Please help, peri menopausal, ultra sound today told to call my doctors tomorrow

[Kattekittt]

Hi,

If anyone has experienced anything like this please let me know. I can’t talk to anyone about it in real life as I don’t want to worry them.

Im 44 been on HRT for a few years (at least 3+) at the start I had some really heavy bleeds and was referred for an ultrasound which was all within normal. The bleeding settled and things have been pretty good since. That is until November.

I started my period at the end of November and it was so so heavy, I have only had 4 period free days up until last week. I’ve also noticed excruciating mid/lower back pain then I’ll flood a maxi pad straight after.

Went to see my gp she referred me for the ultrasound I had today. The bleeding stopped last week as it would have done from the progesterone bleed. I really thought they’d say all was good and it was just a blip. The lovely lady who conducted the scan said I need to be referred and I’m to contact my gp tomorrow to ensure it is done.

On my scan my uterine lining is much thicker than it should be for this point in my cycle. My DM was diagnosed with cancer and died a little bit older than I am now. I’m terrified but trying to be very stoic as I don’t know anything just yet.

Any helpful comments gratefully received

It could be lots of things, fibroids, polyps, or non-cancerous hyperplasia. It could also be endometrial cancer, although heavy bleeding often isn't the symptom of that, a very watery, continual discharge is more typical. If it is endometrial cancer, which I had, most is very treatable as it tends to be caught early because of the bleeding, most women just need a hysterectomy and then there's very small chance of recurrence. Good luck!

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I’m sorry for what you’ve been through and really appreciate you sharing your experience with me

This might help - I was referred by my gp just before Christmas for unusual bleeding (odd times, not as heavy as yours) with hrt. Because she referred me under the 2 week cancer pathway I had lots of appointments in the same morning - consultant and internal; internal ultrasound; then consultant again - when she said the ultrasound showed my womb lining was too thick and suggested having a hysteroscopy and biopsy as a precaution and that I had a mirena coil fitted - all of which then was also done that morning.

I suspect they might want to do the hysteroscopy and biopsy part for you, just to check it’s not suspicious for you.

My treatment was excellent, other than halfway through Christmas morning I received a text from the hospital telling me I had an appointment on 27/12! I was sure I had cancer… but when i was getting ready for the appointment I had a call from the hospital and it turned out it was a computer error and everyone on the patient list had had the same text. 🙄

I hope your situation is nothing to worry about too.

I had post menopausal bleeding 10 years ago and was referred on the two week pathway. A scan showed a mass on my left ovary. I had a full hysterectomy and removal of a cancerous tumour. I’m currently completely cancer free. I hope you are ok @Kattekittt but even with a cancer diagnosis, all is not lost.

Hi I’m a week or so ahead of you. Had an ultrasound on 2nd Jan, which was for heavy painful periods. Am also perimenopausal. I was referred under 2ww, saw an gynaecologist and have a hysteroscopy on Sunday. Mine is under general anaesthetic as there is a possible polyp which will be removed if so. I had the choice of local only but then it might have needed two as this hospital doesn’t remove a polyp under local. Everything has been clearly explained. Hope this is helpful and best wishes.

Thank you both.

I have previously lost an ovary and fallopian tube due to a non cancerous mass. That was well over 10+ years ago now.

Sorry to hear about the Christmas text. A tiny tech error i’m guessing resulted in a few grey hairs.

Glad to hear it all went so well for you both and I hope it’ll be the same for me

Thanks again

Update:

spoke to my gp yesterday who put a referral through straight away. They also booked me in for blood tests, they were taken today. Whilst sat in reception waiting for my appointment I got a text through, I have an appointment on Monday gynae outpatients. I’m sure when the letter arrives I’ll know a bit more.

Although the gp did say that they believe there is a polyp too.

newyeardelurker - sending you the very best wishes for Sunday and sorry you’re going through this too x

Hi @Kattekittt & @newyeardelurker

Best of luck to you both. I know it’s not easy not to worry, but we must try! I am also awaiting hysteroscopy & Pipelle biopsy (app next week) following unusual bleeding, backpain, pelvic pain and US result.

Do you mind me asking you both what thickness your uterine lining was and at what stage of your cycle was measured?

Thanks for the good luck wishes and best of luck to you too @Kattekittt

My lining was 7mm & I don’t think that was a concern. This was around day 6, but my periods are irregular now, furthest apart has been 90 days. I don’t think that can help you at all but I know what it feels like trying to figure out what is going on so you are welcome to the information.

Thank you @newyeardelurker , it almost feels comforting to know others are going through the same.

