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[SouthernLass]

Another newbie here...so glad I found this site! 😁

I'm 57 and have not had a period for 2 years. My menopause journey has been mainly symptom free, apart from some insomnia and the odd bit of brain fog, but a few weeks ago I had all my old pms symptoms - sore breasts, tired, bloating, egg-white mucus, mild abdo tenderness - then 10 or so days later I had a small amount of light blood on the toilet paper. This lasted, off and on, for 4 days (only when wiping, nothing else) which is how long my periods used to last and not had anything since. I'm hoping with it only lasting my usual time span it's just one last hormonal hurrah and that'll be it!!

Have never been on any hrt, never had penetrative sex with a man as I'm gay, never had children, do have mild POP but have a strong pelvic floor (according to my Gynaecological Physio) which keeps it mainly in check, suffer from hypomobility of my sacroiliac joints and stuck thoracic ribs which both give me chronic daily pain ... yay! 🥳 Only ever had 2 smear tests as the first one was extremely painful and left me bleeding for a week, the second (10 yrs ago!) was the same and my Doc said that, as my internal muscles were so tight, she couldn't even manage to insert the smallest speculum to open things up and could barely collect any cells for testing but what little she could see looked fine; luckily there were just enough cells and the results came back normal. Due to the awfulness of these two smears, she suggested I not have any more as even trying would just have the same difficulties.

I suffer from Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Depression and not had the best time of it this past year with ridiculous amounts of stress, worry & anxiety and now this bleed is hugely adding to it!!! 😰 My absolute freaking out issue is the history of cancer deaths in my family - Dad, Mum, 3 Grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins etc. even most of my friends too (54 funerals to date), I'm totally alone almost 24/7 and have nobody to talk to or turn to for help 😭

Need to contact my Docs, but my anxieties and panic attacks are making it so difficult because I know any invasive tests will need a GA, or not be done as per the smears, which panics me too... but I WILL do it!! Any reassurance and calmness sent my way would be very much appreciated!

Growing older may be a privilege, but for women it comes with so many crappy health issues!!! 🙄🤦‍♀️

Thanks and sorry for the long post!

[sheila99]

If it feels like a period it's very likely that's exactly what it is. The NHS uses one year as the definition of meno but there are women who go longer than a year and then have one or several more periods. As you're worried about it would set your mind at rest if you got it checked out. Is your anxiety a long standing problem or did it arrive with peri? If it's a peri system (anxiety is a common one) you might benefit from hrt.

[CLKD]

  keeping a mood/food/symptom diary may be of use and certainly have a chat with a nurse Practitioner about 'unexpected' bleeding.  It may simply be that your ovaries are having a party = your symptoms. 

If necessary examinations can be done under a GA which means that U would probably need to stay in overnight, certainly U would need some1 to drive you there/back and stay with you overnight.  It mayB time to get this condition sorted, U R too young to worry about potential examinations.

Peri can increase levels of anxiety and depression, there is medication for this: I am supported by my GP and DH with medication where necessary; both every night and on an as necessary basis [Propranolol]

This is your body so U don't have to undergo any invasive exams but it would be worth while to ease your worries, to have a chat with a Medic.. 

It may also be vaginal atrophy - do read the various threads on the Forum about that: make notes.

[bombsh3ll]

A random ovulation in the first three years or so after you thought your periods had stopped is not uncommon.

This fits what you are describing with the premenstrual like symptoms.

Personally, I would not rush to the GP after a single episode of bleeding with benign characteristics, however if there is persistent, irregular bleeding or any associated symptoms such as pain then I would advise getting this checked out.

Cervical cancer is exceptionally rare without penetrative intercourse, and endometrial cancer typically presents with persistent, irregular bleeding which can be heavy and often has a foul odour.

It is also worth bearing in mind that vaginal atrophy can present with light bleeding or spotting, or just blood on wiping, and if you are not on any systemic estrogen and have a prolapse (assuming this is what you mean by POP), then vaginal estrogen should be considered.

