Not had a period for 5/6 months, now having the period from hell

[MyBoysAreFab]

Just that. I have just turned 52, periods totally stopped in around March. Had some minor night flushes but they have gone. Thought I was having a real easy menopause.

But yesterday a period started with a vengeance. Heavy bleeding, flooding, cramps, feeling nauseous. Much worse thany period used to be latterly. I am dreading that I will now get this regularly, and we are about to book an october family holiday in the sun which I couldn't do if had a period like this.

Has anyone else experience if this, could it be a one off? I will of course go to my gp if it isn't.

[Moregravyplease]

My sister had this at a similar age to you but she had had almost an entire year Without any bleeding and then had a one off giant period where she had to literally stay on the loo for hours as so heavy.

[Ilovelblue]

I don't think it's abnormal. I'm 53 and mine have been extremely erratic for about a year now. I can go a good few months then have a bad one, then nothing for three or four months. When they come, they do tend to be heavier (to the extent where I have to wear two pairs of undies in bed at night just in case). I was at the doctor's a few weeks ago just to reassure myself I didn't have something dreadfully wrong with me and after some prodding and poking around, she declared I seemed to be handling the menopause very well. (Really?) All very well for her to say, she was only about 40! I'm not getting night flushes (yet?) but do get them during the day more.

The bit I hate is having to take stuff with me on holiday just in case a period comes without any warning so I do sympathise MyBoysAreFab.

[TPel]

Yep. I can empathise. I started a thread a few days ago. No period for a year, I come on holiday on Saturday and my bloody (I use that word advisedly) period starts. It hurts like buggery and I'm enjoying 42deg heat to top it off. DH had to go hunting for tampons too.

I am ready to have the whole lot whipped out.

OP you have my sympathy.

[MyBoysAreFab]

Thanks for replies.

TPel that is rotten timing, huge sympathies.

Thankfully I work from home a lot so it's not as debilitating as it could be, but so annoying. It seems that being a woman is the gift that keeps on giving

[Whatevva]

I came off the pill, had 5 months with nothing, then 18mnths of 2-3 weekly periods of varying heaviness, loads of aches and endless vag infections and gave up and took hrt. I have no idea if I am at menopause or not. At least I know when it is coming now.

[MyBoysAreFab]

Oh no! Is this what I might have ahead of me?

[Whatevva]

No - yours will probably be a one-off My DGM said hers just stopped at 50 and she never had another problem. (She did have a hysterectomy in her late 60s though. I think it may have been for prolapse.)

I am 52 and thought my periods would stop and I would get hot flushes. I thought it would be over by now since one gm was 50 and the other 51, and DM, I thought, was late 40s (she never discussed it ).

But no - it is just periods and thrush (or BV) and an aching body

And wet knickers [cries]

[pinkfrocks]

Myboys- the honest truth is you won't know if it's a one-off or not. sorry :(
When cycles are disrupted through hormones being all over the place, the cycle sometimes isn't completed (progesterone is not produced) so the lining isn't shed. Then you ovulate one month and the cycle is complete and a heavy period comes.

You may never have a heavy period ever again- or you may have this every few months.

I thought I had sailed through the menopause by 53 with nothing except dwindling shorter periods then wham- once they stopped I was flushing every hour and unable to sleep.

Everyone is different- you'll just have to see how it goes.

[MyBoysAreFab]

Yup, I know. It just feels shit that you spend years suffering periods, and then this. Just what you need when dealing with teenage boys!

Whateva yes gin is the way forward methinks.

[KathyBeale]

Ah, just came on here to ask similar. I'm only just 42 (yesterday!) but I started having erratic periods back in 2012 when I was 38. I had gone seven months without one, then on holiday in August - boom! Very heavy (had to run into the apartment from the pool to sort myself out - thank goodness we weren't on the beach) and very unlike my periods were in the past.

Then today - another period (24 day cycle).

I HATE everything about the menopause so far and wish it would just fuck the fuck off. And I don't even have teenage boys to deal with - just small ones.

[pinkfrocks]

Kathy- have you seen your GP about this? You ought to. Average age of meno in the UK is 52, so at 42 you are 10 years early - which has possible long term health implications (heart disease and osteoporosis.)
Drs do say meno can happen between 45 and 56 , but 42 is very young.
There may be other reasons for your erratic periods, but if this began at 38 you should seriously think about medical advice and some investigations (blood tests are recommended by NICE in their latest guidelines from 1 June this year) for women with your problems if they are under 45.

Don't want to worry you but you don't have to put up with these symptoms- treatment can include the Mirena coil, the Pill or HRT.

