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[DownDillie]

Hi all,

I haven't had my scan yet but the doctor phoned today to tell me all my tests are normal except for CA125 which is slightly elevated (37). I know that the normal range is 35 or below. I've done a bit of googling, as always, and I know it's not necessarily an indicator of anything sinister but of course I'm finding it hard not to get all worried again.

This whole thing is tremendously stressful, it's hard to concentrate on normal life .

[Nik2502]

Downdillie id really try and not worry about your CA125 - inflammation or infection can cause it to rise and it's so little out of ‘normal' I'm sure you'll be ok x

[DownDillie]

Thanks, Nik,

My head tells me not to worry, my gut carries on worrying. Scan is on Monday so I will hopefully find out more then. I have found that a busy day at work has kept my mind off things, so I think I'm going to keep myself very busy over the weekend. 

[DownDillie]

Had a very sleepless night having spent all evening looking up horrendous cancer stories online. The pain in my side is more noticeable now but I think that's just stress and anxiety.

Does anyone know if the sonographer will tell me anything on Monday or do I have to wait a while for the results?

[MicheleMaBelle]

DownDillie- I had the exact same issues recently, got an urgent referral and the scan was normal. I also have IBS and get the pains you mention.

Your mind can run riot and make you feel that you have every symptom you have found out from DR GOOGLE. The elevated ca125 levels could be caused by fibroids. ( I had them but didn't know until my scan )

Here's the interesting thing and may explain about the spotting and staining. Utrogestan is VERY UNSTABLE in the body. It can work for years and then start to be a bit erratic. It's the nature of the beast, and can lead to the bleeding you've mentioned. A professor of gynaecology told me this recently as I couldn't understand what was going on.

Hope your scan goes well. Try not to worry, you may not even need a biopsy. Let us know how you get on x

[DownDillie]

Birdy - thanks, you are of course right and I have stopped googling.

Michele - thanks so much for the reassurance, it helps a lot. I can feel my whole body is anxious (not unusual these anyway to be honest) but I am telling myself the overwhelming likelihood is that all is well.

I am going to spend today working hard in the garden, take my mind off things and get myself physically tired  .

[DownDillie]

Hi again. Had my scan today (transvaginal). The sonographer said that I have a thickened lining, said this could be due to a polyp. No sign of any cysts on ovaries, though the ovaries were hard to find.

I/my GP will hear from them within a week. I presume I will have to have a hysteroscopy.

I am trying not to get too worked up about this. I am a bit puzzled why the lining is thickened. I've been taking 100mg of Utrogestan pretty much continuously with on average about 0.75 of a sachet of Sandrena every night. I guess I'll have to wait and see what is causing the thickening. Meanwhile, I am reducing the Sandrena to half a sachet.


Hard not to get stressed 

[DownDillie]

Thanks Birdy. I slept like a log last night so that's good  .

I've been feeling a bit stressy this morning but then suddenly decided to stop doing this to myself. As you say, the likelihood of cancer is slim. I've been kind of blaming myself for taking HRT, but really I was on a low dose and I honestly feel it has saved my life. I will have to look into switching from utrogestan though if it is not proving effective at keeping the womb lining thin.

Good luck for your scan on Friday.

[MicheleMaBelle]

Hi Birdy. Good luck Friday. I'm sure all will be well.

DownDillie - a thickened lining doesn't mean very much. Did she say what is was/ should be?

It's not unheard of for the technician to accidentally measure the polyps as well.

Maybe you can try alternating the Utrogestan between vaginal and oral use. My understanding is that more is absorbed directly into the womb if used vaginally or even consider going back to a cycle and using it vaginally for part of the month.
I guess the other option would be to switch to another progesterone. I understand that the synthetic ones do a slightly better job than Utrogestan although the side effects can be less easily tolerated. X

[DownDillie]

Hi Birdy. Good luck Friday. I'm sure all will be well.

DownDillie - a thickened lining doesn't mean very much. Did she say what is was/ should be?

It's not unheard of for the technician to accidentally measure the polyps as well.

Maybe you can try alternating the Utrogestan between vaginal and oral use. My understanding is that more is absorbed directly into the womb if used vaginally or even consider going back to a cycle and using it vaginally for part of the month.
I guess the other option would be to switch to another progesterone. I understand that the synthetic ones do a slightly better job than Utrogestan although the side effects can be less easily tolerated. X

Hi Michele (love your user name  ),

I didn't ask about the thickness measurement, should have. Guess I'll find out soon because that will determine what happens next. Not sure about taking Utro vaginally because of recurrent cystitis-style problems, also my GP wouldn't be keen, I had to kind of wrestle HRT out of her.

The sonographer mentioned polyps so it could be that. Hopefully I won't have to wait too long for the next move.

[DownDillie]

Thanks my dear! Bit nervous as I have a cyst that needs measuring. I've been having ovary pain so that's on my mind too. X

Hugs, Birdy. We ladies have a lot of worries to contend with. It is a cruel irony that health problems crop up just at the age when we are also the most anxious / emotionally fraught  .

The overwhelming odds are that all will be well.

[DownDillie]

Have just opened my letter with my appointment through today for a hysteroscopy. It isn't until the week after next. Because the service is 'Gynaecological Oncology' my anxiety is through the roof again, I feel physically sick.

I presume that the appointment means that the thickening of the lining is sufficient to cause concern. I will phone my GP tomorrow to see if she can tell me more.

But I can hardly breathe now I'm so worried.

[DownDillie]

Also, coupling the lining thickening with a raised CA125 has all my alarm bells ringing. And now I'm back to thinking I did this to myself  . I really need to get a grip.

[DownDillie]

Thanks Birdy, I know you are right and I was being very silly. You'll be pleased to hear I've got over myself a bit now  .

I have some Vagifem but keep forgetting to use it. The cystitis is only occasional, thankfully, and very mild.

[DownDillie]

Birdy - how did your scan go today?