Hi everyone,
I'm terrified about what my symptoms could mean and still haven't found any answers. About 4 or 5 months ago I started getting blood in urine and some spotting, I did many urine tests and blood tests which came back with a combination of white and red blood cells. They gave me antibiotics and concluded it was an infection - the blood went. Blood tests came back normal.
Months later I started getting cramps, strange gushes of discharge (watery, lasted longer than typical ovulation) which felt like I was peeing myself. Sorry for tmi, but it did not smell like urine and had more of a sweet scent. I'm only 27 so was obviosuly really freaked out by this. I also noticed slight pain after sex and peeing. I saw a gp who was very very dismissive and rude about the whole thing - she told me the discharge was normal, it was probably stress, dismissed cramps for constipation, etc. It was only after paying private to see a gynecologist that he sent a letter to my GP asking for a referral for both a pelvic exam (I had the abdominal one rather than transvaginal) and a urinary tract one. All I received back from both was a message from GP saying "ultrasounds were normal". I'm still having gushes of what seems like discharge (tested negative for BV, had pessaries for thrush which haven't seemed to work). It doesn't have a strong odour. I also feel bloated and tired.
My main worry here is that they didn't do a transvaginal scan as part of the ultrasound, only the external one to show the pelvis. Surely they would have looked at my cervix, but I'm worried it needs checking again. Are these types of pelvic scans good at detecting possible cervical cancer? GPs and a gyn have all looked at my cervix and haven't alerted me of anything abnormal or felt anything weird so does this mean it's unlikely to be cc?
I can't ignore the weird discharge leakages and cramps anymore and it's really impacting me mentally (which the GP liked to blame for me seemingly imagining these symptoms in the first place). I haven't had any bleeding for a good few months (other than menstruation), nor blood in urine. My main worries now are feeling bloated, cramps, excessive discharge and some weird feeling after peeing, similar to uti but when checked at the doctor's it comes back negative for a urine infection.
I had my last smear test, and first smear test, around 3 years ago (I think) and I've just turned 27 so should be due another soonish. Can I request one to look at my cells? I've tested negative a number of times for any stis (it's the only thing my GPS seem to want to look at).
Could it be recurring thrush? If anyone could help, that would be amazing as I'm panicking and struggling to sleep or function worrying about it all. Both grandmas on each of my parents' sides died from bowel cancer, though I'm not sure if that plays a part.
Thanks
Hello Bluemoon and welcome to the group.
I can appreciate that you’re concerned, but your symptoms could be caused by other gynaecological issues which are not as serious as cancer.
The scans you mention are not typically used in the detection of cervical cancer, but are used to identify other conditions, and I would take it as a positive that your cervix has been checked and nothing abnormal spotted by a doctor and gyn.
You cannot request a smear test outside of the screening programme on the nhs-they will only do this when it is due, but it’s important to note that a smear is not a diagnostic test for cervical cancer but a screening for abnormal cells. Virtually all cases of cervical cancer are caused by abnormal cells due to the HPV virus, but you won’t be able to ask for your cells to be tested on the NHs outside of the screening programme.
Cervical cancer is not a hereditary cancer, and the fact that you had relatives with bowel cancer should have no bearing at all on anything to do with the cervix.
I appreciate that you are searching for answers, but your symptoms could be many things and do be honest don’t sound like cervical cancer. As you have continuing symptoms with no answer, I don’t think it’s unreasonable for you to go back to the doctor and see if you can have a referral to a gynaecologist as this is clearly having a very negative effect on your life. It’s impossible to diagnose yourself from dr google, or even from comparing symptoms to other people-it’s not one size fits all. I hope you can go back to your gp and get some answers soon to put your mind at rest. xx
