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[Bcshaz]

This might be a long story, I'll try to keep it short though!

I went on the pill (cerazette) last July, the first time of contraceptives in about 7 years. My dad had died in the March and I didn't feel I could cope with a period every month. Periods were reasonably normal before that, a bit hit and miss, I also have PCOS. I only lasted a month on it, just didn't feel it agreed with me. Since I stopped it, nothing has been right. I thought it was just where it knocked my hormones out of whack, but it still hasn't settled.

Since then, I seem to spend more time with some sort of discharge, usually brown stringy stuff, than I don't. Cycles are all over the place, the last one was 47 days. I had normal smear last August, and had a swab taken in February as I had been having a brown discharge for about 6 weeks. This was also normal.

I have been suffering from major health anxiety. I thought it was due to my dad dying (late cancer diagnosis, only lasted 3 months), but I'm now convinced it is hormonal. I'm convinced I have something serious wrong with me, but this can vary depending on what part of me I have a pain in! The GP sent me for CBT for my health anxiety, and I did a 12 week course. I don't think it's done me any good. I try to put into practice what I was taught but it's so hard and i think it's coz the hormones take over and I can't control it. I went to see my GP about being peri menopausal but she said my symptoms were PMT, not peri as I'm still having periods and no way was she putting me on HRT (I never asked her to).

My symptoms apart from the health anxiety are light periods, used to be heavier but not so much now, I'm sweating like a pig! I have a funny smell about me (my husband can't smell it but I can). My teeth hurt, my joints ache, I get lots of spots, I'm dry down below sometimes, other times I have excessive jelly like discharge. I keep getting what feels like sores own there and itchy.

My problem at the minute is I have had a brown discharge for nearly 3 weeks. I have been to see my GP but she didn't seem that bothered. I was due on on the 8/8 but since then I've had some red bleeding but then it stops completely for about 6 hours, then starts back up again, then stops again. This has been going on for four days. I don't know whether this is my period or not, it's certainly not normal. There is very little blood on pad, so not heavy, but it's there. If I put a tampon in, it comes out browny discharge. This has been going on for over 4 weeks now. I'm so fed up. I have another GP appt next week to talk about this but I know what she'll say.

Does this sound peri menopausal or could it be something else? My health anxiety is working overtime and I'm struggling to cope with it. My husband is very good but I know it gets to him me moaning all the time.

Also another thing is for the last couple of cycles around my period I've had a really sore nose, scabs inside and very sore. The pain is going behind my eye and into my ear. Again, the doctor isn't bothered, but my health anxiety is making me think the worse. The sensible part of me says that the lining of my nose is thinning because of hormones, thus making it ore, but I don't know if that's right.

Has anyone else experienced this? I honestly feel like I'm going mad.....

[Ann64]

Hi there.
Big hugs to you. Mental anxiety is awful. I am 46 and my gp has said I am in the perimenopausal stage. I still have periods. I went to see her as my last period was weird and lasted 3 weeks. It was a bit like yours brown and then some bleeding and the smell was disgusting. I got a swab taken and I had an infection but gp wasn't too worried about it and it's cleared up with an antibiotic. My current period is into its 6th week and I am turning into a complete basket case with worry and I could honestly stay in bed all day as I can hardly cope with normal things and work because of this!
You haven't said what age you are but I'd say you have all the symptoms of peri based on my experience. There are some good articlestuff on here so have a read.
Ann

[Bcshaz]

Oops, forgot my age! Another symptom! I'll be 43 next month

[Ann64]

Try not to worry. It sounds like peri to me but I know that the bleeding and staining is scarey!

[CLKD]

Sounds like peri(l) predictive text  to me.

The dryness 'down there' can be sorted with locally applied oestrogen, i.e. Ovestin1mg or Vagifem, your GP should be able to prescribe this without any other symptoms being present.  Some Practitioners think that menopause is 'only' hot flushes  but that aint' true  , once you've browsed round you'll see!

The brown discharge is probably due to not enough hormones as you get into The Change.  Not enough to trigger a full bleed, the thing to check for is the presence of a polyp but a smear should have shown if there is one: mine bled on contact and shrivelled at peri 

Health anxiety may well be due to late reaction to your Dad dying.  Never an easy time regardless of our relationships or how fast they fail. 

Joint pains are apparently caused when the oestrogen levels drop = laxity of muscles.  Using an over the counter pain relief usually relieves symptoms, these joint pains can flit from one part of the body to another    ……..

