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[Bentley]

Well I had my ultrasound this morning. The lady was thorough, but not very talkative.
I saw my gp a couple of weeks ago due to discomfort/burning in the genital area, and a small amount of discharge.
I also had a very little bleeding, which I was sure was due to wiping too hard.
Because of this I was referred for an ultrasound which I had this morning.
I was aware that I had two fibroids as I had an ultrasound about 10 years ago due to heavy bleeding. I couldn’t remember how big they were. I am now 10 years post menopause.
The only comment the sonographer made was that I have a bulky uterus due to the fibroids. She is sending the report to my gp so that a comparison can be made with my previous ultrasound.
I am now even more anxious as I thought fibroids were supposed to shrivel up after menopause.
I am now very worried that I have a lieomyosarcoma.

[Nas]

I had leiomysarcoma in the uterus two years ago. They are devious things, which often present as a fibroid. If whoever is reporting on your scan, has any suspicion re: the mass/es they will absolutely refer you for an MRI, to take a closer look. Leiomysarcoma have certain features which deviate from more “ traditional” looking fibroids.

Often fibroids DO shrivel
post menopause and I’m sure you don’t have Leiomysarcoma
 ( they equate for 1% of all cancers) I’m unlucky!

Best of luck.

[Bentley]

Thank you for that Nas.
I have had a sleepless night overwhelmed with anxiety.

[Nas]

I’m sure you don’t have leiomysarcoma Bentley, why do you think that? Is there a family history? They are so rare. If the fibroids were there 10 years ago, then they would have surely caused more problems by now , If they were malignant.

[Bentley]

I have read on dr Google that they can arise out of fibroids and that it is unusual to have fibroids if you are post menopausal.
I have rampaging health anxiety at the moment and feel very pessimistic.

[bombsh3ll]

Nas is right (however I am sure that my mind would also go to the weird rare malignancy rather than the common as muck benign finding)

Have you heard the saying "if you hear hoovebeats, first think horses, not zebras"?

I think it is reassuring that you have a long history of fibroids, which don't always disappear quickly, completely or at all after menopause, particularly if you take hormone therapy.

It is not "rare", simply that post-reproductive women's healthcare is very much neglected and the vast majority never have a pelvic scan unless they either pay for one or report symptoms.

It would be much more concerning if you had no fibroids before menopause but had developed these since.

[Nas]

Excellent advice from bomb..

You’ve had these fibroids for a long time now, so the chances of them being any more than that, is low I would think.

Mine was a singular mass which was picked up during a pelvic scan. It was an MRI which made them look twice.

Try to stay away from DR Google.. you will end up down a rabbit hole.

[GraceM]

Could your symptoms be more in line with vaginal atrophy given that you have discomfort and burning sensation in that area?  I wouldn't jump to the worst case scenario.  I have a bulky uterus with fibroids.  I'm still in perimenopause at 52, but don't imagine the fibroids will shrivel up altogether when I reach menopause.  They may well shrink but they're still going to be there. 

[Bentley]

Thanks for all your support ladies.
I was definitely way down the rabbit hole, in fact I contacted my gp surgery as I was in outer space with anxiety.
A very nice receptionist ( we are lucky, the receptionists are all wonderful at our surgery) phoned to say that the ultrasound had found nothing sinister and made me an appointment to discuss the results and GSM on Tuesday.
I guess my fibroids are just not the shrivelling kind!
Special thanks to Nas