Had scan, at my request!, due to my symptoms matching OC. Have appointment today as results have come back showing fibroids (or that is apparently what is written on card). Two problems - firstly hardly any of my symptoms match fibroids, and I am post-menopausal and did not have my symptoms pre-menopause, and secondly does anybody know how accurately a scan can show the difference between fibroids and OC? My doctor is not very forthcoming - had blood tests (not for OC), ecg and lung tests which came back fine whereupon I asked where we go from here and he just repeated the question and looked at me vaguely. Only when I mentioned (most apologetically!!) that I would like to eliminate OC from our enquiries did he then say he would book a scan. Need to know whether to query the fibroid diagnosis because they have probably been there for a while with no symptoms so don't need treating but on the other hand the surgeons might find something else whilst grovelling around inside! (Usually pretty good at recovery from operations, by the way).
Sorry - long and probably a bit clueless. Help appreciated.
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wghmftemuff
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Hi sorry that you are going through this.. I can only tell you my experience, I went to the GP as by then it was obvious that I had a lump, no symptoms other than I spent a penny more often than usual (so ignored tthis) I was then fast tracked to Gynacologist (GP Friday / Hospital / Monday) had a vag/camera
to see what was going on, was told I had a large mass on my left ovary (size of a very large melon) then had a Ca 125 test done which showed a high cancer count after that a CT scan op and etc..I don't know how accurate the scan is for you but you could request the ca 125 blood test as it doesn't cost NHS much to do £ 20 it isn't always reliable though as It sometimes show high when it might be something else.. you coudl ring the helpline on OvaCome ( Ruth Payne) might be able to put your mind at rest and offer good support.
You came to the right place! Sorry to hear you are having this worry, but glad you're getting it sorted out soon, hopefully. I had fibroids and knew all about it. You can read of my experiences on my profile, I won't go through it all again here Mine was picked up via an op although my CA125 blood test was showing raised levels of marker cells by then. It was caught early enough not to need chemo and so far I've been fine. Gwyn's suggestions are good too. You could try the Ovacome web page, then BEAT Ovarian cancer option on the left, scroll down to the BEATonline symptom tracker. It may give you more info to take to your next appointment.
I had a small fibroid I didn't realise until I had my debulking op. I had a CA125 before i got referred to a gynae and it was 2400. My ultrasound didn't show any abnormalities with my ovaries but there was fluid in the abdomen whcih I had drained off. The found cancer cells in the fluid and CT scans and MRI showed my ovaries were 'bulky'. I moved back to Manchester and they insisted on a tissue biopsy
Hello again all! Seen doctor and made to feel a bit of a fraud. Have suffered from depression most of my life and clearly the doctor is now putting everything down to this and to the menopause - which apparently I'm not finished with yet because I had a bleed end of April after 7/8 months and I need to be bleed-free for 12 months before I'm considered post-menopausal. He said that my ovaries are fine, and that my womb "looks how you would expect for a woman of my age" - i.e. lots of small fibroids but nothing clumped together. He then insisted on explaining the menopause to me (patiently, as if I might be a little 'slow') and appeared to be trying to set my mind at rest regarding the bleed - which to be frank I hadn't worried about except that it might have been an indicator of something when linked to my other symptoms. Then silence. I asked him if there was any point checking again whether I had an underactive thyroid and he replied that unfortunately (.....unfortunately?!!!!!) my results are not even borderline, so no. Silence again. I pointed out that I still had these symptoms - which are, by the way, debilitating tiredness, feeling sick when I go to the loo in the morning, and feeling sick every time I eat (but I clearly have a complicated psychological relationship with food as I compensate by eating quickly to beat the 10/15 mins window before the nausea kicks in - can't miss those tastes! - so no bonus weight loss. Shame.). Also more bloated (though could just be fat?.....) and gassy. Also pain on right side waist high and some lower back pain but this comes and goes and isn't severe, just annoying. Feels like I can't suck in enough air when I do something strenuous (had lung function check - all OK). Doctor says "unfortunately" he couldn't see any physical cause for my symptoms and that I perhaps should expect these at my age. Then silence again, so I had to suggest that perhaps we needed to back-track to my depression and assume that this was the illness causing my symptoms and not a symptom of something else, and I suggested that I could perhaps be prescribed something for this (which I have always previously resisted, preferring to use various coping strategies) as I was struggling to cope with day to day life at the moment. So, now on Prozac, which according to the info. sheet clashes with triptan (migraine medication) which I take occasionally but rarely now as I also take beta blockers as a migraine preventative. Sorry this is so long, and I won't take up more of all your 'space' as I will seemingly have to be content that all is clear and I'm just bonkers, basically.
