Aa
Uterine Polyp
Hi! Last year I had a feeling something wasn't right with my reproductive system (periods were still regular, and still felt ovulation, but I just felt 'off') and was having pain in my abdomen, ovary area, legs, lower back, bloating and occasional constipation. I went to my regular doctor and she ordered an U/S which revealed a cyst. My maternal aunt passed away from ovarian cancer when she was 65 and my mother despite good CA125 tests had her ovaries and tubes removed due to recurrent cysts as a precaution at age 62. She wanted to keep an eye on it and the next month it was gone. This was March/April of last year.
In May/June 2013 I had red blood during ovulation (I've occasionally had some brown spotting in the past, but never like that). And bled off and on for basically a month. That tapered off and then I would get some spotting (brown and red) mid cycle and sometimes after sex or exercise. Didn't really think too much of it, but mentioned it to my doc when I went back for my pap in July. She didn't seem concerned, and pap was normal.
We moved states in July to our dream home, but since about August I've been feeling so "BLAH" for lack of a better word. I thought maybe I was having some issue adjusting to the move and just had a case of the blues, but I was exercising every day and eating right... outside all the time playing with my kids... but I was and still am exhausted. Finally in November the pain in my abdomen was too much and I had to stop running. I went to a new general practitioner in December and had another US. They called me same day to tell me I had a cyst (2.9) on my left ovary and they wanted to refer me to a GYN. I just went last Wednesday and turns out that I have a cyst on each ovary (GYN wasn't too concerned by those) AND I have an enlarged uterus and a "polyp like obstruction" in my uterus that is about a third the size of my uterus. My GYN wants to do a polypectomy, so at this point I am waiting to hear back from them to schedule. She said most polyps are more common in perimenopause or menopausal women, and are almost always benign which is encouraging.
I am only 34, but my GYN seemed concerned despite the encouragings stats because I have infertility due to Advanced Maternal Age, diagnosed at 26. (I have two kids through adoption) So I have never had a pregnancy, got my period fairly early on my 12th birthday, and have a history of high estrodial numbers (at least I did back when I was going through infertility diagnosis). She said it was interesting that this growth (which was not evident apparently on the ultrasound I had last April) would coincide with me starting to get cysts. She said it makes sense because overgrowth of uterine tissue is caused by an influx of estrogen. I mean it all makes sense to me, but not sure if I should be concerned these cells could be cancerous. I know there is nothing to do at this point but wait for the surgery and results of the pathology, but I am driving myself crazy trying to prepare myself for worst case scenario. I would love to hear some thoughts, experiences from some ladies that have had a similar situation. Is my uterus enlarged (she said it is enlarged like a woman 3-4 months pregnant) because of the polyp? I finally exercised for the first time in 2 months the day before my appointment last week and started bleeding and had a lot of clear discharge. I have been extra tired this last month or so and have been bleeding with sex almost every time, and have had a lot of discomfort and pain in my abdomen, thighs, hips and lower back. Overall I just feel like poo! Hoping all this is caused by the polyp and once it's removed I'll feel like myself again??? Thanks for your thoughts ladies!
In May/June 2013 I had red blood during ovulation (I've occasionally had some brown spotting in the past, but never like that). And bled off and on for basically a month. That tapered off and then I would get some spotting (brown and red) mid cycle and sometimes after sex or exercise. Didn't really think too much of it, but mentioned it to my doc when I went back for my pap in July. She didn't seem concerned, and pap was normal.
We moved states in July to our dream home, but since about August I've been feeling so "BLAH" for lack of a better word. I thought maybe I was having some issue adjusting to the move and just had a case of the blues, but I was exercising every day and eating right... outside all the time playing with my kids... but I was and still am exhausted. Finally in November the pain in my abdomen was too much and I had to stop running. I went to a new general practitioner in December and had another US. They called me same day to tell me I had a cyst (2.9) on my left ovary and they wanted to refer me to a GYN. I just went last Wednesday and turns out that I have a cyst on each ovary (GYN wasn't too concerned by those) AND I have an enlarged uterus and a "polyp like obstruction" in my uterus that is about a third the size of my uterus. My GYN wants to do a polypectomy, so at this point I am waiting to hear back from them to schedule. She said most polyps are more common in perimenopause or menopausal women, and are almost always benign which is encouraging.