I have had the soreness in the nose, I use Savlon or Vaseline in quantity on a regular basis, again it's probably due to over-all dryness.  Skin becomes drier, deep in the ears - mine itch almost constantly - nasal passages ……

As for the smell, Himself could never smell me but I started a thread, I think I called it 'oh eerrrr' 

[Bcshaz]

Thanks for the replies. The red bleeding has now stopped, had one day of nothing, and now back to brown stringy discharge. This has been nearly 4 weeks now. I'm so unbelievably fed up. I have a constant headache and haven't slept properly in over a week. I've got a GP appt tomorrow, but not sure if I'll go. I just want some reassurance that all this is 'normal' but they just dismiss me and say I'm too young to be peri menopausal!

[Evelyn63]

Have a skim round the boards, there are lots of posts on peri menopause and check the NICE guidelines as well, print out anything relevant and take it with you tomorrow.   I don't think you are too young to be starting, it varies with individuals and not a one age for all, as GP's would like us to think !

[babyjane]

I agree with Evelyn63, we are all individuals.  Sounds like you need to find a more approachable doctor to talk to.  Looking back I now know I started the process at around 44 but I knew nothing and all my trips to the doc just addressed various symptoms and not the root cause.  there is far more info (and this website and forum) available now and I think we ladies who are in the process know more than GPs most of the time, but some of them don't like to be told.

[SadLynda]

Everyone here knows my mantra about GP's.  I changed 3 times before I found my great one I have now.  Started Peri at 45 but had no idea what was wrong with me, 5 years later and this wonderful forum and I know now. Wish I could get you all with my GP, I just sent one of my neighbours today who is having health probs and GP probs, she is much happier now.

My main problems were not sleeping, and anxiety..along with many more I just 'accepted' as part of getting older.  I had cold sores up my nose too, had no idea that was part of it, and also have itchy ears too.  I take A.Vogels Echinachea now to help warn off infections.

[CLKD]

The dry nose etc. is due to a drop in oestrogen ………… aches and pains can be relieved by over the counter medication, though as sometimes the aches and pains choose different joints on different days  ……. light exercise is important as is keeping hydrated.

Headaches can be caused by not sleeping well or sleeping too heavily, by not drinking enough and by stress. 

Let us know how you get on!

[Bcshaz]

It's such a relief to hear that everything I'm feeling/experiencing is being experienced by others. I honestly think I'm going mad sometimes. I have never been like this before, and have been so many times to the GP that I'm sure I'll be struck off if I go again! I've completed a 12 week CBT course, which to me felt like a waste of time, but I do try and put into practice what we was told.  The GP I'm seeing tomorrow has previously told me as I still have a period of sorts then it's definitely PMT not peri and if I came to ask for HRT then I'd get a shock as she wouldn't prescribe it for me. I took a list of all my symptoms but didn't even get chance to show her. The other GP I see is a little better but I think because I've seen her so many times she just dismisses all my concerns as health anxiety! I can't win!

[babyjane]

I don't think I like your GP's attitude, I am glad she isn't mine or I think I may say something that would get me struck off her list.

[Bev1]

Hi, i have been suffering from health anxiety for a few years now and am completely obsessed with over reacting on any little pain or symptom i have and it is so draining, mine is worse in the early hours, i even called 999 once as i was convinced i was having a heart attack, its embarressing but people dont understand how it takes up all your thoughts, and along with all the other menopause symptoms i wonder how i can ever survive to a ripe old age! So i really sympathise with you and hope you feel better soon x

[CLKD]

Your GP is way behind time, she's speaking out of turn!  She obviously doesn't know a lot about PMT either  which ONLY happens in the 10-14 days prior to a monthly period.  Peri-menopause happens at any time from about the age of possibly 30-ish …….. and later.

I would be taking notes in to this GP and asking how much knowledge she has about menopause …….. HOW DARE SHE!!! 

Is there a Practice Nurse?  If not, ask the GP to refer you to a Menopause Clinic or a Gyanecologist! then point her here and tell her that she might learn something if she logged on 

[Hurdity]

Hi BCshaz

 

Have your periods always been irregular - I read that this is a feature of PCOS?

Normally irregular cycles varying in length by 7 or more days each time, together with symptoms such as flushes and sweats - would be sufficient to diagnose menopause - at least from age 45 and often for women between 40 and 45.

I am not sure how menopause is diagnosed for women in your position with PCOS?

If you are having such irregular and constant bleeding then please ask for a referral especially in your position.  If you are peri-menopausal then HRT will help - and if you are likely to go through early menopause ( before the average age 51/52) then you should take it anyway to help protect your heart and bones, but if you are not the bleeding needs investigation!

Hurdity x