Thank you for your concern, everybody, and I wish you all the best with your journeys - all so brave and magnificent!!!
I know what you're up against. I was going back and forth to the doctor for about 3 years before I was sent for investigation. In my case it was all put down to my job (stressful), menopause (impending), anaemia, feeling tired all the time (TATT in the doc notes). I also have migraine, had endometriosis, pain low down, then the summer before I was finally diagnosed I had bloating, dreadful diarrhoea after eating anything and only about half my usual appetite, tiredness like you wouldn't believe, dizzy spells and a bit of backache. I had to just keep going back to the GP who eventually referred me for an ultrasound scan and CA125 (mine was 545)
Is there any way you can ask to see a different GP? Also I mentioned the BEATonline symptom tracker in my earlier post. Google Ovacome and go to the main website, click on the option on the left, BEAT ovarian cancer with Ovacome, then scroll down to the bit that says track your symptoms with the BEAT symptom tracker here. Fill that in for a couple of weeks or so and print it out, along with the page I mentioned, and take it to your GP.
As well as this, you may find giving the helpline nurse at Ovacome a ring is helpful for you. They are on 0845 371 0554, Monday to Friday.
It is so easy for GPs to write off symptoms as being down to "neurotic women" ....it's always been the case (hysteria and hysterectomy have the same word root!) We just have to take the fight for proper investigation into our own hands sometimes.
Thank you Wendy. I think that all I can do is wait to see whether my symptoms get worse/more of them. I know what you mean about the tiredness - I can only describe it as an overwhelming aching tiredness that means you can barely function and what your body is actually telling you to do is lie down, on the floor, right now, and just give up. Of course, if you're in the middle of Sainsburys that has to be resisted! - but the shopping tends to go to pot (NO chance of concentrating on anything at all - I've walked away from a half-full trolley before now). Not too bad in the morning, but by the afternoon I'm finished. However, I know that this is a symptom of just about anything. I also get lightheaded/woolly headed a fair bit. But am brought up not to argue with doctors so have done well to get this far. Knew all about the CA125 marker but as it would also be raised because of the fibroids I lacked the courage to ask the doctor to do the test, particularly as he pointed out (about 3 times I think) that my ovaries are normal on the scan. Could all be in my mind and the fluoxetine will do the trick. Time will tell.
Do please free to give us a ring at Ovacome so that we can talk things through. 08453710554 Mon - Fri 10-5. Incidentally do you have any one in your family with breast or ovarian cancer or do you come fromm an Ashkenazi jewish background?
Hi - I'm humbled that people with such problems of their own should take time to think about me. Bit of a phobia about talking on the phone (even family!). And no,I am white British, and as far as I know there is no family history of breast/ovarian cancer - tend to be pretty long-lived, except for Mum who died from misdiagnosed adhesions and her father who died of stomach(?bowel? not sure...) cancer. Not worried that I have either of these problems as although I feel sick when I eat it does seem to make it's way through OK, though I do poo more frequently than I did and the stools are softer and often seem to contain more undigested content. Until a couple of years ago I hardly went to the doctor at all, then had gallbladder issues following a spell on the LighterLife diet (5 stone down - but now 5 stone back up again. Ah well....). Into menopause, and migraines got worse so went to the doctor for that, and asked about every other symptom/problem I had at the same time, which probably had me marked as a nuisance from the start, as this is a new doctor as we have moved house and to be frank he is a bit cold and distant and hardly ever seems to smile, and I was brought up that doctors are never to be questionned so I've already been much braver than I would normally be in pushing for the scan! I know I should have asked for a blood test to look at CA125 marker but he was so adamant that there is nothing physically wrong with me that my symptom and question list stayed in my handbag and I sort of gave up. Perhaps I will just have to wait and see if my symptoms get any worse - at the moment, compared to the other ladies on this site, I'm not really suffering at all!
Sorry, I have a tendency to ramble on. If I seem to be getting worse/additional symptoms I will screw up my courage and give you a ring.
I'm sorry to hear you seem to have quite a few health problems and all this on top of suffering from depression for years. Hopefully you'll get lots of good ideas from everyone on this site and if any of those shed a ray of hope for you you might be inspired to try them. I really do hope so.
It may sound silly, but I wonder if you could look at your problems from another direction - that of seeking a consultant who will look at your fitness as a goal rather than a doctor whose goal is identifying a disease that might be causing all those aches and pains.
