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[Focus]

I have no idea how both these things can be happening at the same time...

Constant, crazy, heavy bleeding with huge clots *and* night sweats? I've had two night sweats already this week.

I thought the heavy bleeding was due to lower progesterone, and that happened in early perimenopause. And I thought the night sweats were due to lower oestrogen, and that happened in later perimenopause?

How can they both happen at the same time?

Adding, I don't know anything about this stuff. I only discovered that I might be on my path to the menopause early November. So I don't have much information at all.



Timeline:
* From maybe early summer last year, increasingly heavy periods with occasional clots (always increasing) and occasional flooding
* October/early November, 8 day periods with huge clots and flooding
* Mid November onwards, constant very heavy bleeding , with huge clots, flooding pretty much every day. Fortnightly, and then weekly night sweats.

[Focus]

I think I've found the answer:

ESTROGEN'S LOW IN MENOPAUSE, AND HIGH IN PERIMENOPAUSE—WHY FLUSHES IN BOTH?
Hot flushes occur in both perimenopause and menopause, yet hormone levels are very different. Why? Hot flushes appear to be caused by dropping estrogen levels when the brain has been exposed to, and gotten “used to” higher estrogen levels. Therefore the hot flushes in perimenopause occur because of the big swings in estrogen from super- high to merely high, or even from high to normal. In menopause, hot flushes occur because estrogen levels have become low after the normal levels of the menstruating years and the higher levels of perimenopause. Although no one has tracked the life experience of hot flushes within a woman, as opposed to in categories of women, I suspect that most women who are going to get hot flushes—except those with surgical menopause or who stop estrogen therapy—start having them before they are officially menopausal.

Particularly:
Hot flushes appear to be caused by dropping estrogen levels when the brain has been exposed to, and gotten “used to” higher estrogen levels. Therefore the hot flushes in perimenopause occur because of the big swings in estrogen from super- high to merely high, or even from high to normal.

From: http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/resources/progesterone-not-estrogen-hot-flushes-perimenopausal-and-menopausal-women

So basically, that's a reasonably good sign for me as it means a potentially better balance of oestrogen and progesterone. And therefore an easing of the crazy bleeds?

[Conolly]

Hello Focus,

Exactly. You will have trouble with hot flushes, but the heavy bleeding will stop. 

I have answered your other thread.

Conolly X

[Focus]

When will it stop? Please someone tell me how much longer? I can't wait any more. Not another x number of years. No way.

[Conolly]

I can only tell you about my own experience. When it happened I wasn't aware of any other women having the same issues. The monster bleedings happened around 6 months before the hot flushes started and lasted for less than a year, after that periods became less frequent and very mild, sometimes only spotting.

Conolly X

[Focus]

The monster bleeds lasted for less than a year in all?

And did they start off regular and then go mental, and out of synch? Or are you counting that yer from when they went mental and out of synch?

[Conolly]

As I told you before, my periods were always heavy and lasted for a week on average. The monster ones which could last for 8-15 days with heavy clots lasted for less than a year, I can't remember exactly but I'd say around 8-9 months.

Connoly X

[Focus]

Thank you.

Can't bear this roller coaster. Almost suicidal one minute. The tiniest slither of hope the next.

[Conolly]

You're welcome  Actually, I had this idea that all was due to my blood clot disorder and capillary fragility, so I didn't think of hormonal imbalances until I had the skipping periods and by then my mind was also massively affected by anxiety and depression. I tried HRT (Estradot patches + Utrogestan vaginally) for 3 months and nothing changed (hot flushes, anxiety) and on top of that Utrogestan caused suicidal thoughts, so I stopped. When periods stopped I felt much better, not immediately of course, but nothing compared to 6 months before. Now, 2 years post-menopause I still have hot flushes and high cholesterol and triglycerides and some flare-ups of burning skin, but I'm not sure (or the doctors) that this is menopause related or another underlying condition. I'd say I've been lucky menopause wise, that's why I'm sure you'll feel much better soon, unless you have other issues that have not been diagnosed.

Regarding PSTD, I think you are entitled to be furious with your GP. You should be referred to a psychiatrist who can deal with PSTD patients and a menopause specialist and they should be able to exchange the results and decide a proper course of action. There was a member who was dealing with a similar situation regarding PSTD but she was even a more delicate case, because she had total hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy and didn't get the HRT she needed right away and now she's having a tough time because all available regimens seem to make things worse (PSTD, anxiety, depression). Her username was Tempest.

Conolly X

[AgathaC]

Regarding your monster bleeds. Looking at my diary. I went to see a private gynaecologist in Aug 2016 after a year (?) of bleeding I could only just cope with. Periods still regular at that point (they still are basically) but maybe 1/3 of the month of which 3 of the 10 days I would need to stay in the house. 2+ years on and they are better and worse, to be honest. Some months are a shocker, others better. I was prescribed Tranexamic Acid and another drug. Got on with neither. I've got used to it, Focus, and just live with it. Worse things ruined are a car seat and a grey chair at work. Mortifying. Actually, some of my other perimenopause symptoms are more distressing - the anxiety, for starters. I'm sorry I can't be more encouraging about it ending soon. I guess it's different for everyone. I've just had anothe gynae check and was told all working fine up there and no end in sight soon!!! Be careful that this heavy bleeding doesn't give you anaemia. I have strong iron to take every day which adds black poo into the bloody mess. Sorry if that's too much information but I do want you to know that others are going through this. Thank goodness I'm the boss (work chair) and have a helpful husband (car seat). Finally, I'm so sorry you feel so absolutely dreadful and I send you lots of love xxxxx

[Focus]

Thank you.

I have been prescribed iron tablets for low iron (October last year).

If the crazy bleeding would stop it would totally help my state of mind. I know how to make the stress and anxiety better. I've had loads help with the PTSD over the years. But I can't make that better unless the bleeding is under control/predicable.

I can't go private. I'm self employed. I barely make it through each month as it is. No savings.

Of course, the fear of not being able to work is adding to my stress levels a bajillion fold as well.

It's affecting my confidence big time, which is gonna start affecting my capacity to attract work.

[AgathaC]

Regarding seeing someone privately, my GP has “no time for the menopause” and there are absolutely no well woman or menopause clinics where I live on the NHS. I don't think you access better care but you do access it quickly and my health anxiety is so crippling that I need reassurance all the time. To be honest, I'm a nightmare because I go from one thing to the next.
I completely agree that the perimenopause knocks your confidence and affects your ability to work. I've turned down a part time additional role because I can't guarantee I will be okay to handle it.

[Focus]

I *love* what I do. I've spent 15 years nurturing myself and my business to where it's at.

I can't bear the thought of it being taken away from me, and because of nothing *I've* done. Because of something that's totally out of my control.

[AgathaC]

Focus - it's obviously one of those dreadful days today - I know the feeling very well - how are you doing this evening? Can you take it easy this weekend? Xx

[Focus]

Thank you.

This weekend is one of my major business events. I'm away from home from Friday to Tuesday.

I have another one of these events at the end of February.

So I'm taking Norethisterone to stop the bleeding so I can at least try and focus my energy on trying to get some work.

I am exhausted. I'm trying to keep my fiancé in the loop, so he understands what's going on in my body and how it's feeling to be me at the moment.