Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Postmenopause => Topic started by: Bunny lady on January 04, 2025, 12:03:38 PM
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So after some spotting in October had an ultrasound scan today. The sonographer has told GO to refer to specialist as my womb lining has thickened, there are a couple of polyps and a cyst on my right ovary. I’m freaking out! She says that all this is common on HRT and not to worry but oh my goodness I’m feeling anxious.
I have had thickened womb lining before and had ablation before menopause. Been on HRT three years now. Trying to remain calm but worried it could be cancer.
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I think that this is 'common' when ladies use HRT. Any idea how long the wait would B for an appt., could u take a cancellation if someone no longer requires the appt.? If so let the dept know.
Were you told how thick the lining is?
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I think if you have a look through the forum you'll find the fact this is 'common' is true. Threads appear almost daily following spotting, then TVS. What is also common is the anxiety that accompanies all that, too, understandably. Waiting for a follow-up appointment for the necessary investigation heightens the anxiety.
But if you take a look at the outcome for all the ladies who have posted here about the above, me included, you'll find that by far the majority have good results in the end.
However, when you're in the midst of it, wondering what might/could be wrong, it's hard to think calmly. Try, if you can, to look at the experiences of other ladies here, whose anxiety was through the roof, and read how things ended for them. At the moment you are being dealt with appropriately by the professionals and hopefully you're in an area where follow-ups will happen fast.
All that to say, I'm sure before too long, you'll join those of us who begin to understand these things do happen to our bodies when we're on HRT and it's rarely cancer. I know words won't necessarily take your anxiety away, but you're not alone, so many of us have been there, and you know what? We're OK.
Sending a hug to you.
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Thank you. I’ve not been told thickness. I have been here before and all was ok just no polyps or cyst last time.
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Oh goodness, I hear you with the anxiety! I now have an ultrasound appointment for January 24th after almost a month of bleeding, spotting, intense pain and burning pain. I have now convinced myself that I have cancer as I’m 57.
I’m lying on the sofa with a hot water bottle and I can’t stop looking for any form of hope that other women over 55 have also gone through the same.
I think we should maybe try not to think too far ahead or use the words “What if?”
Sending an hugely understanding hug!
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I think if you have a look through the forum you'll find the fact this is 'common' is true. Threads appear almost daily following spotting, then TVS. What is also common is the anxiety that accompanies all that, too, understandably. Waiting for a follow-up appointment for the necessary investigation heightens the anxiety.
But if you take a look at the outcome for all the ladies who have posted here about the above, me included, you'll find that by far the majority have good results in the end.
However, when you're in the midst of it, wondering what might/could be wrong, it's hard to think calmly. Try, if you can, to look at the experiences of other ladies here, whose anxiety was through the roof, and read how things ended for them. At the moment you are being dealt with appropriately by the professionals and hopefully you're in an area where follow-ups will happen fast.
All that to say, I'm sure before too long, you'll join those of us who begin to understand these things do happen to our bodies when we're on HRT and it's rarely cancer. I know words won't necessarily take your anxiety away, but you're not alone, so many of us have been there, and you know what? We're OK.
Sending a hug to you.
Absolutely yes to all of this!!!
Plus, with health anxiety one overestimates the probability of it being something bad (just because it's possible doesn't mean it's probable), vastly overestimates the likelihood of it being bad and untreatable, and underestimates their ability to deal with whatever it is. The mind naturally goes to worse case scenario and spirals from there! Now this was taken from one of my health anxiety (also common in peri and beyond) books, but the author definitely said it more eloquently and succinctly than I have! X
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Could you please share the name of the book as I’m feeling very anxious about similar issues. My ultrasound isn’t for 3 weeks and I’m not coping with the wait.
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Could you please share the name of the book as I’m feeling very anxious about similar issues. My ultrasound isn’t for 3 weeks and I’m not coping with the wait.
I have a few, but the best one is Overcoming Health Anxiety by David Veale, you can get it on amazon. There are also good free resources on Google from western Australia, I'll see if I can find one of the chapters and link below.
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Here is the link, I found it really easy to read and understand as it is in manageable chunks. So much resonated with me. Awareness of what you are doing helps even if it doesn't fix it.
https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/looking-after-yourself/health-anxiety
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Thank you so much!! 😊
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Thank you everyone who has responded. I’m back at work today. Trying to stay positive and focus - not always easy. But I have read about the positive outcomes and think that there may some issues with the balance of the HRT - who knows just trying to be positive right now.
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I think if you have a look through the forum you'll find the fact this is 'common' is true. Threads appear almost daily following spotting, then TVS. What is also common is the anxiety that accompanies all that, too, understandably. Waiting for a follow-up appointment for the necessary investigation heightens the anxiety.
But if you take a look at the outcome for all the ladies who have posted here about the above, me included, you'll find that by far the majority have good results in the end.
However, when you're in the midst of it, wondering what might/could be wrong, it's hard to think calmly. Try, if you can, to look at the experiences of other ladies here, whose anxiety was through the roof, and read how things ended for them. At the moment you are being dealt with appropriately by the professionals and hopefully you're in an area where follow-ups will happen fast.
All that to say, I'm sure before too long, you'll join those of us who begin to understand these things do happen to our bodies when we're on HRT and it's rarely cancer. I know words won't necessarily take your anxiety away, but you're not alone, so many of us have been there, and you know what? We're OK.
Sending a hug to you.
Yes I too agree with everything MrsMitch says and the other ladies, I am probably one of the ladies she is talking about with severe anxiety this time last year waiting for scans etc and she had to give me good sensible advice as did many other ladies. I'm not in the exact position as you as I didn't have a cyst or polyps but I did have heavy bleeding and a womb lining of just under 8mm. After hysteroscopy and biopsy all came back clear as I'm sure yours will.
Please keep us updated and keep talking to the very knowledgeable ladies on MM :bighug:
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Quick update. GP called today. I saw the results yesterday and the cyst is a simple one not to worry about; the womb lining issue could be a polyp so she referring in but told me not worry this happens on HRT she sees it a lot. She is is meno specialist at the surgery and knows all the latest guidelines and explained what might happen and that I can have sedation if needed. She said she couldn’t reassure 100% but then no one can! I asked about stopping HRT she said I didn’t have to - we just need to get the balance right. I asked if reducing to 25mg of estrogen would be ok she said I could do that if I wanted to and she will ensure I have utrogestan in the future as that seems to have been the catalyst for this latest episode. So I am just waiting now. Feeling a little calmer she was extremely helpful and lovely.
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That's reassuring news for you Bunny Lady, sounds like you have a knowledgeable GP which is very rare it seems these days. Hope you get your appointment through quickly.
Hope you sleep well tonight now you've had this news.
Good luck and keep us updated :)