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[Ambergirl]

Hi Ladies,

I have been having a pain in my side for about 18 months. Had a scan last year and a 125 test which was 16 and told it was all okay and that it was probably menopause and wear and tear! Last week went back to GP as pain is still there and they redid my 125 which is now 37. I am now in a stress as I have now another scan and referral to gynaecology which makes me think I have something really wrong. GP said it will probably be nothing but "we don't live in a perfect world of medicine"  which I took to mean yes you could have something terrible we've missed!
Any thoughts because I am about to google and send myself further down the HA spiral!

[Kathleen]

Hello  Ambergirl

I happen to know that a c125 level of below 46 is normal so you are within that range. This blood test is used to look for conditions other than the scary ones, infact I  have this test every six months to monitor my auto immune disease.

I completely understand your worries, we are at a delicate stage in our lives and panic is never far away.

Wishing you well and keep us updated.

K.

[Ambergirl]

Hi Kathleen,

Thanks for your calming words. I will wait for the referral and the scan and keep fingers crossed!

[CLKD]

  2 U both

[Wrensong]

Ooh Ambergirl - please don't go consulting Dr Google - he's a terrible quack & Kathleen knows what she's talking about.  Try not to worry - so many of us have to have this test at some time or another.  Try to relax as much as you can in the meantime & do let us know how you get on.

Kathleen - what a lovely reassuring post, so nicely worded & full of empathy.
Wx

[Ambergirl]

Thanks - am going to read a nice book and enjoy the sunshine this evening. Nothing to be gained by worrying - just going to wait and see. (And of course read the lovely responses from this amazing forum!).

[CLKD]

What U reading, we have a bookworm thread somewhere 

If you are really worried then 2-morrow contact 'overcom', the UK based Charity for ovarian cancer, I think they communicate via e-mail ;-).

[Ambergirl]

Managed to resist Dr Google for most of the day but now I am freaked out that I have cancer and am going to die imminently. What is it that at this stage when we are just getting some time for ourselves and planning for retirement (eventually) that we have to go through all this?
I blame myself for being overweight ( lost and regained sooo many times), not exercising enough, not having children - basically anything that makes me at risk. I hate being like this, keep apologising to my husband and crying. It seems every year since I turned 50 there has been something! It was endoscopy and colonoscopy in 2016; heart and possible AF in 2017 and thyroid lumps in 2018! I have had everything come back okay (apart from the heart thing which is quite slow) and I now think that something will have to be wrong this time.
My body feels like it belongs to someone else and all I want is to get on with life, to enjoy my job and have time to do the things with DH that would bring us closer together.
Sorry for the rant - just feel pretty desperate this evening.

[Wrensong]

Ambergirl - please don't worry about the CA125 test - remember what Kathleen said.  Please don't worry about this either, but as you mentioned thyroid lumps, weight gain & a slow heart rate (sometimes ?irregular - you mentioned AF), are they keeping an eye on your thyroid function to be sure it's not becoming underactive?   It will be treatable if so, so please don't worry about that - quite a few of us on here have an underactive thyroid & you will feel much better for treatment if you need it. 

[Ambergirl]

So, just missed a call on my phone. No message and when you ring it back it says it's from someone in the NHS. Total panic now, thinking why are they trying to get hold of me on a Sunday!!! Does this mean something terrible and urgent like I fear. Honestly, what with the pain which is spasms at the moment and the pit of fear in my stomach I don't know how I am going to get through the next few hours. OH is playing golf all day and I am at home just waiting for the phone to go.Trying to stay positive but gosh it's hard!

[Wrensong]

Ambergirl - my nearest general hospital sometimes rings out of hours just to set up routine appointments - those depts that have long waiting lists that exceed government targets sometimes work outside usual office hours to get waiting times down.  I have had MRIs at some surprising times & several routine outpatient investigations on Saturdays, so please don't think the call can only mean bad news.
Wx

[Ambergirl]

Thanks for the comments Wrensong. I rang my local hospital and they said it was just automated and that I should keep the phone on and wait for another call. It is too easy I know to catastrophise - why does our mind do that I wonder? Since turning 50 (53 last week) it seems that every year I have had some health issue. I suppose if we had something that old we would get rid of it and get a new one! Well will sit and wait, read a book and hope that I will get a call today. I'm guessing that as they tried two hours ago and nothing since it will not be until tomorrow now. I'm glad it's work tomorrow as sitting around at home makes things worse. At least I will be busy and won't have time to think!

[Wrensong]

Equilibrium just goes haywire at menopause Ambergirl - believe me I worried for England right through peri & beyond & am still pretty adept at it 7 years post!  Don't beat yourself up for being anxious - none of us is to blame for what happens to us mentally & physically at menopause.  Now without ovaries for 14 months I'm struggling to learn what's the new normal all over again!  Be as kind to yourself as you would to others in this situation, do whatever diverts your attention from worries & believe that you WILL get through it.
Wx

[Ambergirl]

Have managed to get a gynae appointment for tomorrow evening. Got hold of a copy of my blood tests - all incomprehensible to me but I can see the CA125 is 37.3. Hopefully, I can get some good advice tomorrow so I will update. Kept busy today and did an early morning session at the gym. Don't know how I managed it because I didn't sleep well with the stress of worrying. Also got another letter from GP saying she has also referred me to a gastro consultant. I think she isn't sure what the abdominal pain is and therefore wants to cover all bases!

[Ambergirl]

Thanks Birdy. This forum really is a life-line. It is hard when all of your friends/colleagues are only in their 30s and still focused on having babies or trying not to have them! I don't think OH wants to hear me moan about my bits either! I feel quite sorry for him - he's taken early retirement and wants to have a relaxing life and I am busier than ever at work and trying to juggle senior leader responsibility and the anxiety that brings, with the delights of menopause. Glad I have the lovely and well-informed ladies on here to offer sage advice and words of comfort.