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[Dierdre]

Thanks Hurdity, I was on full HRT patches a couple of years ago for 6 months after a clear scan, so a fibriod could have developed then and hasnt completely shrunk yet,. Scan a week on Wednesday so will update then.

Jari, the gynae said local estrogen dosage is too tiny to cause fibroid growth, but i think the Ovestin leaflet will probably state the same as full HRT anyway.

[Jari]

Ok Dierdre. Hope all goes well on Wednesday and let us know how it goes. X

[Dierdre]

Well, had my scan yesterday and was told my lining is 6mm well within the postmeno limits, NO fibroids and a completely clear scan. I explained why im re scanning, that the previous one showed an ill defined 8mm portion of the endometrium and the gynae was concerned. She said there were no concerns whatsoever and asked me where i went for the last scan, i told her and they looked up the centre (part of NHS) looked at each other like they knew something then said Oh, its not part of our diagnostic group!
Im obviously relieved but disappointed someone is not doing their job correctly and causing me all this anxiety for weeks.

[Katejo]

Well, had my scan yesterday and was told my lining is 6mm well within the postmeno limits, NO fibroids and a completely clear scan. I explained why im re scanning, that the previous one showed an ill defined 8mm portion of the endometrium and the gynae was concerned. She said there were no concerns whatsoever and asked me where i went for the last scan, i told her and they looked up the centre (part of NHS) looked at each other like they knew something then said Oh, its not part of our diagnostic group!
Im obviously relieved but disappointed someone is not doing their job correctly and causing me all this anxiety for weeks.

Surprised that they said that a 6mm lining was well within the post meno limits though. Mine was 5 mm and I was told that anything above 4.5 mm needs a hysteroscopy.

[Dierdre]

I queried this also and she went on the computer to check then confirmed a limit of up to 11mm is ok for a postmenopausal women without bleeding or any other symtoms. As my last  scan a couple of months ago showed parts were 8mm but now all is 6mm, it seems its thinning and she agrees the thickening could have been from being on full HRT and it takes a while to thin down again. I assume the limit would be different if there was bleeding involved. Ive got my appointment on Friday with the gynae so will report back.

[Katejo]

I queried this also and she went on the computer to check then confirmed a limit of up to 11mm is ok for a postmenopausal women without bleeding or any other symtoms. As my last  scan a couple of months ago showed parts were 8mm but now all is 6mm, it seems its thinning and she agrees the thickening could have been from being on full HRT and it takes a while to thin down again. I assume the limit would be different if there was bleeding involved. Ive got my appointment on Friday with the gynae so will report back.

Mine was due to bleeding (while using Evorel conti). When I queried the 4.5 mm I was told that it shouldn't be more than 2 to 3 mm! I am waiting for a urogynae appt. now and I am going to mention it even though it isn't strictly her area. I have a meno clinic appt on Wednesday when I will definitely ask.

[Dierdre]

Had my appointment at the clinic yesterday for my scan results and at first the doctorr wanted to do a biopsy as my lining was over 4.5mm.  I told her what the radiographer had said, 6mm being well witin the 11mm postmenopausal limit for someone not bleeding , that the scan was clear and she'd had no concerns.  I said i really didn't want to go through this procedure unless it was necessary with my atrophy and also when i had a my cervix opened before i went into shock and passed out.  I suggested perhaps scanning again in a couple of months to see if the lining had thinned some more as it was 8mm a couple of months ago and she agreed that would be an alternative.
The doctor said the radiograhper shouldn't have shared this clinical information with me and then went off to speak to the consultant.
The cosultant then came and said as long as i see my GP if I ever had any bleeding that was ok not to biopsy and I didnt need another scan.

[Hurdity]

Thanks for updating us Deidre.

What's with the secrecy eh? I mean bravo to the radiographer for putting you in the picture. We should be as informed as we can be by whatever source so they should not be suggesting information is withheld!

Anyway sounds like a good outcome for you . It certainly pays to query things....

Hurdity x

[Jari]

As my last  scan a couple of months ago showed parts were 8mm but now all is 6mm, it seems its thinning and she agrees the thickening could have been from being on full HRT and it takes a while to thin down again.

This is interesting Deidre. I am not impressed that this doctor did not appear to know the correct mm thicknesses. Were they a private doctor out of interest?

I saw a couple of different so called meno specialists. I only took hrt for 3 months and this caused a small fibroid to grow. She was very much pushing me to make an appointment so she could remove it. She even used a scare story of another lady, where she had removed a small fibroid and had discovered a cancerous growth hiding behind the fibroid. I saw straight through her and did not opt for the (expensive) small fibroid removal. It went once I stopped hrt.
I am very weary about her wanting to do an unnecessary procedure for you to reduce lining?! Would this have cost you or was it NHS?

From what I believe, I am sure that by taking progesterone for a week, this would cause a bleed to reduce the lining? I think?!

I think you are wise not to go ahead with that procedure. X

[Hurdity]

Jari: the uterine lining can vary in thickness, not necessarily uniform all over. As I understand it, it is areas of thickening in an otherwise uniformly thinner lining that might indicate the need for a further TVS and potentially a hysteroscopy or biopsy if it looks like an abnormality. This is what happened to me as I've already explained in the thread. My area of thickening or potential abnormality turned out to be a small fibroid as I've already said and this SHRUNK after years of using HRT. We have already gone through this. The minimum course of progesterone to shed a lining is 2 weeks usually but if very thick could be several weeks?

I don't know what you mean about a procedure to reduce the lining? Deirdre did not mention this unless I've missed something? The biopsy she refers to would be to take a small sample of uterine tissue (if there was an abnormaility or large are of thickening combined with bleeding) to test the cells for atypical endometrial hyperplasia which can lead to cancer if left.

It would be important to have such a procedure if initial results indicate it is necessary which in Deirdre's case, the consultants actually eventually agreed is not.

Jari  I find it strange that small fibroid removal was suggested in your case as this is not normal practice I don't think. Only large ones that are causing problems eg pain or excessive bleeding - so I understand?

Hurdity x

[Jari]

Hi Hurdity, yes I agree. As said previously, I think it was very strange that she was pushing me to have it removed.

I had no pain or discomfort or bleeding at all. In my case, I really got the impression she wanted to do it for financial benefit.

I opted not to.

In Deidre s case it seems strange and confusing if one doctor says one thing about the thickness of lining and another says something else. Why are they not following the same procedures I wonder.

Was mixing up from another post about a hysteroscopy to reduce the lining, but think it is good after all the conflicting opinions that Deidre had, that she is not going ahead with the biopsy procedure and monitor the lining thickness instead..

Wishing you well ladies. X

[Kathleen]

Hello ladies

At the beginning of my meno journey I was found to have a small fibroid. Years later when I began using HRT I was worried that it would grow but instead it shrank and disappeared.  Perhaps fibroids respond in different ways to added oestrogen in the form of HRT.

Take care ladies.

K.

[Dierdre]

I'm on the NHS Jari, I think the doctor I saw was a trainee because she kept going in another room to ask the consultant the answers to my queries. I think she was quoting the thickness of lining for postmenopausal bleeding which is less than 5mm. Not knocking her, she was at least on the side of caution and I did think after maybe i should have had it done anyway to be on the safe side, I definately would have if the 8mm portion was still there.

Im wondering if radiographers have been told not to disclose anything they see now, Hurdity.   When i had the previous scan a couple of months ago, she wouldn't tell me anything when i asked if all was ok., she just said she wasnt qualfied to comment and my GP would be in touch in a couple of weeks This made me very anxious.

[dangermouse]

I suspect the fibroids can grow for some women in perimenopause when oestrogen surges very high, like breast cysts. Then post meno they gradually shrink and if HRT is taken it may not matter as that will never be as high oestrogen as when its surging in peri.