Hi, I'm really scared and just wanted to see if anyone has had any similar experiences. I'm 47 and been on the mini pill and virtually period free for 5 years. In early December I started bleeding and it got so heavy I couldn't leave the house and had to go sick at work. I was using maternity pads and changing every hour and also sleeping on a towel. I started to lose blood clots which got progressively bigger, but what concerned me more were pieces of what I can only describe as tissue the size of a small finger. It would pass out when I sat on the toilet. I finally booked an appointment in mid January through my private healthcare provider as I am lucky to have that through my work. I was still bleeding heavily at this point. I wondered if it was caused by menopause although I am ready taking HRT. I took photos of the tissue I was passing but my consultant has not really commented. I'm not in pain but uncomfortable and 'full', especially when I cough.
I was immediately put on on tranexamic acid and northistrone 3 times a day which stopped the bleeding and sent for an ultrasound. This showed 3 smallish fibroids but of more concern is my endometrial lining which is 47mm (likely adenomyosis) and my consultant seems concerned about this. My mother had stage 3 uterus cancer when she was 60 and a radical hysterectomy.
The plan is for me to have a hysteroscopy this week and a biopsy. I stupidly never thought it could be cancer, just fibroids, but my consultant says he is not so worried about those. A hysterectomy is planned as I cannot stay on northiestrone indefinitely and am not suitable for an IUD. Right now I am freaking about the hysteroscopy, as I have researched and I know it can be very painful. No pain relief has been offered.The trouble is all that is on Google mainly are horror stories which add to my anxiety.
But my bigger worry is what is going on. I've been feeling super run down for weeks and just now recovering from a cold I got at Christmas that turned into a chest infection. On top of that my dog died unexpectedly last week and I had had her for 15 years. The grief is making me feel awful and I'm trying to stay calm but really struggling.
I rang my healthcare provider to see if they would pay for my planned hysterectomy and they were a bit on the fence if not cancer, citing that it might be deemed a chronic condition and not acute and therefore not covered, and I needed to try 'alternatives' first. My consultant has said I definitely need treatment and if they won't pay he would treat me under the NHS, so I know I am fortunate. Sorry for the off-load, I just want to know if anyone else has had similar symptoms as I can't seem to find out if my 47mm thickness and tissue passing is likely to be symptomatic of cancer. I just want to prepare myself.
Was it your GP who referred you? Could they rebook for GA ? Not sure if this would work but my GP did intervene on one occasion for me and spoke directly to consultant. You could also ask whether any medication could be prescribed to take on the day?
My other feeling would be to see if one of the nurses who would be present could phone you and talk through the procedure.
If you did decide to go ahead with the outpatient hysteroscopy- you can ask them to stop at any point if you find it too much to cope with. But do push for the GA if you feel it is what is best for you.
I'm glad that the nurse has spoken with you.
Perhaps the best plan would to be to go on Friday and talk to them about it and as you have said- you don't have to go through with it if you don't want to and maybe then the GA could be arranged?
Do give the Support Line a call if it would help.
