Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Recreate23 on November 07, 2024, 09:54:17 AM
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I’m 65 and restarted HRT 5 months ago after having a mirena coil removed in March. It wasn’t fit correctly as it caused me a lot of pain and disturbed nights so I arranged to have it removed urgently in June. I had no support from my gp practice so had withdrawal symptoms from suddenly stopping HRT for 6 weeks. My gynaecologist advised me to take no HRT for 3 months as I continued to suffer from palpitations brought on my the insertion of the coil. He also advised me to see a menopause specialist which I had to because I felt so weak in July. I saw a nurse from Newson health who prescribed evorel 50 and 200 mg utrogestan. The palpitations have continued although I have tried to manage them by listening to trauma release meditations before bed, which have helped to some extent. For the past 2 weeks I have been suffering from PMT symptoms of bloating and daily headaches and have begun to see a slight show of blood. I saw a new specialist yesterday who was concerned that a scan in May showed a thickened lining and nothing’s been done about it. She has asked my new gp to send me for an urgent scan to check the lining before increasing my oestrogen patch. I’m really anxious now that I may have cancer or something and really fed up with the gps for not checking this earlier! Has anyone else experienced this sort of problem when taking HRT in their 60s?
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Hi Recreate23, I don't have any experience of this in my 60's but I am 56 and went through similar the end of last year/ beginning of this one. I had a thickening of the womb lining, blood in urine and then heavy bleeding. Several investigations including hysteroscopy/biopsy which all eventually came back clear. I was convinced I had cancer....mainly due to an incompetent GP telling me this was probably the cause....he was wrong and didn't have a clue what he was talking about but he definitely got inside my head . I still never found out what caused any of it and was offered no treatment to thin the lining down. I think they thought the bleed would have thinned it down and I had stopped my HRT so that was it.
My point is please don't worry as all these scans etc are very common ,but I know it doesn't seem that way when you're going through it.
This menopause/hrt rollercoaster is a nightmare isn't it.
The lovely ladies on here got me through it and I'm sure they will offer you helpful advice.
Let us know how it all goes :bighug:
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Thank you for your reply to my message. I’m pleased to hear you didn’t have cancer after your difficult symptoms- are you on HRT now?
I wish I could stop myself worrying! It’s hard though when the doctors just don’t seem to know anything about the menopause or even care 😣
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Please don't worry. Lots of us on here have had bleeding followed by a scan and hysteroscopy and all was OK. I'm having bleeding again and because this is the end time I'm not even concerned about the possibility of having the procedure again. Northerngirl worried herself sick last year and as she told you, she's fine.
Unfortunately the 1st thing your GP will tell you is they have to check for cancer. When did the medical profession start talking this way? Years ago they would reassure you and rarely mention it could be cancer. The probability it could be is minute and it does seem bleeding is very common for us.
Relax, have a read here and see hiw many of us post about bleeding and you'll see how common it is.
That said, it's good the NHS is taking this issue seriously and investigating. Take a deep breath and try to take in all the positive comments you'll get on here.
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Just did a quick search and statistically the changes of it being cancer is very low.
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HI Recreate23
I'm 59yrs, been on hrt since end of 2022, I had a heavy bleed last year, I had a biopsy no hysteroscopy and the biopsy came back fine. I had three months off hrt and recommenced in March of this year. I was offered a coil but I really don't want one, so commenced on gel and utrogestan.
After trialling 200mg of utrogestan vaginally I had another heavy bleed two weeks ago, I had a hysteroscopy and I'm awaiting for the results of the biopsy.
I'm sure everything will be ok x
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Interested to hear your experience Discogirl, I've had similar to you although hadn't stopped HRT. I've had heavy bleeding for 2 weeks now, seemingly out of the blue so I hope all is OK for you too.
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Hi MrsMitch
To be honest the results of the biopsy are the least of my problems. Today my feelings of dread are completely off the scale
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I often wonder if it would be much better to 'force' a bleed to keep the lining thin, than it is to just take 200mg utrogestan (or 100) continuously.
By that I mean - to stop the P for 5 days every month so that a bleed happens and the lining gets shed. Doing that seems to give it an outlet and to make more sense to me, especially once you know you are building it up. I mean, the ideal is that taking the P stops the actual build up so there is nothing there to shed. But if you know you ARE building it up then stopping P for 5 days and forcing bleeds to shed and reduce the lining would be a good thing to try.
I think most doctors know F all about HRT so don't expect them to come up with this genius idea, but it is what a lot of women are doing in various US FB groups I belong to....
The "old" UK continuous regime used to be stopping it for 3 days a month (P) to allow a bleed. Then, for some reason, it was decided this was "unnecessary". But... was it really unnecessary for many women? Perhaps it was very useful...
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That's interesting, Joziel. The specialist I'm seeing next week told me I could either spot daily or have one bleed a month. My issue was at the time my VA was still not good and wearing pads made me much more sore. Now it's improved that's not so much of an issue but I was hoping to be done with bleeding by now! After years of horrendous endometriosis I looked forward to the menopause. But that just came with a whole new set of problems!
What you say does seem to make sense though. But I do wonder if we bleed monthly as part of our regime, how would we then know if we did have any problems that would need investigation via hysteroscopy? Or would, as you mention, the regular bleeds eliminate the risk of endometrial cancer?
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Hi MrsMitch
To be honest the results of the biopsy are the least of my problems. Today my feelings of dread are completely off the scale
I'm so sorry to hear that, Discogirl. Is this something new for you or do you often feel this way? Please let me know if I can do anything, even PM if that would help.
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Hi MrsMitch
I think its due to the fact I had to come off estrogen so quickly due to the heavy bleed.
The feelings of dread ive had from time to time but not on this scale so i think its the massive drop in estrogen.
I dont want to hijack someone elses thread but your so kind thank you x
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No problem, discogirl (visions of you boogying to staying alive!)
Here if I can help, now over to the OP.
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Haha one of my all time favourite songs.
I think i may message you tomorrow if you dont mind x
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Please feel free. We can have a virtual dance too xx
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I would like that xx