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Yes the gynecologist might be a very good idea. I have to go to work now but will schedule it with Kaiser (what can it hurt, it's the one thing you don't likely need a referral for) and also my own doctor. So that will be three people which have examined me. Only a NP has seeing and it was difficult since there was still blood there.
I guess I hoped to wait until all of the blood totally disappeared so they can see better. Which I can do and drop in at my Indian Clinic but only with a NP. To see the Indian Doctor, it must be scheduled. Same with Kaiser.
Yes the gynecologist might be a very good idea. I have to go to work now but will schedule it with Kaiser (what can it hurt, it's the one thing you don't likely need a referral for) and also my own doctor. So that will be three people which have examined me. Only a NP has seeing and it was difficult since there was still blood there.
I guess I hoped to wait until all of the blood totally disappeared so they can see better. Which I can do and drop in at my Indian Clinic but only with a NP. To see the Indian Doctor, it must be scheduled. Same with Kaiser.
I don't want to scare you but bloating is a sign of ovarian cancer. You should not waste time in seeing a gynecologist and describing your symptoms. A PT or CT scan can be done.....
I am going to share my story with you, not to frighten you, but hopefully prompt you to see a gynecologist ASAP.
I am currently age 60 and when I was nearing age 45 my period became irregular and at 45 it stopped completely. Those few months following the stopping of my period when the time would roll around when I should have gotten it I would get some cramping and bloating but bleeding never followed. When the cramping came I would put in a tampon just as a precaution in the event bleeding did start. When I removed it there would be some pink tinge fluid on it but no blood. This pink tinged fluid concerned me and prompted me to make an appointment with my gynecologist because I had this gut feeling that something was seriously wrong.
Exam day came and my gynecologist found nothing wrong on exam and figured I was starting menopause which sometimes causes a discharge like what I was experiencing. Just before he was to send me on my way I blurted out to him that I felt something more serious was going on with me beyond menopause. He responded "to put your mind at ease I will do an endometrial biopsy but I doubt it will reveal anything abnormal".
A week following having my exam and endometrial biopsy which was a week before Christmas I received a call from my gynecologist to inform me that the biopsy results revealed I had endometrial cancer. The following week was filled with additional tests including a CT scans which showed my cancer as far as this test could tell had not traveled beyond my uterus but only surgery would give the definitive answer. On January 2nd I was in the operating room having a total hysterectomy. When I was finally fully awake I was in my room and my gynecologist was there with a big smile on his face. He told me my cancer lesion was the size of 1/2 of his thumb nail and very superficial. That was a very fortunate thing for me because the pathology testing done during surgery showed the grade of the cancer cells were more aggressive than what was found on the pathology testing of my endometrial biopsy specimen. And this meant had I not been diagnosed and had the surgery when I did my cancer would have likely invaded more deeply into my uterus and possibly beyond it requiring more intensive treatment than just surgery and additionally this would have given me a not as favorable prognosis.
My recovery was not the easiest because 6 months following I endured an awful surgical menopause, and since my cancer was estrogen driven I could not take hormones to lessen the symptoms because that would put my breasts at risk for development of a secondary cancer. But in the big picture that was minor because I had my life!! It took me a year to feel somewhat normal, and the next 4 years my follow up involved many doctor's appointments to monitor for recurrence. I think the happiest day of my life was when I hit the year 5 mark and my gynecology oncologist told me he was discharging me from his care because I no longer needed him.
Although my symptoms were very different than yours, abnormal vaginal bleeding needs to be fully evaluated sooner rather than later. The long term survival for gynecological cancers especially those of the uterus is excellent when the cancer is detected and treated early. And today with most uterine cancer patient's hysterectomies being done by the minimally invasive DaVinci method compared to the surgery I had recovery is very quick.
Please, do no put off having a full evaluation because although you likely do not have a gynecological cancer, but if you do the earlier the treatment the better your prognosis will be and I am living proof of that being a 15 year endometrial cancer survivor.
Last edited by Nightengale212; 07-05-2017 at 03:38 AM..
Reason: spelling correction
I am certainly not going to tell a horror story of any kind. OP I am not sure you need to hear a bunch of them, but if they help get you to make an appointment with the doctor that is great. I would not put off seeing him or her asap. Any unusual bleeding needs to be investigated, especially when it continues for over a day or so. What I do not understand is, why would it be better when you exercise?
So,now the holiday is over and you have time, even if you are working to visit your doctor and take it from there. None of us can give you any hint as to what could be wrong. We can only relate our stories.
So I haven't bled at all since....started exercising hardcore so if it was truly hormonal, that would be an indication it was as exercise usually stops that.
But the bloating is still there somewhat. It bothers me. So it could be two issues....
I got a packet in the mail about signing up for a medial Idemnity plan which puts $$ towards pretty much any procedure you can imagine. I work 50% for the county and 50% for the Alta regional center and it is a county packet. Pretty good coverage for $10 a month.
Otherwise I have Kaiser with a 1k deductible which if I trusted them, this would be fine. But I don't trust them so will pay out of pocket for my own care. I consider it only catastrophic in case of an accident, injuries and such. Cancer they'll just let you die imho. Not all kaisers are like this, I feel this one is. Yet it certainly could depend upon the doctor
Then next go around at open enrollment, sign up for blue cross.
Not that all Kaisers are bad but the amount of people that had problems in our area, and Kaiser refused to order tests, I cannot count on my fingers. Horror story after horror story.