You mentioned you'd been able to lose quite a lot of weight at a previous time. I'm currently watching my weight as it's spiralled a bit in the last year and I promise you it makes me feel very lethargic and tired to be carrying round those extra kilos. I'm not one for going to the gym and I don't like jogging or any sport much. A friend recommended a Personal Trainer. I'd never have thought of this on my own as I'd assumed they would be sporty types and not my cup of tea. It's not what you think. They look at your general fitness, taking lots of notes about any health issues, and customise a programme that suits you with realistic goals and milestones. Perhaps they would give you some ideas as to what might work for you - gentle activities such as walking or cycling are good. They should also be able to advise about diet and perhaps even vitamins or natural tonics that might help. A good regime makes a lot of difference to how you feel and they might also give you advice on the problem of eating quickly which usually increases the likelihood of indigestion.
I wonder if you think this might be a good idea for you. I was just thinking you might be able to set yourself a goal and timeframe during which you could monitor the symptoms you are experiencing and if they're no better after a couple of months you could go back to your doctor and say they're still there despite your best efforts at improving your general health. It just seems to me to be a bit more of a positive strategy rather than waiting for the symptoms to get worse.
I hope you don't think me cheeky for posting this idea. I'm sure there will be many others which might strike a chord for you. I really do hope you can find a route towards finding a solution to all these problems.
Thank you Annie! You're probably right - though I did used to be able to cope with a lot of physical stuff until the last year or so despite having been carrying 5 stone extra baggage since I was 29 (now 52)! Not exercise as such, but lots of DIY, and long dog walks, plus some swimming and lots of gardening. I think I will follow your advice though as much as I can (willpower of a lettuce) - might even dig out my old bike (though bike seats are just the most uncomfortable thing in the world!!!). Perhaps 'waiting for the symptoms to get worse' wasn't my best choice of phrase - sounds like I'm sitting on the sofa with a pen poised over my notebook! I need to find some reserves of energy from somewhere as we are in severe financial difficulty at the moment and have had to move into a house which isn't renovated yet. I re-roofed it over the winter but it took me AGES longer than it should have done, and I need to find the will and the energy for everything else (my husband is fully occupied trying to hold our business together) as it is supposed to be my job to do the wiring, plumbing, joinery, flooring, kitchen, bathrooms, decorating, landscaping, soft furnishings - you see why I need to get on with life!!! It's just not happening at the moment, and living in a dusty shell with one outside tap isn't exactly helping my mood.
Will let you all know how I'm doing - feels a bit as though I am intruding on a private world to which I do not have any right of admittance, but thank you again for your patience and kindness.
Anna, it's not surprising that you feel like sh*t with all of that going on. And, if it fills a need to just let off some of those feelings of "hellllllppppp!" I'm sure no-one minds you posting on here, it's sometimes good to have somewhere to go to let off a bit of steam. I think the tips from Annie about general health are good, there are some threads from way back on here if you look on the search box, put in healthy eating, exercise, staying positive and I think you may find something. Hope so!
Again, like the other ladies have said , I am so sorry that you are going through this. You are a very and strong lady persevering with this.
Clearly your gut feeling is that something is wrong and the doctors looking after you ( I'm trying to be polite about them here) have not in any way adequately answered your concerns. You are paying for this care with your taxes and you have a right it. It is not a favour, or something people whose faces fit or whatever deserve, it is a right for us all.
I would certainly ask for a second opinion, either from another doctor in the practice or if you can change practices. Your PCT should have a complaints section to which you can refer to if necessary.
See how the medication helps you , I'm sure that it will and if you only need the triptan occasionally don't worry too much about any problems there.
I also had management "issues" which I found enormously distressing , even worse that the illness itself. As well as all of the advice given above , I personally found a computerised CBT course called "Living life to the full" really helpful for me. It's free on the internet Two years on I am really well now and fingers crossed so will you too in time.
You have had some very good advice.The only suggestion I can add is that it may be good idea to take someone with you when you go back to the Dr.
I hope your Dr is right, but if you have symptoms , his job is to find the cause.
Unfortunately too many of us on this site did not have our symptoms taken seriously, and were fobbed off.sometimes for a very long time.It is us who pay the price, not arrogant and patronising GPs.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Mine was picked up via an op although my CA125 blood test was showing raised levels of marker cells by then. It was caught early enough not to need chemo and so far I've been fine. Gwyn's suggestions are good too. You could try the Ovacome web page, then BEAT Ovarian cancer option on the left, scroll down to the BEATonline symptom tracker. It may give you more info to take to your next appointment. 
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