Uterine Polyp and previous abnormal cells

[Harrisan]

Hi everyone,

I’m new here and I’m not entirely sure I’m in the right place. Please feel free to tell me if it’s not appropriate to be posting here.

I had an abnormal smear 3 years ago and had a punch biopsy and follow-up smears every year since then. They have all been clear.

Last August I missed a period, briefly worried I might be pregnant despite having the copper coil fitted but I wasn’t. Since then my periods have become longer (9-10 days), incredibly painful (only getting through the day by alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen every two hours) and between periods I have had spotting, bloody discharge and bleeding after sex. I have an almost constant low level cramp like pain throughout the month which (as indicated above) goes into overdrive during my period I also have occasional really sharp stabbing or twisting pains. I also have bloating and constipation.

I have been to the doctors a number of times and had my last smear done at family planning because of difficulties with timings at my own surgery. I bled from the smear so they arranged for me to see their gynaecologist. I have had two ultrasound scans since this started last August, neither of which ‘showed’ anything, however on both occasions my bladder wasn’t full and this in combination with the fact that my womb tips backwards might explain why nothing was seen. My doctors have never seemed concerned but I do admit to feeing fobbed off about something I was very concerned about myself as I know what's normal for me.

I now have a new doctor’s surgery and have seen a new doctor and she is being very quick and thorough with this which is good but also freaking me out a little.

I had an examination at the new doctors last week which caused me to bleed for two days. I have bled on and off since. From my appointment last Wednesday 21st I got an ultrasound appointment for Tuesday 27th. The guy was really shocked that they hadn't seen anything on my last ones. They told me there's a growth in my womb and it was either a fibroid or polyp and they'd send the info to my doctor.

The

Doctor had phoned me on Monday but I missed it and said to call her back on Wednesday when she would be back in. I called and she said she'd fast tracked me to the gynaecologist after the examination and speaking to coploscopy. She had also got my scan results today and the report says it's definitely a polyp. She says because of the bleeding and the history of having to have a punch biopsy previously she's glad she fast tracked me. She said given my history she wanted me seen quickly to make sure it's not something 'nasty'.

Ordinarily I'd be trying to put it out of my head but I can't because I have the low level cramp as a constant reminder, and the random bleeding.

It must be pretty big relatively speaking because the ultrasound guy said it's moved my coil forward a bit.

My question is this.

Could this polyp be coming from high up in my cervix and showing up in my womb?

I have read that you can get cancerous cells high in the cervix which don’t show up on smears and I’m worried the punch biopsy didn’t go deep/high enough and left behind cells which have grown into this ‘polyp’. I’m also a little unsettled by the ultrasound guys reaction when he saw it and his intense questions about whether I was certain nothing had shown up before.

I’m worried that it’s pretty big and has been causing my constipation by pressing on my bowel and that they are using the word ‘polyp’ euphemistically.

So yeah, sorry if you think this is not the right place to ask about this, but I just wondered about the ‘high’ up cancers and if this could be related.

Any help or advice or sharing of similar stories would be appreciated. I am seeing the gynaecologist on Thursday 6th July (fast tracked on the 14 day rule apparently) and not sure what to expect.

[AnzC]

Hi I had a growth and polyps and had it removed by a 45 minute key hole hysteroscopy under general anaesthetic. My womb also tips backwards. I would say don't worry about cancer for now. Easier said then done, I know. My growth,MRI scan, etc found it to be abnormal cells. So I have atypical endometrial hyperplasia which are pre cancer cells. I had abnormal bleeding for years before it got so bad that I had to go doctor

[Harrisan in reply to AnzC]

Thanks for sharing your experience. So do you still have treatment for the precancer cells or did that remove them all? I hope you are well.

Do they tend to remove polyps most of the time then? I wasn't sure if they'd do that or if they'd try to shrink it with medication.

At your first referred visit to the gynaecologist did they just examine you and decide what they were going to do then schedule it? Just unsure if what if anything I'll know better on Thursday.

[AnzC in reply to Harrisan]

It started with a scan, then an internal scan, then a hysteroscopy while I was awake (some people even have polyps removed then), then I had a hysteroscopy with polypectomy (general anaesthetic where they removed everything), the surgeon was very happy with the removal, but the histology reports came back and I then had to have a MRI scan. Unfortunately now have to get a hysterectomy. But please don't worry as yours might not go the same way as mine. The hospital and doctors have all been really nice and really kind. I just had issues with one consultant when I asked if I could keep my ovaries instead of full hysterectomy. But I changed hospital and feel confident with this hospital. I am still 41 and didn't want to go through menopause now. They might book you in for a hysteroscopy to have a look inside your womb, because then they will be able to see all the way to the top. It didn't hurt (I think I did drink paracetamol before hand though just in case) and I went back to work afterwards. It is like a camera that they put up but it is a very thin tube, so you don't feel it. The only thing you feel sometimes is the speculum(not sure how you spell it), but that is the same thing they use to keep your servix open during smear test

[Harrisan in reply to AnzC]

I'm sorry you have to have the hysterectomy and I'm glad they're letting you keep your ovaries. I'm 38 so not too far behind you and I would want to do anything I could to hold off menopause too.

I'm guessing the gynaecologist Will do the hysteroscopy on Thursday then to have a look.

I hope all goes ok with your operation. Keep me updated with how you get on.

[AnzC]

Thank you and please let us know how your visit goes this Thursday

[AskEveTeam]

Hi there,

Thank you for our message. Our gynae nurse specialist is on annual leave this week, but we promise we'll reply properly to your post on Monday morning when she's back in the Eve office.

Best Wishes,

Team Eve.

[Harrisan]

Ok so I had my appointment. I need to have it removed under general anaesthetic in three or four weeks as it's too big to do under loyal and the doc said his concern is it's feeding vessel (which is just.....ick ..... And makes me feel like I've an alien growing inside me!). Then he reckons the biopsy will be done pretty quickly.

He also found what he thinks is endometriosis on my cervix which he says he'll have a poke about at while he's in there.

Helpfully he also confirmed what I already suspected, that I have lichen sclerosis.

So now I have a bunch of new questions.

Does the size and feeding vessel make it more likely to be cancer?

Could what he 'thinks' is endometriosis on the cervix be cancer?

Is the fact that the op is possibly three or more weeks away a good sign?

I probably have more but any advice on those would be great right now. I'm swinging between being convinced it's all straight forward and fine to obsessing over the consultants (admittedly understandable) evasion of all questions about whether it could be more serious than a run of the mill polyp. I'm just scared because of how long it's gone on and the level of pain I'm having which is increasing!

[AskEveTeam]

Hi again,

Our gynae nurse is back with us after annual leave, and just wondering how you got on at your appointment on Thursday? If you want to call us on 0808 802 0019 or email [e-mail] and speak to Tracie (our nurse) about your results or the next steps, then please do. Your original message is really clear and informative and Tracie is of course happy to go through this and respond, but as you had an appointment on Thursday it makes more sense to talk through that with you, if you'd like?

Let us know,

Best Wishes,

Team Eve.

[Harrisan in reply to AskEveTeam]

Hi, thanks for your reply. I wrote a reply above about my appointment which I'm going to email as you suggested but which I'm also pasting here in case that helps.

Ok so I had my appointment. I need to have it removed under general anaesthetic in three or four weeks as it's too big to do under loyal and the doc said his concern is it's feeding vessel (which is just.....ick ..... And makes me feel like I've an alien growing inside me!). Then he reckons the biopsy will be done pretty quickly.

He also found what he thinks is endometriosis on my cervix which he says he'll have a poke about at while he's in there.

Helpfully he also confirmed what I already suspected, that I have lichen sclerosis.

So now I have a bunch of new questions.

Does the size and feeding vessel make it more likely to be cancer?

Could what he 'thinks' is endometriosis on the cervix be cancer?

Is the fact that the op is possibly three or more weeks away a good sign?

I probably have more but any advice on those would be great right now. I'm swinging between being convinced it's all straight forward and fine to obsessing over the consultants (admittedly understandable) evasion of all questions about whether it could be more serious than a run of the mill polyp. I'm just scared because of how long it's gone on and the level of pain I'm having which is increasing!

[CarrieJ81 in reply to Harrisan]

Hi Harrison, how did it all go? X