Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Postmenopause => Topic started by: Pinkwindsor21 on January 14, 2022, 06:48:50 PM
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Worried sick here…
I’ve been on combined HRT since last March and had spotting last November. Then I had abdominal cramps which I thought were IBS but mentioned it all to my GP. I’m 55.
Yesterday, I had spotting (light pink and white) and today I had what looked like a period, along with period type cramping.
My full blood count tests are fine and the GP couldn’t feel anything when she felt my abdomen. I have a scan on Tuesday but I’m so anxious.
Can anyone please chat to me with knowledge or just reach out?
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Could it be your hormones over-riding the HRT?
A scan will give a base line. Always best to get that done if there is unexplained bleeding.
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I’m not sure.. is that normal?
Ibuprofen isn’t working on these cramps and my hip bones ache :'(
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Hi pinkwindsor. Were you still having periods when you started HRT?
Taz x
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No I wasn’t… :'(
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Reading a few sites on the internet it does say that intermittent bleeding on conti HRT in a post menopausal woman can happen during the first six months to a year. You are still in this timeframe so try not to worry too much. It's good your doc is being thorough.
I'm sorry the Ibuprofen isn't working. You can take paracetamol at the same time which might help lessen the pain. Also a hot water bottle can really help.
Let us know how you get on with your scan.
Taz x :hug:
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Thank you so much… I’m so worried.
The first spotting was in November but today was the actual period like bleed. Is that still within the timeframe?
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How long were you without a period before you started hrt? Although meno I'd defined as one year without a bleed there are some women who have a genuine period after this. The scary things are usually pain free at this point, having cramps may be a good thing. If it isn't a period it could be a fibroid or polyp.
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I actually can’t remember when I last had a period as I just had patches before switching to the combined as the original wasn’t helping with menopausal symptoms. I guess I’m almost 2 years without a period but that really is a complete guess!
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I had this and it was polyps, along with hyperplasia. I had to have the polyps removed (this has happened three times now) and eventually a Mirena was inserted. Utrogestan didn't seem to work for me as uterine protection. I have six-monthly hysteroscopies. They took it seriously and were very thorough. No pre-cancerous cells found.
At its worst I had cramps in my lower back and thighs and quite heavy, period-like bleeding.
The Mirena has sorted me out and I'm almost at discharge stage. I wanted to stay on HRT. If I'd stopped the Oestrogel the problem might have resolved but I can't do that: my life becomes intolerable.
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Grheliz, I am in a similar situation.
Utrogestan doesn’t do a lot for me either. However because I’ve had breast cancer, they prefer me to say on it.
Are polyps caused by oestrogen? I had a hysteroscopy last April and nothing was found. Bleeding has persisted, so after much pushing, Im having another womb scan in a weeks time, to check the uterine lining etc
I can’t come off oestrogen either, else life is hell. Did they ever offer you a different type of progesterone, or just the coil?
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I get very confused with it all but what I do know, if that I’m really scared :'(
I’ve been on Everol 50 and Utrogestan 100 since March.
It looks like the end of a period on my tissue paper, small trace of dry light brown.
Abdominal pains are getting to me though as they’ve been there for a couple of months. I’d put it down to IBS as I have that but clearly not that now.
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Hi how long have you been on hrt ? It could be that you're not ready for a continuous regime just yet. x
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Since March 2021…. Before that, I tried just a patch for a 3-4 months but they didn’t help night sweats etc. So my GP suggested the ones I’m on now so I started this new regime 8 months ago.
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Hi before you started the patches, how long had you gone without a period ? ( sorry for all the questions ) x
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No problem about the questions!
I’d say about 1.5 years? I can’t remember and I’m really annoyed with myself about that!
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And do you take the Utrogestan every night ?
Try not to worry about the scan. I had bleeding three times and scans and biopsy showed up no concerns and no reasons for the bleeding. Just one of those things unfortunately. X
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Yes I do take it every night Dotty…
Thank you, that’s very reassuring 💗
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Nas, I think they thought the oestrogen was causing the problems. I was so relieved to avoid a hysterectomy that I was happy to accept a Mirena, having always turned them down in the past, which was a mistake: my perimenopause would have been more bearable if I hadn't been flooding every 18-21 days!
Grheliz, I am in a similar situation.
Utrogestan doesn’t do a lot for me either. However because I’ve had breast cancer, they prefer me to say on it.
Are polyps caused by oestrogen? I had a hysteroscopy last April and nothing was found. Bleeding has persisted, so after much pushing, Im having another womb scan in a weeks time, to check the uterine lining etc
I can’t come off oestrogen either, else life is hell. Did they ever offer you a different type of progesterone, or just the coil?
