Can anyone who knows tell me if an ultrasound would pick this up?? help really needed!!

[newcherryblossomtree]

Hi I could really do with some advice.

TLDR - Would a fibroid show up on an ultrasound? Would a prolapse of a retroflexed womb or other type of prolapse show up on ultrasound?

For about a year I have been having problems. The past 3 months it has been much worse.

It's basically a really 'heavy' feeling in my womb. Sometimes a dragging feeling, and random pulling. I've noticed it's worse around ovulation. It is so, so uncomfortable. At it's worst, I am literally waddling and finding even housework really hard.

I've been to the GP three times and I feel I am not being taken seriously. Had swabs and they looked and nothing can be seen falling down from the outside when I coughed but they seem reluctant to do anything else yet or refer. Told me about pelvic floor exercises but I do them all the time anyway.

I'm at my wits end and can't wait any more. I'm thinking it could be fibroid(s) or a prolapse.

I am on a low income but I'm thinking of borrowing the money to get a private ultrasound. I can't afford an mri so before I borrow the money - would a big enough fibroid or a prolapse definitely show up on ultrasound?

@newcherryblossomtree I suggest that you ask your GP for a referral to a women’s health specialist /pelvic floor physio. This should be a straightforward referral within the NHS. Many GPs have little knowledge in this area of women’s health. Just “doing pelvic floor exercises” is not an answer. You would benefit from a detailed assessment from an expert - ie a woman’s health physios.
if the delay is very long for this I would suggest you would be better spending money on such an assessment privately than on an ultrasound.

Thanks @Sussexmidwife . I really think though that I need to see if it's fibroids causing it. Would the assessment be able to tell me this? Presumably they could tell me if I have a prolapse of any kind? I will get onto the GP about a referral to the women's health physios. Yeah I agree, the GP was very nice and I think trying to help me, but she seemed to be saying there cannot be a prolapse unless it can be seen at the entrance (it can't), which as I understand it is not true.

You can usually self refer for women’s health physio. They are lovely and very knowledgeable.
Fibroids often result in heavy periods, but if the physio could feel that something was there she might be able to refer you for an ultrasound or ask your GP to.

My periods are not heavier, if anything they are shorter in recent years. There's definitely something going on though because the level of discomfort and heaviness is not normal and it's really affecting my daily activities. Really need to get to the bottom of what is going on in there.

Fiboids can been seen on an ultrasound, it's how mine were picked up. They can't really been seen by the naked eye as far as I know which is why when I had a Mirena fitted the gp didn't see it.
I hope you get to the bottom of what's going on

Yes, an ultrasound would show a fibroid. I had symptoms like yours a few years back, worse at ovulation, and it turned out I had an ovarian cyst (benign). Do you have any other symptoms, eg bloating, feeling full? particularly heavy or painful periods? I'd insist on an ultrasound if I were you, private scans are fairly cheap though so worth doing to put your mind at rest if your GP won't refer you.

Should have said - the ovarian cyst was picked up by ultrasound

I had a similar problem and I was also fobbed off by the GP. Listen to your body, if something doesn't feel right then it's not right. You shouldn't have to pay, you need an NHS referral. Go back and see a different GP and make absolutely sure you get a referral. It turned out that I had a large ovarian tumour, which was pressing down on everything. That was eight years ago and I'm fine.

Be your own advocate and pester the GP until you get a referral.

A gynecologist will be able to detect a prolapse with an internal examination and fibroids can definitely be picked up on an ultrasound. Please ask for a referral to a women's health clinic. It really sounds like you have a prolapse with the waddling and discomfort. Obviously, you need to know what is causing it, but also you need treatment.

@longtompot Thanks hopefully I can get a scan.

@Mochaccino99 Thanks I guess it could be that too. I had a 'dermoid' cyst when I was a teenager but it was small. I don't really get bloating or feeling full. Periods aren't heavy, however I get bad period-type cramps during the month when it's nowhere near period time.

The worst of the discomfort and really 'heavy' 'pulling' feelings is around ovulation. Just before my period, during, and the week after my period it is much better. The rest of the time the discomfort is moderate.

@dollymuchymuchness Thanks, I'm glad you are fine now. Yes I do feel a bit not listened to. I explained to the GP how for about 1.5 weeks of every month I'm in such discomfort that even walking to the shops or doing housework has me waddling and it's really affecting me. I'd have thought that would lead to a referral for a scan, but I really struggle with being assertive so I didn't ask. They just did swabs for STIs (so unlikely unless v long term partner cheating), checked smear up to date, and had a look externally whilst I coughed. Also asked about rapid weight loss etc (presumably for cancer ruling out). Said about pelvic floors. I really need to get a grip of my confidence to be more assertive. I've been 3 times about it in a year.

@zafferana Can a prolapse also be detected on ultrasound do you know? If I end up paying for the scan I hope it can because paying for both a scan and a gynae appointment will be more difficult.

Why do you have to pay for either? Both will be available on the NHS if you kick up a fuss and demand it.

@zafferana I have bad mental health problems, and the mere thought of 'kicking up a fuss' - I just don't think I could do it to be honest. I hate that it seems to be the only way to get proper timely care nowadays is to kick up a fuss, it's so hard for people who struggle with assertiveness. I will see if I can work on it with my counselling and manage to go again with a referral in mind.

Okay @newcherryblossomtree , I understand, but when I say 'kick up a fuss', I mean just be firm and clear when you speak to the doctor. You know what you want - a referral to a women's health clinic for an examination - so you just need to say that clearly and unambiguously.

Example: 'I realise I've consulted you several times over the past year about this issue, but it has not been resolved and has got worse over the past three months. The discomfort I'm feeling in my vagina is such that I sometimes struggle to walk properly and I'm finding it really hard to do basic tasks, such as housework. I've had lots of tests, all of which have come back negative, and I now urgently wish to be referred to a women's health clinic to be examined by a gynecologist, as I strongly suspect I may have a prolapse of some kind and I'm desperate to get it treated. Will you please refer me, because it's having a really profound impact on my life at the moment and I can't live like this'.

And if saying that out loud is too much, write it down, tell you doctor you struggle to talk about it, and hand him/her what you want to say

Thanks @zafferana . I knew you didn't mean kick up an actual fuss. Those words are exactly what I want to say, but I will just start stuttering and sweating and won't be able to. Writing it down as a back up is a good idea.

It's not that uncommon for people to write down what they want to say and hand it to their doctor. A lot of people struggle, particularly when they know they've only got a few minutes to get the information out and get the outcome they want. You can do it OP.