[KathyBeale]

Yes, I went back in June and had some blood tests. My FSH was 65 I think and the GP said I was menopausal. But he also said "the menopause is not a disease" (one of my symptoms is rage, and he almost felt the full force of it, let me tell you) and told me to take some vitamins because he wouldn't give me HRT.

My best friend's husband is a GP and he said he'd have ordered some other tests for me, and then considered HRT. But actually the week I got the blood test results my mum went into hospital unexpectedly for a heart bypass so I've not really had time to think about me - until my period arrived.

I don't have many physical symptoms. Just mood swings, really, and terrible, terrible insomnia. No hot flushes or night sweats or things like that.

[MrsJoyless]

Myboys- Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional.
Do speak to your GP, who may be willing to prescribe the following:

1. Tranexamic Acid for heavy periods. This is taken for up to 4 days once your period has started. It miraculously dissolves the blood clots and makes it much more manageable and "normal";
   
2. Norethisterone to delay your period. You start this 3 days before your period is due ( or 3 days before your holiday starts since you are so irregular). Take it every day until you get home. Within about 48 hours you get a very heavy period. However, see (1) :)

[pinkfrocks]

Kathy- I too am not a medical professional but I've a lot of personal experience and information gleaned from my consultant.
If you are diagnosed a menopausal at 42 and your GP is not treating you then they are being negligent.

Many of those little old ladies with curved spines had early meno and in those days there wasn't HRT. I feel strongly over this because a close friend's mum had an early meno- around your age- and by 60-ish she had a 'dowager' hump and has been disabled due to pain from osteoporosis for over 20 years. I was diagnosed with osteopenia ( stage before osteoporosis) in my late 40s even though I went on to have a late-ish menopause and had no risk factors. I now have normal bone density after working like mad on the right exercises and HRT.

HRT is used to protect your bones and heart if your menopause is before the average age. You don't have to be suffering with terrible symptoms - but the ones you have sound bad enough anyway.

I think, seriously, you ought to change your GP if you can and ask for a referral to a gynaecologist who has an interest in early meno and prevention of health issues later in life. You GP, frankly, sounds idiotic and certainly uneducated about women's health- who needs stupid comments like that?

[Whatevva]

Whateva yes gin is the way forward methinks

Yes - gin and chocolate - you need a smile to keep going with the healthy eating and exercise (and grown up children who keep coming home )

[mrstweefromtweesville]

Get checked out for polyps in the womb, they can create that effect.

[KathyBeale]

PinkFrocks that is really helpful. My GP retired a while ago and hasn't yet been replaced, meaning the only GP in our practice is the unhelpful man I saw. I will ring them on Monday and see if there's a new GP now, and if not I'm going to change practices. My friend, who's a GP, did say to find out if there are menopause clinics in the area and i found one at King's (I'm in South London) so I'll ask to be referred there too.

Thank you so much for your advice. I've literally not been able to think about this for months, but I feel a bit more able to deal with it now.

[pinkfrocks]

I hope you get on ok Kathy.

There is also a clinic at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital which is led by Dr Nick panay who is one of a handful of meno experts in the UK and was until recently Chairman of the British Menopause Society. If you want any other info, PM me.

[inmyplace]

I've got this too (although I am going through an early menopause, so am a bit younger). Doctor wants to double check its just part of the menopause and nothing else so have to brace myself for the agonies of a hysteroscopy soon. Am wondering if there is anything I can do to make it hurt less as I had one a couple of years ago and the pain was excruciating.
Pinkfrocks- I have osteopenia too- what are the exercises you mention? I am trying to walk more and I run once a week and do pilates once a week.

[pinkfrocks]

The exercises are weight bearing- too complicated to post about but the National Osteoporosis Society does a good book which photos etc showing how to do them. They are simple floor exercises like lunges, squats, push ups against a wall, back exercises on the floor.
Try not to worry about the hysteroscopy- it might be fine this time. I had one and found it relatively painless.

[inmyplace]

Thanks Pinkfrocks - I'll look them up. By the way- do you take calcium supplements?
Hysteroscopy- seems to me from reading up after it hurt last time that it depends on how narrow the tubes are as to whether it hurts or not. I think its OK for some people, not so much for others. I'll be brave though!

[pinkfrocks]

Yes, I take Osteocare calcium- 800mgs a day.

Not sure I understand about the size of the tubes- you mean the instruments they use? It's a 3mm diameter scope. Or the size of the cervix? It's actually harder for women post menopause because the cervical opening can close quite tightly.