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[DottyD68]

Hi all,

I'm confused and getting anxious about a scan my GP has requested for me.
I am 55 in July and have been on sequi Oestrogel daily and utrogestan 200 14/28 days for 20 months with 2 abortive attempts to move to conti in the last 8 months.

My bleed pattern has been pretty constant on HRT. Initially to correspond after stopping utrogestan but generally it has fallen into a pattern of occurring a few days before I stop it which I take to be a breakthrough bleed. Generally they've been pretty light - some fresh red blood but quite a bit of brown dried blood which was what was happening before HRT.

Following my last attempt at conti I had a heavy bleed of red blood. I took this to be a proper withdrawal bleed as I'd been on 100mg of utrogen for 3 weeks and although it wasn't pleasant thought nothing of it. Since then, back on sequi, I've had a couple of light, dried bleeds at my "normal" time.

During my latest HRT review my GP picked up on the big bleed and has referred me for a scan. This has alarmed me as I hadn't considered womb cancer in my list of things to worry about and now my anxiety has kicked back in. I just thought it was a withdrawal bleed due to the change in HRT regime for 3 weeks.

Reading the posts on here, many of you talk about lots of bleeding and yet you don't seem to be referred for scans which is adding to my worry of why I have been sent for one.

I like this GP. She is very attentive and thorough and listens. She did say that she wasn't expecting anything to worry about and was just crossing T's and dotting I's but she did mention the C word and despite trying to remain calm I'm not.

Any thoughts/help?

[CLKD]

She's following through to make sure that your womb remains healthy.  Any unexplained bleeding is usually checked with a scan for fibroids etc..

The old brain though picks up the 'C' word instantly  and reason goes out that window!

How long will you need to wait - 2-3 weeks is the recommended time. 

[Clovie]

Hi there

I was recently referred for a scan after heavy bleeds, my periods have got heavier over last 6 months, I'm 59 and still bleeding my own cycle (My periods have never stopped)

My GP also mentioned womb cancer to me.

Anyway, I went for a scan, my womb lining was very thin and no signs of any kind of abnormality.

The sonographer told me all that, without he having to ask her.

So, just to say, please do try not to worry. (Although I was VERY worried myself, so I know how difficult it is)
She told me lots of bleeding happens for unknown causes without there being anything seriously wrong xx

Good luck! 

[DottyD68]

Thanks CKLD,

My logical head says that she's just being thorough and I'm pleased about that. My anxiety head is just playing through lots of scenarios.

It's not helped by the fact I am due to go on a long-awaited and much-planned French road trip in a couple of weeks so the timing is not great. Appointment was booked in for 3rd May but the hospital has been really flexible and got me in tomorrow night. They said the form said 'soon' but not 'urgent' or 'routine' so.
Depending on the outcome we may have to adjust things but what will be will be. Im just a worrier.

Thanks for responding.

[DottyD68]

Hi Clovie.

Thanks for your message.

I suppose I'm worried because it wasn't something I was concerned about (and I worry about pretty much everything about health!) So when GP picked up on that one withdrawal bleed it alarmed me.

I'm better when I know what I'm dealing with, the waiting is usually the worst bit.

Thank you for your reply

[sheila99]

I think your gp is just being over cautious which is better than the other way. There seems to be a textbook somewhere that says everyone is meno by 54 and any periods after that send them into panic mode (been there, got the T shirt). I'll bet if you were 48 instead of 55 she wouldn't have done anything.

[DottyD68]

Thanks Sheila99, I think (& hope) you are right and naturally I would want to get it sorted asap if there is a problem. It's just all part of the rollercoaster of this phase of life. The HRT thing just all seems so random and there isn't one standard approach due to everyone being different.
Thanks for your reply.

[Hurdity]

Hi DottyD

Re the heavy bleed - it depends when in your cycle you changed fromg 200 mg cyclical to 100 mg continuous progesterone? Did you go straight from the 14 days 200 mg utrogestan to 100 mg without a break for oestrogen only?

The fact that you had a heavy bleed, and then some light ones taking cyclical HRT - suggest you have not yet reached menopause and the cycles where you have a very light bleed, you didn;t ovulate.

