Hi everyone,
So glad I've found this forum, reassuring and helpful!
I'm 45. Started back in spring with 2 confirmed UTIs (first ever), then irregular spotting, pain lower left side of abdomen.
FY2 male dr confessed to "being mystified by woman's anatomy", diagnosed diverticulitis after clear abdominal ultrasound. Another confirmed UTI, continued spotting, persistent lower pubic discomfort, female dr this time: I was referred to gynecologist straightaway. In meantime, 2 flooding periods, clots, on and off lower left abdominal discomfort, more lower pubic discomfort, gas, bloating...last week mega bloating and had to use the loo after every meal (stress and anxiety, I hope).
In previous couple of years I've experienced bowel changes, sprouting facial hair, weird hot flushes during exercise (do a lot of mountaineering, a couple of times forced to bathe in glacial meltwater to cool off!), 2 bouts of massive fatigue - one I had to stop teaching and go home, the other my colleagues were so concerned they sent me to A and E, but also about a year of fatigue which ended when my dr put me on ferrosulphate. Feel vague, forgetful, was a voracious reader who now struggles to get through a few pages, also struggle to concentrate at work (love my job).
Was supposed to have hysteroscopy, endometrial biopsy, and mirena fitted today, but my cervix is too tight and now have to wait to have it done under GA.
Have also developed a complete anxiety over ovarian cancer (my mil died suddenly and unexpectedly recently of a heart attack and my own my mum just had an op for bowel cancer ( age 72), so my health anxiety is off the scale). I asked my gp if I should have a transvaginal ultrasound. She said since the abdominal ones were clear, she was happy. I kept thinking back to the diverticulitis thing and the dr mystified by women`s anatomy, and my ongoing abdominal discomforts...anyway, booked to see someone privately for ovarian cancer screening. Bloods back today, 11 for CA 125 and 36 for HE4 for a ROMA of 3.6 % apparently low risk. TVU next week.
Sorry for all of that, given my mum`s situation, I don't really have anyone to talk to so appreciate being able to just get it of my chest. Thank you!