Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Stardust1 on October 12, 2017, 02:39:53 PM
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Hi, I'm 44 and convinced I'm peri and have been for at least 18 months. Various symptoms etc but the main ones are major anxiety and irregular bleeding. Have been having irregular bleeding on and off for most of these 18 months. I was put on cerazette by GP and lasted 4 weeks before coming off because I started bleeding again on it and felt like I was going to kill someone. GP sent me to Gynae who has done scans, hysterscopy and biopsy for the almost constant bleeding and everything has come back fine. For some reason after the hysterscopy my cycle settled down to normal for a couple of months and the Gynae discharged me but told me if it starts again to get GP to re-refer.
Couple of months on, started bleeding again, usual browny stuff that I was getting. When it got to 4 weeks, I was fed up with it, so went back to GP. She put me back on Cerazette. This was lovely for the first 4 weeks, then as soon as I started a new packet, the bleeding starts again, and it hasn't stopped yet. I went back to GP last week and asking to try something else. So she swapped me to Noriday. I asked to be referred back to the Gynae but she said no as they have done their investigations and there's nothing wrong. She also told me that I could come off the POP but if I started bleeding again they won't reinvestigate any further bleeding.
So I've been on Noriday for 5 days and if anything the bleeding has increased. It's not browny discharge, it's bright red, some clots (tmi) and like a normal period but lighter. It also stops and starts, went all through the night without a smudge and then starts full blown again at 11 am today with cramps. I honestly think I'm going to go mad. I suffer very badly with health anxiety (which I'm sure is peri) and this is sending my levels through the roof. I'm constantly crying and I'm definitely depressed (I can't take any anti-d's due to a heart problem). I rang the gynae's secretary yesterday to see if I could go back to see him. She said that the GP should re-refer and she read the letter out sent to GP that says if any further problems then I can be re-refered back to him. She can't understand why the GP isn't referring back. She's is going to pull my file and talk to the consultant and let me know over the next couple of days.
I have a doctor's appointment...again...on Monday but with a different doctor. I think the doctor I usually see is fobbing me off because I'm a frequent flyer (only because of my health anxeity) and I don't think she's looking at what is best for me. I honestly think my mental health is deteriorating because of all this. I'm at my wits end and so is my husband! I suppose my question is what should I do? Should I perservere with the noriday, surely the bleeding has to stop at some point or should I just give up with it.....I'm bleeding on it, and bleeding off it...does it really make a difference? Is this much and this length of bleeding normal on either cerazette or noriday because I'm convincing myself that it's not and there's something else wrong.
Sorry it's so long. I'm at my wits end?
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Hi Stardust - just wanted to welcome you really as I've not got much advice re the bleeding but I'm sure someone else will be along soon who knows more.
Have you been offered the mirena coil? I know that this is prescribed to counteract bleeding problems as well as for contraceptive purposes. If you use the search button in the blue bar top left it will bring up any posts relating to the mirena.
You will find lots of help on here. Bleeding problems in peri are very common and it's really good that you have had the investigations to make sure that everything is ok with the womb lining. The on-off bleeding pattern is common too. It's due to the hormones fluctuating so the body is not sure what to do so it begins a bleed and then the hormones change so it slows it down and you get more brown than red and then it starts up again so you get fresh bleeding again. Clotting is a good thing even though it feels horrible when you pass them. It shows that your clotting mechanism is working well.
Taz x :welcomemm:
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I had a very similar situation having twelve day periods and about four days without ...then another twelve days etc...etc...and was examined and had womb biopsies etc...and was eventually offered the chance for Mirena coil,as Taz2 mentions, but when I read about it it sounded like it wasn't for me.
As it happened, soon after that, all signs of bleeding stopped and have never returned in about 8 years.
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Take a list with you and go through your symptoms with the GP?
Have you made a double appt. so that you don't feel rushed?
Well done that Med Secretary, hopefully she will be back to you next week! Who says you can't take ADs ? Maybe re-visit this mediation if you are depressed, because one can't see the wood for the trees - I was so ill that I couldn't lift my head from the pillow!
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Thank you for all your replies. The secretary has just rang, the consultant will see me but I will need to be referred by the GP. I've got an appointment on monday with another GP at the practice who refered me in the first place when the other GP wouldn't. I'm just worried that as the GP said that they won't re-refer and they won't reinvestigate any further bleeding I'm stuck like this for god knows how long. I stopped taking the noriday today to see if it made a difference (none so far!). I'd be more than happy for them to say see how it goes and will refer back if it carries on but I can't see them doing it. I just want someone to tell me what's going on and why won't I stop bleeding :-( :-(
I can't take Anti-D's because I have a rare heart condition. I have an electrical problem with the heart and the majority of the new Anti-D's are too dangerous for me to take and they lengthen my QT interval. I have seen a psychiatrist with regards to going on the older types, but he's not happy to prescribe them as he still thinks the risk is too great. According to my GP CBT which I've been agreed for is better than Anti-d's. I had my screening in May, still waiting for an appointment to start.
Everything is just going against me :-(
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Hopefully your GP will be agreeable to you seeing the Consultant, pity that the Consultant didn't ring your GP directly ::) but hey ho!
