Any Advice please

Hi Serena77 

I’m sorry to see you posting with this worry but completely understand how much any bleeding freaks us out after surgery. 

I would have thought that the nurse would have been more reassuring for you, but clearly she is not overly concerned. It could be as simple as the internal exam irritating something and causing a little bit of bleeding, but of course it’s impossible for any of us to know for sure. Even though the exam itself was not painful, the poking about checking up there may have been enough to make you bleed a little while things are still a bit fragile there.

You are absolutely not being a nuisance at all-you have had a major surgery and we are told to report any kind of symptoms like pain or bleeding so you are just doing that! 

Hopefully it will settle down over the next couple of days but if not, please phone again and ask if you need to be seen again. If the bleeding intensifies and is heavy (filling a pad in an hour for example) or you have clots, you must call as this should not be happening. 

You do need reassurance and you shouldn’t have anyone be dismissive of your concerns, so I hope things improve. You have been doing so well, but it shows how quickly worried we become at anything unusual. Fingers crossed it’s just a little blip and nothing to worry about, and I hope some of the other ladies will come along and reassure you if they’ve had something similar happen.

Sarah xx

Thank you so much Sarah for your comforting reply. I know you understand. 

I will keep an eye on the bleeding, it is  light  but first thing it is redder. I have not had bleeding after an examination before, this was my 4th check up.

I think I will try the Consultant secretary again. I think I am entitled to a caring response. Hope just a blip. 

Thanks again Sarah, I really appreciate your kind words. 

Serena x

You are definitely entitled to have your concerns listened to and they are very valid. Since it is your 4th check up just gone, I’d want to be asking if you should be having a scan in view of your symptoms?

From my own (different experience) I only had one mri scan 3 months after chemoradiation ended and was told there would be no more scans done unless I had symptoms. The issue for me was I felt really well and didn’t have any symptoms but turned out I still needed another scan! 

I believe through experience over the years with various medical issues across multiple departments, that we need to be our own advocate and speak up for ourselves if we think something isn’t right. Took me some time to learn that however! 

Phone again Serena, if only to have your mind put at rest. Say you want a callback from the consultant -if the consultant says this is normal and not a worry because he/she has seen this before, just ask if you should have any kind of scan. There may be a reason for the bleeding which the consultant can explain, but they need to do that for you. 

Sarah xx

Hi Serena i dont have an answer for you as havent even had my hysterectomy yet but just wanted to say i’m sorry you’re dealing with this, i know we are sensitive to and alarmed by anything unusual so its perfectly understandable to be concerned x unfortunately not all nurses are caring! As Sarah says you need to be your own advocate and get an answer from your consultant, hopefully it wont be anything to worry about, take care x

Just to add (Sarah-hope its ok to post this?) after a hysto you can get something called granulation tissue and this is very vascular so can bleed easily, not saying it is this but that there could be a benign reason fir this x hope you get some answers soon and all ok xx

Hi Seffie 

Absolutely-good call! Yes, granulation tissue is part of the healing process and can also bleed easily, so it’s definitely something that could give an explanation for this. Thank you for this.

Sarah xx

That’s ok, I wasnt sure it was ok to post that kind of thing x Serena may already know about it x its hard not to spiral with things like this so I googled it x

It’s absolutely ok..it’s another possible suggestion for this happening, and it’s good for members who may not have heard of it before to get some new information. 

Sarah xx

Thank you Sarah, I am going to phone again and ask for a call back from Consultant. I agree completely about being your own advocate. 

Serena x

Thank you Seffie. I am going to ask for a Consultant call back. He told me to advise any changes and this is a change. 

I hope it is nothing but I need an explanation. 

Serena x