What was the cause of super heavy (menstrual) bleeding (sorry if TMI)

[BoBaraMoMara]

I am supposed to be fully in menopause. Have been happily on non- sequential HRT for 6 months.
Haven't had a period in 6 years or any bleeding.

Last night I started bleeding and cramping quite heavy. I was really shocked as it has been so long.

Today the bleeding has just increased to being very very heavy. Soaking a pad in an hour and lots of clots.

I can't remember the illness that can cause this- I remember the MNer here who had very heavy bleeding and went to A&E and it was very serious.

Please can anyone remind me what the illness was so I can see if I have any other symptoms.

Also, anyone ever experienced this type of bleeding 6 months into HRT?

I hope you are ok
FWIW I sometimes have terrible pains on my HRT bleed (sequi as I've chosen to use that type event though well into post meno). A routine scan found evidence of adenomyosis (small amount) and it's clearly activated by the HRT.

You might want to have a read up of the Daisy network site if you've not already because I'm sure it says that women who have POF can sometimes become 'fertile' again for no reason. So it could be a re-surgence of your own hormones and the HRT prep not being enough to control the bleeding if it's low dose progestogen.

PMing you.

Glad to hear the bleeding has stopped, OP. Please do not feel embarrassed! This thread could help so many women, definitely something that needs to be talked about more.

Thank you, blue and miss

Oh dear, polly I did say to DH that I wonder if it could just be a return of menstruation causing this - but to be fertile, I hadn't even thought of that. Will be sure to take precautions until I know for certain. What a horrible thought!

Not that I want DH anywhere near me after his suggestion to wrap myself in a bin liner to sleep in rather than protecting the bed!!! He was serious and thought it was a clever idea.

This is from the drop down menu on the Daisy network under 'what is POI'.

POI is different to menopause that occurs at around the average age (52 years). Not only does it occur at a very young age, but the ovaries often don’t completely fail. This means that ovarian function can fluctuate over time, occasionally resulting in a period, ovulation or even pregnancy, several years after diagnosis. Because of this intermittent temporary return of ovarian function, approximately 5-10% of women with POI may still conceive.

Thanks, polly have PMed you.

Have also looked up adenomyosis - but why is it different from endometriosis? Just that it breaks through the womb rather than forming outside of the womb?

Adeno is an overgrowth of the lining in the actual muscles layer of the uterus whereas endo is on the surface of organs anywhere in the pelvis. Adeno tends to be more painful because the bleed happens in muscle tissue.

Keep coming back to this thread to check on how you are OP. Please don't feel embarrassed for posting, it's important to talk about these things and that's exactly what this place is for.

I have endo & adenomyosis - oh the joys. Like Polly says, it's a thickening of the womb wall which can be more painful, but doesn't necessarily cause heavy bleeding.

Thank you, polly and un

I am still in pain and have to take the codeine tablets regularly. The combination of the other medications is keeping the bleeding under control but if reduce the medications (as they really are hard on my stomach) then the bleeding kicks back off very heavy again.

I guess I will keep taking the medications until I am seen by the Gynae. The doctor who discharged me said that I should be seen this week - well, it's Thursday and I have not heard anything yet.

I have been ok once the bleeding was under control but now I am getting worried and just want to get the cancer screening behind me and tweak the HRT if that is what is needed.

I also have a holiday booked starting the 31st! But I will not miss cancer screening no matter what - will just have to go later than everyone else if I need to. Thanks for your kindness

I would chase the urgent referral. My DD had an urgent referral from St Thomas' to a urology consultant at Guy's a few years ago after an acute kidney infection. After many phone calls it was found in the in tray of the consultant's secretary who was on holiday for 3 weeks! I remember thinking it was sad that I had to be so assertive, what would have happened if we had need non-English speaking, inarticulate or less assertive I don't know.

I thought about that lazy but I don't know who to chase?

The hospital discharge letter said that my GP surgery should make the referral. My DH phoned and they did make the referral on Monday evening (which was super super fast given that I was only discharged Monday evening). But I don't know where the referral went. I guess I could phone the GP office and find out. At least then I would know where I am going.

Sorry, just thinking out loud here a bit. Will phone the GP office now.

Sorry for being so dense - just spoke to the surgery - they did make the referral and have already heard back from the Hospital confirming that the Hospital is in receipt of the referral and will be booking me in under the 2 week rule. Fingers crossed it is soon.

What kind of screening are you having? Is it a pelvic ultrasound? Have they not done that already? I'd assume they did it as a matter of course given the symptoms. You could probably have this done privately in under 2 weeks if you wanted to (but there may not be that much in it, timewise if you are seen within 2 weeks NHS.)

Polly - in the hospital they made the decision to admit me for the leg - (my leg has swelled and calf was tender) so I was not on a Gynae unit.

They did a doppler on my leg for DVT and X-ray for infection, and blood tests and regular BP/heart rate for the bleeding.

The doctor said that I couldn't have gynae tests then because they had to get the bleeding under control before tests could be done. They did some gyane examinations but nothing related to cancer, just related to trying to stop the bleeding.

