Whats happening to my mil?

[babytime]

Just got off the phone to my mil who is 58 going on 59 and is worried about her periods.

Her whole life she has had very heavy periods and in the last few years they have been stopping and starting.

A year ago she thought they had finished but they came back two weeks ago and not gone since. So basically she has been bleeding for two weeks. She said its not really heavy.

She even had period pains and the pain you get on one side before it starts.

I keep on at her to go see her gp and she said she will but you know what its like trying to make someone you care look after themselve!

Is this normal for the menopause?

[babytime]

bump

[zippitippitoes]

i dont know much about this butg i would be firm in steering her to the gp

she wouldnt be making a fuss and yes she deserves some care and input on this

it is important she goes to have a proper check up

[babytime]

she promised me she will make an app for next week - i will stay on her case.

[WingsofaAngel]

Would you be able to go with her to the gp or do you live to far away ?

[reethi96]

She must go to the GP. My sister had the exact symptoms and it turned out to be cancer of the womb. Please book her an appt tomorrow. If it is cancer of the womb it has a 95% cure rate if caught early.

I am sorry to alarm you, I hope everything turns out okay.

Oh and don't let the GP fob her off by saying it is the menopause without carrying out any tests.

[babytime]

I guess I could, but I dont want to bug her!

I'll ask her if she minds me coming along - good idea!

[zippitippitoes]

its the sort of thing i would do not go and hope it would go away

but its good she has you to talk to

[zippitippitoes]

and i would be less inclined to go if i was scared it was something serious like cancer

[babytime]

REALLY?

OH MY GOD!

I will tell her that to scare her into it.

Dont think I will say it until Monday though, dont want her to spend the weekend worrying.

What kind of test, do they take bloods there.

Was your sister ok? How old is she?

Is this not normal with the menopause?

[margoandjerry]

agree you should chivvy her to the docs but just to give a positive story this happened to my stepmother (same age exactly). Dr got her an emergency referral for a scan and all was well. Can't remember the reason but it was nothing to worry about but it was pleasing that the doc took it so seriously.

[jesuswhatnext]

woah!!!!!! fgs don't metion cancer!!!! her own imagination will be running riot without your help

it could be any number of things very much less sinister, fibroids, anemia, cysts etc

fwiw, it is rather nice to find someone on mns who actually likes her MIL.

hope she is ok!

[babytime]

haa haa - im lucky to have a lovely mil.

we get on very well.

spoke to her today and she is booking an app on Monday.

Thanks for all your advice x

[WingsofaAngel]

Glad she has made an appointment. Let us know how she gets on.

[girlnextdoor]

She must see her dr immediately- she is well past menopause even allowing for a late one at 55-56.

My gynae wanted to look inside my uterus after just ONE slightly unexpected bleed cos my hormone tests were showing post-meno- and I am only 53.

It does sound like uterine cancer, tbh. She needs to see a gynae asap.

Good luck.

[girlnextdoor]

Tests- they will do possibly an scan and most likely a hysteroscopy- camera into uterus- local or no anaesthesia.

Fibroids do not usually cause bleeding post meno-they shrink and do not bleed unless you are having periods.

I suspect she has had other bleeding that she is not telling you about- most gynaes say even 1 DROP years after meno must be investigated.

Glad you are being so caring!

[babytime]

That is really worrying - i feel a bit sick.

I just hope these are early signs and its not something she has been ignoring for awhile.

i dont want to scare her but if i find out she did not go see her gp I will tell her what you said.

thanks

[LIZS]

It may turn out to be polyps which can be easily treated.

[girlnextdoor]

Is she up to date with her smears?

I don't want to alarm you, and sorry if I did, but unless you ( and we)know the whole story, it is hard to say.

You see, the latest age for meno is usually 55-56 at MOST- maybe there is the very unique person who goes over that, but average age in UK is 51.

If she has had a year without any bleeding, then she would be considered past meno and therefore she must report any further bleeding asap. If she has had off and on bleeding for years, then it should have been looked into, as it is very unusual for a woman going on 59 to bleed at all. It would be VERY unusual for her to be bleeding right up to 57 anyway- if that is what she thought was happening ( normal periods til 57).

Polyps etc can cause bleeding when the uterus is "fertile", but when it is not the lining should not be thick enough to bleed. it could be from her cervix.

Let us know how she gets on.

[babytime]

The doctors were aware of her still having periods (some months she didnt get any) up until they stopped a year ago, her smears are up to date and they didnt say it was a bad thing for her to still have periods.

I will make sure she goes next week and get checked out. I am not sure if its because she is a large lady (quite overweight) and that she has had lots of children.

[reethi96]

Hope everything goes okay at the appointment.

[girlnextdoor]

Hopefully it will just be hormonal- certainly over weight women have more oestrogen, so she may have just had a very late menopause. However, any bleeding after a year long gap has to be investigated.

[girlnextdoor]

Any update?