What to expect

Charissa said:

I was post-menopausal for a

I was post-menopausal for a couple years and suffered from vaginal dryness. I started taking DHEA along with hormone replacement therapy (hrt), after I read it helped with this issue. About three months after I started taking it, I began having a discharge.  It started out minimal, but very watery.  Initially, I was elated, thinking the supplements were working.  However, as the weeks went by, it began increasing in volume.  I began filling two panti-liners a day.  It did not have an odor.  As it increased, I believed I was having incontinence. Yet, there was no color or odor.  It then began having tinges of pink/blood in it.  About a month later, I began spotting straight blood, then as the weeks & months passed, it became very heavy like yours. 

 

In between this time, I had a vaginal ultra-sound and was told it was a polyp, to go on my vacation out of country and enjoy myself, as they are common. Upon my return, it took me another three weeks to get an appointment to have the “Polyp” removed.  By this time, I had the heavy clots, non-stop.  I warned her of my female parts being very messy and angry. She assured me it was an easy surgery.  I awoke to her having a very concerned look on her face and saying, “I couldn’t get it all. You started hemorrhaging.  I sent tissue to the lab for testing. We’ll call you if it’s anything to be concerned with.  Otherwise, we’ll see you at your post-op appointment.”  Well, 5 days later, I got “The Call.”  Because the biopsy came back with Grade 3 Endometrial adenocarcinoma with focal squamous differentiation, my gynecologist felt horrible and made a phone call so I could be seen quick. Otherwise, the oncologists in our area would not have been able to see me for another 8 weeks.  I had a robotic hysterectomy seven days after the finding. 

 

So, the symptom of a heavy flow of a watery discharge is definitely something to be concerned with.  I warn all my friends, that this was one of my first symptoms and not to ignore it.  You have found a great site with wonderful, kind, caring, loving, committed women who are very wise and have tons of information and varying experiences to share.  Keep us posted on your findings.  Hoping for a favorable outcome and that it is just a simply polyp.

 

In between the bouts of bleeding, did you still have the clear watery discharge? Or was  your bleeding continuous? I ask because I have a clear watery discharge, but I have had sporadic bleeding for years before getting that. I just had the tv u/s a couple weeks ago, so have not got a diagnosis. 

Joditd said:

On the way home, something

On the way home, something dawned on me.  He came into the US room saying "I think you're issue is that you aren't ovulating.  You just have too much estrogen because you're not ovulating."  I didn't question it, because it threw me off guard.  I didn't expect to hear that, because I have a period every month.  In my mind, I was just thinking  "where did that come from?"  On the way home, it dawned on me where it came from.  When I saw the PA last month, I gave her the monthly cycle card they give you to fill out for the year documenting all of your menstrual cycles.  I told her I completely forgot to mark the days I had a period in November and December but had one each month.  He had that in my chart and was looking at it at the end of the visit, telling me I just needed progesterone since I wasn't ovulating.  Now I just want to cry, because I don't think he even did an exam based on anything other than him thinking I didn't ovulate and have a period those two months.  I didn't realize that he probably got that from my little cycle chart until I was almost home.  I guess it doesn't matter at this point.  I can't go back in time and stop him to explain now.  I guess I should just wait for my biopsy results and blood work checking my estrogen levels and go from there.  Maybe he is right anyway.  I am so sorry to bother you girls with this.  I know your situations are much worse.  I should be thankful that he didn't think it was cancer.  I am just scared I didn't get a good exam, and I am dreading having periods like that again. I really appreciate all the feedback I have received here, and please know that each of you are in my thoughts and prayers.  

If you are not comfortable with how he is handling it, don't hesitate to seek out a second opinion, if that is an option for you (ie. insurance coverage). Better to be safe than sorry. 

Interesting that he said an ablation is not an option because you've had kids. I've never heard that before.

I do hope he is right and  you do not have cancer. Don't feel you are wasting anyone's time here. The gals are super great, I have not gone through all the testing yet - next step is D&C and biopsy, I'm thinking but will find out for sure tomorrow. The ladies have been super supportive, even when I've been a butthead.