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[louisy]

Hello ladies,
Its some time since I've been on here as I'm a year into menopause and everything was going swimmingly until a couple of weeks ago ...    I know this has been touched on many times before but i am going out of my mind with worry.   A couple of weeks ago I noticed a very small amount of spotting - immediately phoned to make an appointment with my GP.    She did an internal and said there was a still some blood and that she felt it needed further investigation.   So now I'm really panicking and thinking the worst, of course.  Just not sure how I'm going to get through the next week or so until my appointment comes through.

[honeybun]

You don't say how old you are or if you are on HRT.

Have you been over a year without a period.

It could be your own hormones breaking through.

Honeyb
X

[meno lesley]

Hi

I am 55 and post menopausal and have had 2 incidents of bleeding which have been investigated and were fine. They were both the result of hormonal imbalance.

Lesley

[louisy]

Thank you,  Lesley,  that's reassuring.  I just always fear the worst but I suppose my GP had to refer me.
Honeybun, I'm 53 and my last period was in about May last year. No I'm not on any HRT - I've been one of the lucky ones with v few symptoms although oddly enough I've had a few hot flushes recently which I haven't had for months.

[honeybun]

It's barely a year so although I suppose technically you could call yourself post meno as you have not had a period for a year. It's a bit of a close thing and now you will have to start counting again.

It's probably your own hormones having a last kick but it's good you are getting it checked out.

Honeyb
X

[Hurdity]

Hi louisy

Because your last period was in May - 12 months since last period is the magic time when the majority of women (not sure of the percentage) will be post-menopausal. After this time without a period then doctors will always investigate as this will be in accordance with the clinical guidelines.

However there will always be a few women who continue to have bleeding after this due to their own hormonal fluctuations rather than anything untoward - but far better to be re-assured by any investigation than risk something going undetected.

I am also having some post-meno bleeding investigated ( well I hope I am - to doc for re-visit tomorrow!) but I am on HRT and I think mine is probably to do with the cervix.

It is always worrying though so just try to keep calm and hopefully all will be OK once you have had your appointment. Do keep us posted with how you get on and we'll be thinking of you!

Hurdity x

[louisy]

Such lovely ladies - thank you 

Had a completely sleepless night worrying and in total panic this morning - so much so decided to blow the expense and go privately so have an appointment on Friday. 

[MINNIE]

Hi louisy. Of course you are concerned, all health publicity puts the fear of God into us if there is the first sign of the tiniest bleed, after the "text book" 12 months after the last period, but we are NOT text book, and I too, had a slight bleed, 18 months after my last period, and it turned out to be vaginal atrophy, and the the BEGINNING of all my symptoms, not the end! I know that all bleeds must be investigated if unexpected, but I worry about the lack of GP menopause knowledge, and casual way in which it is learnt, and the supposed idea that "one size fits all" approach! You are made an appointment without any knowledge or support. I know GPs can't be masters of all specialities, but I do think every practice should have a "clinical lead", especially if they have a practice nurse. It would cut down on the endless diagnosis of "depression" for a start! But you will a lot of help on this site, it really made me brave about dealing with cluless clinicians, and whilst I am not feeling too great yet, I at least understand what is happening.

I am sure you will feel better once you have an explanation.

MINNIE XX

[louisy]

Thank you,  Minnie and I completely agree with what you say.  I was not happy with how the gp dealt with it ( and it was a female doctor). I was seen in the treatment room , she came along,  asked a few quick questions and did a swab. Then remembered she needed to do an internal,  felt my fibroid and noticed some more spotting.  So just said I would have to be referred.  And then went.  The nurse was lovely and tried to reassure me that had she been overly concerned she would have referred me straight to our local hospital rather than the local gp gynaecology clinic but it didn't really help.  Unfortunately my actual gp (male) is a family friend and although he is an excellent doctor I'm rather shy about seeing him for this sort of thing!

[Rosebush]

Lou will you post how things on Friday 

[louisy]

Thank you, Rosebush - yes, I will.

In total state now - have spent far too long googling everything and now have cramps in my pelvis which I haven't had at all before so panic has really set in.  I know I'm so lucky to be able to be seen so quickly but still don't know how to get through next 24 hours.   Then, no doubt, there will be more waiting for the results.   Feeling very weepy and anxious 

[Weejeannie]

Louisy

I know exactly how you feel, I posted on here about a month ago with the same problem, post menopausal bleed after 14 months.
Went doctor with something seemingly unconnected.

Bottom line is, as I found out from some of the very helpful ladies on here, there are guidlines which say that any woman presenting with post menopausal bleed, should be referred for further investigation. These are guidelines, they do not mean anything is wrong, it is a precaution. The vast majority of cases, there is nothing wrong.

I reacted in exactly the same way as you, googling everything, can tell you just about everything there is to know on the subject, scared myself half to death. I imagined all sorts of symptoms, because in my mind I had every cancer known to mankind. My symptoms mysteriously disappeared as soon as I heard everyhting was ok.

All I can say is ask at the time of the scan or whatever you are getting done, to see if they can tell you anything. I burst into tears as soon as I lay down for the scan. I didn't use it as a tactic so that they would tell me there and then, I just felt so overwhelmed with worry, they were very kind.

Please let us know how you get on, will be thinking of you.

[louisy]

Thank you so much,  ladies.  Scan seemed fine -ovaries etc.  Womb lining just marginally thicker than the hospital's guidelines say so got to have hysteroscopy in a few weeks.as biopsy didn't work.  Lovely lady consultant said that in some hospitals they would say it was fine so she is being over cautious but better to be safe than sorry.  She also said there was no hurry for it so feeling a lot better now.   And I am going to stop googling!

[Hurdity]

Glad it seems fine pending absolute confirmation - reassuring that they are being thorough.
Great that you're feeling more upbeat and keep us posted re the results.
Yes - stop googling!!
Hurdity x

[louisy]

Thank you,  Hurdity. Felt fine yesterday now in panic mode again but keep telling myself that if the consultant had been at all concerned she would have wanted me to have hysterostcopy done soon.  As it was, because I said I would rather have it done under local rather than general, she said there was no hurry and if I wanted her to do it, her next clinic was on 5 July. 
Do you think I'm doing the right thing in waiting - I would much rather not have a GA.