If you do end up requiring investigation, you can request an external scan in the first instance which is almost always good enough to exclude anything sinister. If your uterine lining is normal on this there is no need for anything invasive.

[SouthernLass]

Thanks for the replies ladies, much appreciated

bombsh3ll : yes, sorry, I did mean pelvic organ prolapse by POP. I didn't know if an external scan would be of any use or able to check things properly, but maybe that's the way to go if I do speak to my GP and she thinks it'll warrant investigating further. Thank you for stating that and for the info.

sheila99 : All my anxiety issues have been long standing for many years, but were majorly exacerbated by a mental breakdown when I lost my mum 20 years ago as she was my only parent, my dad having died when I was only 3, and another small blip when I lost my best friend to breast cancer 2 years ago. I'm under my GP and already on meds which make life a lot easier and have a local MH group for support - things just go a little awry when anything unexpected like this happens

CLKD : I'm glad my ovaries are having fun without inviting me!! I already keep a mood diary for my anxiety so can add food & symptoms to that. Thank you for saying I'm "too young" don't feel it most days! I'm currently on Venlafaxine (and Propranolol as needed) which has thankfully helped my anxiety or I'd have been a complete and utter gibbering wreck by now. I've been having a read of other post, especially those concerning post meno bleeding and am starting to feel less anxious about it, especially after what some poor ladies have been through

Thank you all for being there for so many of us who need support, no doubt you make an amazing difference to lives every day xx

[bombsh3ll]

I would definitely advocate for an external ultrasound - I have vaginal stenosis too as a result of obstetric complications and can only get external scans, which I have yearly for ovarian screening.

Unless the patient has severe obesity the quality of this imaging is extremely high and absolutely good enough to exclude pathology with a high degree of certainty.

As you are not on HRT the clinician has no leverage to coerce you to attempt a procedure which is anatomically contraindicated, and as you say would necessitate a general anaesthetic.

[CLKD]

Glad that we can be of assistance and reassurance. 

When I had high levels of anxiety in the 1990s The National Association of Pre-menstrual Syndrome [NAPS] advised eating every 3 hours to avoid that sudden lurch = panic as the body required an energy boost. Slow release foods; bananas, dried fruits and nuts, porridge  , plenty of veg . ........ in recent years I've had to alter my diet considerably due to bloating = nausea caused by hidden fats and sugars in croissants, shop bought biscuits and cakes, scones with cream.  DH is my Chef ;-) so is in charge of what we eat - I'm in charge of laundry ;-).

Let us know how you get on.

[SouthernLass]

I'm happy to hear that an external ultrasound gives good enough quality to rule things out, as a GA is not something I'd look forward to - had two in my life and was ill for days after both so could do without that just now!

I'll give altering my diet to include more slow release foods a go for my anxiety; I already include some of the suggested sources, but will look into others too. As I'm on my own, sadly I'm in charge of everything!!! 

Only thing to decide is Docs, or no Docs and see how it goes as it sounds like it might have been just a last shout... ?

[bombsh3ll]

It depends on your own comfort level - me personally I wouldn't go and get myself put on the "urgent suspected cancer" pathway following a single episode of bleeding with ovulatory characteristics in the early postmenopausal period.

Any sinister cause would almost certainly be associated with ongoing bleeding, so I would take a watch and wait approach.

However I would consider getting some vaginal estrogen on board, you can get this from the GP without disclosing the bleed at this point if you prefer.

On the other hand it is also perfectly reasonable to see your GP if you are the type of person who finds it hard to live with any degree of uncertainty.

[SouthernLass]

I'd rather not put myself through that ordeal if I don't have to as I have enough problems and worries as it is!!

Currently looking at losing my home I've lived in for over 30 years because of the out of date leasehold system, which Labour promised to abolish but have u-turned on, and my car is off the road needing repairs costing over £1K which I can't afford... so avoiding more trauma is top of my list right now!

But I'll ll definitely see about the estrogen though, thanks.