Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: applejack on April 07, 2021, 08:45:39 PM
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Hi
about 8 weeks ago I messed up my Utrogestan dose and got a rather long drawn out dose of spotting which sorted itself out after a couple of weeks and I've been very diligent since then. As people on here reassured me - it was triggered by the missed dose and I learned my lesson.
However, I'm spotting again, and this time there's no explanation. I've not missed a dose in the 8 weeks since the original bleed cleared up so there is no reason this should have happened again. I'm on continuous utrogestan 100 + evorel 50 patch. I'm well into menopause and have been taking HRT for over 2 years.
I have phoned the doc to arrange a scan but she's not around until next week, so in the meantime I've got myself into an enormous state of anxiety. Short of something awful causing this, are there any reasonable explanations why someone who has been on HRT as long as I have would suddenly start spotting? I'm so worried about it I'm almost too scared to go to the loo because I dread seeing signs of spotting.
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Morning. Could it be your own hormones joining in and over-riding the HRT?
Is the blood bright red = fresh? Could you have a polyp which will bleed on contact?
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Would my hormones do that after all this time? I'm 56 and a fair few years into menopause.
It looks fresh, just a pink/red tinge in mucus (sorry to be graphic)
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Nothing is too graphic.
Do U still have your womb? Hormones can certainly have a party, however, you could ask for a scan to see if the lining is within normal limits.
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Hormones can still produce a bleed because you're taking additional oestrogen. Any post menopausal bleeding should always be investigated though just to check everything is OK. It could be a polyp or fibroid.
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Yes, I still have my womb. Still smearing this evening, it's brown, dark red, pink, so it's going for the full spectrum by the looks of it.
Thanks everyone. I got through to the doc today on econsult which seems very efficient - second time I've used it over lockdown and it's been very good.
She says that because it falls under "postmenopausal bleed" it gets a fast referral. So I've already got blood tests booked and within two weeks I will have a scan, then a gynae consultation to discuss the results, so at least there will be some resolution soon.
Slightly disconcerted though - fast referral makes me think it's something bad.
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All postmenopausal bleeds get fast tracked so a scan within two weeks.
I had bleeding so was scanned within two weeks. Worried myself sick but was ok in the end.
Try not to worry too much- I know its easier said than done
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Hi applejack your doing the right thing getting it checked out & the sooner the better. I’m 58 and was still having periods on & off (late menopause) but then I started spotting on Boxing Day which was unusual for me and it wasn’t stopping. Dr sent me for ultrasound scan which should a thickened uterus lining of 11mm & a suspected polyp. I was then referred to gynaecologist for a hysteroscopy (camera in womb) where they removed the polyp & took a biopsy they also inserted a Mirena Coil which is progesterone only iud to help reduce the thickening of the womb lining. Fast forward to 10 days received letter to go back to see gynaecologist, & was told biopsy showed complex hyperplasia with aytipia. Hyperplasia is a term which basically means your uterus is thickened and can be managed with progesterone like the Mirena Coil, however with Aytipia that means there are pre cancerous cells and the course of action is a total hysterectomy (which I am having this Wednesday). I also had an MRI scan with the injected contrast dye which was all clear 😀
So it is always best to err on the side of caution and get things checked. Most likely there’s a simple explanation and everything will be fine, but it’s when we don’t look after ourselves issues arise. Don’t anyone be put off by a lockdown either. Mine started on Boxing Day and in under four months I have had GP (phone appointments) blood tests, ultrasound scans, Hysteroscopy, MRI scan, chest x-ray and surgery booked. Please take care of yourself & good luck. XXX 😘
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Oh my goodness! So glad you got that caught quickly and good luck on Wednesday, hope all goes well.
Thanks for the replies. Still really worried but from whatyou're all saying looks like everything is being done as quickly as possible so will keep my fingers well and truly crossed.
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So it is always best to err on the side of caution and get things checked. Most likely there’s a simple explanation and everything will be fine, but it’s when we don’t look after ourselves issues arise. Don’t anyone be put off by a lockdown either. Mine started on Boxing Day and in under four months I have had GP (phone appointments) blood tests, ultrasound scans, Hysteroscopy, MRI scan, chest x-ray and surgery booked. Please take care of yourself & good luck. XXX 😘
Good advice Nina123. I also started bleeding just before Christmas (I'm 63) & my G.P. referred me under
the 2 week rule for P.M.B. Got seen on the 4/01/21 by gynae who said my lining was 8.1mm & a possible cancer. I had a hysteroscopy at the end of Jan & it turned out to be a polyp which was removed on the same day.