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PinkWindsor try not to worry - I had bleeding after 2 years on HRT and well after my last period. I got fixed up with a Mirena in November and I've been fine since (touches wood hastily).
It could be a polyp, or a thickened endometrium both of which can be easily fixed. I know it's easy to say and I worried myself sick at the time, but try not to get too stressed out. Hopefully the scan will provide answers.
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All clear!! No reason for the bleed. The radiologist said that ovaries can have a last ‘hooray’ 😮💨
Thank you so much for everyone’s support! ☺️
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Fantastic! X
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Glad to hear it :ola:
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That's great news and especially heartwarming to hear that you were told the results immediately and didn't have to wait any longer. :foryou:
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Brilliant news!
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I think the radiologist could sense my anxiety as my mum had ovarian cancer. But so thank you to have experiences like this really so I can pass on any knowledge to my daughter or anyone else!
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Excellent news, PinkWindsor!
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Well I didn’t realise that I’m still under Gynae and need to have an internal scan! I’m sitting here feeling that I’m due to have a heavy period as I’ve got all the symptoms! That would be two in a row now and I don’t understand why!
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Which scan did you have last time? Usually you have the external one and the internal one at the same time. It's a shame you have to go back to have it done. Hope that the period arrives soon so you are more comfy. You can have the internal scan during a bleed by the way if it does come just before your appointment - this always happened to me!
Taz x
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Thank you Taz2,
I had the external one almost a month ago now but it was all fine. So I didn’t expect to have another appointment for the internal one :-\
Strangely, I had all the symptoms of a period.. cramps, painful boobs, tearful etc but no period!
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It is odd that you didn't have both together. Have you got a date for it yet?
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Next Sunday for the internal scan and bleeding started again today. But I have all the symptoms that I used to have years ago… sore boobs, hip pain etc!
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Not long to wait now then and it does sound hormonal with the other symptoms.
Taz x
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Now I feel like I’m having contractions after 3 days of dark red bleeding. My nipples are sore but the pain is getting too much. I can feel it in my legs and lower back too. Has anyone else had this? :'( :'(
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Oh crikey pink, how dreadful for you!
Are you using the patches still, or did you decide to remove them?
I would ring the GP ASAP and ask for something to try and stop the bleeding?
Is it this Sunday you are being scanned? Really hope they can sort you out. You may be advised to have a coil fitted for the progesterone part of your HRT?
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Hi Nas,
The GP called today and advised me to stay on my HRT as my scan is on Sunday and she didn’t want me to feel worse before then.
My bleed has stopped but the abdominal pain continues and my boobs are tender.
It’s very difficult to not think the worst isn’t it?
The pelvic scan I had before didn’t show fibroids, polyps or cysts.
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Hi Pink
It sounds like it’s all hormonal to me.
I had this on evorel 75 and daily utrogestan.
The abdominal pain was excruciating at times, even well before a bleed.
I couldn’t work it out at all, except that it was a side effect of the HRT.
Really hope you feel better soon.
Let us know how the scan goes.
X
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Thank you Nas…
Can’t tell you how reassuring it is to know your experience too. Thank you so much 💗
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My first internal scan has just been cancelled by the NHS and put back until 28th March. This would have been the first one since November.
Bleed continues and I’ve spoken to a nurse at The Eve Appeal who wasn’t happy that I haven’t been fast tracked. There’s no such thing as a last hurray from the ovaries or hormonal bleed. I’m 55 and have had no bleed for a long time.
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Hi I’ve had 3 lots of bleeding since being on hrt . My last period was 2014. Each time I’ve had scans and biopsies and , last time, a hysteroscopy . Each time nothing was found… all ok thankfully . The doctors said each time that’s it’s just one of those things that can happen on hrt . xxx
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Who told you that there is no such thing as a hormonal bleed, Pink? There absolutely is. The bleeding isn’t a period as such, but hormones can influence the lining of the womb and cause bleeding. It doesn’t happen to every woman, but it does happen a lot. Often there is no known cause, hence why some women choose to come off HRT completely.
Really hope you get your scan soon for peace of mind
X
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It was the Gynae nurse from The Eve Appeal Nas…. She said how could it be hormonal when I haven’t had a period for over 12 months ???
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Hi it can be hormonal …. caused by the hormones in the hrt. xxx
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As Dotty said, it’s not necessarily from the ovaries, but more from the hormones in the HRT. We have Oestrogen receptors EVERYWHERE, If they are awakened, bleeds can occur.
