "if it doesn't get better come back" or "if it gets worse come back")

I'd have the same concerns/need for info if a gp told me; I have a fibroid it's outside my uterus and my endometrial lining is actually very healthy (which with these things is the big worry - 2 years ago it was 6mm which is borderline concerning)

70% of women have fibroids, 30% of women get bleeding yes I want more info.....but I'm like that

I've been 'poorly' for a few months, I've just changed my hrt as I thought that was the problem but it looks more likely that the fibroid was the problem

Reoccurring fibroids (is 2 reoccurring?) might mean a hysterectomy- but given I have a bladder repair a rectorcelel and a partial prolapse- it isn't something to be gone into lightly

& MN is a bloody amazing resource/online diary