Newbie waiting on results

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I am so glad I found this forum. By way of background, I am a 55 (soon to be 56) year old mom of 3 that has been up and down in the menopausal department.  My fsh has risen from 46 two years ago to 50 last year to 55 just this past November.  I have a history of fibroids big time (and about 10 years ago had to had some removed as the bleeding they were causing made me anemic). I have had one period of 6 months with out a period but since then it has been all over the place.  For the past 4 or 5 months I have been having bleeding almost monthly despite what I can only assume to be a high fsh. I have had two ultrasounds in the past two years (doc said they looked fine) and for the last year and a half my ob has only said to wait and monitor my periods.  Finally this past November I couldn't take it anymore and he said while he was not concerned, I should come in for a six month follow up to my last May's yearly visit.  I expected just more of a wait and see response, but suddenly he was "concerned" and advised me to have a sonohistogram and biopsy, which I did this yesterday (Mon. the 5th) While the ultrasound went fine, (lining at 5 mm) because of so many fibroids, the sonohistogram didn't yield the results my doc hoped for, although he says he got enough for a biospsy.

Now I wait. I don't know if I have any questions, but I am angry that my doctor waited a full year to do this test.  In my head, after 6 months of a high fsh and bleeding, I would have thought he'd order the test.  As an aside, my husband is doctor and sees nothing wrong in how my ob proceeded.  

I guess I just need some moral support during my wait and this seemed like an smart, caring group of women who know what this is like.  Hope this wasn't too long and thanks for listening. 

Comments

  • Editgrl
    Editgrl Member Posts: 903 Member
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    Hi, Dsr.  Glad you found us.

    Hi, Dsr.  Glad you found us.  Waiting for results is the pits.  If you read other posts, you'll find a number of women who didn't get biopsies or D&C's for months after symptoms presented themselves.  Not all of them had cancer.  I know it's hard, but try to keep busy with other things as you wait.  It may very well be that there is something else causing your symptoms.  Please come back and let us know the results either way.

  • Dsr
    Dsr Member Posts: 19
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    Thanks for your support.  I

    Thanks for your support.  I will definitely be posting when I hear!

  • EZLiving66
    EZLiving66 Member Posts: 1,482 Member
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    I also had to fight to get my

    I also had to fight to get my doctor to take me seriously and switched doctors because of it.  I wasn't even bleeding, just felt something wasn't right and sure enough, I had UPSC, Stage II.  I am so glad I pushed to get that biopsy!!

    Keep us updated and let us know your results.  Here's hoping for the best!!!

    Love,

    Eldri

  • Dsr
    Dsr Member Posts: 19
    edited December 2016 #5
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    I also had to fight to get my

    I also had to fight to get my doctor to take me seriously and switched doctors because of it.  I wasn't even bleeding, just felt something wasn't right and sure enough, I had UPSC, Stage II.  I am so glad I pushed to get that biopsy!!

    Keep us updated and let us know your results.  Here's hoping for the best!!!

    Love,

    Eldri

    Thanks Eldri: I wish I had

    Thanks Eldri: I wish I had pushed harder too.  Depending on the results, I may switch doctors and/or get him to get more aggresive with my issues.  I will definitely update when I get the results.

  • Kvdyson
    Kvdyson Member Posts: 789
    edited December 2016 #6
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    I agree that it is incredibly

    I agree that it is incredibly frustrating, Dsr. The nurse practitioner at my regular gyn office brushed-off my complaints of insanely heavy clotting and bleeding for months until I finally became so anemic that I fainted - then they finally took me seriously and started testing (ultrasounds and sonograms). They finally decided on a D&C to remove some large fibroids that they blamed for the bleeding but it ended up being cancer. It's crazy that it had to go that far but I am thankful that it was eventually caught and treated. Hopefully your biopsy results will have a much better outcome. Wishing you comfort and peace during this stressful time, Kim

  • Dsr
    Dsr Member Posts: 19
    edited December 2016 #7
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    Kvdyson said:

    I agree that it is incredibly

    I agree that it is incredibly frustrating, Dsr. The nurse practitioner at my regular gyn office brushed-off my complaints of insanely heavy clotting and bleeding for months until I finally became so anemic that I fainted - then they finally took me seriously and started testing (ultrasounds and sonograms). They finally decided on a D&C to remove some large fibroids that they blamed for the bleeding but it ended up being cancer. It's crazy that it had to go that far but I am thankful that it was eventually caught and treated. Hopefully your biopsy results will have a much better outcome. Wishing you comfort and peace during this stressful time, Kim

    Thanks Kvdyson.  I totally

    Thanks Kvdyson.  I totally understand the heavy bleeding, anemia thing.  That happened to me.  I will update my post as soon as I know.  

