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[SarahED]

Hi all 

I just wanted to introduce myself as a new member. I’m SarahED and I’ve been in peri for about 4 years, and on HRT for nearly 2 years. I’m now 44 (nearly 45) years old.

Like many of you I’ve progressed through the different doses and formulations of HRT during this first couple of years on hormone treatment. I started on a low dose of Lenzetto and Utrogestan, then moved to Estrogel and a higher Utrogestan dose. More recently I’ve been on Sandrena, and I’ve also been using testosterone for the past year.

Recently I attended my first proper ‘big girl’ appointment with a gynaecologist (I’d never had a gynaecologist before) due to some unscheduled bleeding and high blood estradiol and testosterone levels (which I’ll come back to).

After an ultrasound I’m now booked in  for a hysteroscopy for the removal of a small polyp, an endometrial biopsy and Mirena coil insertion. Annoyingly my endometrium is just over the 4mm cut-off at 4.2mm, so my gynaecologist is doing a biopsy as a precaution. I know many women end up having a hysteroscopy at some point (some several over the years), but I was hoping to avoid having to have one. However, as much as I’m anxious about it all, it also feels a bit like I’ve graduated into perimenopause ‘big school’, especially with getting the Mirena fitted - it almost feels like a milestone and confirmation that I’m no longer at the start of the peri process, and instead am right slap bang in the thick of it!


Alongside the hysteroscopy I’m also booked in to get a repeat hormone blood test next week with my GP. A recent blood test showed very high estradiol and testosterone levels. My meno GP is convinced it’s likely due to a contaminated blood sample as I applied both my estrogen  and testosterone gel on the morning of my blood test. I don’t know what I’m more anxious about, the hysteroscopy or the repeat bloods… :-/

Anyway, happy to now be a proper member of this forum after having spent the last couple of years loitering around the threads reading about all of your experiences. It’s been hugely educational (and reassuring also)

[jaypo]

Nice to have you here 
Good luck with your procedure,yes most of us have had one at some point,nice day out  for us 

[CLKD]

Make sure that you are offered anaesthesia B4 the procedure!

  browse round. Make notes ;-).  Do read the threads about bladder issues and vaginal atrophy: 4warned is 4armed.

Ask away!

[SarahED]

Thank you so much both !

I confirmed with my gynae today that I’ll be getting sedation for the hysteroscopy, so really relieved about that!

Very happy to finally be a proper member of this forum

[CLKD]

 

[jaypo]

Do ask them to top up the sedation if needed 

[CLKD]

You will need some1 to drive you home! 

[SarahED]

Thanks for the advice ☺️ will definitely mention top up sedation to my anaesthetist.

My husband will be getting me home from the appointment, so I’m all good there 👍🏼

Could you advise on how long I’ll be feeling a bit rubbish after the procedure? I have a family event two days later so just wondering if I’ll likely be ok to attend that?

Thanks all! 

[jaypo]

I was ok not long after the procedure but I guess we're all different but you should be ok for your event 

[SarahED]

I was ok not long after the procedure but I guess we're all different but you should be ok for your event 

Thank you! 

[CLKD]

You'll be fine for the event, make sure that you sleep after and keep hydrated.  Discuss pain relief B4 U have the procedure.

[SarahED]

You'll be fine for the event, make sure that you sleep after and keep hydrated.  Discuss pain relief B4 U have the procedure.

Thank you! And I guess post-procedure OTC pain relief will also be helpful, especially for the first couple of days after

Really can’t wait to get it done and out of the way. Though I suspect the waiting for the biopsy results will be worse than the actual procedure (for me anyway…I could win an Olympic medal if health anxiety were a sport  !)

[jaypo]

Oh the waiting is waaaaay worse for me, I sometimes think it's only ME waiting for results 

[SarahED]

Oh the waiting is waaaaay worse for me, I sometimes think it's only ME waiting for results 

It’s so annoying because even though you know rationally you’re ok, it’s so hard to not spiral and get caught up in the negative thoughts.

It’s probably going to be another four weeks until I have any definitive answers in my current situation, so trying to use this as an opportunity to practice some vital coping skills.

So many of us go through multiple worrying and confusing experiences through this process, it’s so hard 

I’m hoping for me that experience brings with it some wisdom and resilience