Hi.
Background first. Hubby being treated for prostate cancer which was diagnosed earlier this year so 100% been focused on him. I am a member of the PC forum for him obvs.
But somethings happened and I have just realised that I probably have a problem and have been ignoring it for nearly 2 years.
I am really just looking for a little pat on the head and a push in the right direction!.
I thought it was all normal in the run up to menopause, but now I know its really not.
I have essentially bled for most of the last 18 months. Spotting every day. Bleeding heavy at will. Two UTis. Flooding to the point I put myself on iron tablets. Back pain. Shoulder pain. A heavy congestion in my womb. Pain in my side. Bleeding when bearing down. Sever constipation now for 2 months. Feeling like my bladder never empties. Pressure when I pee. Bleeding after sex. Oddly I feel like an ache, like a broken bone ache in my lower abdo.
I am 49. Two years ago my periods were almost nothing and that was just accepted as the normal run down. Then this. Its not good is it.
So I checked with my gp when I last had a smear. 2018. Booked in for next appointment at end of month. Then I got an appointment with the womans health nurse but that's two weeks away.
I don't take any meds for menopause i was just riding the waves, nothing, haven't had the pill for ever ( 25 years plus).
I think I need to see GP ASAP don't I?! I can't tell anyone because honestly if it's nothing then I am just adding more drama to our family needlessly. But hubby and I always seem to get sick at the same time it's a odd symbiotic relationship!
It never crossed my mind at all, untill I realised I can't even have a BM now. It's 10 days atm and counting and the only way I can clear it is to max out on laxatives. Though I have obvs done all the right things, prune juice, califig, fiber, fluid etc.
Such fun!
Hello Quitit23
Welcome to the Womb cancer forum. I am sorry to hear that your husband has been diagnosed and treated with prostate cancer over the last year. It is understandable that you have felt you needed to focus on him and that you have not yet dealt with your own health.
Please contact your GP tomorrow and make an appointment for yourself. I can understand that you feel you don't want to add any drama to your family at the moment but if you do not get checked out and it turns out that you have something seriously wrong then they are going to know anyway.
Your symptoms can have different causes and may not be cancer but whatever is causing the symptoms needs to be investigated. If you are able to, maybe make a list of the symptoms or even print out this and show your doctor. I would hope that the doctor would put you on the 2 week urgent pathway. My only symptom at diagnosis was a bleed and that was enough to get an urgent referral.
To give you an idea my first investigations were blood tests, then ultrasound.
When my ultrasound showed a problem then I had a biopsy and CT scan.
Please do not leave it 2 weeks until you see the nurse- you know that these symptoms need looking into. By the time you would have seen the nurse you should have a much better idea of what the problem is.
I know that it can be scary but it is far better to know what you are dealing with. It may not be cancer, it maybe something else but it needs checking.
Please call your GP in the am.
In the meantime if you feel you want to talk it through with someone first then I can recommend the Support Line. The number is below.
Jane
Good Morning Quitit,
Am glad that you have slept on it and given it some thought. It is your choice.
But please keep that appointment with the nurse. I am concerned about you and the symptoms you are having. We are not medically trained on here and can only offer support from our own experiences. However to me some of your symptoms are like red flags to me- that you need them to be checked, whatever the cause is.
I can understand what you are saying and I know that it can be scary but my first visit was blood tests and medical history. There was no poking or prodding. I was then referred for an ultrasound that was painless. It was only when I got to the biopsy stage that I had any sort of abdominal and internal examination. You could even consider doing one of those online consultations and that would help you to be able to explain the symptoms and to get into the system without worrying your family etc.
My first symptom was a bleed, I had no other symptoms. I had surgery 4 weeks later. The post op pathology showed it was an aggressive grade 3 type 2 endometrial cancer and in those weeks I already had LVSI. That means it was trying to spread. When I had the bleed and went to hospital I hoped it was probably fibroids. When I had my biopsy it confirmed cancer. I was told an operation would fix it and it was probably contained and slow growing. I did not know how bad it was until after I had my hysterectomy. I had to have 4 cycles of chemotherapy followed by 5 weeks of radiotherapy. Both have left me with some long term affects. But I consider myself lucky that I went and got checked that first day. If I had left it, it could have been a very different outcome. I still need to be seen every 12 weeks. If you want to, click on my name and see my bio and timescales.
It is your choice and you are in control of this but it can be difficult to get doctors appointments at the moment and your health is as important as your husbands. If you did the online consultation and the doctor says it can wait a couple of weeks then at least you have made the first step. It may be that the doctor could refer you for an ultrasound straight away and then that could be out of the way before you see the nurse. That would give you some time to plan perhaps.
Jane
Morning Everyone me again!
So i did call GP. Just spoke to her. Have bloods on Thursday, then to go in for face to face, and internal. I said i had appointment with woman's health nurse, but Dr said that they are very good with certain things but the Dr is the best for the rummaging!!
The results for the CA125, are they quick does anyone know? When hubby had his PSA bloods done the results once came back the same day, but the other ones were next day.
Anyway, Dr thinks it sounds like fibroids. Either way "out with it" i say womb no longer required, for sale, one careful owner 
