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[Shorty Pants]

Hi all,
I've not posted for a while, as I seemed to be doing OK with my teeny HRT dose (1/6 evorel 25 + mirena).  This seemed to be enough to keep hot flushes and dry vag away.

I'm assuming I'm post meno at 56.  I had a blood test which included hormones last Oct.  I wasn't on any patch then and the results clearly indicated post menopausal.

I discovered last Oct that I had a long-standing ferritin/iron deficiency (GP said was 'in range'  ), which I treated really successfully with iron supplements and got my life back.  More energy, my fitness back, everything!

I then had a very strenuous walking holiday early May, coupled with a return to the gym and unfortunately my iron levels crashed.  I upped my iron dose and am on the road to recovery, but weirdly about 2 weeks in, had about 2 weeks of swollen boobs and weight gain (5lbs almost overnight!), despite no change in my patch.

This has again, just as weirdly resolved within 2-3 days and boobs back to normal and dropped the 5lbs (peeing and pooing if not TMI!  ).

I have however, started with a few very mild hot flushes in the night.  Again, no change to my patch.

Sooo... This was a very rambly way of asking whether and how it's possible for us to have an oestrogen surge when we're post menopausal? 

Any advice or links to info welcome! 

[BermudaQueen]

Oh my goodness, that’s weird as during a routine blood test, I was also diagnosed with low iron and put on a motivate and iron supplement by the doctor.

I couldn’t understand it because I eat well, and exercise every day, and there was nothing underlying why that would’ve changed.

But like you, I’m now 58 and although I’m suffering a few issues with fibroids and had a recent Hysteroscopy (awaiting the results) for spotting - But I’ve been having the same issues as you, puff up like it’s premenstrual tension and I just feel like I’m totally out of control of what my body is doing, all kinds of weird symptoms😂

I think that in the past everyone just says ‘oh it’s the menopause’, which everyone assumes is just the stopping of periods, but it’s clear that the changes the body goes through are much deeper than that, but it’s great that we can all talk now and feel like you’re not alone!

[sheila99]

The ovaries carry on doing 'something' for some time after bleeds finish and before they die completely. You might be meno but you can't assume it because you're 56, some women aren't until their early 60s.

[Shorty Pants]

Oh my goodness, that’s weird as during a routine blood test, I was also diagnosed with low iron and put on a motivate and iron supplement by the doctor.

I couldn’t understand it because I eat well, and exercise every day, and there was nothing underlying why that would’ve changed.

But like you, I’m now 58 and although I’m suffering a few issues with fibroids and had a recent Hysteroscopy (awaiting the results) for spotting - But I’ve been having the same issues as you, puff up like it’s premenstrual tension and I just feel like I’m totally out of control of what my body is doing, all kinds of weird symptoms😂

I think that in the past everyone just says ‘oh it’s the menopause’, which everyone assumes is just the stopping of periods, but it’s clear that the changes the body goes through are much deeper than that, but it’s great that we can all talk now and feel like you’re not alone!

Thanks for the reply @BermudaQueen - at least I know I'm not alone and/or going bonkers! 

I do think the low iron thing is vastly under-diagnosed.  There's a condition called Iron Deficiency without Anaemia (look it up, there are some fascinating articles and a whole range of symptoms that could be put down to 'menopause').  Whilst NICE says we should treat any low ferritin under 30, mine wasn't actually checked until 3 years ago and even then, despite levels as low as 17, the GP insisted they were 'in range'.

How are you getting on with the iron supplements?  I know many of them can be hard on your stomach.  The gentle iron ones I have are great for that.  Hopefully your GP has given you a sufficient dosage, but you should be taking at least 100mg of *elemental* iron per dose.  This can be 1/4 of the dose of the tablet itself. 

Thanks again for posting - I'm feeling better already! 
**NB: To anyone supplementing iron, this should only be done on confirmation of iron deficiency and blood tests should be undertaken every 12 weeks to check levels for iron overload. **

[Shorty Pants]

The ovaries carry on doing 'something' for some time after bleeds finish and before they die completely. You might be meno but you can't assume it because you're 56, some women aren't until their early 60s.

So do you think these could be such short surges @Sheila99 ?  That's really interesting (and somewhat disappointing when I thought I was over this! Ha!)

I guess I'd wondered if this was related to me supplementing with the iron and getting my levels back up, but perhaps not... 

[BermudaQueen]

Oh my goodness, that’s weird as during a routine blood test, I was also diagnosed with low iron and put on a motivate and iron supplement by the doctor.

I couldn’t understand it because I eat well, and exercise every day, and there was nothing underlying why that would’ve changed.

