Thickened uterine lining - nauseous with worry

Hi Dianne,

A warm welcome to you, sorry you've had to come on here! 

Please leave off the googling now, you'll only be ratcheting up your anxiety and making yourself feel worse. And, googling can produce out of date and downright wonky stuff. 

I had a hysterectomy, with ovaries, tubes and cervix removed. My left ovary was 'plastered to the wall'  the surgeon said, maybe due to endometriosis. So things like that can happen. And many ladies pass through this site during the diagnostic process thinking they have cancer, when at the end of investigations, it show they do not have it. We've had somebody this week like that. It happens!

Catching womb cancer early has very good results, often the hysterectomy is all that is needed. But I understand that this is different when you are 40, unlike me when I had it done when 59. You've got additional feelings to deal with. 

I hope you will find on this site that there are positive thoughts and supportive ladies (they will come along soon) and you will feel lifted up. 

Try and distract yourself with a walk, music, funny YouTube videos, a meal, anything to give your mind a rest whilst waiting. Waiting around is the pits, as everyone here will testify.

Let us know how you get on,

Lots of love

Alison xxx 

Hello Dianne,

Just wanted to add my welcome. I'm so sorry you find yourself here and that you are so worried. I can only imagine how painful it must be for you to be possibly comtemplatiing the prospect of not being able to have the family you've dreamed of. Gentle hugs.

Alison has given you great advice there and lots of positive thoughts to hold on to. I know it's hard but the best advice I was given was to take things a day at a time and don't second guess anything. Google has its uses but often what we read there just causes more anxiety -been there, done that, got the  tshirt! Also, there's so much negative stuff out there that googling to try and find some positives almost becomes a compulsion. I wish I'd known about this forum and about the helpline before I was diagnosed. I think it would have saved me a lot of unnecessary worry. I'd gently encourage you to have a chat with the nurses on the helpline. They can't diagnose or comment on your medical history but they can listen, give you information and maybes help you clarify what you might want / need to ask the gynaecologist when you get your appointment. They can also tell you in general terms what the next steps might be in terms of scans, hysteroscopy procedures etc.

There are lots of negatives out there, but this forum is full of women with positive and inspiring stories to share. There are ladies who've e been in your position and I'm sure they'll pop in soon to offer their support. Meanwhile, Im sending you lots of good wishes and a gentle, supportive hug. x

Hello  

I was diagnosed with womb cancer at 38 and never had children and had a hysterectomy in July last year. I agree with Fairycake and Alison on that googling is a bit tricky, the term don't don't Dr Google comes to mind, but i know its down to your own personal feelings. I am sorry you have had to join us and i hope too that its a case of you just visiting. As many ladies do just pass though because of the symptoms their having turns out to be something else. i would recommend you give the helpline a call on 08088080000 because there is many different people who can give you advice or just to listen. the online community is fantastic and i found it a gods send when i found it. i was nervous to join or post because i hadn't been a great fan of social media but i felt so supported here. the ladies here on the womb cancer forum are so supportive and very friendly and lot so advice due to different stages and treatment's. It all equals to a wealth of knowledge and experience. if you would like to post a question to the nurses online then if you click on ask and expert then click on ask a nurse and this will enable you to ask more direct medical questions we wouldn't be able to answer. But for now take heart your not alone, we have all been where you are now and so understand the stress and the unknown. feel free to ask questions here no question is too big or small. but sending you a gentle hug and positive wishes.

Hello everyone and thanks so much for yiur replies. 

It has given some comfort to feel that there is some positivity out there.

I feel a little bit like I'm in shock , thought of a Hysterectomy scares me so muxh but i think I've realised today that i would be very lucky if that was all the treatment i needed. That being said i don't feel lucky - i feel ashamed to say that i feel so sad and upset that this is happening and probably more than a little bit sorry for myself. Again  -i know there are people so much worse of than me and its terrible that i feel this way and i really need to pull myself together and deal with it head on.

I haven't yet told my husband the outcome of the scan and have just said i will need some follow up apointments. I don't want to worry him or deal with the conversation of the probability of this meaning no children. Everything feels a bit overwhelmingly. I'm hoping after some sleep i wake up with a clearer head tomorrow. 

I will take all the advice and stop Dr Googling as its frustrating and makes me feel worse . Its awful reading about someone who has symptoms similar to mine and then there  is no follow up as to what happened to them . My mind just races and i think they must have died or sunk into despair.

I'm so sorry for being so gloomy, my natural disposition is usually much more happy and positive. 

You ladies are really very special being around to support people when its sounds like you all have your own battles. It really does help to have someone to speak to as i don't feel able to speak like this to friends and family as i feel embarrased and don't want to worry them.

Thanks ladies xx

We know what you mean Dianne, pop in here anytime, some, like me, stay up very late and some, like Fairycake, get up early, he he! 

It is good to have people to talk to that aren't always family and friends as it can feel like you are worrying them and they need a break from it.

My cousin said to me don't over-worry, or under-worry, but worry just the right amount. It sounds odd but I knew what she was getting at. And I would add, have breaks from worrying too. This way you can stay sane! Or sane-er!