  • MAbound
    MAbound Member Posts: 1,168 Member
    edited December 2016 #8
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    Difficult Cancer

    This is what is so frustrating about this cancer...no screening tests and no education about it out there so we get blindsided by it at diagnosis. You won't regret pushing your doctor (and husband) about getting to the bottom of what's causing your bleeding. My doctor took a wait-and-see approach, too, until I turned 59 and ended up with a Stage 3c, grade 3 endometrial adenocarcinoma by the time she sent me for a biopsy.

    Here are the risk factors for this cancer that I've gleaned and put together for my daughter and that you and others may find helpful:

    Things that affect hormone levels

    a.       Number of menstrual cycles over a lifetime (the higher the number the greater the risk)

    b.      Periods starting before age 12

    c.       Late menopause

    d.      No pregnancies

    e.      Never on birth control (protection from 1 year on birth control lasts approximately 10 years, but you need to take for a minimum of 2 years before this benefit applies)

    f.     obesity (fat cells produce estrogen)

    g.     Prior history of having breast or ovarian cancer (especially if tamoxifen is used to treat)

    h.      PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrom)

    i.        Pre-diabetes

    j.        Diabetes

    k.      Exposure to endocrine disruptors

    l.       prior use of unopposed estrogen

    Lynch Syndrome (inherited risk factor)

    Age near or past menopause (risk increases with age)

    History of endometrial hyperplasia or endometriosis

    History of pelvic radiation therapy for another cancer

    Sedentary lifestyle

    Western Diet (contributes to an acidic environment in the body favorable to tumor cell formation)

  • Dsr
    Dsr Member Posts: 19
    edited December 2016 #9
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    MAbound said:

    Difficult Cancer

    This is what is so frustrating about this cancer...no screening tests and no education about it out there so we get blindsided by it at diagnosis. You won't regret pushing your doctor (and husband) about getting to the bottom of what's causing your bleeding. My doctor took a wait-and-see approach, too, until I turned 59 and ended up with a Stage 3c, grade 3 endometrial adenocarcinoma by the time she sent me for a biopsy.

    Here are the risk factors for this cancer that I've gleaned and put together for my daughter and that you and others may find helpful:

    Things that affect hormone levels

    a.       Number of menstrual cycles over a lifetime (the higher the number the greater the risk)

    b.      Periods starting before age 12

    c.       Late menopause

    d.      No pregnancies

    e.      Never on birth control (protection from 1 year on birth control lasts approximately 10 years, but you need to take for a minimum of 2 years before this benefit applies)

    f.     obesity (fat cells produce estrogen)

    g.     Prior history of having breast or ovarian cancer (especially if tamoxifen is used to treat)

    h.      PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrom)

    i.        Pre-diabetes

    j.        Diabetes

    k.      Exposure to endocrine disruptors

    l.       prior use of unopposed estrogen

    Lynch Syndrome (inherited risk factor)

    Age near or past menopause (risk increases with age)

    History of endometrial hyperplasia or endometriosis

    History of pelvic radiation therapy for another cancer

    Sedentary lifestyle

    Western Diet (contributes to an acidic environment in the body favorable to tumor cell formation)

    Thanks, MAbound.  Yes, I am

    Thanks, MAbound.  Yes, I am slowly becoming well versed about this condition and yes, I will be pushing, MUCH harder from here on out.  I am hoping the Mirena that I've been using for the past 10 years will help me somewhat since it kept the lining of my uterus thinner.  I will update as soon as I know something.

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member
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    Welcome

    Welcome to,the club no,one wants to belong to.  This is a good place to come.  Waiting is the hardest part of this roller coaster ride.  Sending hugs and prayers. Lou Ann

  • janaes
    janaes Member Posts: 799 Member
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    Welcome to our board.  Hoping

    Welcome to our board.  Hoping for the best for you as you wait for results.

    Janae

  • Dsr
    Dsr Member Posts: 19
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    Thanks Lou Ann & janaes.  You

    Thanks Lou Ann & janaes.  You seem like a very supportive group.

  • Soup52
    Soup52 Member Posts: 908 Member
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    Welcome to the club! You will

    Welcome to the club! You will find much support and info here.

  • Dsr
    Dsr Member Posts: 19
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    Thanks soup52.  The waiting

    Thanks soup52.  The waiting is hard, but it's nice to know you're not alone.