Hi Yvonne
So sorry to hear about your husband - that is an awful illness and often diagnosed very late, so must have been a terrible shock for you. No wonder your body has reacted. It is not usual to bleed suddenly so long after being on a continuous combined HRT - and obviously the balance has been upset, and very important that you are being investigated. I am assuming you will have a quick referral due to the bleeding - even though you were on HRT - you should be referred under the 2 week rule (I think this also applies to women on conti HRT who experience unexpected bleeding?). Once you have been investigated and treated if necessary, there is no reason for you to stop HRT as you are still young and indeed it would probably be beneficial for you given your circumstances - the last thing you want to cope with is feeling additional depression, low mood and hot flushes on top of grieving for your husband and trying to cope with your changed life as it now is. Now is not the time to have to go through that too.
It may just be a thickened lining - in which case you may be given a course of progestogen to thin it - and Dancinggirl's suggestion of a Mirena coil to prevent further build up is a good one. Then you can start patches again and hopefully remain on an even keel - at least in terms of flushes and sweats.
Do let us know how you get on and the outcome of your investigations - and do take care.
Hurdity x
