Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Postmenopause => Topic started by: Northerngirl on June 04, 2025, 04:56:25 PM
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Ladies, I was told I had Hydrosalpinx( if I understood correctly it's a fallopian tube full of fluid due to previous surgeries and adhesions)18 months ago after an ultrasound/tvs. I was told it would probably need monitoring and possible keyhole surgery.
I'm just wondering if any of you have experienced the same and what treatment etc you required??
I am thinking of going back to see a private consultant (not cheap I know but I've managed to save a little bit incase of emergencies)as I've still not heard anything from NHS.
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No follow up then! >:(. Were U referred back to your GP?
Could you ring the Hospital for an appt with the Consultant/Dept. to avoid going through the GP?
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No it has never been mentioned again....I think they've genuinely forgotten. I don't think I can could go through months and months of waiting again for the NHS, it was bad enough last time and that was 2 week referrals each time....this wouldn't be. I think I'd rather speed things up and go private as I'm not sure what to expect now as the Hydrosalpinx will definitely of gotten bigger by now.....I just hope it's not attached itself to other tissue like my abscess did 13 years ago....that involved major surgery and that's why I'm dreading going through all of this again.
Thanks for your advice CLKD.....much appreciated x
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It's awful when there is no follow up procedure >:(
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Unless you plan to have IVF there is no reason to treat a hydrosalpinx.
The fluid within the tube, which is in connection with the uterus, can interfere with the embryos' ability to implant.
If this is not the case and it is not causing you any symptoms then I would leave well alone - surgery is likely to lead to further adhesions plus all the usual risks eg anaesthesia, pain, bleeding, infection, damage to other structures.
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Unless you plan to have IVF there is no reason to treat a hydrosalpinx.
The fluid within the tube, which is in connection with the uterus, can interfere with the embryos' ability to implant.
If this is not the case and it is not causing you any symptoms then I would leave well alone - surgery is likely to lead to further adhesions plus all the usual risks eg anaesthesia, pain, bleeding, infection, damage to other structures.
Thanks Bombsh3ll, I'm 57 and definitely not planning to have ivf 😂. The issue is the pain and nausea. I know it's getting bigger and if it starts to stick to other things then I've got real problems....this is what happened when I had an abscess 13 years ago. That's what annoys me the most because they removed my ovary(and appendix which it was stuck to) if they'd removed the tube at that point it wouldn't have happened.....of course I didn't realise this at the time. I was also told after that surgery that I should NEVER have any more abdominal surgery as I'd already had 3 caesareans also. So this is worrying me.
As you ladies know I suffer with anxiety when I have health issues so I just need this sorting asap hence the reason for going private. I would quite happily leave it but I don't think it's an option. Just hoping there was a non surgical solution.
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Morning. However, if U required emergency surgery they would have to go in .......... and techniques are improving all the while.
Talking through with a Consultant will give you an idea of what you R up against. Take a list!
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I think I'd rather speed things up and go private as I'm not sure what to expect now as the Hydrosalpinx will definitely of gotten bigger by now.....
After 18 months now would it be worth paying to get an ultrasound/TVS done again and a possible second opinion from that before paying much more to see a consultant.
Ultrasound Direct do pelvic scans and have places around the country.
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Morning. However, if U required emergency surgery they would have to go in .......... and techniques are improving all the while.
Talking through with a Consultant will give you an idea of what you R up against. Take a list!
Thanks CLKD , they did say never again unless life or death....different hospital last time. I don't want anymore surgery unless absolutely necessary....this would be keyhole I think.
I think I need to get a scan first and weigh everything up :thankyou:
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I think I'd rather speed things up and go private as I'm not sure what to expect now as the Hydrosalpinx will definitely of gotten bigger by now.....
After 18 months now would it be worth paying to get an ultrasound/TVS done again and a possible second opinion from that before paying much more to see a consultant.
Ultrasound Direct do pelvic scans and have places around the country.
Thanks minusminnie, I will look into ultrasound direct ...thank you. I was supposed to be scanned at the NHS after my biopsy results came back last year if they came back all clear (thankfully they did) Life just seemed to get back to normal and tbh I wasn't bothered about the Hydrosalpinx as they obviously weren't....just the last few months it's got worse. I can live with the pain ...I have been for 15 years with other things so that doesn't bother me, it's if it gets attached 🤦♀️ :thankyou:
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:bighug: I feel for you.