55 is not very old at all! The stats quoted for western women are that 80% of women have gone through menopause by age 54, but that leaves a very sizeable minority that haven't!! it is good that for women not on HRT, beyond 55 is considered late onset menopause - because it means that investigations become more thorough as there can be an increased risk of cancer etc occurring amongst older women who bleed when NOT on HRT and unusual bleeding patterns are more likely to followed up. As your doc says - she is being thorough and this is great!

Once on HRT then the scenario is completely different. You won't know when you reach menopause and changing regimes is bound to muck things up in terms of bleeding pattern, especially with irregular cycles thrown in!

Great that you're having your scan tomorrow!

One thing I would say is - where are you in your cycle of HRT now? ie tomorrow. If it is just before you start the utrogestan or anytime while you are taking it, then your lining will be thick - because that's how cyclical HRT works. Therefore if the sonographer says it's 8 mm or something then this will be the reason. The best time to have a scan when on cyclical HRT is immediately following the withdrawal bleed.

Hopefully it is an ultra-sound scan followed by a transvaginal scan?

All the best and try not to worry so that you can enjoy your road trip to France - sounds great!

Hurdity x

[DottyD68]

Hi Hurdity,

Thanks for your detailed response.

I finished my sequi utrogestan 200 and had 14 days off (with oestrogen only) and a bleed starting day 10 of that 14 days. After that I then started utrogestan 100 daily for 18 days before stopping as my breasts had become so large, painful and uncomfortable I couldn't stand it, along with bloating and other symptoms. Then 4 days after that I had the big withdrawal bleed.

I have believed that my bleeds whilst being on sequi HRT have largely been my own periods (as you suggest) as I have had them during the 14 day utrogestan phase and not always after and they have been relatively light with some brown dried blood (which was the same before HRT).  I did ask the nurse about this during one of my HRT reviews and she didn't seem too concerned that the bleeds were happening during and not after Utrogestan phase as expected, so I haven't worried about it. I thought it was ok that I have been having a bleed each month and no additional bleeds. I only mentioned the big bleed to the GP when I told her I didn't last more than 3 weeks on conti and felt the big bleed was a withdrawal bleed and not my own. I wasn't overly concerned about it hence my shock when she recommended a scan. She does seem very thorough which is good and I've tried to stick with her for my reviews as she is very patient and understanding (unlike most of the others  sadly).

I am due to start my sequi utrogestan on Thursday, so while timing of scan not perfect at least I won't be on utrogestan for it. Thanks for pointing that out.

I've had a couple of scans before (over 3 years ago) and they were ultrasound and TV scans so that's what I'm expecting as in same hospital.

At least I don't have to wait too long. The timing of these things is never right and given what they are checking for makes me sound pathetic worrying that it may affect our holiday. It's just that it's a big one that has taken a lot of detailed planning as we're travelling around and I don't want to mess that up, more for my husband than me, although he is incredibly supportive and understanding.

Thanks again for replying. I know it takes time and thought x

[CLKD]

Enjoy that holiday!  Make sure that you have enough medication etc., as well as pain relief and Sts on an 'in case' basis.

Postcards please  .  We have a holiday thread ;-)

[DottyD68]

Thanks CKLD.

You should see my first aid kit  Seriously. Last year we were away for 6 weeks and I swear I could have opened my own personal pharmacy. I really don't know how people manage with a carry on bag on a plane - which is a benefit of going by car  Let's say you can tell I was a girl guide #beprepared

[CLKD]

OH! and lots of bug killer, bottle water and Savlon ;-)

[DottyD68]

And a hot water bottle! Found those very difficult to get hold of when we needed one!

[CLKD]

We usually take 1 on our travels

R U Packed yet 

[DottyD68]

I've started "gathering" things and have got lots of lists. The plan is to go via my in-laws in Devon for a night on the way to the overnight ferry in Plymouth which saves us a separate 500 mile round trip. Then we are then booked into several different airbnbs and hotels around France. We take our bikes which involves another list of tools etc but that's my husband's job along with all the devices. We've done it a few times now so our lists have grown longer and longer. I actually enjoy the planning as much as the holiday - something to look forward to, all being well.