Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Jules18 on September 18, 2017, 07:42:41 AM
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Hi
This is my 1st post and after reading many posts on this forum I'm hoping I may get some good advice and guidance from ladies who know what they are talking about and not just consultants who think I'm a text book
I apologize for the long post and rant
I am a 50 yr old woman with 4 lovely children
I have suffered all my life with heavy periods but always been very regular
Over the years GP have always said
when you have children it will settle down ,! it's because you've had children,! some ladies just have heavy periods with pain , and now the classic ITS YOUR AGE!!blah blah blah
Ok so I understand everyone is different and yes I know it's my age but I need help!
So the last 3 yrs I have been having irregular periods and then not seeing for 6mths then spotting having all the other symptoms also
Flushes , sweats, mood swings , memory loss, hair thinning weight gain
Then last yr after 6mths with no period I started spotting and then bleed continuous for 4months so visited GP who only wanted to do swab came back negative and still bleeding so sent me for transvaginal scan
The lady who did this said i had
very thick lining 16mm and would need to see someone ASAP
Some 2mths later finally after GP wrote for appt was seen at local Gyne clinic
In between this time I had such a horrendous bleed
This lovely gyne consultant said I also had thick lining now 19mm and was concerned that one part looked abnormal
Omg I panicked as
She referred me to main hospital rapid access gyne consultant under 2 week referral
So alarm bell started to ring
I had this appt the other day to be told
ITS YOUR AGE
WE WILL FIT A MERINA and some gel as your not menopause as still bleeding
But will take some biopsys first just
Get on table
Omg I hit the roof had to be cut no anesthesia so barbaric
I am now awaiting an appt for results which they said could take up to 6 weeks
Since the biopsy I bleed for 2 days then stopped and now another heavy bleed
I really don't fancy the Merina But was told if I didn't have it the thickness could turn cancerous if not already
My head is just spinning with all this
So is my only option to have the Merina ?
I'm just so confused with all this gyne problems
Any advice ladies ??
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Hi :welcomemm:
Have you got a supportive GP that can talk you through the options?
When I had issues I was told there was a 'ladder' of treatments offered - hormones, ablation, hysterectomy. I wanted to go straight for hysterectomy as pain was my predominant symptom.
I agreed to a Mirena but it was removed after 5 days as it made things worse. I skipped the ablation as that would only treat the bleeding so got the hysterectomy I wanted 8 months after my first hospital admission.
I was really happy with the Gynaecologist I was referred to, which helped a lot.
Hope you feel better soon :)
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You've been through the mill! Some medics have no bedside manner >:(
I was told all the same: your period pains will improve when you have children; however at the age of 8 I had already decided to remain childless so that wasn't going to work; the bleeding will improve etc. etc.; at age 16 I insisted on going on The Pill which really did help.
OK - it's your age - yep, we know that but what will you do to support my menopause journey - they really don't get it do they :bang: rant over ;-).
Browse round. Make notes. Put 'mirena coil' into the search box and you'll see what threads pop up.
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Hi Jules18 :welcomemm:
I am surprised that you are told you are not going through menopause when your periods stopped for 6 months - that combined with your age and symptoms are all that is needed to diagnose menopause!
The problem with peri-menopause is that most women get some anovulatory cycles in which some follicles start to develop but none reach maturity. All the time they are developing they produce oestrogen which builds the uterine lining - and if ovulation does not take place then the lining continues to grow. If it gets too thick it can be shed spontaneously, or else if ovulation occurs it can shed as it is supposed to. Either way an overthickened lining as you have been told can lead to cancer if left untreated.
There is an excellent article about peri-menopause here which explains the changes to our body at this time better than I can: https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/magazine/pdf/Article%20-%20Perils%20of%20the%20Perimenopause.pdf
The usual advice as you have found is to undergo investigations and then take steps to thin the lining provided all is clear. The different methods are listed on this website - Mirena is not the only option: https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/periodtreatments.php. Sometimes a course of a strong progestogen is given ( such as norethisterone) which will eventually thin the lining.
The good thing about the Mirena is that it will keep the lining thin and then you can add oestrogen gel or patches which will cope with the flushes and sweats. It it were me I think I would want to take a course of a progestogen to shed/thin the lining somewhat and then start the oestrogen and Mirena. During the first weeks of the Mirena if your lining is thick then you might well bleed quite a bit until it has thinned down.
