Endometrial Lining

[Gin285]

I am 72 years of age. Eight months ago I had a pap test done. During the internal my gynecologist told me she could not feel my ovaries and scheduled a sonogram and vaginal ultrasound. The technichian told me the reason the doctor could not feel my ovaries was because my uterus was tipped. I thought that was the end of the problem.  The Doctor then told me I had a thickening in the uterus and she scheduled a sonography (quite a painful procedure) There have been no signs of polyps or other growths.  I have never had any bleeding, discharge or abdominal pain since menopause.  The next test was an endometrial biopsy and I was put on provera for six months.  I am due for yet another biopsy in two weeks.  I had a D&C four years ago when I lived in another state.  Now, the thickening is back. My question is: Is there ever going to be any end to these biopsies?  I asked my gyn. that and her answer was "I could refer you to a cancer specialist but the results will be the same.  We both read from the same book". Why would I want to see a cancer specialist when none of the tests show any cancer cells?  Would provera cure what a D&C did not?  Having this problem hovering over my head for the last eight months is really beginning to get on my nerves.  What do you think?

Thank you for taking the time to give me your opionion.

Gin285

[Gin285]

Hi....The gynecologist just wants to see if it has enlarged in six months time.  Even if it has and does not appear to be cancerous I will not have it aspirated.  I don't know how you made out when they did yours.  Mine was really painful.  It was against the rib cage and they couldn't seem to find it so they just drug the needle along the rib cage.  I had a call yesterday from the gynecologist's office.  The last set of biopsies came back clean. The doctor wants me to stay on the provera for the next three months and then she will do the final set of biopsies.
She gave me three new meds to take before the next set.  One is for valium, one is for demerol. I take these one hour before my visit. The last is for something called "Cytotec".  This is inserted in the vagina 8-10 hours before the procedure.  The cytotec is used to dialate the uterus so taking the biopsies is easier.  Who knew??  I never heard of it before.  THIS WILL BE MY LAST VISIT FOR THIS.  I hate to sound like a poor sport but enough is enough!!!

I hope this finds you and your Mom feeling alright.  I am having cateract surgery two weeks from Wednesday.  If I don't hear from you, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!  Stay Well.

Gin

[Hudson]

Hi Gin, it sounds like your doctor is being very thorough and that you asked good questions. As for the provera causing the breast cyst, I'd say that is very possible. I was on provera once and I'm certain it caused an ovarian cyst. Are they going to aspirate the breast cyst? I just had one aspirated in June.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Hudson

[Gin285]

It has taken me awhile to get back to you concerning my last Dr. Visit.  My Husband had surgery so I was busy for awhile.  Anyway, I did ask my Doctor a lot of questions during my last visit.  I'm satisfied with her answers and I hope that anyone that reads this will agree with me.  What she said was that this last set of biopsies will be compared to the first set to measure the thickness to see if there has been an improvement.  If this set comes back with no cancer cells present she wants to do one more set in three months. If that set is negative, also, then there will be no more biopsies and she will take me off the provera.  If I happen to feel better while I have been on the provera she will continue it indefinitely but at a lower dose.  I also had a mammogram done and they found a cyst in the right breast. The Doctor who checked the results said that provera had caused it.  Gynecologist said that cysts are caused by many varied reasons and there is no evidence that provera was the culprit since I had one three years ago and I was not on provera.
She stated that everything she is doing is not to hunt until she finds cancer but to check out all the indicators that there could possibly be any and then rule it out.  She is giving me prozac before the next visit along with stronger pain med. and something new that I will insert in the vagina that will cause the uterus to expand thereby making it easier to do the biopsy and also to insert pain meds if I need them.  When I finally hear that this is over I intend to spend a few hours in church and thank the good Lord that he has led me through it.

I'll keep in touch and let you know how things go the next time. If this site is still active.

Gin

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

A. Not being able to feel your ovaries in menopause is a good thing.  It usually means that they are small enough not to be able to be felt and therefore do not have disease. Sonography, also called ultrasounds or ultrasonography, can be uncomfortable, especially if the vagina is dry or if a person isn

[Hudson]

Hi Gin, you sound like a lovely person and I hope your doctor gives you the answers you deserve. I would think if this biopsy shows no change from the previous one, it would be unlikely you have endometrial cancer.

You might want to ask for a copy of your pathology reports from the biopsies. That way you can read and research the terminologies for yourself.

Please post again and let us know how you are doing. I'm sending good thoughts your way :-)

Hudson

[Hudson]

Hi there, my mom is about your age and I know that it is not unusual to not feel the ovaries after menopause. They shrink considerably and on ultrasound, they are sometimes not visible either.

When they did your first endometrial biopsy, did the results come back normal, or was there hyperplasia?

I completely understand your frustration, as I am 51 and have had quite a year with an ovarian cyst, surgery to remove the ovary and cyst and then some irregular bleeding for which they did an endometrial biopsy.

I am not sure why they would put you on provera, which is a progesterone,  if you had no bleeding. I am not a doctor, but I would suggest seeking another opinion if you aren't comfortable with what they are telling you.

Hope the doctor here answers your question soon. It seems like she gives wonderfully, logical answers.

Hudson

[Gin285]

So glad to hear from you.  I hope your Mom is having better luck than I am.  I'm so sorry to hear you have had a rough year.  The last six months have been enough for me.  As I said, I am going to go through the next set of biopsies on Monday. Following the last set I did not hear anything from the Doctor so am assuming there was no problem.  When she first mentioned doing the biopsies I questioned why they were being done when I had no bleeding and all other tests were negative.  She said that did not rule out cancer as long as there was a thickening in the uterus.  I think the next set of biopsies will be compared with the last set to find out if there has been a change in the thickness. The Doctor told me the provera will cause period like symptoms and the endometrium will thin out.  I have a lot of questions to ask her on Monday. This gynecologist goes on the defensive if I question her.  I'm sure she is a lot smarter than I am but, this is my body. The reason I am still going to her is because she mentioned cancer and, of course, I was really freightened. One of my questions to her will be what if this doesn't work?  If she mentions a hysterectomy I will ask my primary care Doctor for a referral to someone else.

I'll let you know how I make out.  I really was pleased to hear from you.  Thank you!!