Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: mk94 on February 27, 2023, 11:17:09 PM
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I'm 57 and still in perimenopause. My last period was in early December. My periods for the last few years has been so crazy. It went from normal to crazy heavy ones with massive clots to having periods every 3 or 4 months apart. Now I'm spotting on and off. I am NOT on any HRTs. Is this normal??
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No one can relate :'( So I assume this is not normal for perimenopause :( worried now
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Yep. Peri-menopause are the years that we notice oddities and changes in our menstrual cycle. 4 me I had regular periods followed by breaks of several months B4 starting again. My periods had been heavy, painful and 10 days long so it was a relief for me to have lighter bleeds.
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Sorry you did not get a reply to your post. It must have got missed. In peri, periods can be very erratic. You last had a period in December so you spotting now could be a lighter period. It can be very confusing when periods are like this but in peri this is common.
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I just googled :o Now I'm heading into a spiral of panic :'(
Dr Google says
If your vaginal discharge is red or brown
A red or brown color is usually a sign of blood in your discharge, and it can even range all the way to an almost-black hue. And though that might sound scary, it’s not necessarily a problem.
Red or brown discharge is often due to spotting (bleeding between your periods), which isn’t uncommon or necessarily problematic. But it can also have underlying causes like:
Cervicitis (a cervical infection).
Cervical cancer.
Cervical polyps.
Endometrial cancer.
Trichomoniasis.
Vaginal atrophy.
All I see is CANCER! v :o I stopped doing smears after my last baby at 40 So this very well can be cancer. OMG what have I done. :'(
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Hello mk94.
I am sorry that you are having this trouble but please try not to worry.
My last period was at age 54 and I became officially post meno at 55 so very similar to you in age. After what turned out to be my last period I had nothing for five months and then the spotting began. I assumed this would be another period but it never developed.
Your experience is not unusual and I am sure other ladies will be along with their stories to reassure you.
Wishing you well and take.
K.
PS I am 66 now and still fiddling with HRT but after some unexplained bleeding last year I was examined and everything was found to be normal.
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Googling any health symptoms on google always seems to point to cancer. I know it is hard but please do not google as it is not going to give you an accurate result. If you are concerned then you could make an appointment with your GP but just bare in mind, peri causes spotting and erratic periods.
Do you have vaginal dryness or soreness? You may also have vaginal atrophy which is nothing to worry about and can be treated with localised oestrogen. Most members on here seem to have vaginal atrophy and it really is no need for concern.
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You're worried about so I would see you gp. When I had pre-cancerous cells the spotting was bright red. Is yours bright red or more brown? I've gone through a phase when I had spotting for a few days before a bleed but it was older blood. And as above, VA can cause it too. More likely not to be cancer but perhaps best to get it checked out.
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My spotting is mostly brown but I have had red as well sometimes.
The spotting is so weird. I'll be fine for a few days to a week and then it's back for a few days. It's just so random. My biggest fear is that I haven't had a pap smear since my last child 18 years ago. Now I'm worried I may have cervical cancer. But Before that, I always kept up with all my smears and never had any problems. I have since developed extreme health anxiety and going to the doctor is so terrifying for me.
Thank you ladies for all your helpful comments
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I can understand fearing going to the Drs. I know in peri spotting is common but I feel you may not be reassured unless you get a smear done. Is there anything that could help make it better? Telling Dr beforehand you are nervous, taking somebody with you for support perhaps?
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Hello,
I’m in a similar situation …. Went to Drs about last two periods lasting 10 days (though they are getting much lighter and less painful thank goodness) ….he wasn’t very bothered … when I said I had mid cycle spotting his face totally changed and he wanted it checked out. I’ve had ovulation spotting occasionally (even before peri stuff kicked off) and I’m getting it around that time of month more and more now. Also a bit before/after period.
He’s arranged for me to see female dr at the practise to examine cervix and see about fibroids etc. (not sure why he wouldnt have a look there and then but …hey)
So two weeks later have appointment Monday for that and totally crapping myself. Convinced I have cancer etc. My smears are up to date but due later this year.
I feel an idiot too as he made me feel I should have known to get any spotting checked out. Having looked back it’s really only ramped up last 2/3 months though so hopefully not long. I was waiting to see if it resolved itself.
So all this is just to say YES I do relate totally. Have you made appt to see Dr? It’s awful I know but the sooner you get seen the sooner your mind and be put at rest.
FWIW your spotting sounds totally normal for peri and given your period history. But you won’t get peace of mind without being seen.
Hugs
Vanilla
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BTW I get major anxiety at the drs too. Even over something like asking for some more eczema cream! I sit there in the waiting room heart racing and sweating like mad. Once I get in I’m not too bad. I’ve always been like this….not sure why. But you can do it!