Sorry to hear your biopsy was painful - I also had hysteroscopy and biopsy without anaesthetic - many clinics offer this - but I was told to take 2 ibuprofen and 2 paracetamol an hour before the procedure which was fine for me. I imagine it would be a bit different taking a biopsy from a thickened lining and I can understand why you will have bled as a result.
Try not to worry while you wait for your results and fingers crossed that everything is OK for you. It could also be that the abnormal thing that they saw was a fibroid or polyp. I had this (abnormality noticed after TVS) and turned out to be a small fibroid. Large ones can cause heavy bleeding.
I hope all will be well for you and do let us know the outcome. In the meantime try to do something every day to take your mind off worrying.
Hurdity x
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Hi Jules18,
I had some similar experiences to you last year: excessive bleeding, a transvaginal scan which revealed one fibroid and resulted directly in a referral to a gynae under the two-week rule - that really concentrates the mind doesn't it! - and a biopsy which also had me on the ceiling.
Fortunately nothing untoward was found and I was eventually prescribed Cerazette - POP - by my GP. I had one very heavy bleed after about 3 months and nothing in the 6 months since, so it's really helped.
I hope your results are nothing to worry about and you get the help you need soon!
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My reply is short mirena coil had caused me so many health problems !! Both in and after it's out so be careful. I don't like it
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Jules18 welcome to MM
You have had a very tough time.
Do read Hurditys post carefully - she has a science background and has explained things so well for you.
Your experience is not uncommon and getting the right treatment and advice can be tough. I have had very mixed advice and treatment with my meno over the years - my meno started in my early 30s so I've experienced 25 years of various HRT treatment.
Chestermans experience of the Mirena is not typical and it is the 'go to' option for most gynaes now as it does suit many women very well and very often sorts out problematic bleeding, shrinks fibroids and allows the introduction of oestrogen to treat flushes etc with fewer side effects. Other progesterone treatments can bring more side effects eg oral or transdermal progesterone. Of all the HRT options I tried , the Mirena with Oestrogel was the best I experienced. Taking any progesterone orally involves much higher doses and this can bring more side effects.
I would give the Mirena a go - there will be quite a bit of bleeding initially as it thins your lining but within 3-6 months things should settle and for many it results in no bleeding at all after the initial bleeding - which I'm sure you would welcome.
If only the NHS doctors had the time to explain to us what is going on or we women were at least educated about what happens when meno hits, then life would be less stressful.
Keep us posted - we are here to support you. DG x
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Hi jules18, My experience of Mirena is good, had my first in my late 40s for peri meno, 2nd this year to treat thickened lining 16mm. I had polyp removed, same as you, pain shocked me, had Mirena fitted at same time. The bleeding last for a up to 3 to 6 months but gradually gets less and less. I have no bleeding at all now, I have patches for oestrogen. Fingers crossed 😀 Combination works well for me.
Good luck
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Hi Jules
I am going to have a mirena fitted tomorrow as well as a hysteroscopy and biopsy . For me my symptoms started 'in anger' after i had my 3rd Mirena removed in Dec 2016. I since have eliminated all my menopause symptoms (which were terrible) with Estrogel, Testogel and vaginal Ultrogestan, but i want to go back to having no bleeding so i'm chosing to have another coil. I know its doesnt work out for everyone, but my gyny seems to think its the right thing for me to get some hormone locally, protect my lining and eliminate the painful bleeding that has returned. i also didn't gain any weight with the mirena - which is something that i have experienced from trying both continuous and cyclical progesterone...... Cant say I'm looking forward to tomorrow, but i really dont want to experience another period like this months! Good luck with your results Julesx
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Hi. Apologies for long rant
I'm asking again for advice as
You can see I last posted in Sept 2017
At the time I was awaiting biopsy result from my ( just hop up on the couch and will do it now traumatic experience)
I am afraid to say that after a 6 week wait to be told sorry not enough cells found
I therefore had to undergo a hystocopy
And I would also be referred to the physio dept for bladder investigations and depending on results a plan of action would be made
just before going down to theatre on the day the consultants Register read my notes and said that a hystocopy would be performed and the Merina fitted !! Now as you can see I am not 100% happy with having one fitted , and I said I would rather see what the results were before deciding on this !
I awoke to see the blurry consultant say yep your fine and can go home in an hour
The discharge nurse said I would receive a follow up appt in 6 weeks AGAIN!!!
Whilst awaiting again for results I was seen by the physio dept and am currently under treatment for bladder weakness!!!
