Okay firstly I sincerely apologise if this is inappropriate to post here but I am a bit worried and confused and was wondering if anyone has been in my situation o if anyone could give me some advice.
So I am a 28 (nearly 29) year old who has been having bleeding between periods for 5 months, my periods have never been regular (apart from for a little bit last year) I have always just been told it was my hormones and nothing to worry about. My last bleed has lasted for one month and has been exceptionally heavy at times. I will admit right now that I am not up to date with my cervical screenings because when I went at 25 it was excruiciatingly painful (had me in tears it hurt so badly) and I bled for a week afterwards but it came back normal so I didn't think anything more of it. I did receive my invite at 28 but put it off and then forgot about it because I have not been in a relationship since I was 19 and the one at 25 was normal.
So I went to my GP with this persistant bleeding/abdominal and back pain and she took some swabs which again was very painful and said she would refer me to gynae and call me if the swabs showed anything (never heard from her so assumed they were clear). Anway had persistant bleeding, abdominal pain and lower back pain along with occasional nausea, dizzy spells, light headedness and constipation (which I normally get a week before my period).
I saw the gynaecologist today, had a lovely young junior doctor take my history and I showed him the symptom diary I had kept for the past month detailing everything that was going on. He presented the case to his SPR who came in, asked me a couple of questions including when my last smear was and I said at 25 and it was clear. I think she may have thought I am younger than I am but I had already explained to the junior that I hadn't had a smear since due to the awful first time and that I am nearly 29 now. She said she would examine me. As soon as she inserted the speculum I nearly hit the roof and my mum says she heard me cry out in pain all the way out in the waiting room. She said I had cervical ectropia and there was nothing they could do it was a commen condition that would go away on its own.
She said she would send me for a scan (what type I don't know) just to make sure everything was okay but didn't need to see me again if it was fine. She asked if I had any questions at at the time I didn't because she had said what it basically was and that it was a commen condition and that it would go away on its own. I don't even know if she took any swabs but I was in too much pain to think straight at that point in time.
I came home and had to immediately take painkillers and I am still in a lot of pain despite the fact my examination was nearly 3 hours ago. Naturally I wanted to know more about the condition (considering I had refrained from searching before my appointment as I know how easy it is to scare yourself with self diagnosis), to see if there was anything I could be doing to help relieve the symptoms. I looked for it and discovered that it doesn't seem to explain all of my symptoms nor do I really fit the demographoc (I am not a teenager, I am not on any contraception, I am not pregnant and have not had a relationship since I was 19) and that it can be similar to early cervical cancer (which really scared me).
My concern is that she has misunderstood when it was that I had my last smear test and thinks I have had a uptodate one and has not paid any attention to the fact that I am getting significant abdominal and back pain as well as bleeding. I know the chances of it being cancer are very small (I used to work in cancer care so I know there are other conditions which are more likely) but cervical ectopia doesn't seem to fit all of my symptoms either. I don't doubt that I may have the condition I just feel like aspects of my symptoms haven't been addressed.
I feel very confused and now a little bit worried that they have missed something. My mum has suggested I call up the doctors tomorrow to arrange a smear test (because I don't know if they took any swabs today or what) just to put my mind at rest and I must admit that thought makes me shake due to it hurting so badly every other time.
I was wondering has anyone else gone through anything even remotely similar and whether or not others have had such painful experience when having internal examinations?
Any advice you could offer me would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance
