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[Talli]

Oh boy Lesred thank you for your message!
I feel so scared of everything!
My husband and my Mum both say there’s not one part of your body that hasn’t been checked but of course the tests were done years ago so I just think that something has grown since then 

But honestly this swollen tummy is really noticeable and the aches and stabbing pains are getting to me.
I’m not a big bodied person and it notices so much

I’m worried now that the estrogen is causing come kind of the big c and that’s what the bloating and pain is about. And I read that the symptoms of ovarian c are really vague.
I’ve had a blood test for it before but that was years ago before I was on local estrogen. I can’t seem to manage at all without using it every night.
It’s so hard!

A bit of good news though! I literally just checked my medical record and my FIT came back negative with no detectable human blood so I’m massively relieved about that!!!! 

[Penguin]

I think its actually more than 90% that aren't actually the c word tbh. The 10% also includes polyps and things that can be easily removed before they become something. Only like 1-2% of abnormal fits are anything bad. Sooooooo many other things an abnormal fit can be, including internl or external piles, divertivulitis, ibd, polyps or absolutely nothing!

The CA125 blood test is a marker but also bear in mind it can be elevated for other reasons like fibroids, endometriosis etc. So don't panic about that one either. Your doctor should make clear to you that there are lots of reasons for elevated CA125 which is why its not considered a reliable diagnostic marker on its own, and is usually done with a transvaginal scan.

Right! Thank you Penguin.
Honestly I’m a useless human being at the moment.
Panicking about everything!
I just wish this stupid swollen tummy would go away, it’s freaking me out!
The estrogen helps the atrophy and other bladder issues I have so much that I don’t want to stop taking it, I’d be in agony but if it’s causing something sinister than I guess I’ll have to? 

If it was causing something sinister the swelling wouldn't come and go when you reduce or stop the medication, it'd be there persistently!

That’s actually a really good point  Excuse me while I go and hide behind the sofa out of embarrassment for not thinking of that myself ha ha

Don't hide behind any sofas please, I only know all this because I have extreme health anxiety and went through both bowel and ovarian testing a couple of years ago myself. I panicked about those tests too and wished I'd had someone then who could put me straight! So many of us on here suffer with this type of anxiety and have been where you are! X

[Talli]

There seems to be more and more ladies on here getting very similar symptoms, me included, when using local oestrogen.
I saw a GP last year about it and had the CA125 blood test, coeliac tests and a FIT as well.
All tests came back negative - I knew in the back of my mind that all would be ok but it didn't stop me freaking out while waiting for results. So sending big hugs.

Anyway, I persevered with the vagifem and ovestin hoping things would settle down. No luck, and about 6 weeks ago I stopped using both. Bloating, aching, discharge reduced dramatically. So much so that for a few days, I forgot all about it. My va symptoms are now returning but I have a GP appointment at the end of the month and am going to ask for Intrarosa to try.

As Lesred says - you are NOT alone and we WILL get through this with each others support.

XX

Thank you. To all of you. It’s comforting to know it’s not just me and the likelihood of it being something serious seems minimal listening to all of you 

I just hate the worry. As I’m getting older I have horrendous health anxiety and as soon as something is off I immediately imagine the worst. I Google it that allways comes back with depressing results.
My anxiety is super high anyway.

At least my FIT came back negative so that’s one thing to tick off 

If I drop back on the Vagifem and Ovestin my VA symptoms are dreadful. Really dreadful. Even after stopping for just a couple of days.
I really don’t know what to do.

If the symptoms aren’t dangerous I’d carry on with it all because the VA symptoms are horrific. They’re only kept just about under control using the two types everyday.
It’s just the worry that using the oestrogen that much will cause something sinister to grow.
I’m a mess ha ha

[Talli]

Thank you Penguin 💞

I’m sorry but I don’t know how to quote a reply and write one underneath like you have.

I feel like a mess. My health anxiety goes from one thing to another and I feel ill all the time. I have CFS and Fibro and have had really bad bladder problems for over 10 years and it all just feels like it’s getting on top of me.
And now this stupid bloating which I feel is getting worse although my husband doesn't seem to see a problem lol

I’m sorry to clog up this forum with my whinging when so many of you are going through serious things

I just wish I could see things objectively. Thank you for listening to my insane ramblings haha

[Talli]

Thank you Jaypo.
I’m such a silly head.

I will ask at my appointment next week about it.
I really hope she agrees cause she’s quite feisty the meno nurse at our surgery.
If she says no then it’s no if you know what I mean???

Really hope it isn’t anything serious!
But I will ‘try’ not to worry….yeah right 

[RebJT]

Vagifem is the equivalent of one pump of oestrogel A YEAR, this is why it's safe for women (like my mum) who've had oestrogen dominant breast cancer.  You'd honestly get more oestrogen a year from your diet.