My neighbour is in a similar position re no more surgery on abdomen but she really needs it. Take Care.
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It is very unlikely that a hydrosalpinx in itself would cause pain or nausea, in terms of the anatomy and the size it would have to be in order to cause a mass effect.
It is probably an innocent bystander to another process which could be causing your symptoms such as inflammation or adhesions. Of course these warrant attention however simply removing or attempting to remove the fallopian tube, which could be stuck, is unlikely to resolve this and could lead to bigger problems.
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It is very unlikely that a hydrosalpinx in itself would cause pain or nausea, in terms of the anatomy and the size it would have to be in order to cause a mass effect.
It is probably an innocent bystander to another process which could be causing your symptoms such as inflammation or adhesions. Of course these warrant attention however simply removing or attempting to remove the fallopian tube, which could be stuck, is unlikely to resolve this and could lead to bigger problems.
Yes I think you're probably right....it's a combination of many things. Apparently Hydrosalpinx can cause no issues or many issues left untreated so I think I'm just going to have to find a good consultant for my needs. Thanks again x
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Well ladies, I've just booked to see a consultant on the 26th...hope he's worth it as I really need this sorting hopefully without surgery 🤞
I'll let you know what happens....thanks again for all your advice.....much appreciated x
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Questions that I would ask your consultant are is the hydrosalpinx proximal or distal ie uterus end or ovary end, and whether there is any possibility of either hysteroscopic or percutaneous aspiration of the fluid.
This may relieve symptoms (albeit temporarily if it filled back up) if it truly is the culprit, and it would also allow the fluid to be sent for cultures and cytology.
Good luck 🤞
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Thanks Bombsh3ll, I will definitely ask that. Makes me wonder why they didn't do what you're suggesting 18 months ago when I had my hysteroscopy/biopsy as they did know about the Hydrosalpinx at that point.
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It may not be technically feasible eg if the swelling is at the ovarian end it can't be accessed hysteroscopically.
Also they may have felt there was no clinical value in draining the fluid given you had no fertility goals as hydrosalpinges are usually asymptomatic and it can just fill back up again anyway.
Also hydros can spontaneously resolve - mine only ever swelled up during ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF and then disappeared between cycles, so in the end I had success with a frozen transfer.
I was desperate for my tube to be removed at the time as the fluid was killing my precious IVF embryos but I am also not a candidate for further surgery - I am full of adhesions due to being left with appendicitis for 3 weeks as a young woman.
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Really interesting info Bombsh3ll...thank you again. I knew they could just disappear on their own...that's why they were supposed to regularly scan after my hysteroscopy/biopsy but 18 months on nothing happened.
I too am full of adhesions- 3 caesarians and laparotomy 13 years ago, this is why I really don't want to end up going down the surgery route again. Thank you so much for your helpful advice!!!
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Just a little update ladies, I went to the GP on Friday about pain relief until my private gynae appointment. We started discussing everything and he can't believe the issue has been forgotten for this long....he checked and he definitely asked gynae department to investigate both things after my ultrasound/tvs which is now 18 months ago 🤷♀️ looks like they only focused on the thickened womb lining and forgot the Hydrosalpinx.
He is trying to arrange an urgent ultrasound so I can hopefully have those results when I see consultant.
Really panicking now about all the time wasted.....honestly life is tough at times.
Sorry ladies just needed to rant....my husband is amazing but I don't think he really understands . Xx
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Further update, I've just had a phone call from the hospital to go for an urgent ultrasound/tvs this evening....don't know whether to be pleased or angry at this point.
Am I worrying unnecessarily....I got the all clear from my womb biopsy 15 months ago and a negative cervical smear in April. Really fed up with all this every time it looks like life is good something kicks me in the teeth (so to sprak)....any advice at this point would be appreciated ladies...thank you!!!!
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There is no obvious clinical reason to suspect you have anything sinister going on and this is probably an "Oh shit we've dropped the ball" appointment which often happens when a patient's routine referral/follow up has been forgotten about.
Just take it as a win that you are getting a free and immediate scan :)
Often (but not always) the sonographer can tell you the findings there and then.
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There is no obvious clinical reason to suspect you have anything sinister going on and this is probably an "Oh shit we've dropped the ball" appointment which often happens when a patient's routine referral/follow up has been forgotten about.
