Haven't had a period for 8 and a half months and I start bleeding tonight

[Caza55]

Hi, I haven't had a period for 8 and a half months and tonight I have started bleeding, nothing heavy but still a bleed, does this mean I have to start my year countdown again to be able to say I'm in the menopause, I'm 55 and a blood test has shown that I have started the change,

Thank you for your help

[ssd]

yes I think you go back to the beginning again and wait 12 months of being period free before you are menopausal.

[Caza55]

Thank you for your quick reply, Im soooooo angry with my body tonight, cant believe I have gone 8 and a half months of hell with hot flushes, not sleeping and the mood swings to have to go back to the start, my doctor wont put me on HRT until I'm period free for the year...

[PollyPerky]

Why on earth won't your dr put you on HRT? It's ridiculous to say you have to be post menopause ( 12 months with no period.) HRT is prescribed for women from their mid 40s onwards who are in peri meno.

Change your GP or ask them for a referral to an NHS meno clinic where someone knows what they are doing!

Your GP is clearly ill informed and it's disgraceful- so angry for you.
Look online at //www.menopausematters.co.uk for more information.

[Caza55]

Hi PollyPerky, I dont understand why she wont put me on it, I think I am going to do as you say and go and see one of the male doctors in the clinic, I dont think I can cope with another year of this without some sort of help, my hot flushes are getting more severe as time goes by, I will have a look at the link you have posted, thank you so much...

[ssd]

caza..I'm sure no expert but this is manageable, your gp is talking nonsense here for sure.

[Lisa1960]

I had breakthrough bleeding and then periods for the first time in 12 months last summer. I am 55 and overweight. I have now had four periods, the alst of which was heavy.
I reported the bleeding to my GP in late summer but heard nothing until just before Xmas when I was offered a gynaecological appointment at the hospital. The gynaecologist refered me for a TVS scan, hysteroscopy and biopsy.
I had the scan in mid January but heard nothing further.
Having heard nothing I went to the clinic and told them I was down for a hysteroscopy. They looked in their records and said Yes, you are on our December list, we are busy. She then asked me when would I like to come in and we agreed on next week.
I am terrified for obvious reasons but confused because I would have thought that if the scan showed anything that needed acting upon the hysteroscopy would be arranged quickly. I will have waited 7 weeks between the two procedures with nothing feb back to me.
I saw my GP who said he is told nothing by the hospital.
All I know is that the smear test was clear.
Surely, there is fast track between scans and hysteroscopies if something is awry.

[PollyPerky]

It looks as if they made a mistake in not calling you BUT you should be reassured that they didn't (perhaps!))

A TVS and a hysteroscopy / biopsy are all possible investigations, but you don't always get all 3!

If the TVS shows nothing amiss, then it's possible they will not do the other two.

I don't think your GP is right btw about not being told anything by the hospital; they ought to let him know your results and if they don't, he has a duty to follow up and blinking well ask!

[Lisa1960]

Thank you PollyPerky

I cant understand why it would take so long to do the hysteroscopy given that I had the TVS some time ago. Surely, the gynaecologist reviews the scans shortly after they have been taken rather than wait for the hysteroscopy results before viewing both at the same time. If I have something sinister that would mean very many weeks before any teatment starts.

[Caza55]

Since my original post I have had another very heavy period, I went to see my GB 2 weeks ago, she recommended another blood test to see what my hormone levels are at, I had to phone this afternoon and the test has come back saying I am NOT menopausal, My hot flushes have all stopped so it looks like Im back to the beginning for everything, how can you body change so much, Im 55 now and it looks like Im going to be going through all this for quite a while yet..xx

[PollyPerky]

lisa
If the TVS shows nothing amiss, then it's possible they will not do the other two.

f your scan showed everything was normal then they may not want to do anything else.

But your GP ought to have had the results.

If not, then it's an oversight by the hospital.

The only other explanation is you have been lost in the system and your appt has been overlooked.

It's only 4 weeks since your scan. It may have been assessed or it may not have. I think you ought to get your GP to track what's been going on. If your GP referred you then it's up to them to monitor the outcome (and for you to be assertive and on the case!)

[Lisa1960]

Thank you for your kind words and great advice. I forgot to mention that a week before my TVS I had a CT scan of my pelvic region because I have hip/leg sciatic pain. The scan showed I have a 3cm cyst on my left ovary (not the cause of the pain). Nothing else was mentioned ie to do with my uterus etc.