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Making a list of symptoms to discuss with a Nurse Practitioner might be quicker to get some sensible advice. Keep OOF google unless looking at NHS sites. Anything else is often 'made up' with no basis in truth at all. Or ask questions here, nowt is taboo or OTT! Most of us have been there or have experiences about worries.
Any unexplained bleeding should be investigated. But brown discharge is probably due to not enough hormone pushing the lining from the womb in 'one go', as oestrogen drops off this is often 'within normal limits'. It would happen to me after every period: very heavy red blood with intense pain followed by 36 hours without a show, then 2 days of brown discharge. Normal for me throughout my later menstruating years.
Let us know how you get on.
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Thank you ladies for all your helpful replies
I am in a very bad spiral right now. This spotting is scaring me to death. I can't stop crying. At this point, it's already too late for me. I have not had any check up's in years. This spotting is for sure coming from my cervix and I have advanced cervical cancer already and I'm dying. Been spotting brown discharge for on and off for weeks now or maybe longer IDK :'( :o. I guess its my fault for not going to the doctor. I guess I deserve it.
Did anyone else have brown sometimes red discharge heading into menopause that turned out to be nothing??
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Thank you ladies for all your helpful replies
I am in a very bad spiral right now. This spotting is scaring me to death. I can't stop crying. At this point, it's already too late for me. I have not had any check up's in years. This spotting is for sure coming from my cervix and I have advanced cervical cancer already and I'm dying. Been spotting brown discharge for on and off for weeks now or maybe longer IDK :'( :o. I guess its my fault for not going to the doctor. I guess I deserve it.
Did anyone else have brown sometimes red discharge heading into menopause that turned out to be nothing??
mk94, please stop beating yourself up. You did not have a smear due to anxiety. You cannot help being anxious and none of this is your fault. It is highly likely your spotting is due to peri but is it possible to arrange somebody to go with you to get a smear just to put your mind at rest?
Please stop googling symptoms. If you wish to do a search then you can use the search bar on this forum to put in spotting and have a read of members threads about it.
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Begin by doing some deep breaths.
We are all dying. But you probably aren't, as from here your symptoms appear 2B peri-menopause. STOP googling. He don't know nowt and if you confuse rubbish info with what you could learn from us, then your brain will go into overdrive. Do re-read our replies and make notes.
We have a thread about 'what we have diagnosed today' ::) - most of us have found that after 2/3 days that symptom disappears to be taken over by something else ....... all still here!
Anxiety can overwhelm us. However, what's the worst that could happen? In answer to your query: " .... Peri-menopause are the years that we notice oddities and changes in our menstrual cycle. 4 me I had regular periods followed by breaks of several months B4 starting again. My periods had been heavy, painful and 10 days long so it was a relief for me to have lighter bleeds" ..... as well as having a brown 'show' at the end of each bleed. No real problems since.
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I'm really trying to calm down.
But I have not had a period since December and the spotting has no rhyme or reason. It just comes and goes. Nothing for a few days to a week then bang spotting for a few days and then repeat. :'(
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I'm really trying to calm down.
But I have not had a period since December and the spotting has no rhyme or reason. It just comes and goes. Nothing for a few days to a week then bang spotting for a few days and then repeat. :'(
This is what happens with peri. I did some research and red that spotting is more frequent in woman who do not take HRT. I am so sad you are worrying yourself sick over this. Is there anything we can do to help? Would it be possible to contact your GP to have a chat?
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What's the worst that can happen, what worries you the most? How did you expect peri-menopause to arrive, many think that periods stop. End of. Have U read the responses here? As I explained, this is how peri might manifest itself, on/off/on/break/off/on .........
It's The Change - does what is says on the tin. There is no rhyme or reason. As oestrogen levels drop there may be less impulse from the hormones to speed the womb to cleanse itself. 'within normal limits' for most women.
I suggest that you contact your Nurse Practitioner for a face2face chat, take along a list of your worries.
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What's the worst that can happen, what worries you the most? How did you expect peri-menopause to arrive, many think that periods stop. End of. Have U read the responses here? As I explained, this is how peri might manifest itself, on/off/on/break/off/on .........
It's The Change - does what is says on the tin. There is no rhyme or reason. As oestrogen levels drop there may be less impulse from the hormones to speed the womb to cleanse itself. 'within normal limits' for most women.
I suggest that you contact your Nurse Practitioner for a face2face chat, take along a list of your worries.
A Cancer diagnoses is my biggest fear and that they caught it way to late because I haven't had any smears for so long :'( Anything else I can deal with
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Mk94 please try not to worry. I’m in a similar position at the moment and been driving myself crazy with worry and anxiety.