After 5 weeks I received a letter from
Consultant saying
No adnormal cells found and good luck with bladder investigation
He had discharged me from his care !!!omg
At the time which was now approaching Christmas I was just so happy to know I didn't have any abnormal cells
My pain and symptoms on a daily basic got worse and my flushes ,moods and pelvic pain increased
I visited GP who really didn't know what to advise apart from anti depressants!!!
I declined !!
Finally in February I visited GP again which was Locum who said this is enough I had been bleeding since the 18th Dec everyday !!
I needed to go back to consultant
I have waited and finally got my appt last Friday
Since December I have had bleeding everyday apart from 7 odd days
Some days its slight spotting
Some just light and some days the most horrendous large clots ever
I have now been told I have 4 options
1: do nothing and carry on until menopause
2: have Merina fitted
3: have a ablation
4: have the implant Zoladex but only able to have a few
My brain is all over the place
I am in extreme pain some days , migraines , moods , hot flushes , insomnia you name it I have it
All I seem to do is moan moan moan
My relationship with my husband is
Suffering I have currently applied and been offered a new job ! Which would be a total career change !
I'm so do I don't I ? can and will I be able to cope ?
Any advice I
Would so gratefully receive
Has anyone been in this same position and been offered zoladex
I was told i would go straight into menopause as my overies would stop working so no more bleeding 8)
That's all I want !!!
I'm just so confused
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I am yet to read a good experience with zoladex - being plunged into menopause may be very difficult and I would be worried about this.
An ablation might be a good option but I don't know about the success or implications of this. If I were you I would try the Mirena first as this should calm the bleeding down, calm the pain and if you do start to develop flushes and other meno symptoms you just have to add some oestrogen. It's a shame you didn't allow them to fit it when you had the hysteroscopy as you may now be in a better place. I found the Mirena really good and I believe there is at least a 90% success rate with the Mirena and this is why it's a favourite with the majority of gynaecologists. DG x
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Jules18, what a difficult time you have had. First question, do you know how well you do with progesterone i.e. did you have any problems with the pill for example or did you suffer with PMS? The reason I ask is that it would give you some indication as to how well you would do with a Mirena coil.
You mention migraines, do you know what your migraine trigger is?
If you do well with progesterone then yes, a Mirena coil would be a good option for you but if you don't and/or progesterone is your migraine trigger then I would definitely opt for the ablation. That would sort out your bleeding problem and would also mean that you could do a very long cycle HRT regime if you decided to take that route later on.
Some of the symptoms you mention sound like a sign of low oestrogen.
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Thank you for all your advice
I tried the pill many years ago in between having children no 2-3
But I just felt constantly queasy
Bit like morning sickness every day
Also I am a person who dont like taking painkillers and drugs
So the thought of something inside me all
The time is freaking me out
So after child number 3 which was a horrific delivery ending in emergency c section and PPH and being really ill I didn't want to take anything or do anything
Hence child no 4 although planned didn't think would happen ::)
Since having last child within 2 yrs symptoms all back again , pill offered but husband decided it was his turn to face the knife ;D
So for the last 13 yrs I've been suffering and now I've hit the big Birthday I want a better quality of life but still going back and forwards with GPS and consultations
I think I need to be more forceful when sitting in front of them but I just turn to jelly and become and crying mess
I've got appt in fornight to let them know which of the four options I want
So need some sound advice about Merina as this seems the way I may have to go
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If I were you I‘d give the Mirena a go - it may give you your life back. If you get any flushes or night sweats, you can then just add in some oestrogen. I got on very well with the Mirena as do around 90% of women who have them. They wouldn't fit them if they weren't successful. There will always be one of two horror stories but these women are in the minority. I was very reluctant to have the Mirena - like you I didn't like the idea of this ‘thing' inside me but after fitting and once the bleeding had settled ( takes a few weeks to slowly reduce as the lining sheds) I basically forgot I had it. DG x
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Thank you
Dancing girl
Can I ask when you say once the lining has shed
This is my biggest fear ( apart from the fitting)
One of my major major problems is the thickness of my lining , another reason the 1st biopsy didn't work
I'm just scared that I will be in trouble with this happening,
Oh dear such a wuss , I can't believe I had 4 children :D
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Once the Mirena is fitted it will deliver progesterone to the uterus that works to make the lining shed. This will result in bleeding at first but the Mirena will usually prevent the lining from building up much again. A high percentage of women end up with no bleeding at all after the first few weeks. DG x