messylttlfoodie
Member
So, I have something growing out of my cervix which I believe to be a polyp and the second GP I had examine me, agrees.
Brief-ish history: I first noticed something was off during the luteal phase of my previous cycle, when I noticed my cervix feeling unusually hard. I had already been spotting throughout that cycle and as I practice FAM I regularly check my cervical position, firmness and openness. I didn't think too much of it and just concluded that since I was in the luteal phase it was just due to that.
The next day, I felt a gush of liquid, checked and there was blood, I thought my period had started early (on day 17 of my cycle). I put in my fem cup and thought it was due to my intentional weight-loss / increase in exercise and current high levels of mental / emotional stress in my life. I expected the bleeding to increase and to be needing painkillers soon. But the cup never actually filled, and the full on menstrual flow didn't ensue. When I decided to remove my cup, I felt my cervix again and to my shock I felt something bulging from my cervical opening, like a fleshy marble stuck in there. I freaked out and actually tried to visualise it with a mirror and some acrobatics. It was purple reddish in colour, smooth and glistening.
I panicked and did some research and concluded it must be a polyp (mini phew).
I called my surgery the next day and asked to be referred to a gynaecologist.
I never usually go to the doctor for anything so it's been quite some time and I'm not actually used to the process on NHS (I'm from Germany)
Anyways, I got an appointment August 18th with who I thought was a gynaecologist - now I realise that she was a regular GP. I should have known because there was no chair with the stirrups I expected to see. But anyways, I described my symptoms, she took my history, she had a look, asked me to cough a few times, asked me to get cleaned up and dressed, and once I was back sat next to her desk she proceeded to tell me that she couldn't see the thing I was describing, and that my vagina and cervix looked healthy. I in that moment was absolutely flabbergasted to hear that, thinking did it fall out or something? I showed her a picture I took of it on my phone. She said that looks like a prolapse to her. "Do some pelvic floor exercises" I asked her why was I spotting then? She said well thats why you should book a cervical screening, which I did on my way out. Basically sent me home none the wiser. I was so confused I did not think you advocate for myself.
Back at home, I had another feel, and lo and behold, it's still there, sticking out of my cervix, even when lying on my back in the position I was on her table.
A day later, day 26 in my cycle, my period came. And I mean, IT CAME. IN FULL FORCE. It was so bad I had to buy tampons while I was out because my cup and period underwear were not sufficient to catch the amount of blood coming out of me.
Huge clumps (huge for me, few inches). Very unusual for me. Luckily, it was the normal intensity and duration thereafter, and to my surprise, the polyp retracted back up my cervix (my theory is that the position and firmness of my cervix changing throughout my cycle allows for the polyp to be exposed or hidden), which is why it went back up after my period.
My cervical smear was scheduled for the 11th September and I had thought to bring it up again then. So I was just going to wait it out.
No spotting this time until ovulation - I noticed some pulling on my right side - assuming it was ovulation pain.
Shortly after ovulation, sure enough the polyp started to peek out again, but this time, I continued to peek out more and more until it basically reached the vaginal opening. Very friable and prone to bleeding. Very uncomfortable and irritating my urethra, and making bowel movements difficult (slight constipation).
Yellow discharge, I had to wear my cup to catch it as it smelled so did it want to just wear period underwear because of the smell....
I'm gonna skip over the back and forth with the receptions at my surgery because that was just a confusing mess. I wound up calling 111 to make a report and got a referral. Finally, my GP took me seriously and called me back to make an appointment which was last Friday. This woman actually listened to me, and when she had a look, she could see it, she swabbed me, she agreed with me that it looks like a polyp, but in order for me to be seen quicker she put me on an urgent referral on the 2 week waiting rule, meaning I'd get a letter from local hospital to be seen by gynae specialist (and told me to cancel the smear for now).
So, this little stint has quickly taught me that I need to be PREPARED. I need to be able to advocate for myself, I need to know all my options, I need to know as much as possible before I go in and they start wanting to do tests on me and suggest treatments.
Please, if any of you have any experience with uterine / cervical polyps or other uterine / cervical growths, and the treatment process especially NHS / UK, please share it with me or if you have any suggestions for what I should agree to or not, like which tests (I read somewhere:
"tests for general health (blood test), examination of the vaginal microflora, a smear to check the presence of precancerous or cancerous cells of the vagina and cervix, electrocardiography and fluorography" <--- do I want that?
And things such as that they may have to put me under general anaesthesia for a hysteroscopy. What?
I also read somewhere that sometimes polyps can regress, but mine is so big I doubt it.
It's like a finger sticking out of my cervix and my period is now a few days early and very strange, not much blood but one big clot came out, then some little ones, and now there'd barely any blood after 3 days.... no cramps but general discomfort, like a feeling if "about to get cramps" but they don't come....
It's weird.