I am only 34, but my GYN seemed concerned despite the encouragings stats because I have infertility due to Advanced Maternal Age, diagnosed at 26. (I have two kids through adoption) So I have never had a pregnancy, got my period fairly early on my 12th birthday, and have a history of high estrodial numbers (at least I did back when I was going through infertility diagnosis). She said it was interesting that this growth (which was not evident apparently on the ultrasound I had last April) would coincide with me starting to get cysts. She said it makes sense because overgrowth of uterine tissue is caused by an influx of estrogen. I mean it all makes sense to me, but not sure if I should be concerned these cells could be cancerous. I know there is nothing to do at this point but wait for the surgery and results of the pathology, but I am driving myself crazy trying to prepare myself for worst case scenario. I would love to hear some thoughts, experiences from some ladies that have had a similar situation. Is my uterus enlarged (she said it is enlarged like a woman 3-4 months pregnant) because of the polyp? I finally exercised for the first time in 2 months the day before my appointment last week and started bleeding and had a lot of clear discharge. I have been extra tired this last month or so and have been bleeding with sex almost every time, and have had a lot of discomfort and pain in my abdomen, thighs, hips and lower back. Overall I just feel like poo! Hoping all this is caused by the polyp and once it's removed I'll feel like myself again??? Thanks for your thoughts ladies!
Thank you so much Alex. It sounds like you might be an A-type like me! You would think that after all the lessons God has given me to show just how much things are out of my control I would get it by now LOL but I still struggle! I just got the call... surgery will be Feb 21st pre-op is on the 19th. Are they able to know if it's cancer just by seeing what they remove or do they have to wait for the pathology? I've read some people's experiences that the doctor says "no cancer" because everything looked pink and healthy and then it turns out to be cancer. The waiting and speculating are definitely the worst! :P Blah!
Anxiety is normal. Anything that is out of our control and unknown is scary. Hopefully you will be scheduled soon. Anxiety makes medical conditions worse. I have to take deep breaths and go into think of something happy. I think about horses. Adaptability is the key. I am not adaptable all the time and when I am not I hurt myself. Things change with my Cancer Treatment all the time. There is so much which is out of my control. When I recognize scheduling and the like is out of my control I am fine. When I try to control it I never win. I get upset and no one is hurt by me getting upset. Or I yell at someone and that does not help me either.
Alex
Alex
Still waiting to hear back to schedule the surgery. They said up to two weeks, so technically i should wait until Friday to get impatient. I don't know if it is psychological or not, but i am feeling very crampy and have had heavier than spotting brick red blood with a lot of tissuey stuff still... am i completely silly for being worried since i am so young? Feeling very anxious these last few days. :(
Hopefully its not but its is as you say very treatable. If it is Cancer check out all the Cancer Hospitals in the area. We have three and they are all different. all have there good and bad points. I went with one not checking out the others and ended up switching after three chemos. I ended up looking at the other two hospitals and found a better fit. I would not have chosen the first hospital if I had see it first. They had no real chemo room it was a hallway. The doctor did not see me except before surgery. He had no intention of seeing me for six months. I was cared for by a nurse and she did not care that I was wasting away.
Alex
Alex
Thank you so much for your insight!! Wishing you health and happiness!!! I am thinking even if the surgery shows 'worst case scenario' I have a good probability of successful treatment. It seems Uterine Cancer at least is very treatable if caught early. Thank you again!!!! Stay well!
I know you are worried. Anyone would be. One thing going for you is both Ovaries have cysts it is rare to have Ovarian Cancer in both Ovaries. There is not much they can do to see if things are benign with out surgery. It is good they are taking you seriously.