@iamyourequal thank you too. We’re almost in a little club that none of expected or wanted to be in. I wasn’t told the thickness just it was a lot thicker than it should be after all the bleeding I’d had. They may tell me on Monday and if so I’ll pop on and update. Wishing you the very best outcome for your appointment next week.

Thanks for reaching out, it’s a huge help to me x

Thank you @Kattekittt &@newyeardelurker

my thickness was 11mm just after a month of bleeding had stopped 😞. That was early Nov (after I’d had to pay for my own scan privately as no sign of nhs appointment at time). My gynae referral has taken since then. I obviously can’t be a priority at this stage but that’s not a lot of comfort to me. best of to you both! We can keep each other updated.

@newyeardelurker hope today went ok for you x

I have an appointment for an outpatient procedure tomorrow - no further info sent just on the electronic letter, so I’m unsure what will happen, but I can’t fault the speed in which they are seeing me.

@Kattekittt yesterday went well, they’ve removed a polyp and endometrial samples for analysis. I was shattered from the anaesthetic yesterday but fine today and the bleeding has stopped already, no pain. I’ve been referred for a mri too which is booked in for Wednesday so after that back to a clinic for results.

good luck with your appointment today, it has always been made really clear to me what is happening and why so I am sure it will be explained.

@newyeardelurker glad you’re appointment went well.

My appointment has been cancelled today, found out as I called to ask what would happen. It’s also a good thing we’ll sort of, as we’re flooded in. All roads out of where we live are closed due to the river bursting its banks and I was panicking about how we’d get there too.

Im booked in for a polyp removal and hysteroscopy on 6th feb. No option for general anaesthetic though so I’m guessing it’ll be done under local

@Kattekittt
sorry to hear it was cancelled and you are flooded, but it sounds like you know what is happening next which is good. Best of luck for the hysteroscopy on 6th.

Glad to hear your procedure went ahead and they are investigating you thoroughly with an MRI @newyeardelurker

Thats a shame yours was cancelled @Kattekittt , but of course the 6th isn’t far away.

My appointment is soon too. I will update afterwards.

@newyeardelurker and @iamyourequal how are you both doing?

Tomorrow has come round quick, I’m nervous but keen to get answers. Hope things are going well for you both?

@Kattekittt Hope all goes well today for you. I’m just waiting for results now, was told 2-6 weeks from the hysteroscopy and it is just 2, so fingers crossed. Will call at the end of the week if I’ve heard nothing, not enjoying the waiting!

Hope the op goes well xx

@newyeardelurker sending positivity your way. I’m not in until 1:30, I’ve spent the morning cooking just in case! Just hopeful for as pain free as experience as possible.

@Pearl97 thank you xx

I’m back home, I was very lucky i had amazing nursing staff looking after me. I know that some have had issue with the NHS but I have always had excellent care and attention.

Everything was clearly explained before and during the procedure as you said it would be @newyeardelurker

My lining was 11.7mm just after what would have been a very heavy period @iamyourequal

I had a hysteroscopy, two polyps removed and lining biopsies taken. This was done with me awake, they gave me a stress ball to start with, then moved onto gas and air when they were removing polyps. I was then given local anaesthetic before they took a biopsy of my uterus lining. I’m home and curling up on the sofa. I was told to expect bleeding to continue for a couple of days upto a few weeks. It was uncomfortable but the gas and air made it bearable.

The lovely nurse will call me once my results are back in 7-10 days.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences with me. Here’s hoping for some good results for all of us.

I hope you are relaxing and make a swift recovery. I had my results within 2 weeks, no cancer, but the 'polyp' turned out to be a fibroid, which was removed. I still have pain and bleeding, and have been swabbed for infection 😕

I’m pleased it went well for you @Kattekittt I hope you are resting now.

As you say, fingers crossed for good outcomes.

Really hoping you’re ok!

Well done @Kattekittt You have been sooo brave today! Welcome to the ‘lining-a-bit-thick-but-not-horrendously-so’ club. I think. My lining was just short of yours, both times after a bleed. I hope you get a decent night’s sleep. You have done so well you have put me to shame.
I am now to have my hysteroscopy & biopsy under a general. I went to my appointment last week. I really tried to keep an open mind on the way in (and took all the painkillers and a diazepam in preparation), but when I saw the stirrups and a big tray full of medical tools instruments including a big syringe next to the bed, I went to pieces and they agreed I wasn’t any kind of candidate for the procedures without a GA. I am awaiting my appointment. I had another TV scan instead and i am now to get a better US scan too, ( was to be an MRI but has now been knocked back. )
Let us know how you get on from here. Did they move towards any diagnosis for you at this stage? Do they think the polyps are the issue?
(BTW the NHS nursing staff were great, and the doctor was amazing, and really listened to me. They did all they could to calm me, but my fear was too far gone.)