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[Booblet]

Hi everyone.,
I am having an horrendous time at the moment..
IF any of you have read Carol Vorderman story of regarding her terrible symptoms (she was still having periods at 58), then my symptoms completely mirror hers:

Since the last 3 yrs I have been so depressed and anxious. And there has been a real correction of such severity - between 7 and 10 days that I really am suicidal. I then have a small bleed (I get the stomach symptoms when this 'bleed' :

The bleeding only (usually) lasts one day and is best explained as slightly covering the gusset part of my underwear.

For some reason a GP stated that I was menopausal because my FSH level was 61.(apparently anything over 30 and not having periods) is menopausal.

I am still having periods though (as described above) and have never stopped, although the actual 'bleed' is substantially less.

I saw a Gynecology last wk who checked my cervix and said it was OK.

Going back to symptoms, it really is absolute hell. My mum died 10 months ago, which is still so raw. And has of couse added to my symptoms.

I really dont know what to Apart from asking my GP for HRT.

I do have underactive thyroid, B12 deficiency. M. E, Adrenal Insufficiency, and, I have Excema and others allergies, which have become a lot worse in the last 3 yrs. *** I am taking medication for all the above illnesses, apart from M. E.

Incedently, I have always thought that there is a correlation between severe perimenopause - menopause - pmt and the above mentioned illnesses.

I think the main concern is Why am I still having bleeds at 60 and why am I  having these thorrendous symptoms?

Please can anyone help??
Booblet

[Penelope]

Hi you need to have a thyroid antibodies blood  test done. It's sounding like you have more than just a under active  thyroid problem.This could very well explain all the symptoms you are describing.
Wow you poor thing I'm thinking of you.🌷

[Hurdity]

Hi Booblet

 

I wouldn't say a tiny amount of spotting/bleeding that only slightly covers the gusset of underwear could be classed as a period exactly but any abnormal bleeding or spotting at this age should be investigated. You cannot diagnose menopause from FSH levels alone - just that you have entered peri-menopause or are post-menppause - and of course they would be expected to be high at age 60! Did you say it was happening monthly?

So - you have been referred by your GP to a gynaecologist? However just looking at your cervix is certainly not sufficient investigation. I am surprised at this? The normal route would be an ultrasound scan (abdominal) followed by trans-vaginal scan if necessary and if this suggested further investigation, then a hysterosocpy and biopsy just to check all is well. It would be VERY unusual to still be ovulating and have any sort of natural period at age 60 - presumably you have not been taking HRT, POP or have the Mirena coil?

I would go back to your GP and push for a referral as I would say this level of investigation is inadequate to check that all is OK?

re symptoms - there is a school of thought that suggests some of these conditions like CFS/ME/fibromyalgia - are all hormone malfunctions and can be due to inadequate or insufficient thyroid hormones, oestrogen and/or testosterone depending. So if you have underactive thyroid  maybe your medication needs reviewing (ref ME). Also are you getting hot flushes or sweats at all? HRT might indeed help too...but I would get checked out properly re the bleeding first.

I hope you get sorted and your symptoms ease soon! Let us know how you get on.
 
Hurdity x

[Booblet]

Hi Hurdity,
Thank you so much for your reply. Your suggestions have really helped.
With ref to the Gynecologist, I didn't mention that indeed I did have an ultrasound scan as well as a cervix investigation.

But, like yourself feel this was going inadequate. I will certainly go back to my GP.

Regarding periods, I'm not sure whether or not I am having periods?
However, i do suffer definitely from pmt, and 'they' are still regular (every 3/4 wks), and I also get the related and specific pain symptoms soley connected to direct onset of a period??

I would love to see a private Gynecologist from Hatley Street, who deals specifically with menopause, but I certainly can't afford it..

I have always thought, like your suggestion a link between thyroid problems: as well, Adrenal problems, such as Cortisol and ACTH low levels (which I have), FSH and other puturity unstable levels.

I am so mixed up as to what direction to go: If I had my thyroid anti-bodies tested would it still be a matter of NHS medication? That's why I take natural thyroid with T3 and T4. Which suits me better than Leverthyroxine..?

Finally, I am def seeing my GP on both your suggestions, and, once again I really appreciate your support.
Booblet xxxx

[Machair]

Hello Booblet

My story is very similar to yours. I am 60 in March and my last proper period was last year. I am now officially menopausal with an FSH of 86 and oestrogen of less than 37 and have just had surgery for a Polyp. My consultant said I am only recently menopausal and I have had a transvaginal scan which found a lining of 6mm. This meant I had to undergo Hysteroscopy which they couldn't do biopsies during as the lining was too thin. Over the last few years I have had severe PMT just as you describe as well, and I have ME which is severe and has been ongoing since 1996.
Also my Mum died in 2017 and this was a very stressful time. I also suffer from migraines which have stopped in the last year but amped up in the two years prior.

Have you had a scan as I think this is important to check everything?

I would say that in the end I think my PMT feelings were in fact low oestrogen, so this bleeding you are having could even be from an atrophic endometrium or vagina.

I think you need more investigations as I have had. I must confess I didn't want to face them with having ME and autonomic dysfuction I didn't want to face scans or surgery but I had to.

I am going back for another scan in May and then hopefully I will be discharged, but certainly I was 58/59 when I had my last period, and had some yellow discharge at times afterwards which prompted me to seek medical attention. My consultant said he is seeing more women with late menopause but it does need monitoring to make sure these really are periods. He told me my FSH is now so high that any further bleeding must be investigated.

Hope this helps.xx

[Machair]

Just another thought- when were your periods regular until? Were they regular say in your mid fifties?
Also what was the scan result was the lining normal with no polyps or fibroids?

[Kathleen]

Hello Booblet and welcome to the forum.

I had my last period at age 54 so not as extreme as some of you ladies but still on the older side.

 A few months before my last ever period I was diagnosed with an auto immune disease and I've often wondered if the two events were connected.  I am 63 now  and  I've tried many types of HRT in the intervening years with limited success.  I am taking a break from HRT at the moment but I've just discovered I have hypothyroidism. Once again I wonder if my ongoing symptoms have been due to low Thyroid function rather than low oestrogen or perhaps a mixture of the two.

Sorry for the preamble but the point I wanted to make was that when my Thyroid function was tested the results were out of normal range which prompted the lab to test for Thyroid antibodies. When this test came back positive I was told I had Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and given Levothyroxine. I am due a follow up blood test soon to check my levels and I understand that all this is standard procedure.

I sympathise with your plight and I'm sorry that I can't help you on your other issues but I think a review of your Thyroid status would be a good place to start.

Take care and wishing you well.

K.