So by about 5 weeks, I should have that in place. Then I will go see a gynecologist. Also see someone about the bloating in my stomach. I have an appointment with my regular doctor so now that the blood has completely subsided, she can take a look. The other was a younger, newer, Nurse Practitioner.
I want to find out what tests are appropriate then get those done. I still feel slight bloating. My immediate boss, who was new, was fired, I was very stressed about loosing my own job. Stress is gone now and I will continue to cycle
Thank you everyone, I really appreciate your time and relaying your stories to me.
So I haven't bled at all since....started exercising hardcore so if it was truly hormonal, that would be an indication it was as exercise usually stops that.
But the bloating is still there somewhat. It bothers me. So it could be two issues....
I got a packet in the mail about signing up for a medial Idemnity plan which puts $$ towards pretty much any procedure you can imagine. I work 50% for the county and 50% for the Alta regional center and it is a county packet. Pretty good coverage for $10 a month.
Otherwise I have Kaiser with a 1k deductible which if I trusted them, this would be fine. But I don't trust them so will pay out of pocket for my own care. I consider it only catastrophic in case of an accident, injuries and such. Cancer they'll just let you die imho. Not all kaisers are like this, I feel this one is. Yet it certainly could depend upon the doctor
Then next go around at open enrollment, sign up for blue cross.
Not that all Kaisers are bad but the amount of people that had problems in our area, and Kaiser refused to order tests, I cannot count on my fingers. Horror story after horror story.
So by about 5 weeks, I should have that in place. Then I will go see a gynecologist. Also see someone about the bloating in my stomach. I have an appointment with my regular doctor so now that the blood has completely subsided, she can take a look. The other was a younger, newer, Nurse Practitioner.
I want to find out what tests are appropriate then get those done. I still feel slight bloating. My immediate boss, who was new, was fired, I was very stressed about loosing my own job. Stress is gone now and I will continue to cycle
Thank you everyone, I really appreciate your time and relaying your stories to me.
I hate to be the one that knocks any health plan, but I have to agree with you: we had Kaiser when we lived in Sac CA and then, for a short time in the DC area. In both cases it was not what I would have chosen for our care. I won't go into detail, but thankfully we never had anything serious happen. I would say, Kaiser i the DC area was better than it Sac. In both cases hubby signed up for it without asking me what I wanted to do>
May I ask, do you have any other choices for your insurance?
I'm confused. You had severe vaginal bleeding for 2 months and it never occurred to you to see a gynecologist until you read it here on CD?
Then you say you don't trust Kaiser so you will pay out of pocket? If you're willing to pay and money is no object, how can you get screwed by Kaiser?
None of this makes sense. OP, I hope this works out for you.
I am not sure why you are so confused.
It never occurred to me to see a Gyno because a GP has always done that for me. Just slipped my mind to be honest.
These types of things (exams, Pap smears) are not always performed by specialists. At our Indian Clinic, an NP did it for me last time per my post. Now you've learned something
I have an appt scheduled with my GP for a second exam, my very experienced Doctor. I am not sure if the Native American Clinic has Gynocologists on staff. I've only seen this one NP and generally only go to the Indian clinic for dental care. They accept my dental insurance. So I'll need to find a local gynecologist
I have no problem paying $1000 considering I trust the care. I am receiving. Meaning that they are actually going to perform the necessary tests and give me accurate results of those tests.
.
Last edited by BingoQueen; 07-06-2017 at 03:29 PM..
I hate to be the one that knocks any health plan, but I have to agree with you: we had Kaiser when we lived in Sac CA and then, for a short time in the DC area. In both cases it was not what I would have chosen for our care. I won't go into detail, but thankfully we never had anything serious happen. I would say, Kaiser i the DC area was better than it Sac. In both cases hubby signed up for it without asking me what I wanted to do>
May I ask, do you have any other choices for your insurance?
Thanks for your note. You're wise to avoid our local Kaiser imho. My aunt had cancer and they refused to run the tests for 1.5 years later and after 12-15 office visits, it was too late. I could keep going about the horror stories but you need no convincing. We had Kaiserabout 15-20 years ago. I loved my Doctor. He is probably still there since he was brand new back then. Got transferred to Folsom about when our insurance changed.
I've forgotten my login for my company benefits so emailed HR. They provide about 3-4 plans, Blue Cross being another and HealthNet if I recall. Along with various kaiser plans. I've qualified but haven't gotten around to signing up for this County Plan. It's about 18 pages but starts at page 7-10 or so if you want to check it out.
And it sounds as if soon there will be another very accurate blood test coming out. It has to go thru a second trial but the first was very promising Blood Test Detects Ovarian Cancer
I am not at risk at all. If anything, my lifestyle doesn't lend itself to cancer. But you never know, this long term bleeding must be evaluated. The blood dissipated very quickly which is the mannerisms of a hormonal issue but the amount was way too much imho, from my research to what is typical. With two more exams and that blood test, for now, that is all I'll likely do. Then probably an expensive test, there is a mirage to choose from so I'll let a Doc decide. This is just the Idemnity Plan I'd have in about 5 weeks, not the other real health plans which I can change to at open enrollment
1. Click the first link you come to NEVADA SIERRA CONNECTING POINT PUBLIC AUTHORITY.
2. Then type in the group Id number. w
I'll post whatever my other employer offers as soon as I find out.
Thanks again for your note
Last edited by BingoQueen; 07-06-2017 at 03:55 PM..
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