My periods started to change a year ago. They become much lighter and one or 2 a few days longer than usual. In November I had a period that seemed to take ages to start, then I came on as normal, then I had a few days with nothing thinking it was finished, then spotting for 2 days, then nothing again for a few days and then spotting again. I then missed December altogether, had one which was normal in January and started spotting again 38 days later at the end of Feb. I have always had a few days to a week of spotting before a period but these days it worries me sick.
The spotting I am experiencing at the moment goes from brown spotting one minute to a very light bleed another and keeps going between the 2. Im on day 4 of it at the moment. Only need a pantyliner at the moment
I’m sure that it’s all normal for peri, but anxiety always makes it something much more in our heads as we’ve been used to the same thing every month for many years
I have regular meetings with my doctor probably once a month to discuss any concerns I have and just knowing I have that appointment coming up sometimes makes me feel a bit better about things. Not always, but sometimes. She’s very switched on about all things menopause and very knowledgeable about HRT.
HRT hasn’t been suitable for me at the moment, but I may try it again at a later date
Speak to your GP if you are finding it’s making you anxious, but I’m sure it’s just the process of peri
Xx
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Thank you ladies I've read all your helpful replies.
I'm still too scared to do anything. I'm still in bed today scared to get up and go to the bathroom to use the toilet. So scared to see more brown discharge and start my day of panicking that is cancer.
I'm sorry I just need to tell someone how am feeling. When will this brown discharge stop
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Thank you ladies I've read all your helpful replies.
I'm still too scared to do anything. I'm still in bed today scared to get up and go to the bathroom to use the toilet. So scared to see more brown discharge and start my day of panicking that is cancer.
I'm sorry I just need to tell someone how am feeling. When will this brown discharge stop
You have nothing to be sorry for mk94. I am deeply sorry you are feeling so anxious. Have you told anybody how you feel? I was thinking of somebody you feel comfortable tallking to such as a friend or family member.
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Good morning ladies. Please forgive me for posting again
I'm still in bad shape over this spotting/discharge. I am now convinced that I have uterine cancer. I have all the symptoms google says. I'm Obese, I have spikes in my estrogen. I'm in late menopause at age 57. I keep getting brown discharge or blood light spotting all the time with no rhyme or reason. It's not stopping. In the past year, I had flooding periods with massive clots leading up to no periods for a few months now and just spotting every day. All these symptoms point to Uterine, ovarian or cervical cancer.
This fighting in my head with my health anxiety demon is so exhausting. The fight in my head is none stop. "you need to go to the doctor!" No, I can't I'm so terrified that he will tell me I have cancer!! What if I'm too late and I'm going to die? But what if it's early and they caught it early? What if are killing me? Right now not going to the doctor is winning this fight BUT sadly but I know better. This nightmare of arguing in my head is consuming me every waking moment of the day.
I need help.
Do any other ladies on here have my symptoms and it just turned out to be just menopause??
late menopause at 57, horrendous periods last year with flooding with massive clots that lasted weeks. Then changing to periods every few months sometimes 5 months. Now Just spotting on and off with no period just blood on wiping every day. Oh yay, I also had months with a very heavy egg-like discharge for weeks on end but that just meant my period was going to be extremely heavy. Now I also have water discharge sometimes and I think I've peed myself it too had a hint of brown in it. I also have an undiagnosed rectocele prolapse
Im I going to die? :'( :(
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Do re-read the responses you have had here. I had brown shows after each period. Yours is probably due to not enough hormone to cleanse your womb sufficiently so you are seeing brown staining. It's part and parcel of The Change.
Why GOOGLE when you have been given advice on here, from ladies who 'know' more than GOOGLE will ever do: unless you are reading NHS sites?
If you do have cancer that isn't treated you will be very ill, you will feel a lot worse than you do now and will need to see a medic eventually. Is there some1 who could go with you? Why not have a chat with the Nurse Practitioner at your Surgery or contact your local MIND charity group?
How do you know that you have a rectocele prolapse which needs a doctor to diagnose :-\ as a medical secretary, the sooner a person seeks treatment the better it is.
Do go back to remove the black type as that is 'shouting' ;-). Until U make that appt. you will continue to be troubled by intrusive thought patterns. Ladies here can advise but none of us are medically trained, we exchange experiences based on individual symptoms.
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Hi CLKD
I have read all the comments and they were very helpful and calming. Thank you. But I'm still worried :'( Your spotting of brown discharge after your period is very normal I have that too. But my discharge/spotting is all the time for the last month or so with no period in sight. And it changes from bright red one day and tapers off with brown for a few and that turns normal white. And then it starts all over again with Red to brown to normal and so forth. This is been going on since late January. I just want it to stop already :'(
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Hi again
I am so sorry that you are feeling so anxious and upset.