But like you, I’m now 58 and although I’m suffering a few issues with fibroids and had a recent Hysteroscopy (awaiting the results) for spotting - But I’ve been having the same issues as you, puff up like it’s premenstrual tension and I just feel like I’m totally out of control of what my body is doing, all kinds of weird symptoms😂

I think that in the past everyone just says ‘oh it’s the menopause’, which everyone assumes is just the stopping of periods, but it’s clear that the changes the body goes through are much deeper than that, but it’s great that we can all talk now and feel like you’re not alone!

Thanks for the reply @BermudaQueen - at least I know I'm not alone and/or going bonkers! 

I do think the low iron thing is vastly under-diagnosed.  There's a condition called Iron Deficiency without Anaemia (look it up, there are some fascinating articles and a whole range of symptoms that could be put down to 'menopause').  Whilst NICE says we should treat any low ferritin under 30, mine wasn't actually checked until 3 years ago and even then, despite levels as low as 17, the GP insisted they were 'in range'.

How are you getting on with the iron supplements?  I know many of them can be hard on your stomach.  The gentle iron ones I have are great for that.  Hopefully your GP has given you a sufficient dosage, but you should be taking at least 100mg of *elemental* iron per dose.  This can be 1/4 of the dose of the tablet itself. 

Thanks again for posting - I'm feeling better already! 

Ah thank you, that’s really interesting about the iron!  I’m definitely gonna have a look at that, because I couldn’t understand what the doctor was saying - She put me on a low-dose multivitamin and iron tablet every day, I’ve just looked at the label and it’s  14mg per tablet. 

But no, you are definitely not on your own, I’ve a friend who is in exactly the same position and we both feel sometimes like we’re constantly moaning about this symptom and that symptom, then a new symptom, then another 😂

But it’s the same here, vaginal atrophy (now they tell me I have uterine atrophy), aches in joints, backache, headaches, fatigue, mega dry skin, the list goes on 🤷‍♀️

But every day I take 5mins out to sit down with a cup of tea, just to be kind to myself and have a breather from it all! Phew

[Shorty Pants]

Glad to hear you're looking after yourself @BermudaQueen.  I know what you mean about symptoms, but I'm pretty angry nowadays at how shoddily we're treated as women!  Look, you've set me off now! 

If you're interested, here's a link about iron deficiency without anaemia - there's much more info on t'interweb.  14mg isn't even a great daily dose, so if your ferritin levels were low it would be practically impossible to raise them with that amount.  I've had to do a lot of research on this and other areas, due to being written off by my GP last year.  (She told me to forget gym and fell walking at 56 and just do gentle pilates and yoga!   Suffice to say I ignored her, treated myself and am now back on the fells and mountains! Ha!)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8002799/

Thanks again for giving me a sense of normality!

[CLKD]

Ovaries don't always shut down completely = bleeding: however, merrygoround, the Gyane should be discussing this with colleagues, not telling a patient that she 'doesn't know'.  Is it a bleed as in a 'normal' period, or pink show?  Even so I would want to know why.

Even after removal ovaries may continue to push a small amount of hormone if the stump is left attached. 

Menopause is literally the last monthly period: we are advised to wait 12-14 months after the last 'show'/period to be certain because Mother Nature may throw in a curved ball.  Then we have to start counting from 0.  Any bleeding after we go into menopause should be investigated on an 'in case' basis.

BermudaQueen : But it’s the same here, vaginal atrophy (now they tell me I have uterine atrophy), aches in joints, backache, headaches, fatigue, mega dry skin, the list goes on 🤷‍♀️
. these symptoms are often due to low oestrogen levels.  ?? Uterine atrophy ??    Can't remember whether you R using VA treatment?

[BermudaQueen]

Ovaries don't always shut down completely = bleeding: however, merrygoround, the Gyane should be discussing this with colleagues, not telling a patient that she 'doesn't know'.  Is it a bleed as in a 'normal' period, or pink show?  Even so I would want to know why.

Even after removal ovaries may continue to push a small amount of hormone if the stump is left attached. 

Menopause is literally the last monthly period: we are advised to wait 12-14 months after the last 'show'/period to be certain because Mother Nature may throw in a curved ball.  Then we have to start counting from 0.  Any bleeding after we go into menopause should be investigated on an 'in case' basis.

BermudaQueen : But it’s the same here, vaginal atrophy (now they tell me I have uterine atrophy), aches in joints, backache, headaches, fatigue, mega dry skin, the list goes on 🤷‍♀️
. these symptoms are often due to low oestrogen levels.  ?? Uterine atrophy ??    Can't remember whether you R using VA treatment?

Yes, I’m on Vagifem and use Yes VM, just awaiting the results of my recent Hydteroscopy as they think even this low dose Vagifem may be causing my fibroids to continue growing!

[KarineT]

Hi Sheila99

If someone, like myself,  hasn't had a bleed for four years I very much doubt that they will have an oestrogen surge .
After all that time without a period,  they are definitely postmeno and I don't think there would be oestrogen surges at this stage.

Karine

[neviebelle]

Hi - my fibroids have grown also, 5 years past