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[Peroxideblader]

Hello me again with another worry or symptom of peri??? I didn't have a period for 63 days first missed one then had a heavy one for a week just finished but for the last 3 days I have a tummy so bloated I can't do my clothes up. Nothing has changed diet wise but when I get up it feels like I've had a 3 course meal and by mid afternoon I literally look 6 months pregnant!! It hurts too like cramps and making me breathless.  It's no worse after food but I've been trying gaviscon too to no avail. I have an overactive bladder anyway so I'm weeing all the time so no different there. I was curled up in the foetal position til 4am last night it was the only comfy position. I know bloating can be a peri symptom but this bad? Or ovarian issues ?? Being checked for lymphoma at the moment but hopefully all clear the signs look good but it has made me worried I'm putting this down to Peri when it could be ovarian?? Help please

[MicheleMaBelle]

Hello Peroxideblader- fluid retention does seem to be a problem with some of us but I don't know how severe it can get. However, based on your symptoms I really feel you need to go back to the doctors and get it checked out as it might indicate problems with your ovaries ( cyst? )
It's probably nothing to worry about but I think for your own peace of mind you need further tests.
Good luck and let us know how you get on x

[Taz2]

I think you should get this checked out especially as you also have pain and bladder symptoms. It's not worth hanging around if it is your ovaries - although I appreciate that it's scary to contemplate. We are here for you. Please make the appointment. Normal bloating is not there all of the time so, for instance, you might go to bed with a really bloated tummy but by the morning it has gone down only to bloat up again when you have some food. My GP explained that to me when I was worried about my bloated tummy a few years ago now.

Sorry to hear that you are being investigated for lymphoma - what are the symptoms for that?

Taz x 

[Peroxideblader]

Thanks so much..they found 2 ovarian cysts just under the size to be removed about 5 years ago and never mentioned keeping an eye on them typical of my gp but it is in the back of my mind I'll ring tomorrow but I'll get the eye roll no doubt when I do get an appt I've only been about 3 times this year all with lumps and big issues but I just know they roll their eyes as they just tell me it's either all in my mind or its just my age patronising tossers they are!! But I'll try...
My lymphoma symptoms are 3 neck lumps in my lymph nodes itchy skin horrendous night sweats fever constant infections ...but of course they mimic perimenopause too ...the last 2 neck lumps have grown in the last 3 months so I pushed to return to ent get them checked. They did an ultra sound again said they looked fine just reactive meaning they are swollen due to infection...what for 6 years!!! Found 5 in total but as they were only 8mm not 1cm they won't take anything further despite the lymphoma symptoms and lymph issues in 5 family members and my dad has secondary lymph cancer right now. I'm not happy but they say non cancerous so what can I do.( can only diagnose lymphoma with biopsy which they won't consider as they consider it benign) that's why the cyst/swollen tummy worries me.

[Peroxideblader]

I should have taken someone to see consultant as although I'm quite fierce and pushy on behalf of other people I never push with myself. Since peri and lack of sleep for 4 years I've become so underconfident and scared and nervous I just don't speak up. Made it worse our neighbour went to the doctors 2 days after me with a lump in her neck but hers appeared suddenly and I reassured her it'll be nothing like me as our symptoms were the same...but they biopsy her lump found lymphoma and started chemo this week....it's been awful..but like I've said I have to believe the doctors I guess and they say it looks non suspicious..so the lumps are infection but without an actual infection!!! I won't get into my gp til next week if I push but like I said I can see it now..a smirk an eye roll..then they'll say oh its your age it'll be wind it'll be that time of life...bla bla bla ...and remind me I'd pushed for a consultant with these lymphoma symptoms and oh yes it was nothing just reactive lymphodaema....I would take my partner but deep down he believes I'm making illnesses up too...maybe I should leave it as cysts go away don't they and bloating could be peri couldn't it...can't face being mocked by doctors yet again

[MicheleMaBelle]

Hello PB- re lymphoma, I found a big lump on my back 18-19 months ago. It just appeared. I got an ultrasound and consultant said it was a benign lymphoma- doc wouldn't start me on HRT until she knew what is was. Since then I've found out that my brother has had one for years and my sister has not long been diagnosed with one too so there's obviously a family connection.
The overwhelming majority are benign - you've obviously just to keep an eye on them.its frightening I know but try and keep positive.

Now that you've said you've had cysts,this is maybe just a recurrence but promise you'll go and get this checked out. Insist on a referral for a scan- your partner should go with you if you are not confident enough. Please ask him to support you as you've got a lot going on

[Peroxideblader]

Hi sparkle no I haven't looked into chronic fatigue as I've got so many symptoms of illnesses and our family history is thyroid issues and auto immune and my uncle died of lymphoma my dad has lymphoma in his groin lymphoma gland so omuch I'd think they would think I have a genuine worry..I have left these symptoms and lumps for nearly five years d spite my uncle having follicular lymphoma which take s years to grow and show up....
Michellemabelle....I know what you are saying that's why I ignored all thes symptoms for years until this year when my dentist commented how the lumps in my neck glands had grown quite a bit...sadly my other family members ignored them too and by th time they were diagnosed it was too late...I am defineatly going to keep an eye out this time and if they grow even more I'm going back in a years time no matter what.
I will try my doctors for a re scan on my cysts but how can I push it because they'll say it's my age or wind or time of the month or menopause maybe...they will think I'm making a fuss saying I want another scan they'll say it's unnecessary especially after recent lump neck situation

[Mbrown001]

A years an awfully long time to leave something like that.

