Just starting this scary journey

Hi Lel

welcome to the group you didn’t want to join.  You will get amazing support here from others that understand what you are going through, even if you just want to rant one day.  I think the initial stages where you are now, when no one knows what’s what, and you go through various tests and then waiting to hear are one of the hardest parts. Hopefully, you won’t have to wait too long to find out next steps following u/s, for me it was pretty quick (2days).

Sending you a big hug in meantime

Hi Lel

Welcome to the Womb group.

I am sorry to hear that you have had a couple of episodes of post menopausal bleeding. You have done the right thing in getting this checked out. 

It is normal to be put on the 2 week pathway and the ultrasound is the first step. What they will have done is to look for anything that may be causing the bleeding eg; polyps and also to see how thick the endometrium is. If anything is seen on the ultrasound that needs further investigation then the next step would likely be a hysteroscopy (camera test) and biopsy. What they are trying to do is to rule out the most serious potential causes first. 

My ultrasound result came back the following day so hopefully you will not have to wait too long. My biopsy was done the same week and I had a diagnosis the following week. 

I can understand it is scary at the moment and I remember feeling pretty overwhelmed too. Do give the Support Line a call if you need to talk things through. They are there from 8am-8pm each day. 

Fingers crossed you hear something soon. In the meantime we are here if you need us.

Jane

If they decide to do a hysteroscopy the camera is actually thinner than the ultrasound probe. I'd read some bad stuff on the internet about pain but I was told to take ibuprofen or paracetamol and given both gas and air and local anaesthetic. Wish I'd tried without the local but I had a very large polyp and they offered to stop and rebook with a general anaesthetic, that's when I had the local. From reading other posts I think I was lucky to have a very experienced nurse who was prepared to do it then and there and not get rebooked. It was honestly much easier than I had feared. You will bleed afterwards, maybe 48 hours. I now have to wait 2-3 weeks for the biopsy results.   

The unknown is, for me, much harder to deal with than the known. Maybe because I and my husband have both had investigations on a 2 week pathway before than turned out in the end to be nothing much I'm not getting too worked up over the wait, it was harder waiting for the initial appointment. 

I'm high risk - older, overweight, pcos, very large polyp that I suspect has been there quite a while - but I was still told told I have a 70% chance of not needing anything further and 30% chance that there will be changes that require either progesterone or a hysterectomy. The surgeon does keyhole surgery and says his nurses are back at work after 2 weeks. The internet says 6-8 weeks recovery time if you are on your feet a lot, I feel sorry for his nurses!  Some people may need more treatment but it's best to focus on the positive initially. 

Hi,

Thanks for this - you are right. Not knowing is the worst part. Once I know the facts I can go into "logical mode" which has seen ne through other "crises". I basically categorise things as either a) something I can influence and b) things I can't. Cat b) get shoved into the dontcworry about it box. The rest i hit with logic! Plan for the worst and hope for the best!

Not worried about pain - I have coped with gallstones and stayed still for a few painful tests (mentally stick myself on a beach and concentrate on the waves lapping at my toes and the sounds of seagulls).

I am also overweight + childless with a history of ovarian cysts.

"Luckily" i am between jobs at the moment and we can afford to delay job hunting until next year and concentrate on doing what I need to for my health - hubby is already preparing his pampering muscles. 

You’ll do fine with this approach! 

I also feel for his nurses….2 weeks !

Hi Lel,

good luck with everything. I am on a similar path but a bit further along and having a hysteroscopy, endometrial biopsy and removal of polyp next week under GA as it couldn't be done awake. I posted for some advice earlier this week and everyone here has made me feel so much better and its helped me a lot, as someone said not the group you want to join but here we are! I am 3 years post menopause and have 3 kids (5 pregnancies in total), I actually didn't know about the risk factors as I've very much buried my head in the sand with all of this!

Having seen a lot of the posts and comments in the group I'm feeling really positive in that even if there is a problem there will be a solution! I hope that everything goes well for you and let us know how you get on

take care

Karen

How long does it typically take for the U/S to be reviewed actioned?

MyvU/S was Tuesday and my inner voice is saying that if the radiographer had seen anything scary I would have had a call by now. I am probably deluding myself but it stops me fretting!

It can vary.

It can also depend on how you receive the results- phone, letter or in person. I always chose to be phoned as was the quickest way. 

I hope you get some reassurance soon- if you have heard nothing by Monday perhaps contact your GP, in case results have gone there. 

Jane