It’s really hard isn’t it when you have a fear of the doctors (and what they will tell you).
You won’t get any peace of mind until you do something about this, I’m sure you know that.
It probably isn’t anything nasty….there are lots of very common causes of this type of thing. Including fibroids, polyps etc…or just menopause hormones. Or possibly even cancer. No one on here can tell you 100% that it isn’t anything nasty!
I went to my appointment yesterday, the doctor was lovely. She examined me and said my cervix looked good. My uterus is enlarged though…so I have to have a scan. It’s probably fibroids or adenomyosis I know. Of course I have a little voice in my head going “could be cancer, they might do scan and find something dodgy”. But in a way I feel better for having started the process in motion. Yes it’s scary and a nuisance to have to go to appointments. But drs just want me to be safe. And you!
Please see if you can book an appointment. Ask for a female GP if you prefer. As someone else has suggested, can anyone go with you to give you support?
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I know I really should go to the doctor for peace of mind but I'm so terrified of the outcome. I am to most unlucky person ever.
PoppyToast I really don't have anyone to confide in.
I did have a fibroid in my last pregnancy 18 years ago. OB wasn't worried so I never followed up on it.
I went for regular checkups and pap smears right up to my 40s. I stop going to doctors after I lost my 7 yr old son to a brain tumour. Medical tests, scans and biopsies are always bad news in my mind. The only thing I'm being treated for is my anxiety with antidepressants and Ativan
Thank you all for trying to calm me and giving me great advice. I just want this stopping/discharge to stop already so I don't have a breakdown every time I go to the washroom. :'(
My name is Mary btw
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I know I really should go to the doctor for peace of mind but I'm so terrified of the outcome. I am to most unlucky person ever.
PoppyToast I really don't have anyone to confide in.
I did have a fibroid in my last pregnancy 18 years ago. OB wasn't worried so I never followed up on it.
I went for regular checkups and pap smears right up to my 40s. I stop going to doctors after I lost my 7 yr old son to a brain tumour. Medical tests, scans and biopsies are always bad news in my mind. The only thing I'm being treated for is my anxiety with antidepressants and Ativan
Thank you all for trying to calm me and giving me great advice. I just want this stopping/discharge to stop already so I don't have a breakdown every time I go to the washroom. :'(
My name is Mary btw
Mary I am so very sorry you lost your son. My heart goes out to you. This explains why you fear going to the Drs. I would think the only way round this is therapy but I know you will have to be in the right frame of mind for that.
It is an awful situation for you being so worried and unable to get things checked out. I so wish I could help. This sounds like a deep rooted psychological fear that will take some time to deal with.
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Do U want us to know your name, it may lead to your being recognised?
Sorry about your son. Not enough research into brain tumours, MinL died of a glioblastoma at the age of 82.
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No worries about my name. Not hiding anything.
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Hello I'm 55 and still technically in peri. I feel for you lovely, I have health anxiety too but try and manage it with CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) techniques that I learned years ago. Its not easy, and menopause makes mental health so much worse.
With regard to your spotting, my last full proper bleed (although light) was August, then a bit of spotting in October and a bit more just a couple of days ago (although I've been started on Evorel conte). Previous to this though I suffered very erratic periods for a few years, some extremely heavy, some very light, some not there at all. I too have had weird spotting which scared me - sometimes just like a brown discharge, some light red. I would definitely recommend seeing your GP, not because I think its anything bad because you sound just like me, but because it will put your mind at rest. I was put on one of those worrying two week referral things which had me convinced I had something terrible but everything was ok. (Since been told the 2 week referral thing is simply a way of getting cases which *could* be something pushed through the system quicker, just in case. The majority of referrals turn out to be fine). Also - with regard to spotting, have you ever been told you have cervical ectropion? This is something I have, its extra tissue that grows on the outside of the cervix which is harmless but could cause spotting. I know its not easy, but please try not to worry x
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Mary
Sorry about your son. I understand your fear of the doctors. My eldest was ill after birth and had to go back to hospital. Nothing to what you have experienced I know but even if I go to the same hospital now, even to visit someone etc, the terror all floods back.
BUT you can’t struggle on alone. It must be hell for you feeling so scared with the spotting and not getting your mind put at rest.
Would it be possible to speak to a GP on the phone to start with? Begin by explaining your fear of doctors etc and why you haven’t been for smears and so on. Then explain about the spotting. You will still have to go to the doctor to be seen eventually but they will know you are scared and might be able to help you get the courage to go.
Even if the spotting stops now, you will still need to get it checked out I’m afraid.
We are here for you!
Vanilla