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I asked for a cervical smear yesterday along with an internal (GP saw a healthy looking cervix and vagina) I hadn’t bled for the first time in a week yesterday but after the smear and internal, I did bleed. Neither hurt so I don’t know if it was just a coincidence but now of course, I’m convinced I have cervical cancer 🤦♀️
I also had a change in discharge colour, still normal but certainly a change for me.
I’ve been given the gel to try instead of patches as I was allergic to the adhesive. The GP told me not to stop everything suddenly but wait to see the Gynae who might tweak the Progesterone and pop in a Mirena coil at the same time as the scan.
So fed up with it all as it’s ongoing!
I now have until the 16th March for the Gynae due to a lovely receptionist and a cancellation.
I was told yesterday that my lining was 2mm on the ultrasound. No one had told me that before!
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Hi 2mm is a thin endometrium and shouldn’t be anything to worry about. That’s probably why they’ve not fast tracked the internal scan.
If I remember rightly from my visits to hospital due to bleeding, anything over 5mm needs a Pipelle biopsy and anything over 10mm needs a hysteroscopy. I’ve had both. Once my lining was 9mm and then a year later it was 6.5mm and then a few months later it was 11.5mm. All of my biopsies have come back fine so the hospital discharged me each time. I’ve questioned the consultants every time and just been told “it’s one of those things.”
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Goodness Dotty, that must have been a huge worry for you!
Thank you so much to you and Nas for taking the time to reply. It means a lot as clearly I’m really worried 🥲
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Hi Pinkwindsor21. I did have times of panic and worry but tried to rationalise it. Dr Newson says that the majority of women who suffer post menopausal bleeding when taking hrt do not have any underlying pathology. The bleeding can usually be stopped by altering the progesterone.
Each time I’ve been to the hospital they are only concerned about cancer. They’ve not been interested when I’ve asked about my hrt or changing my progesterone. They just refer me back to GP and she doesn’t know what to do either !
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It’s really awful isn’t it?
My abdominal pain is still there and I really don’t feel ‘right’ down there so I’m worrying. I’m also additionally worried as to why I bled after a cervical scan as this has never happened before either.
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My biggest fear is that someone will tell me to stop taking the hrt…. that’s not going to happen xxx
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Just a thought pink, but as your endometrial lining is only 2mm, I wonder if you have atrophy down there, particularly as you bled after the smear? But then you are having pain aren’t you? I still think this is HRT linked.
Seriously, I started evorel 75 in September 2020. By December 2020, the bleeds had started, after being on gel for best part of 18 months with zero bleeding. The bleeds didn’t relent, every 2/3 weeks, cramps, pmt, the lot. It was so infuriating! I did feel balanced on that dose, but the t bleeds we’re getting he down. Eventually, at the end of January this year, I gave up my patch and have started oral at a lower dose. I’m getting the feeling it isn’t enough oestrogen but I don’t want to bleed!
Your lining is thin, that’s great ( if not atrophied) and everything else is in check? I’d say this is HRT causing havoc. You may not bleed with the gel.
Try not to worry and I KNOW it’s tough and there is a temptation to ditch HRT altogether. Unless you know you would feel better without, I’d persevere with one regime or another.
Not long until your scan, hang on in there!
Xx
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Thank you so much Nas!
The abdominal cramping is unreal today! I’ve had to take painkillers. One area was tender when the GP pressed down it! It feels like contractions with a warm feeling.
I started using the gel yesterday and so relieved to not have patches again. I’ve had to trust my GP though as the leaflet says don’t use if you’re experiencing abnormal bleeding!
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It’s really awful isn’t it?
My abdominal pain is still there and I really don’t feel ‘right’ down there so I’m worrying. I’m also additionally worried as to why I bled after a cervical scan as this has never happened before either.
Have you had your internal scan now as I see you've had a cervical scan but thought you'd only had the external one so far. Sorry if I've missed it! :-\
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Taz2… sorry that should have had swab not scan 🤦♀️
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:(hi
I had this and it was polyps, along with hyperplasia. I had to have the polyps removed (this has happened three times now) and eventually a Mirena was inserted. Utrogestan didn't seem to work for me as uterine protection. I have six-monthly hysteroscopies. They took it seriously and were very thorough. No pre-cancerous cells found.
At its worst I had cramps in my lower back and thighs and quite heavy, period-like bleeding.
The Mirena has sorted me out and I'm almost at discharge stage. I wanted to stay on HRT. If I'd stopped the Oestrogel the problem might have resolved but I can't do that: my life becomes intolerable.