Women's trouble ...

[windywillow]

I am in my early fifties. I hadn't had a period for about two years, then unexpectedly had one lasting two days, about two months ago.

For the last few days I have been experiencing stomach pains, they feel like period pains, but nothing is forthcoming.

Is this part of the change of life, or should I be asking the doctor to check it out?

TIA. x

[smudge]

You're very welcome windywillow (love your username)!

I can empathise with you, but try not to feel too embarrassed about being examined by your GP. He/she's seen it all before, albeit different shapes & sizes, lol.

I'm sure everything will work out fine. -x-

[windywillow]

Thank you very much, smudge. x

[windywillow]

Sqad, I saw the doc who is going to arrange an urgent scan for me - he tells me the waiting list is usually 2 weeks but he will ask for an urgent appointment, and hopes to get me an appointment within a week.

I would value your honest opinion. I expect you are going to say wait until the results of the scan, but if it is cancer, have I blown my chances, having waited two months or more before seeking treatment?

[China Doll]

Two weeks is the normal turn around time for patients referred to NHS to be seen by doctor/scanned/whatever needs to happen with possibly sinister symptons.... It's urgent by definition of the referral. I've had several patients referred this way and most of them are taken off the urgent referrals within a few weeks having been diagnosed with something entirely different and non-life threatening.

Have you just been referred for a scan? Have you also been referred to a consultant? Generally what will happen nows in my world would be I receive the inital referral, I will register and book you in to see one of my boys in the next available clinic, they will then see you and if they are unable to diagnose from symptons you're presenting, they will send you for a urgent scan and add you to the next MDT meeting (multi-disciplinary team). The MDT bit is good because it means that Radiologists, other doctors, pathologists etc... are available to track you, arrange any other urgent appts and chase up any outstanding results.

[China Doll]

Once the results of the scan come through then we obviously see you in clinic and from there discuss the findings and what will happen next. IF it is cancer then in my world again, the disease we're treating has a rather set path to how it spreads so depending on how far along that path the disease has gone will depend on how we treat it. I don't know enough about what you suspect you may have to comment on any path the disease might take.

My boys will obviously operate to remove anything if that's a possibility and we will 'create' (ie: I'll phone another patient and tell they're being moved because I have an urgent case) space on our theatre diaries to do this as soon as possible. We may do a biopsy to confirm. Following on from that, the patient may need chemo or radiotherapy or sometimes a combination of both, this being known as 'radical' care I think... It doesn't mean that it's a death sentence but just that they're going to throw everything at it. We track the patients progress throughout and obviously see you quite a lot during this time.

Depending on what you may or may not have, then the above two paragraphs are probably what you can expect to happen to you in the next few weeks and the rest is just for information in case it goes further so you have an idea of what could happen. I don't think you can ask Sqad to answer the question you've put to him without the above information not because he doesn't know or have an idea but because it's inappropriate, we wouldn't answer that question without the army above in gear and ready to go.

Best wishes, good luck and I sincerely hope it's 'no big deal.'

[windywillow]

Thank you very much China, very kind of you to type all that for me.

I have only been referred for an ultrasound scan at present. I am annoyed with myself that I didn't get things checked out when I had the unexpected period, two months or so ago, although I know very well than there's nothing I can do to change that.

Thanks again for your help, and thanks to you Sqad. xxx

[blackietwo]

Dont' wish to detract from the people in the know. I have had this problem. I experienced change of life quite early. I did not have a period after the age of 39. This was checked by blood test to see if I was going through menopause, it was confirmed. I do take HRT, at around 46 I had same as you, a period lasting couple of days, and light. I saw my GP who checked this out. He told me menopause does not happen overnight and its a gradual processs, and a period after going so long is not unusual but should be checked. Also that in the early days of starting the menopause you can still get pregnant, if the odd egg or two is still hanging about in the ovaries, thats why we see some elderly people with a downs syndrome child. Because they have not had a period for a while they think its all over.

[windywillow]

Thank you blackietwo, for that interesting reply. My doctor said my problem's not related to the menopause, due to the passing of two years since my last period. Your experience has shown that there can be exceptions to the rule. It is quite amazing that you had one after all that time!

For the last week and a half I have had stomach pains that feel like period pains, but no period. This pain but no show of blood is worrying me. It's not just low in my stomach anymore - it has risen and feels uncomfortable further up now, underneath my breast.

I know I just have to wait for the results of the scan but I can't help but worry about it being cancer. I am annoyed that I didn't go to the doctors a couple of months ago, when I had the period. I am trying to avoid looking on the black side - all I can concentrate on now is, what if it is cancer? I have left it for more than two months, how stupid of me.

I am normally a sensible person and know that worrying about it won't help. Sorry if I have repeated myself.

Thanks again for your reply. x