Taking HRT for 5 years and suddenly have a period

[DereksGotATail]

Just as the title says really.
I've been taking Tibolone 2.5mg tablets for the last 5 years without any problems and without having a period. I'm currently 49 years old.
Last week I felt " not right" for 2 days and kept getting a throbbing pain in my lower right hand side. I initially thought I had appendicitis but then I started bleeding. My period lasted for 5 days, normal flow.
Has anyone else experienced this? I was hoping that I was done and dusted with periods .

[wheredoesallthetimego]

Go to the Gp. You'll need an urgent referral to gynaecology.

[DereksGotATail]

I had a routine blood pressure check and mentioned it to the nurse. She said it was perfectly normal even after I repeated that it had been 5 years since my last period.
Maybe I should have pushed the point and asked to see a doctor.

[PollyPerky]

You need a scan. The 'rule' is if you bleed after 12 months with no natural periods, you should have a pelvic scan. There is a 2-week referral rule.

It's highly unlikely to be serious but you should see your GP.
It's not 'normal' so the nurse is wrong.

[DereksGotATail]

Thank you for your replies - I will make an appointment with the doctor.

[wheredoesallthetimego]

Formal complaint about the nurse please. That's dangerous and she needs educating that if she doesn't know the answer she asks someone rather than making it up.

[PollyPerky]

I agree that you need to bring this error to the attention of the nurse of the GPs in your practice. It's very bad advice from her, and worse considering the guidelines on post menopausal bleeding are very clear. Hardly rocket science so if she's monitoring women with HRT she has not had much training it seems!

[DereksGotATail]

Just an update on case anyone else having the same sort of trouble...
I have a doctors appointment for next week which may involve an examination.
I might have to come off the tablets for a few months so that blood tests can be conducted (taking the tablets will give false readings). I've felt marvellous on these tablets so coming off them isn't really appealing but I'll see what the doc says next week.

[wheredoesallthetimego]

Glad it's getting sorted. What was the response to your complaint about the nurse's dangerous advice?

[PollyPerky]

I'm not sure what you mean. Your GP must refer you for a pelvic scan within 2 weeks. They can't scan you at the surgery.

You don't need to stop HRT to have a scan. Blood tests are not the point here- they need to do an ultrasound to see if there is anything amiss with your uterine lining. This is the standard procedure. Please question this and push for what is required.

[DereksGotATail]

I was going to mention the nurses advice to the doctor next week.
I made the appointment on a call back service. The receptionist takes basic details and a doctor rings back to determine whether an appointment is needed or not to discuss the matter further.
I will push for a scan when I speak to the doc in person next week.
I was originally prescribed the tablets by a doctor who specialises in the menopause so if the doc I see next week isn't very helpful then I will contact her (I haven't contacted her this time as she does the menopause clinics once a week and is usually booked a few weeks in advance).

[DereksGotATail]

Update - I've seen the doc. She gave me an examination to check that everything looked ok up there. She is now referring me for a scan.
Thank you for the advice.
She is going to follow up the incorrect advice that I was given.

[LuluandtheNightshade]

If you were post-menopausal when you started the Tibolone (it is designed for post-meno) then any bleeding beyond the possible initial settling-in period of time ( a few months?) should be investigated. One of the risks of Tibolone is endometrial thickening - so scan in the first instance is the absolute minimum and if it turns out to be thickened then you should have a biopsy too. Although some practices say that the advice for bleeding on continuous HRT (which Tibolone sort of is) is to stop the HRT and then see if the bleeding continues and then investigate if necessary - all bleeding like this (years after no bleeding) should be investigated immediately as has been said and especially with Tibolone. I hope your scan will be soon? No need to be alarmed but good to be looked at sooner rather than later.