So I will be seeing an NHS Gynae and my understanding is that I keep the bleeding under control so that when I see them they take me straight away for biopsy and scans.

I am reluctant to go private for this, yes, I would probably be seen tomorrow but if it is cancer, then I can't afford to pay for private cancer treatment anyway so might as well be on the NHS.

However, I've totted up the prices as per the price list and will give it some thought though and talk to DH this evening. Perhaps if I had a private consultation the consultant might say that I didn't need tests anyway and that this is horomonal.

sorry, am a bit all over the place. the codeine is at peak right now.

I think the usual practise is that if it were cancer you'd go back to the NHS anyway if that was your choice, but having said that, private cover (medical) is usually very generous for cancer treatment.

I hope you get some answers. The NHS can be brilliant but the downside is they seem to work 'to rule' and don't offer a one-stop shop- everything has to be done piecemeal rather than taking a patient and scanning them for everything within 48 hours or even on the day!

Polly is correct you can be diagnosed privately then switch to the NHS for treatment. I am an ex HCP. I agree with Polly that this likely to be hormonal. Polly are you my double with think the same way?!

I was looking into DHs private medical cover - it won't kick in until next year unfortunately so I will have to continue to completely pay privately for all private appointments at this time. I could just go for the consultation and see what tests he'd recommend and what hormone adjustments.

I do understand that I could have a private diagnosis and NHS care but it's the private testing that I don't want to pay for - I would imagine around £2 - £3,000 for a comprehensive battery of tests. I have already spent thousands this year on my private medical care, it just seems like a black hole!

But the bastard pain is starting to worry me. Agh. So sick of all this.

I'd hate to be wrong for obvious reasons, but I don't think cancer shows itself as this kind of flooding in younger women. It's more of discharge with an intermittent longer 'show' of blood like a scanty period, I understand.

I pay around £300 for a scan with a consultant radiologist and have paid under a £100 for processing a pipelle biopsy. A private hysteroscopy if required is around £2K.

I would get an expert opinion on tweaking hormones as a one off consultation after the cancer screening. Tweaking may need more expertise than a GP can provide.

Hopefully the NHS gynae will be able to advise if the hormones need tweaking. Am mulling over this.

Hi there, just to let you know I haven't quite read the whole thread, I've read most of it though. I really feel for you OP, I'm not menopausal but I suffered heavy periods when I first started between 12-13, it really is a nuisance and luckily for me it calmed down after a long time. I hope everything goes well for you OP.

Hope you've heard something by now OP.

Just wanted to add my two penneth worth re chasing up the referral. When they suspected ovarian cancer with me, they were brilliant, super quick. I was also assigned a specialist nurse who I could call any time for advice or support. Amazing stuff.

But things were different when I had to be treated the second time.

I suffered a 'lost' referral (which was miraculously found when I complained to the health board),

Then an admin who decided, that even though the consultant had decided to refer me, that because I had called and asked a question I needed to be seen by that consultant again before they would refer me (I didn't - and the consultant agreed with me when I complained to the health board AGAIN!)

Once I was finally referred to the right place, I was so thoroughly pissed off that I called them weekly to ask about progress. I found that the consultant's secretary was the best person to speak to, as they really knew what they were talking about and even though they couldn't expedite my case, I was comforted by the fact that I was on the list and wasn't going to get lost or shunted off to the bottom of the pile.

Now, in your case, you're on a fast track referral because of the risk of cancer. So you shouldn't have too many problems - BUT, don't be afraid to call and ask. If you know the name of the consultant you've been referred to, then call the hospital general number and ask to be put through to the consultant's secretary. Tell them you're due to go on holiday on the 31st, they should be able to tell you if you're likely to be seen before that or not.

Good luck

Oh, thank you un - I have just spent about an hour chasing up the referral and am nearing tears which is silly - it's at a different hospital from the one that the GP told me.

However, I am REALLY worried that I was just told that the 2 week deadline for appointment is 4th of April as I guess I stupidly thought it would be the 31st.

I am meant to leave on holiday on the 31st - this wouldn't normally matter to me as it is just me and the DCs (DH hasn't taken off work) and I would just cancel and claim on travel insurance BUT I've invited 2 other families along (just mums and DCs - but still it's SEVEN additional people!) and I'm the "host" on the holiday. I don't want to let them down - not that they wouldn't understand, it's just that I really would like to go if I can. 11 people will miss their 10 day holiday if I cancel. For various reasons they can't go without me. (I let from a friend and can have friends only if I am there.)

This is so stupid - I am fairly certain that I don't have cancer - so I could probably be seen privately tomorrow and have all tests and pay £3,000 and go on holiday or I could save the bloody money and stress and fret and possibly come back from hols to the appointment and then go back to hols (much cheaper than spending £3k) I really don't fancy spending £3,000 to find out that I don't have cancer.

I am still in pain though and that does worry me. The bleeding has pretty much stopped completely and I am only taking lower doses of the medications.

Going to call exhausted DH and see what he thinks we should do.