Can you afford to have an initial,private consultation and then go back on the NHS. We really shouldn't have to consider that but I really think that's what I would do.

Please don't leave it for a year. If your hubby isn't supportive do you have a female relative or close friend to go with you.

I think you need to address this now and not get fobbed off.

Mrs Brown

[MicheleMaBelle]

Don't be leaving it a year and please go to your docs re bloating symptoms. Agree with Mrs Brown- is there any way you could pay for a private referral and scan?

[CLKD]

Where is the lump in the neck?  Mine is along the collar bone and is benign.  A small one which I found when I had an itch in 1978  .

Bloating can be for various reasons: hormones, ovarian cancer, constipation ...... I used to get very bloated a few days prior to a bleed, enough to make me unable to wear skirts.  In later years the bloating was caused by PMT .......... as my digestive system had almost completely shut down  .

[Peroxideblader]

Clkd..I have a 8mm lump in my lymph gland in my neck under my jaw two smaller ones next to them again in lymph glands....they only consider 1cm to be the size to take action even though it's grown recently albeit it's still smaller than 1cm.  I've checked on lymphoma website and they state an ultra sound scan is not sufficient to diagnose lymphoma if you have other B symptoms which I have and that biopsy is the only way. However they do say consultants can tell alot on the scan and if they say it's only reactive then I've got to take that as fact ( 8 % of people are wrongly diagnosed as having reactive glands when years later it's been found to be terminal lymphoma) hence my worrying especially with family history.
As for the other lovely ladies asking about going private I have gone private in the past for other health issues due to nhs not playing ball and worked out for the best but the only option I have is to have a private biopsy and CT scan which sadly is past my budget ..the CT scan alone is around  £6000 without the consultation afyer. I have to accept the symptoms that do match lymphoma are peri apart from the lumps.  Have to be positive they've got it right.
As for the bloating I'll try to get an appt for next week. My partner is very supportive with life in general but he met a very upbeat healthy funny girl and the last 4 years he's got an exhausted wrecked girl with list after list of health issues all with no cure or no tablet to take and I think he's just sick of me having new ailments every month and me saying it's menopause ...or something worse..he thinks I'm a hypochondriac I think even though I keep most of my daily grinds to myself.

[coldethyl]

Please please go and demand a CA125 blood test and ultrasound scan - bloating that doesn't go down is a sign of ovarian cancer which I have ( though I didn't have the bloating ) and you really want it picking up sooner rather than later if it is that - I'd be pushy . Doctors are constantly asking me didn't I know sonething was up and I say I just felt rubbish but you put it all down to meno anxiety - it was only because I also had a very early womb primary too that anything was done as it caused erratic bleeding. Given you also have other cancer type symptoms going on , don't be fobbed off - the swollen lymph nodes might be connected to the ovary issue or the bloating to the lymphoma you are afraid of given family history - I shouldn't say this , but if you get no joy at GP, I'd present at a and e with the breathlessness and pain - they have duty to see you even if you have to wait hours and sadly many cases of cancer are only picked up in the emergency setting because GPs put everything down to other things - not trying to scare you, but I'd hate to see you have to go through what I'm going through when an earlier diagnosis might spare you less than pleasant treatment. X

[Peroxideblader]

So sorry to hear about your diagnosis coldethyl...I've only had this constant bloating for 3 days but it has come after a late period my first missed one and over 9 weeks late so I've put it all down to perimenopause..missed period soaking sweats swollen tummy weight gain insomnia bla bla bla and the biggest symptom for ovarian is losing weight I'm gaining...so I'm just sick of the gp thinking I'm a time waster..but peace of mind would be good. Can you tell by pressing my tummy or anything or should I ask for a blood test you said? I would like to check my ovarian cysts from all those years ago before I start my hrt which I hope to soon.thanks

[coldethyl]

Weight gain can be a symptom too. Trouble with it is that it's symptoms are quite general and often dismissed by GPs. Your doctor should be able to feel your ovaries on pelvic examination though some are just not good at it now that it's mostly practice nurses that do smears I've found. In last when I was on pill etc, doctor always did full pelvic exam gut I hadn't had one for years prior to diagnosis and my GP thought my cyst was my bowel and womb. If you ask for a CA125 test this should indicate if there's a problem - elevated levels don't automatically mean cancer as other inflammatory conditions and even having a period at time of test can raise it and some people aren't that sensitive to test and will have cancer even with low levels . Also ask for an ultrasound referral - as I've said, if you really get nowhere with GP I'd go to a and e and say you've pelvic pain that is making you breathless.

[Annie0710]

Last year I phoned surgery for yet another UTI so needed ABs, dr asked me various questions and I said I am suffering with bloating so she called me in.  Wee test showed UTI but she did bloods too for CA125 and examination and also referred me for a scan.  I thought she was being over cautious but hearing your story Coldethyl confirms she's a good gp x