topic Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities in Wellness

Need help with uterine abnormalities

Laura14 — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 16:52:10 GMT

Horrible topics we have on the board today but I just got off the phone with my mother.

She is in her 60s and has been experiencing a few instances of bleeding which obviously a woman of her age shouldn't.

It only happened 3 times. She got a pelvic exam, was referred to a gynecologist today for an ultrasound, and has been told there is something there at the top of her uterus.

Could be polyps, fibroids, or cancer. Whatever it is, the doctor seems quite confident it will be totally manageable. Doing a biopsy next week.

Anyone have any experience with something like this? I'm thinking worst case, they just take it out and bye bye whatever the possible malignancy is?

I'm trying not to freak out since she is the only parent I have and the doctor has made it quite clear that would not be appropriate even if it is cancer so I'm taking deep breaths.

I know I just have to wait it out but if it sounds familiar, I wouldn't mind if you cared to share.

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

Irshgrl31201 — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:00:16 GMT

I think first and most importantly find out what it is. Second, I always get a 2nd opinion because I have had 2 instances where if I hadn't gotten one things would have turned out a lot worse for me. I make a point of it now.

I think it is odd that the dr doesn't know if it is a fibroid or a polyp though. I have had both and they knew right away which one it was. I had an ablation for my fibroids and that was quite effective. The way my dr explained to me they rarely go in and do more radical procedures if a patient can be helped with an ablation or a couple of other treatments they have for the fibroids.

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

Fressa — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:06:51 GMT

I've had a variety of "issues" in that area. I can tell you one thing---if the doctor is confident that it can be taken care of then that's very good. It has been my expereince that either they don't offer any comment or take a "wait and see" approach. It sounds like she has a "good one" (as I call them).

Some of these siscks can go away on their own or with medication and others can be removed thru a minor procedure. I had procedures and surgeries with my issues.

Take it one visit at a time and remember to breathe. The medical field has made progress in this area over the years and the ultra sound is such a "good thing". I'm a big fan of any procdure that is non invasive. It could be any thing or nothing major. I try to remember that I don't know what I don't know until I go thru all the tests/scans and the procedure. Then you know what you have/have not and how to proceed. I would take the doctor's confidence as a good sign.

Good LucK to both of you.

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

Laura14 — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:06:57 GMT

Thank you @Irshgrl31201.

It sounds like they did an ultrasound and could only go off of those images. They are going more in depth with a digital exam and biopsy next week.

Thank you for the second opinion recommendation. I always forget that!

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

Laura14 — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:11:39 GMT

Thank you @Fressa! My whole family has been to this doctor and LOVES her.

She told my mother she has never had a bad case in her 25 years of practice if it is cancer when it was caught early like this so she's been wonderful for our minds.

I'm glad to know there are lots of other things that can be done to resolve it instead of the major surgery I know about.

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

cherry — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:27:49 GMT

I've known quite a few people with these sorts of issues, including me. My condition was precancerous and the Dr did Cryosurgery in his office. It was painless and I never had any problems since, That was 40 years ago

Many women just need something like a D&C, and they are right as rain

I would keep calm and trust your Dr. Good luck

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

Azcowgirl — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:17:51 GMT

I have been through this with the polyp removal outpatient procedure, results came back benign.

Sending good thoughts your way that your Mom will be fine.

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

cowboy sam — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:24:38 GMT

@Laura14

I agree with @Fressa

The waiting is hard but i know that the..."what if's" can do more harm in our minds...please be upbeat for your mom..as she needs your support and confidence to keep her calm .

oops sorry..but will leave you some(((( hugs)))))))))
please try to calm your fear. as... .fear can make you ill,etc and we want you to be strong and upbeat for your mom.

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

Laura14 — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:27:52 GMT

Thank you all so much! This really helps.

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

Moonchilde — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 00:08:44 GMT

It could be several things - a malignancy, but of course it could be totally benign.

Whether something can be identified on ultrasound vs CT or MRI depends on the size and/or the density of it. I had a bleeding episode several years post-menopause and on ultrasound it just showed that my entire uterus was taken up by a very large, very dense and impenetrable “something” - that it took an MRI to determine was a grapefruit-sized fibroid. I’d had a CA-125 blood test which was not elevated, so this was no “obvious cancer.”

I had a 5 hour surgery that ran into complications (some of which I will always have) with extensive fibroids - and NO malignancy; nada.

So, don’t worry too much as they can somewhat rule some things out before they even get in there. And every mass isn’t malignant.

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

aubnwa01 — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 02:42:34 GMT

From my mid 30's to my early 40's, my periods were very heavy, but they had always been pretty heavy & I figured it was just a normal thing for me. I had my routine annual pap tests & discussed it with my family practice dr. & he tried me on birth control pills, which did nothing to lessen them.

I then switched drs. at age 43 because the dr. switched to a practice in another town. I started seeing a female internist & asked her about it & she (finally) referred me to a gynocologist. He thought I probably had fibroids & that was what was causing the heavy flow. He did an ultrasound & said I did have fibroids & scheduled me for a hysteroscopy & D&C. After the test, before I came home, the dr. said he definitely saw fibroids & said it was up to me if I wanted a hysterectomy & be done with it or to just live with the fibroids until I went thru menopause & they'd go away on their own.

