@UnderBlue
I didn’t have the energy to respond earlier and just remembered your thread. I’ve just had a total hysterectomy and ovaries removed. (That means uterus, cervix, Fallopian tubes, ovaries). So I’m tired.
I had adenomyosis - along with endo and a blood filled cyst. Adenomyosis isn’t a well known but is actually pretty common. It’s only recently been diagnosable pre hysterectomy. I am actually wondering if you have this. Or a fibroid. You could also have endometriosis of course but the bearing down thing to me says probably a heavy uterus.
A radiographer can pick up a fibroid. But only an experienced radiographer can tell whether the mass they see on the screen is a fibroid or adenomyosis on a vaginal scan. And only an experienced radiographer can see if adenomyosis is just in one spot or widespread.
Your symptoms are similar to mine were. The pressure from the uterus, the pre period spotting for several days, the longer period and the intense pain. But these are also symptoms of a fibroid and overlap a little with those of polyps.
As for endo. This can be picked up to a certain extent on mri but the only sure way is to investigate laparoscopically.
In your position, I would have a read up about adenomyosis, fibroids and polyps. I would present with as many symptoms as possible and ask for a referral to a fully trained gynaecologist as opposed to a radiographer (I saw the latter through the nhs and they didn’t pick adenomyosis up). Unless you has stated otherwise, I would also tell them you’ve been ttc.
If you are refused, pay to see one yourself. It will probably cost a lot. But will be worth it as any of these cause difficulties conceiving and potentially infertility. My adenomyosis had made me completely infertile.
As for the pain. Yes, mine was very intense the last few months. The gp gave me 30/500 cocodamol and I took ibuprofen as I can’t take mefenamic acid. It helped to a certain extent. Have you tried taking otc cocodamol combined with any nsaid such as mefenamic acid or ibuprofen etc? If yes, ask for the higher dosage cocodamol on prescription. You can also get diclofenac suppositories. These work far better than orally.
The 30/500 cocodamol wasn’t enough and I cant take codeine alone so I asked the gynaecologist for something decent. He gave me tramadol. That caused mega side effects. Then I went back to the gp and he gave me morphine. So I took permanent paracetamol and ibuprofen and morphine for the breakthrough pain. Morphine was such a relief that I took it in low doses for most of the 7 weeks til my op. I’m a chronic pain sufferer. It’s difficult to get tramadol and morphine btw. I’d already tried some other painkillers along the way years ago.