And don't fear a hysterectomy, even old age pensioners get them, he he!

Lots of love 

Alison xxx 

Thanks Bellabongo... your message made me feel better and have calmed down a little from the sheer panic i was feeling.

I have received my appointment for the Gynaecologist and its this coming Thursday which is far quicker than i expected. I am relieved that its quick but then scared in another way.

I finally told my husband my worries and he is convinced everything will be ok and ive lost perspective in my panic and that there is a low probability of it being cancer or anything bad. I really don't share his optimism and feel like i want to prepare him more for bad news , but then i wonder if i have lost perspective. I would rather prepare myself for the worst as i honestly feel like i know things are not right. 

Did anyone else feel that they kind of just knew .. or is this your mind playing tricks due to anxiety.

So far I've been so lucky never to have any serious health concerns and this fear of cancer and being ill has made me evaluate my life and feel utterly grateful for how blessed i am in so many ways. I've made a promise to myself that if by some miracle this doesn't end up being the worse case scenario i will overhaul my lifestyle and join the gym again , loose excess weight and look after my body better. I would do anything to avoid this feeling of worry. 

Anyway late night ponderings seem to be my new friend as I'm struggling to sleep and switch off. I guess nightime is the worst for everyone with any kind of worries as you feel so alone and it is true by the morning things do feel better.  

Hi Diane,

Welcome to the group, I see that the other lovely ladies have already given you great advice.  

I hope that your appointment goes well on Thursday. I'm 36 with no kids so can relate to what you are going through, I kept my husband in the dark a bit too, mostly as he tends to worry.

Try not to read too much into your symptoms, everyone is different, they diagnosed me with 3 different conditions in the end up, 2 were non cancerous (PCOS & adenomyosis) and one was the womb cancer. 

I was treated with a hysterectomy in August and just need regular check ups now. 

Feel free to ask me any questions, nothing is too big, too small or too personal.

Lots of love 

Xx

Thanks Arla - for your wise words.

I had my appointment on Thursday, unfortunately they didn't have access to my scan (my doctors hadn't shared with the hospital!). I relayed the information i knew to be on the scan and the Gynae was very flippant and said "tell me why 23mm lining is abnormal - who says"? I said that my doctor was very concerned and I've had sleepless nights etc.

The gynae was very light hearted and said he doesn't see why its a problem and spoke about fertility treatment and whether i want children and that fertility help is available til 43 on the NHS!

I wasn't really taking in what he was saying as I'd gone in expecting hysterectomy, cancer talk. 

He said that as they had no scan pic and to see whata going on inside he would send me for a hysteroscopy and biospy. So that is now booked for 7th March. He also suggested the mirena coil if pregnancy wasn't the top priority  and sais this could be fitted during the hysteroscopy and would help to prevent cancer.

I feel relieved in some ways that he didn't seem concerned,but is that simply because he hasn't seen my scan and he is trying to allay my fears?! I want to believ things will be ok and that children maynstill be possible but i feel uneasy that without examiming me or seeing scans he is being so positive. 

I spoke to my doctor yesterday and theu looled bavk at my last referral to Gynae 5 years ago amd said the scans then showed thickened lumpy lining ( 12mm not 23mm) and as the biopsy was clear that this is a postive as it shows a long term problem rather than a sudden change and whilst he couldn't determine biopsy results he would be very surprised  if it was Endometrial cancer.

So.. i feel less worried and i hope that it isn't  Endometrial cancer and there is hope for children. I'm a bit confused about the coil and whether thats the only treatment option as that seems to contradict the talk of possible fertility treatment. 

Just all seems too much info before i have the results of the biopsy and hysteroscopy. 

Hi Diane 40,

I've been away and just read this thread, and feel for you.

I was in a similar position many years ago. Fortunately I got pregnant very easily, but with a weakened neck of the womb, the babies literally dropped out. I lost two like that, and nearly lost the baby I eventually managed to carry. I know only too well the feelings of utter dismay. I had begun to look into adoption, and went for promotion at work to keep myself extra busy.

My daughter has been through similar problems. At 39 she felt she had left things too late, but after seeking help from a fertility clinic, they did a womb scrape on her, and said they don't know why, but that women usually fall pregnant within 6 months of that. Loo and behold, it worked! She had a trouble free pregnancy and a very quick birth at 40, much easier than I had with her at 25!!! Presuming you haven't got cancer is a womb scrape worth looking into?

Really hope for you that all the tests are negative. The problem could be anything. xxxxxxx

Hi Diane,

How frustrating that they didn't have your scan, but I'd take the good vibes where I can get them. The hysteroscopy and biopsy will give you a clear answer and they should be able to give you proper treatment options after that. The mirena coil helps to keep the womb thin and healthy so maybe the surgeon was recommending it if you are not quite ready to try to conceive yet. The nurse who told me about it said it can come out at any time and when it comes out you have your fertility back straight away. 

I got one in after my initial consultation and they put a new one in after my hysteroscopy, it helped calm my bleeding a bit too. 

It's good having the date for the procedure to work to, less waiting about for letters to come.

Lots of love

Xx