Yes it was a very scary time for me but I had to have it checked out & sorted ASAP. The NHS are still functioning & doing a brilliant job under the circumstances. Fingers crossed for you applejack & good luck on Wednesday Nina for your hysterectomy.
Love Cazikins xx
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Cazikins, thank you for your good wishes, glad all was well with you, and this is the case in most situations but always better to be checked out. You are 100% right the NHS are doing great and people should remember they are open and there for you, so please don’t be afraid to use them!! Xxx
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Indeed they are Nina, I felt in safe hands & never vulnerable. :)
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Hi applejack
Very good that you are getting this checked out and fast tracked.
I was in a similar position around Christmas- missed hrt tabs/spotting. This persisted although I was taking hrt tabs without fail by then. Fast tracked for scan on 6 Jan which showed area of over 8mm so booked in for hysteroscopy and biopsy on 15 Jan. Results came on 26 Jan! All benign. Big relief. So it was all very fast, caring staff and efficient. If there is a problem it can be dealt with, as Nina123 has described.
Nina123
Sending you very best wishes for tomorrow. Will be thinking of you and wishing you well. X
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Thank you, Deeble
I have to admit I'm veering between feeling ok and just being very, very scared and sick to my stomach. Find myself shaking.
Now booked in for the scan next monday as well as the blood tests in two days time. Still spotting.
If this proves to be nothing may just come off HRT. I don't want to go through this again
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I have had a similar pathway to Nina's (good luck tomorrow, Nina!), with bleeding starting about three months into me starting HRT. I was told I'd probably be best having a hysterectomy. But repeated hysteroscopies have concluded that my hyperplasia is probably typical, so can be 'treated' with a Mirena, which was inserted just before Christmas.
Each time I have had a hysteroscopy, polyps have been removed. I am now on a six-month repeat for my next hysteroscopy as they are more confident that the Mirena is sorting everything out. It seems Utrogestan just couldn't control my endometrium as well as it usually does for most women.
So good that you are checking it out. Don't be too quick to come off HRT. This is frightening, I know, but just remember all the other benefits of HRT, too. I'm glad I stayed on as I feel probably the best I've felt for years now, on the Mirena and Oestrogel.
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Hi applejack
I sympathise with how scared it's made you feel. I was very very nervous before my scan and also the hysteroscopy.
All the staff I came in contact with were very helpful and reassuring. It was not as bad as I thought it would be!
Before the scan I rang the clinic to check about if you needed a full bladder (I didn't) and the nurse I spoke to explained the scan procedure and reassured me.
I'd been on hrt low/ultra low dose femoston conti for about 5 years and was at a point where the benefits weren't exactly amazing but I didn't want to rock the boat by trialling off. I have used vagifem for longer - maybe 8 years (age 62 now) and continue to use it.
I decided to have a trial off the hrt after my 'all clear'. I felt I wasn't getting enough benefit to risk going through all that again and I was feeling ok without it. I had to come off between the scan and getting my hysteroscopy results anyway so just kept going. I had not done well with other progesterones so femoston conti (didrogesterone?) was the only option for me. I've done fine since I stopped it. Never say never, but after the first 4/5 weeks I have been doing well and I'm no longer so tired generally. Sleep was tricky at first but is now resolved. I get more and more good days as time goes on. Main difference is optimism and energy are up but my memory for words/what was I thinking is worse. I'm expecting this to settle down in time.
Whatever you choose to do, getting checked out now is the main thing and you're doing that so well done. Try not to worry - practise some deep breathing and hopefully everything will be fine.
D x
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Thank you for the reassurance, everyone.
The hospital phoned again this afternoon - the consultation with the gynae to discuss the results will be within 24 hours of the scan, so by this time next week I'll have had bloods, scan and consultation. I'm only having an ultrasound so it doesn't sound like there'll have been a hysteroscopy at that point, but it will be good to speak to a specialist.
So impressed with the speed of this. I started spotting last tuesday, phoned the GP on thursday. It will have taken 14 days from onset of symptoms to have had three hospital appointments and all this whilst they're dealing with so many other things.