So yea, pls throw everything you've got at me relating to this.
TIA!
Brief-ish history: I first noticed something was off during the luteal phase of my previous cycle, when I noticed my cervix feeling unusually hard. I had already been spotting throughout that cycle and as I practice FAM I regularly check my cervical position, firmness and openness. I didn't think too much of it and just concluded that since I was in the luteal phase it was just due to that.
The next day, I felt a gush of liquid, checked and there was blood, I thought my period had started early (on day 17 of my cycle). I put in my fem cup and thought it was due to my intentional weight-loss / increase in exercise and current high levels of mental / emotional stress in my life. I expected the bleeding to increase and to be needing painkillers soon. But the cup never actually filled, and the full on menstrual flow didn't ensue. When I decided to remove my cup, I felt my cervix again and to my shock I felt something bulging from my cervical opening, like a fleshy marble stuck in there. I freaked out and actually tried to visualise it with a mirror and some acrobatics. It was purple reddish in colour, smooth and glistening.
I panicked and did some research and concluded it must be a polyp (mini phew).
I called my surgery the next day and asked to be referred to a gynaecologist.
I never usually go to the doctor for anything so it's been quite some time and I'm not actually used to the process on NHS (I'm from Germany)
Anyways, I got an appointment August 18th with who I thought was a gynaecologist - now I realise that she was a regular GP. I should have known because there was no chair with the stirrups I expected to see. But anyways, I described my symptoms, she took my history, she had a look, asked me to cough a few times, asked me to get cleaned up and dressed, and once I was back sat next to her desk she proceeded to tell me that she couldn't see the thing I was describing, and that my vagina and cervix looked healthy. I in that moment was absolutely flabbergasted to hear that, thinking did it fall out or something? I showed her a picture I took of it on my phone. She said that looks like a prolapse to her. "Do some pelvic floor exercises" I asked her why was I spotting then? She said well thats why you should book a cervical screening, which I did on my way out. Basically sent me home none the wiser. I was so confused I did not think you advocate for myself.
Back at home, I had another feel, and lo and behold, it's still there, sticking out of my cervix, even when lying on my back in the position I was on her table.
A day later, day 26 in my cycle, my period came. And I mean, IT CAME. IN FULL FORCE. It was so bad I had to buy tampons while I was out because my cup and period underwear were not sufficient to catch the amount of blood coming out of me.
Huge clumps (huge for me, few inches). Very unusual for me. Luckily, it was the normal intensity and duration thereafter, and to my surprise, the polyp retracted back up my cervix (my theory is that the position and firmness of my cervix changing throughout my cycle allows for the polyp to be exposed or hidden), which is why it went back up after my period.
My cervical smear was scheduled for the 11th September and I had thought to bring it up again then. So I was just going to wait it out.
No spotting this time until ovulation - I noticed some pulling on my right side - assuming it was ovulation pain.
Shortly after ovulation, sure enough the polyp started to peek out again, but this time, I continued to peek out more and more until it basically reached the vaginal opening. Very friable and prone to bleeding. Very uncomfortable and irritating my urethra, and making bowel movements difficult (slight constipation).
Yellow discharge, I had to wear my cup to catch it as it smelled so did it want to just wear period underwear because of the smell....
I'm gonna skip over the back and forth with the receptions at my surgery because that was just a confusing mess. I wound up calling 111 to make a report and got a referral. Finally, my GP took me seriously and called me back to make an appointment which was last Friday. This woman actually listened to me, and when she had a look, she could see it, she swabbed me, she agreed with me that it looks like a polyp, but in order for me to be seen quicker she put me on an urgent referral on the 2 week waiting rule, meaning I'd get a letter from local hospital to be seen by gynae specialist (and told me to cancel the smear for now).
So, this little stint has quickly taught me that I need to be PREPARED. I need to be able to advocate for myself, I need to know all my options, I need to know as much as possible before I go in and they start wanting to do tests on me and suggest treatments.
Please, if any of you have any experience with uterine / cervical polyps or other uterine / cervical growths, and the treatment process especially NHS / UK, please share it with me or if you have any suggestions for what I should agree to or not, like which tests (I read somewhere:
"tests for general health (blood test), examination of the vaginal microflora, a smear to check the presence of precancerous or cancerous cells of the vagina and cervix, electrocardiography and fluorography" <--- do I want that?
And things such as that they may have to put me under general anaesthesia for a hysteroscopy. What?
I also read somewhere that sometimes polyps can regress, but mine is so big I doubt it.
It's like a finger sticking out of my cervix and my period is now a few days early and very strange, not much blood but one big clot came out, then some little ones, and now there'd barely any blood after 3 days.... no cramps but general discomfort, like a feeling if "about to get cramps" but they don't come....
It's weird.
So yea, pls throw everything you've got at me relating to this.
TIA!
