Worried

[sleepfortheweek]

For about 2 years I've been getting random mid cycle bleeding. It can range from clear discharge with bloody streaks, to brown 'old blood' and sometimes even an isolated clot. 18 months ago I had a pelvic exam and ultrasound which didn't show anything unusual.

It's been playing on my mind though, and I am now noticing I have a very bloated tummy (no weight gain), reflux, referred shoulder pain and very sore boobs and lower abdomen at certain points in my cycle.

Plucked up the courage to phone the doctor again, and I'm waiting on an appointment to get a further pelvic examination, bloods to check iron/hormones/thyroid etc and a smear (3 years since last smear).

I also have a copper coil which was put in 3 years ago.

I'm really nervous that something awful is going to be found 😥. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

I don't have much to answer with. But I have a lot of similar symptoms to you irregular bleeding/spotting leading upto mid cycle, reflux, sometimes sore boobs and I also have a sore patch at the right hand side of my pelvis. Like you I had an ultrasound approx 18 months ago that was clear. Had a recent pelvic exam which was clear but gp has referred me for another ultrasound and ordered full set of bloods. Its just so worrying and frustrating isn't it. I hope you find the answer soon.

I came onto the health boards here to write something very similar myself.
Bleeding on and off for last 18m, painful sex so don’t bother anymore- so maybe I’d bleed after that too, who knows?
Can be light pink discharge to bright red like a period.
Smear 2 years ago. Doctor referred me
To ultrasound which was clear. Then reluctantly sent me to gynae who shrugged shoulders, had a quick look with a speculum 8 months ago and prescribed me the mini pill.
Started mini pill in January as a last resort as if anything it was getting worse, hadn’t taken the pills before hand as feels like I’m potentially masking something serious.
Been on pill around 6 weeks and I’ve bled for half that time 😩
After nearly two years of this I’m really getting fed up. Have made a private appointment but I’m worried it’s too late at this point if it’s anything sinister.
Hope you get sorted soon with it, none of my friends seem to get how much it’s impacting me now. So tired from it all! Xx

Sorry to hear you are both going through similar 😥.

It's a constant worry, it catches me off guard some days. I'm convinced one side of my stomach is more 'bloated' than the other. Then sometimes I think it's maybe just belly fat 🤷🏼‍♀️. I'm due my period tomorrow, and I have my appointment with the nurse for all my various prods and pokes next Thursday.

I'm confident that it won't be left though, and that there will be a follow up with gynaecology if necessary. Problem is, who knows how long that wait will be, and we live in a very remote area so only get a visit from the gynaecologist once in a blue moon or have to travel 3 hours 😭

Oh that’s a long way to travel! I had a scan about 6 months after it started and then another 6 months after that I saw the gynaecologist. It’s such a worry isn’t it, I am told that the consultant has his reasons for believing it is “just hormonal” but I have read a lot of posts on here that say colposcopy is usually the test to rule things out, have you had one of those?
Do you have mid cycle bleeding every month or is it just every so often? Xx

I've never even heard of those - no idea what it is 🙈

Yes, every month. Sometimes more than others.

I made the mistake of googling all my symptoms 🙄🙄🙄 and now can't stop worrying that something is going on.

Maybe it's hormonal for me too 🤷🏼‍♀️. I'm only mod 30s but I guess peri menopause can last a long time can't it.

Woman have such a tough time of it!

I’m mid 30s too, can’t imagine spending the rest of my life like this, if men had to go through this I bet they would get answers!
A colposcopy takes a closer microscopic look at your cervix usually you would get this if you bled after sex or if your smear test is abnormal. I think that’s why I haven’t been offered one, I wouldn’t know if I did really!
Before I had a child I would only get periods every 8 weeks! Never realised how lucky I was lol xx

I'm also mid 30s, seems like it must be common. I had a colcoscopy before in my early 20s for bleeding where they found cells that needed removing. Think that is why I am so paranoid now!

I would have to be referred to the hospital that is 3 hours away for one of those, they don't offer them here. I sometimes worry that living so rurally gives Kyle a disadvantage when it comes to looking after your health 😥