Just take it as a win that you are getting a free and immediate scan :)
Often (but not always) the sonographer can tell you the findings there and then.
thank you bombsh3ll again for your help. Scan done but they didn't give any info but that's no surprise as I've not had one yet where they told me anything 😊
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Hi ladies, just a quick update and some advice please if you can.
So I stayed with the nhs and had an ultrasound and TVS ....all totally clear apparently, Hydrosalpinx completely gone and womb lining back to normal.
GP has now decided to check bowels as a cause for right sided pain and nausea.
Had xray(results not back yet), having a FIT sample and bloods done soon.
However I'm just sat thinking about it all and the pain is probably back to where it usually is(after surgery for tubo ovarian abscess in 2012) but the nausea seems to be getting worse by the day and is at its worst from the early hours which is waking me up until mid morningish and then pretty much gone by the evenings.
Could this be Cortisol related or definitely not ?? Not on HRT since end of 2023...just vagifem now.
Any thoughts/advice gratefully appreciated :thankyou:
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I am glad to hear your hydrosalpinx has resolved, but not that your symptoms are ongoing.
Some degree of adhesions is likely following your surgery, which can cause symptoms, and this does need to be investigated further.
I would push for a GI referral if you aren't getting anywhere with the GP.
Whilst not a cure, if you haven't found anything that helps with the nausea, I can personally recommend low dose mirtazapine.
This has a veterinary license for treatment of nausea and vomiting, but is an off label indication in humans. It was the only thing that helped me with intractable nausea in the first few months after my brain injury.
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Thank you bombsh3ll, to be fair the GP seems to be on top of it....he suggested a colorectal consultant .....is that different to GI? I think adhesions is a big part of it as it was with the tubo ovarian abscess due to 3 c sections . Just don't want any more surgery as I was told not to ever have anymore unless life or death .
Too much "abdominal trauma" as they put it.
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Morning. How is your diet overall? Early morning nausea mayB due to the body being empty over night; cortisol surges = anxiety; hormones.
Do U have supper?
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Morning. How is your diet overall? Early morning nausea mayB due to the body being empty over night; cortisol surges = anxiety; hormones.
Do U have supper?
Morning CLKD and thank you so much for your message. Diet is ok ...got to be honest it probably could be improved but I try my best. Never smoked and don't drink a lot of alcohol (occasionally at weekends) I've upped the berries, nuts etc and already ate plenty of fruit veg and salad ....I never eat supper....never have.
The nausea is there pretty much all of the time, started about 3 months ago on and off and is now a lot worse definitely early hours until about 9am is the worst....that's why I wondered about cortisol too.
Alongside the pain and now feeling generally unwell it's starting to get me down a bit. Just waiting on all the results to come back but I'm not having bloods done until July.
Obviously I've got history of pelvic infection but was never because of sti's or anything like that....they put it down to internal c section scar tissue floating around and causing bacteria etc.
Had a urine test and white blood cells raised but GP said not necessarily down to a uti....gave me antibiotics over the weekend just incase.
Everytime life seems to get back to normal another issue comes along doesn't it.
Thank goodness for MM ladies ...I appreciate all your advice
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Hi ladies, sorry to mither you all again but I'm really panicking again. You know the issues I'm having at present....sent a urine sample on Monday to the hospital....no uti but blood AGAIN....it's like groundhog year honestly. I went through this 20 months ago. Is this just VA??
Thanks ladies in advance for all your help
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If you have got VA then this is the likeliest cause of microscopic blood in the urine.
Also possible and common is a UTI. I see you had a recent course of antibiotics.
Have you had a vaginal exam and do you know if your recent ultrasound also included a look at the kidneys?
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If you have got VA then this is the likeliest cause of microscopic blood in the urine.
Also possible and common is a UTI. I see you had a recent course of antibiotics.
Have you had a vaginal exam and do you know if your recent ultrasound also included a look at the kidneys?
I had a course of antibiotics over last weekend, had to take another urine sample on Monday and this is the one showing microscopic blood but no infection (I know this is common)
Recent ultrasound was only gynae and tvs. Had my smear test in April and nurse said everything looked fine.Had an xray on right hip last week to see if the pain was bowel related.
Had a cystoscopy and ct scan in November 23 ....all clear. I just get fed up of the same things over and over , also feel a burden on the NHS.
Thanks Bombsh3ll for taking the time to reply again....I appreciate it :thankyou: