Cramps and Waiting for Biopsy

Therese_
Therese_ Member Posts: 14
edited April 13 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

I am scheduled for a biopsy and SIS in about a week due to post menopausal bleeding. The doc prescribed Medoxyprogesterone to stop the bleeding. However, I started experiencing lower pelvic cramps a few days ago, that oddly starting late morning and going on until I go to sleep. When I was bleeding, it also tended to be worse as the day went on. Has anyone also experienced this? I wondered if the progesterone could be causing it. It would be great if I called the doctor and he said because I was cramping I could come in earlier. I’m dreaming. I’m sure he will just say take a Tylenol and wait your turn.

Comments

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer CSN Member Posts: 3,585 Member
    #2

    Therese_, I had to look up what a "SIS" was. For others who might not be familiar either I 'think' it is a Saline Infusion Sonohysterography. It combines ultrasound with the infusion of saline into the uterus to improve visualization of the uterine lining and any abnormalities. Personally I was not familiar with this so interested to go read about it.

    As for the cramping and the bleeding, the best thing to do is call the doctor's office. Most likely they have seen this before and can help you the best.

    Please let us know how it goes.

  • Therese_
    Therese_ Member Posts: 14
    #3
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1722231#Comment_1722231

    Thanks for your reply. Yes, I will call tomorrow. I’m sorry about the lack of clarity of what a SIS is. You are right. It’s the injection of saline with ultrasound to look at inner wall of uterus.

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer CSN Member Posts: 3,585 Member
    #4

    Please keep us posted, Therese_!

  • Therese_
    Therese_ Member Posts: 14
    #5

    My biopsy is coming up on Tuesday. Finally around the corner. I am still taking Medroxyprogesterone and bleeding more and more every day. I have a note in with NP to find out if I should stop taking it. Has anyone continued to bleed while taking this medication?

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer CSN Member Posts: 3,585 Member
    #6

    Please keep us posted, Therese_! I wasn't taking that at all, so I can't comment. As you said, best thing to do is call the office first thing.

  • Therese_
    Therese_ Member Posts: 14
    #7

    Well, the biopsy didn’t take. All the dr was able to get was a blood clot. So he has a call in to a gyn/oncologist for a consult. He’s thinking he will want to do a frozen section D&C and decide while I’m under anesthesia if they want to do a regular hysterectomy or a radical one. A little scary to say the least. I was bleeding so much yesterday and clotting that I went to the hospital. My labs were normal so they released me. The dr has called something in for the bleeding and cramps.

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer CSN Member Posts: 3,585 Member
    #8

    Well that is a bummer. My doc tried to do a biopsy and just gave up, scheduled me for a D&C. Having never been put under anesthesia it was the first and then, of course, the surgery.

    It sounds like it would be potentially one stop for you. I hope you don't mind asking, are you working with a gynecologic oncologist? If it is cancer, that is definitely the preferred one you want to be using. I realize they aren't running around on every corner, but I don't know where you are or what institution you are working with. (You don't have to say - I just wanted you to understand my comment)

    However, yes, it is all scary. Please try to take a breath. I hope the Rx helps give you some relief. Hugs dear

  • Therese_
    Therese_ Member Posts: 14
    #9

    Thanks for your kind words. There doesn’t seem to be anyone else on this forum that will share. Yes, I will be working with a gynecological oncologist. Thank goodness! My gynecologist put in a referral to him and told me his is the best around and our Dallas area is lucky to have him. They are supposed to call today. I only hope the oncologist won’t want to try the EMB again after the gynecologist did not get a good sample. . I don’t think he will though.

  • oldbeauty
    oldbeauty CSN Member Posts: 385 Member
    #10

    Hi Therese,

    I am so glad No Time responded; I didn't have time this morning. I am relieved the D&C is being done by a gyn/onc. 20 years later I still harbor anger at the OB/GYN who scheduled me for a D&C and then went ahead on his own and did cancer surgery after having sought consent from my dear husband who was totally unprepared to do anything but say yes. I was denied the opportunity to find care on my own, and he failed to provide the "gold standard" surgical approach to UC, which had I had it, might have spared me the first of several recurrences I've had since. If cancer is suspected, ONLY a gyn/onc should perform the hysterectomy.

    Best wishes for the next step in your journey.

    Oldbeauty

  • Therese_
    Therese_ Member Posts: 14
    #11
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1722389#Comment_1722389

    That is awful! I do know that my gyno performs hysterectomies, so I’m not sure why he has referred me. But it does sound like he really trusts this gyno oncologist. He said that we’re so glad to have him because they are not easy to come by. I feel like I will be in good hands. I’m sorry that you had that terrible experience.

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer CSN Member Posts: 3,585 Member
    #12
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1722391#Comment_1722391

    I didn't know what I didn't know - but as oldbeauty pointed out, this is not a regular hysterectomy. They take extra training to know what ELSE to look for that a gyn doesn't. I was fortunate, sounds like you were too, to have a gyn who know if it cancer it needs to be done by a gyn onc.

    You clearly have a very, smart gyn!

  • ilovedaisies
    ilovedaisies CSN Member Posts: 15 Member
    #13

    Hi, Therese,

    You have so much going on, and are in the scary never-land space, as am I.  Do I have EC?  Will it be just a D&C?  Will I have to travel far to an Gyn/Ocn specialist?

    But your symptoms are so very much worse than mine.  And I’ve been consumed in the trenches of war, fighting for an MRI, trying to get the pulmonary/cardiology/anesthesiology clearances needed even before June’s surgery can be considered.

    With the local Ob/Gyn guy being the only one near my city, it was a full month’s fight just to get him to sign his notes so the PCP and I might know what he’s thinking.

    In the midst of all this, I’ve had Overnight Oximetry, a Pulmonary Function Test, a new lung medication, a Stress test, and a 30-day Holter Monitor.  And a Home Sleep Study is planned for Sunday, a Heart Cath for two weeks out, another 8-day Cardiac Monitor that’s in progress, and wondering how I’m supposed to handle someone willing to sign-me-out at the Cath, or possibly even spend the day (and night), following it?

    At an early day-one visit, I recall being flooded with talks of possibly taking progesterone (but only if it’s hyperplasia, rather than EC?), arm surgery for lymph nodes if I go to Portland, and a whole world of unknowns that, for once, had me not wanting to hear or understand everything right away, as it was dizzying enough just to get thru the step I was in.

    Your prodigious bleeding and disabling cramps sound just horrible.  I’m so very sorry to hear of all you’re going thru.  It must feel terrible not to have answers to all your questions.  Here’s hoping your new Gyn/Ocn referral will be prompt and caring, supporting your every step along the way.

    Hearing you felt you had no support here, tho’, had to have felt like insult upon injury.   I’ve only joined myself very recently, like you, hoping for support.  Folks, kindly, responded right away, and in the interim, reading of others deep in the belly of the whale in this, had me standing in the wings counting my blessings, while feeling honored to be a part of this bewildering club, as it were.

    But not as badly off or as far along as everyone, or even knowing of the medications and procedures about which I read, I pray for others, while trudging along, fighting my fight, believing, being so green and so new and not definitive yet, I had not much to honestly contribute?

    From you and other gracious postings, I learn of SIS, Medroxyprogesterone, daily heavy bleeding, and that so many biopsies fail, it seems?  A ‘regular’, vs. ‘radical’ hysterectomy is new, as is frozen D&C and …?

    Having to go to the hospital with heavy bleeding with cramps, has got to be especially traumatic?  I’m hoping the new medication has you feeling more in control and more regular.

    My Ob/Gyn has in their notes my confusion over whether it’s better for this senior to do the big H with just one round of anesthesia, vs. the D&C locally, and then going to Portland.