Thanks for the explanation re ADs. What has been suggested instead of? Has the Psychiatrist and Heart Consultant had a face-2-face meeting with you at the same time? Difficult ain't it.
Let us know how you get on after your appt.?
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Nothing was suggested other than CBT. The heart consultant has already said previously that he is at a loss at to what to suggest as almost all Anti-d's lengthen the QT, which would be bad for me, and the psychiatrist has said he's not willing to risk them. Not much I can do really!
Will update after weekend, fingers crossed it's positive but to be honest, I'm not holding my breath :-(
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Oh have a :bighug:
What is the worst symptom right now? Could you take an 'as necessary' anti-anxiety medication or would that too interrupt the heart rhythm?
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Hi Stardust1
:welcomemm: from me too
Have you thought of trying the CCP - this should help to regulate your cycle and limit bleeding eventually to the pill free interval, as well as giving you some extra oestrogen in you have entered peri-menopause (your irregular cycles are a clue that this has happened)? There are a couple which have oestrogen in them like HRT - one called QLAIRA and the other called ZOELY. Neither of these have an entire pill-free week - with Qlaira it's 2 days and Zoely 4 (I think!) so you don't get that crash of hormones as with the conventional CCP. Some gyanes seem to like to prescribe these to younger menopausal women as they help to minimise mood swings.
Hurdity x
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I don't think I'll be given the CCP - family history of clots, stroke & ovarian cancer. Also am overweight so is definitely a no-no.
As for a PRN anti anxiety - again a no-no. I can't take anything anything that lengthens the QT interval further will have the potential to cause my heart to fall into an abnormal rhythm and possibly cause a cardiac arrest. :( :( :( :(
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You do however, need a Quality of Life! Have you considered Yoga, Pilates, swimming - 'me' time? Some ladies find brisk walking alone helpful, I would prefer to shop alone so that I don't have to justify myself if I have to leave in a hurry ::). Do you have hobbies that you could get involved with?
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I don't think I'll be given the CCP - family history of clots, stroke & ovarian cancer. Also am overweight so is definitely a no-no
Hi - have you had your clotting ability tested? I was offered this due to DVT and stroke in my family and thankfully I haven't inherited the same problem. My GP arranged it for me.
Taz x
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Hi there - Bcshaz - do you have the same issues as Stardust1 - I'm just a bit confused by your reply to the advice to Stardust1? Sorry to hear this anyway and sounds like you two would benefit from comparing notes and advice re treatment? I do hope you both manage to find a treatment that you are able to take to enable you to feel better.
Hurdity x
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ha ha, not sure how that happened! I had an account ages ago but couldn't remember any of the details when I came to use it so just registered for a new account! It must have been saved somewhere on one of the devices I use and logged me in of its own accord! So I am the same person - Bcshaz is me! Sorry for the confusion.
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Do you know who you are or is this a menopause symptom that I missed already ;D
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Lol who can tell!!! Update anyway, went to see another GP. She agreed to re-refer back to gynae. Downside is no appts free so on waiting list. Sad and cried my way through appt, GP very unsympathetic, said if I wanted to discuss any other symptoms to see the GP I usually see as she has seen me before and I obviously only went to her to get a referral which the other GP wouldn't give. She said I was obviously very emotional and ignored my husband when he tried to have his say. Felt very silly that I'd gone tbh. She didn't give any suggestions to stopping the bleeding other than tranxemic acid. I was keen on these as I'd heard risk of blood clots and whilst I've not had a DVt family members have.
My bleeding is still going, bright red. Heavy in the morning with big clots then fades away to almost nothing, if not nothing, by evening and overnight, then starts all over again heavy when I get up. I don't understand why it does that? Did start the tranxaemic acid today as I'm just sick of bleeding all the time, but now I'll just worry about taking that! Rang med. secretary for consultant today and she'll look out for referral and then ring me to sort out an appt. feel such a mess, keep crying, my emotions are all over the place :-(
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Just realised it's logged me in as the other one again! It must be saved on the iPad and not on the PC. Must remember to check next time. Sorry for any confusion.
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If you have heavy bleeding then the transxemic acid should work - if you can put up with the mess and inconvenience? :-\. Better to have Quality of Life?
I didn't think that GPs could refuse to give a referral? I think the GPs need to keep their opinions to themselves. I happen to be seeing a new GP because the receptionist mixed up where I would be seen >:( .......... even though I asked to be seen in our village . Not my fault!
Would you be able to take a cancellation to see the Consultant?
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Yes would make sure I could take a cancellation! Hopefully his secretary will be able to sort something, she has been very helpful so far!
My usual GP, I feel, 'fobs' me off because I usually go with some worry or anxiety which is usually unfounded. The annoying thing is that she is usually right but at the time I never see that because of my heightened state of anxiety. She did however refuse to re-refer despite on the consultant's letter it was written that if the problems continue then I can be referred back. She also said that if I came off the cerazette/noriday and the bleeding continued that this further bleeding won't be reinvestigated as it's already been investigated and there is nothing wrong. If I wasn't willing to try the mirena coil then I'd just have to put up with the bleeding. I'm sure she thinks I'm making it up, some sort of attention seeker who gets their kicks by wasting GP's time. The other annoying thing is that she is a good doctor, and was very good with me when my dad died.