It is hard not to go to the worst case scenario when you have had Ovarian Cancer. My Grandmother died of Ovarian in the 1950's at 50 and mt Aunt in the 1970's at 51. I was diagnosed with stage 3 Ovarian Cancer at 49. Ovarian Cancer treatment has changed a lot. Now they consider it a chronic illness. When use to die because their bowels got blocked. Now they can keep that from happening.
I have Stage 4 Ovarian. I train dogs, hike, and ride horses. I am not in pain. My Cancer is shrinking in half with each CT Scan. When I first got diagnosed I read a lot and scared myself. I now know that statistics and clinical findings from 5 years ago paint a bleaker picture than Ovarian Cancer today. I am in a phase 3 clinical trial for a drug which is not chemo but will change cancer treatment when it comes out. I am in chemo I have all my hair. The only thing that points to Cancer is I spend one day a week at the Cancer hospital either getting chemo or the study drug.
Try not to worry most things turn out to be benign. I am waiting to find out if something in my breast is benign. My breast doctor is out of the country. I have been waiting 4 weeks to find out what the next step is. I also have the BRCA 1 mutaion so I have 87% chance of breast cancer.
I have learned to not worry. Worrying is trying to control the future and you can't predict. Doctors do not like putting patients through the stress but with female organs they just can't tell until they get in there.
They could see my Cancer with the ultrasound apparently it is visible. They had me to an GYN Oncologist the next day and into surgery with in the week. The fact they are not rushing bodes well for you.
I hope everything is benign. If it is not it is not the end of the world. I have had the full surgery and six month of chemo. Now I have had six more months of chemo. last year with chemo I went camping at the beach, camping in the mountains, and on a trip to Florida. I had the best 50th birthday party. Over 70 friends came. I have different friend take me each week to the Cancer Hospital. I have my Service dog Polly a Dalmatian with me so the nurses fight over who gets to take care of me. My husband and I have become closer. We appreciate each other more.
Alex
It is hard not to go to the worst case scenario when you have had Ovarian Cancer. My Grandmother died of Ovarian in the 1950's at 50 and mt Aunt in the 1970's at 51. I was diagnosed with stage 3 Ovarian Cancer at 49. Ovarian Cancer treatment has changed a lot. Now they consider it a chronic illness. When use to die because their bowels got blocked. Now they can keep that from happening.
I have Stage 4 Ovarian. I train dogs, hike, and ride horses. I am not in pain. My Cancer is shrinking in half with each CT Scan. When I first got diagnosed I read a lot and scared myself. I now know that statistics and clinical findings from 5 years ago paint a bleaker picture than Ovarian Cancer today. I am in a phase 3 clinical trial for a drug which is not chemo but will change cancer treatment when it comes out. I am in chemo I have all my hair. The only thing that points to Cancer is I spend one day a week at the Cancer hospital either getting chemo or the study drug.
Try not to worry most things turn out to be benign. I am waiting to find out if something in my breast is benign. My breast doctor is out of the country. I have been waiting 4 weeks to find out what the next step is. I also have the BRCA 1 mutaion so I have 87% chance of breast cancer.
I have learned to not worry. Worrying is trying to control the future and you can't predict. Doctors do not like putting patients through the stress but with female organs they just can't tell until they get in there.
They could see my Cancer with the ultrasound apparently it is visible. They had me to an GYN Oncologist the next day and into surgery with in the week. The fact they are not rushing bodes well for you.
I hope everything is benign. If it is not it is not the end of the world. I have had the full surgery and six month of chemo. Now I have had six more months of chemo. last year with chemo I went camping at the beach, camping in the mountains, and on a trip to Florida. I had the best 50th birthday party. Over 70 friends came. I have different friend take me each week to the Cancer Hospital. I have my Service dog Polly a Dalmatian with me so the nurses fight over who gets to take care of me. My husband and I have become closer. We appreciate each other more.
Alex
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