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Applejack I wish you all the luck and be sure to let us know how it all goes. Had my hysterectomy Wednesday & came home today so I’m glad that’s all behind me. Now I have another wait of 2 weeks consultant will call me to let me know if there was indeed any cancer found or if it was just the atypical cells!! It’s the waiting that gets you down, scan results, hysteroscopy results, then for me MRI scan results then the operation date it just goes on and we’re supposed to be living a life amongst all this stress & worry!! The NHS staff are amazing and you will be so looked after every step of the way, and all the ladies on here are so supportive. 😘😘😘
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Hi Nina123 - great you are home and hope all went well and that the wait for results call is not too long. Best wishes.
Applejack - all the best to you too and hope everything goes well. X
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Thank you, Deeble
Nina, glad you’re home. Hope you’re taking it easy!
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Hi again - got my scan tomorrow and then gynae on Tuesday to go over the test results and next steps (got my bloods back yesterday - all good).
One thing I want to ask - when I phoned my GP to report the bleeding, I said that if everything turned out to be related to the utrogestan mess up a few months ago, or some other benign reason, could I just go onto sequi utrogestan and put up with a bleed.
She said that's not what they recommend.
Is that right? I am convinced I have seen postings from ladies on here who are post menopausal like me, and possibly even older than me (I'm 56) who take utrogestan on a sequi regime and accept a bleed every month. If I don't mind having a bleed then why would there be a problem? I'd like the raise it with the Gynae on Tuesday but some anecdotal evidence would be helpful.
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I probably don't count because I'm late peri rather than meno but I intend to keep on using sequi on a long cycle. You're right there are many women on here who continue with sequi, some don't have a good response to utrogeston so this gives more 'good' time, others find continual vaginal use interferes with marital relations. I think they assume most people don't want a bleed.
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Ok, back from getting my results. Hopefully this info may help others on here.
So, my lining is 8mm and their cut off is 4mm. However, she said she was "almost positive" it wasn't sinister, but she wanted a look anyway and asked if she could do a biopsy there and then. I knew from posts on here that it might be uncomfortable, but I went for it because otherwise it's more delay and worry and I just want this resolved.
On the way in she said her path was obstructed by a polyp - in fact she said "I KNEW IT!". She said she wanted to remove it, told me to count slowly for ten seconds and that she'd stop if neccessary. Actually, it wasn't so bad. Most uncomfortable bit was after that, when she pinched the uterus to remove the cells. That was like sudden, intense period pain which was really not nice, but it's quick and it's done and it's over.
I'm bleeding a bit and have intense period pain crampiness now but it's done. Outlook - if that actually is a polyp rather than just a chunky bit of endometrium, it means there are probably more in there which need to come out (so either general anaesthetic this time as there may be a few of them, and higher up) or I can be stoic and endure it like I did today. Not sure how stoic I can be if there are lots of 'em.
As she's fairly sure I'm not cancerous, she suggested having a mirena coil fitted once we've resolved the polyp situation.
The takeaway for anyone going through this - get to a doctor even if it's just a small amount of spotting. Having a polyp removed is uncomfortable but nothing to be scared of. A biopsy is less fun, but it's at least relatively quick (15-20 seconds). Fingers crossed her prognosis is correct and it's nothing serious, and she stressed that visiting the doc is absolutely the right thing to do as any early stage endometrial cancer is very treatable.
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Applejack well done, yes I agree the polyp removal is more uncomfortable than painful. My lining was 11mm and they removed polyp & did a biopsy, they also said everything looked fine & I had a Mirena coil fitted so the progesterone could reduce the thickness of my womb lining. Unfortunately for me the results were not so favourable as predicted as I had complex hyperplasia with Aytipia and therefore I have now had total hysterectomy. I am now awaiting results to let me know if there was anything more sinister found once the womb was removed. I wish you very well and hope you get your polyps removed with ease and have no further issues. 😘😘
Ladies please make sure you get any abnormal bleeding checked out, post menopause & anything that is unusual for you. As while endometrial cancer is very treatable if found early, still in the UK around 2400 women die from it every year which on average is around 6 a day. So please all take care. Xxx
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Yes, the sooner the better.
I hope you're recovering well now, Nina.
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Thanks Applejack, I’m recovering very well. Managing to go for short walks and the pain and healing has been far far better than I thought it would be. Will just be glad to put it all behind me. Xx 😘