    So, it’s not that I’m unwilling to share, but rather feeling inadequate to contribute, not experiencing yet the heavy crosses of the many from whom I’m privileged to read.  Plus, I’ve yet to master how the blog works?  At least I can reply to your posting, not sure if my similar (unknowing) situation, so dissimilar (less burdensome?) can be of any help?

    I’m learning, now, that the one (total) procedure by local guy might have negative consequences?  There’s a “gold standard” if missed, allowing recurrences?

    And as an update to those who might be interested, the local Ob/Gyn refused the MRI, while I was able to convince my PCP it was worthwhile to order it.  After all, it’s known to be definitive, diagnostically, where a biopsy wasn’t doable for cervical stenosis, like with me. It might offer what I need to know to make decisions. And why wouldn’t an MRI be indicated ‘prior’ — with abnormalities — vs. only when EC has been confirmed?

    In my case, long-time existing lung nodules, being watched for a past chondrosarcoma and a possible primary adenocarcinoma — recently transforming to having a solid center — now have a new potential prognosis to add to the list.  And who knew being overweight added estrogen, indicative by my 16.2 mm endometrial lining?  But the ultrasound’s ‘vascularity’ might be the biggest red flag, next to January’s warning bleeding? [And I learn l-o-n-g, long time slow growing nodules — can suddenly take off!?

    I’m just amazed a planned June surgery, six months out seems okay with everyone.  Guess it’s because I’m in a medically underserved area?  I’m hopeful the incredible, maybe-fifteen-days wait for MRI results will allow for a knowing of D&C fix, a skip right to Portland major surgery, or maybe just occasional progesterone alone, should it be diagnosed as simply hyperplasia?

    Be good to yourself, Terese. We do the best we can. It’s one day at a time.

    Warmly,

    Linda

  • MoeKay
    MoeKay CSN Member Posts: 502 Member
    #14

    Hi Therese,

    I'm very happy that you are now in the hands of a gynecologic oncologist. I strongly second Oldbeauty's statement that, "If cancer is suspected, ONLY a gyn/onc should perform the hysterectomy." And I'm really sorry for her unfortunate situation, but I'm so glad that she's given anyone reading this post a valuable warning.

    Twenty-six years ago today (April 26, 1999), I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer by a gynecologist who had performed a biopsy and done a pap test. Both the biopsy and the pap found cancer cells. I think the bad pap may have been what prompted the gynecologist to refer me to a gynecologic oncologist. She mentioned that in addition to endometrial cancer she wanted the gyn-onc to sort out whether I had cervical cancer or possibly endometrial cancer that had spread to the cervix, in which case I definitely needed a radical hysterectomy, which the regular gyn was not competent to perform. The gyn did say that if I "only" had endometrial cancer she would be "happy" to perform my hysterectomy with her husband, also a gynecologist, as they worked as a surgical team.

    The gyn-onc got me in for a consult quickly and once I met with him, there was no way I was going to let the gynecologist and her husband operate on me. The gyn-onc had me pick up the biopsy slides from the lab before the consult to look at them himself, something my gyn didn't do. He was extremely thorough and did not delay in scheduling my surgery, which was a week after my consultation with him. In the meantime, between the consult and my radical hysterectomy, I went to Johns Hopkins and had a consult with another gyn-onc. I was more comfortable with the first gyn-onc, who was about 45 minutes from home. I had my surgery on May 12, 1999, a little over two weeks after diagnosis. I remained a patient of my gyn-onc for 15 years until his retirement. I was extremely lucky, despite the fact that I not only had endometrial cancer, but also a number of risk factors for recurrence which required both internal and external radiation.

    Best of luck to you, Therese! Also, Linda asked in her above post, "Will I have to travel far to a gyn-onc specialist?" My answer is, "Travel as far as you have to, but DO NOT settle for surgery by anyone other than an experienced gynecologic oncologist!" Oldbeauty's post above underscores the importance of that advice.

    MoeKay

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