Yep, it's fibroids. :p I heard from my family dr's office late this afternoon. Apparently I do have some fibroids (plural -- I thought there was one, at most?) that have grown slightly since my last ultrasounds four years ago, and a slight thickening of the uterine lining.
As expected, they are referring me to a gynecologist for an endometrial biospy. (I kind of figured that was coming.) They asked if there was anyone I wanted to be referred to -- you may remember that my longtime ob-gyn retired last year -- but my sister-in-law had a hysterectomy a few years ago, and I remembered that she had some good things to say about her gynecologist, whose office is not too far away (in the same building where I had the ultrasound done, actually). So I gave her a call & got the contact info from her and passed that back to my family dr.
Now to wait for the appointment information -- hopefully I won't have to wait too long to see him. Dh is relieved. I can't say I'm HAPPY, but I am happy that someone will be looking into it! I need to make a list of symptoms and questions I want to ask him about.
I'm still spotting, on & off (for almost three weeks now).
If any of you have any experience with fibroids (especially post-menopause), I'm all ears (eyes?!)! Also re: endometrial biopsy... I had one 20 years ago as part of my infertility workup, but that was a while ago & I don't remember a whole lot about it, other than that it did hurt a bit, but it was over quickly.
I've been reading and hoping it would turn out to be nothing. It's stressful enough under normal circumstances to have health issues rear their heads. Doubly so during covid. I hope it can all be sorted out quickly and painlessly!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Turia! <3 Yeah, the added stress of COVID does NOT help!! I had to wear a mask and go in to the ultrasound clinic alone and I imagine I'll have to do the same for this upcoming appointment too.
DeleteI share both yours and your DH's sentiments.
ReplyDeleteHoping you can get in soon and find further resolution.
Thanks, Lori. <3
DeleteI had fibroids - big ones - that (I think) kept me believing I was having a cycle, when apparently my hormones indicated I should already have stopped having periods. Mine caused massive bleeding - so much that I needed a hysterectomy, and a blood transfusion before the hysterectomy. They were trying to kill me! Some people's fibroids fade away post-menopause - I had a woman tell me over lunch that in the meantime I had to grin and bear it, at the very time that I was (I discovered later) bleeding on the restaurant chair. TMI? lol Nope. Mine did not fade away.
ReplyDeleteHope you get the answers for what will work for you soon.
Yikes, Mali!! So far, just spotting and a bit of occasional crampiness/pelvic discomfort for me. I've been chatting online with a few friends who have had hysterectomies to get rid of their fibroids... I understand there are several possible things they might suggest, depending on the situation -- I've never had surgery before (unless wisdom teeth count?) & I hope I don't have to have a hysterectomy, but if that's what it takes to get rid of these things & ensure my future health, so be it!
DeleteI had surgery last year to remove a fibroid that was bigger than a baseball - 8.2 cm, I think - along with three or four of its "buddies." I'd been having intermittent stabbing pains in my belly; finally went to see my doc about it when it was sharp enough to make me gasp in the middle of a conversation with my boss! I ended up needing to have the "open" sort of myomectomy, with an incision akin to a c-section, as that large fibroid was too big to really be able to do it laparoscopically. The surgeon said I'd likely be out of work for 4-6 weeks, though thanks to some intensive focus on physical fitness beforehand, I was actually able to come back part-time at three weeks. So if you do end up needing surgery, I highly recommend getting in as good shape as you can manage in preparation, because it did make a difference for me! And I was lucky that the women's World Cup was on during my main recovery period, so there was something other than the usual daytime TV. ;) It's been worth it to no longer have the random stabby pains, and I'm close enough to perimenopause myself that I can be reasonably confident they're not likely to come back. Hope the doctor is able to give you a clear path forward!
ReplyDeleteYikes! That's a big one. Glad you're doing well now!
DeleteI'm sorry, Lori. That's unsettling to be sure. I hope this can be resolved as quickly as painlessly as possible.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brooke! <3
DeleteNot post-menopausal but I had fibroids, found when I was going through IVF. I had a first surgery (recovery was pretty good, only a couple of days I think) but I was an unusual case and had to have another D&C a couple of months later. Improved my life so much - I'd had terribly painful periods for a long while and only realised in retrospect that they'd gradually worsened over about 15 years, I thought it was within the bounds of 'normal' and hadn't had it investigated. No reoccurence or issues since then (10+ years)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Helen -- I'm glad you're doing well now!
ReplyDelete