Later that same evening, the gyn called me at home & told me the pathology report from the hysteroscopy/D&C came back with malignant cells & it was no longer a choice & I needed a hysterectomy.

I had the surgery a couple of weeks later. The gynocological oncologist that assisted with the surgery said it was pre-invasive uterine cancer & was confined only to the lining of my uterus & hadn't gone thru the muscle walls & all my lymph nodes were clean. I needed no chemo or radiation & just had follow-ups at the appropriate intervals until I was 5 years out & then, back to the annual tests again. That was in 1993 & I've never had a recurrance.

I was so grateful that my old dr. had left, so I had to go to a new dr. who finally referred me to a gynocologist while it was still curable. I almost sent him a Thank You For Leaving note!

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

GCR18 — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 03:10:53 GMT

My story is similar to @aubnwa01, but didn't have the happy ending. I had heavy periods and was led to believe that was normal. I'd talk with girlfriends and they'd say they had similar experiences, etc. Went to a routine Dr appt and was told to have it checked out. I was sent to a gyno for an ultrasound. Gyno said she saw something and wanted to do a d&c. I was called a couple days later and told I had stage 1 uterine cancer and needed a hysterectomy. I was referred to a gyno oncologist. Had the hysterectomy. A week later he called and said the cancer spread out of the uterus and was in two lympnods. Oh and by the way, you have stage 3 cancer and need chemo and radiation. I'm a two year cancer survivor.

I tell you not to scare you. Until whatever in your mother's uterus is removed and tested, the Dr doesn't have a firm diagnosis. Stay calm. There is nothing to worry about until there is something to worry about.

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

dsky — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 04:19:39 GMT

I was in the same situation last Sept when I saw one tiny drop of blood when I wiped (sorry so graphic). Went to a new gyno since my regular one retired and she looked in and said she saw blood and then I told her my mom had uterine cancer and she basically said lets take it out, mind you I also had a huge fibroid (like a 5 month pregnancy) which I was hoping would shrink during menopause. She also said my uterine wall was getting a bit thicker compared to the last sonogram I had a couple of years prior. The uterine biopsy came back negative. Well on Dec 7 I had a hysterectomy, it was suppose to be lapriscopic but was done regularly, I left one ovary. They said that there was an area of cells that 25% of the time can become cancerous. I am thrilled that I don't have that heavy glob in me anymore. I am also glad it was done the old fashion way as there are drawbacks to taking something out in pieces that might contain cancer. I can tell you tips for the recovery if you like. I am a part time hairdresser and went back to work in 3 and a half weeks as I had a bride. I wore a stretchy belt over my incision and an ice pack. If anyone gets a hysterectomy you must get those plastic seats for your toilet that elevate the distance , this is a must. I used two of the pain killers the dr gave me and then switched to advils, no more than 4 a day. The ice pack under the stretchy pregancy belt was the key. Good luck, it will all be fine. Oh and by the was I was 56 years old.

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

Snoopp — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 11:02:51 GMT

@Laura14 try not to worry. I also went through this and had an outpatient procedure under anesthesia and it was benign. No problems since.

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

Mmsfoxxie — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 11:03:13 GMT

@Laura14, I hope everything works out well for your mom. Bleeding can occur with fibroids but they shrink after menopause. That's what happened to mine.

A couple of years ago, while wiping, I saw blood and it scared me but I was also urinating every 15 minutes. It was UTI and easily treated.

I'm glad she's getting checked out thoroughly. Oh, dryness causes bleeding as well. I had bleeding after my last pelvic exam and was told it was from dryness.

Good luck to your mom.

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

Laura14 — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 12:39:50 GMT

@Snoopp and @Mmsfoxxie Thank you for making me feel better.

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

Laura14 — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 12:42:55 GMT

@dsky @aubnwa01 @Moonchilde @GCR18 Thank you for your experiences.

I am so glad everyone is doing well in spite of the illness. I hope my mother will join you in all of these good outcomes.

Thank you all so much!

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

cowboy sam — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 22:47:02 GMT

@Laura14

Do you have a update for us on your mom?

((((hugs)))

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

Violet Fields — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 22:57:06 GMT

This sounds like what happened to me and it turned out to be a polyp that was benign.They did a D&C because they wanted to biopsy the lining (which showed thicker than normal, which they said was due to the polyp) and remove whatever was in there. The Dr also did a hysteroscopy so she could see what was in there, which was when she determined it was a polyp. This was done under anesthesia in One Day Surgery.

Re: Need help with uterine abnormalities

Laura14 — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 00:36:07 GMT

@cowboy sam wrote:
@Laura14

Do you have a update for us on your mom?

((((hugs)))

@cowboy sam hugs back!!!

She went yesterday and the doctor did a biopsy and sonogram. Results will be back later this week. According to the doctor, she feels very confident it is polyps and fibroids and not cancer. Still have to wait for official word though.

She has to go into the OR for an outpatient surgery to remove whatever's there. I hope it's minimal like maybe what @Violet Fields described. Thank you for sharing that and thank you @cowboy sam for asking.

I'm down to less tissues and tears.