I'm not denying you are suffering, but I really really really wouldn't worry about oestrogen in vaginal pessaries and cancer.  More likely it's the topsy turvey world of early peri, which I also went through with crazy swings of oestrogen (my own) and polyps (easily solved once diagnosed).

Have you had a scan?  If your GP won't do one those baby scan places will do an endometrial scan for about £60, I use them all the time, they are very kind and helpful.

[Talli]

Hi RebTJ, and thanks 

I do take more than the twice weekly regime which is the amount they say is equal to one patch or does of systemic a year.
I take Vagifem every night and also Ovestin on the outside every night which is why I’m freaking out a little bit.

I expect it is all due to peri stuff but it does ebb and flow depending on whether I take the estrogen or not so I’m pretty sure it’s connected to that.
But who knows! Haha!

Where are the baby scan places you can scans done?
Can you just make an app?
I’m in Dorset if that helps?

[Minusminnie]

Ultrasound Direct is one place & looks like there is one in Poole.

[RebJT]

Hey

I hear you, it's hard not to worry as this whole meno thing can be a bit alarming and scary, but even every day is very tiny doses compared to the levels your own ovaries will be intermittently pumping out.  In my mid to late forties my E levels were always well over a thousand, but I was also defo getting patches where it was obvious it had really dropped, I think this see saw can really kick in then.  I can also feel that HRT I take now is 'irritating' my womb at different points in my cycle, I get a sticky out tummy just before I bleed.

Company I used was ultrasound direct - they do have branches in Dorset, but there are other companies.  They are just private companies who mainly do scans for pregnant women or women trying to get pregnant but if you have a look they'll have 'endometrial scan' on their price list.  My local one was lovely, really nice, and very careful with chaperones, protecting your dignity etc.  With an endo scan, it's best to go just after your period.  They'll do you a print out and a digital image (I then send these to my gynae).  That said, when I had suspected polyp (heavy heavy periods) NHS sent me for a scan and I got that within a couple of weeks, I had a brilliant sonographer, she was a bit of a feminist and passionate about women's meno care!

Hope that helps

x

[Talli]

Thank you to both of you!

Yes I think probably I’m just a freaky mess at the moment hahah!!
I will look into those companies!
Thanks!

I think I need to take everyone’s advice (including my husbands ha ha) and just relax!
I’ll mention it to the meno nurse next Friday and see what she says.
Thank you to everyone! Xxxx

[Jules]

I was recently looking for an US provider. The reviews for  ultrasound direct in my area weren't positive enough to risk wasting money so I contacted my local private hospital who needed a doctor referral. In the end my GP referred me via the nhs. I will have had a 5 weeks wait in the end which isn't as bad as I expected

[Talli]

So little update,
I’ve completely cut out all local estrogen and belly still swollen

Have a HRT review Friday and GP surgery have said to mention it then rather then giving me a separate appointment.

I’m really panicking 

[Lesred]

Oh Talli

Really don’t panic, just remember menopause shoves so many awful, random symptoms at us constantly that it’s very hard to see the wood for the trees. You have had a clear FIT test which is excellent! Stress will definitely be playing a part, and if it’s any consolation I am having the return of horrid va symptoms but am nervous to use ovestin again, which I think is probably ridiculous as it surely can’t be causing digestive issues. I too have a gp appt this week and we can only hope that we both get some reassurance and decent advice.

Have you found any food that may be causing the bloated feeling? And is it still painful? How is your VA?

When my brain is chattering far too much my bowels and stomach go to pot quite quickly and hormones, well don’t get me started! It’s really really good you have an HRT appointment very soon and in the words of CLKD ( I need to do this myself!) write down everything you want to discuss.

Deep breaths … we’ll be worrying about something else in a few weeks 

Les x x

[CLKD]

Lesred - U took the words out of my hands ;-)

Take that list.  Also, write down everything that passes your lips for 3-4 days.  See what might be causing the belatedness which is awful. 

How is your diet overall?   Processed foods may have been OK until recent years, I've had to cut out most or I suffer slow transit.  With associated heart burn and some bloating.  Also keep up with hydration so that the kidneys don't struggle. 

We have a thread somewhere about what we have diagnosed today so HA is common in peri-menopause  .  Which doesn't help in the early hours  . 

[Jules]

How long ago did you stop? I had increased my dose of vagifem to alternate nights and introduced nightly ovestin externally and 4 months after I had breast pain and very small bleed. I know people say it's harmless etc but there's no way of knowing how individual bodies react or how much they absorb things. I'm not suggesting you have anything sinister but I also don't think we can just accept that it's completely safe to use any estrogen.  I can't take ibuprofen whereas others use it freely. I've introduced vagifem again twice weekly. I had made progress using both. I was prone to urinary symptoms but also vulval atrophy, something even less talked about and tge ovestin has certainly helped with that so if I have to stop I will be very upset. US scan on Monday so I'll know more then. I have no symptoms currently,  no more bleeds, no pain, nothing. I agree that some days along with every other life problem,  I could easily be carted off to the funny farm