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Menopause

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Original poster

Aaargh, just want periods to be finished and done with!

80 replies

Horsemad · 25/08/2012 21:32

I am so sick of having periods Sad I am 48 and have HAD ENOUGH.

Today, I have had to change a super plus tampon every hour, my insides feel like they're falling out and I'm passing clots the size of 50p pieces.
Not a good combination when you need to be out and about uniform shopping!

I stupidly thought 'hey, I'm liking this' after missing a period in June, started the next one in July, bled for 4 weeks (not as heavy as today, but still fairly heavy) a week after I stopped bleeding from that one, I've come on again. Grrrr!

I'm due a routine blood test next week for anaemia; what's the betting I'm back on iron tablets by the w/e? Sad

OP posts:
SecretSquirrels · 31/08/2012 09:39

My sister and two good friends have Mirena and all very happy with it.
Surely a trial of that is better than major surgery and all the risks that go with that?

Original poster
Horsemad · 31/08/2012 21:31

I had a blood test today and I asked the nurse what my levels were last time (in May) as the doctor never puts the levels in the letter - he just says they're dropping and re-test in 3 to 4 months time. She said it was 4 which she said is 'quite low' .

After last week's bleed, I'm surprised I have any blood left, so am fully expecting it to have dropped further - is that even possible? Sad

OP posts:
LavenderOil · 02/09/2012 09:03

Apparently I cannot have the ablation as I have fibroids.

One of my friends had the mirena and after a week or agony she went back to the gp, was told it would be there for 3 months and she had to let it settle. It didn't and she had cramps, bleeding, almost went insane with the pmt stuff. They took it out after a month. Others had the bleeding more or less all the time.

I cannot begin to think of trying something which could worsen the situation. Mini pill was offered, but I think there was weight gain as side effect. I am gaining anyway and don't need any more help there!

So I either battle on with the tranexamic acid (thanks for the heads up that you can buy over the counter now) or head to hysterectomy.

CocoLePew, lucky you, How was the op. How did they do it? If you don't mind revealing your age it would be useful. How long are you off work, or advised not to do much? Sorry for all the questions. I am very jealous!

cocolepew · 02/09/2012 10:10

Im 43, I needed it for adenmyosis. It was keyhole vaginal assisted. Its hideously sore at the moment, have terrible wind pains too. Not allowed to lift more than half a full kettle for 2 weeks, no standing for a significant time, everything should be settling down after 6 weeks then reindroduce acitivies slowly.

I'll be off weeks for minimum of 8 weeks , there is a lot of standing and lifting in my job.

LavenderOil · 02/09/2012 21:51

oh thanks for the info. Hope you feel better very soon. Are you in hosp for long? Sorry more questions!

CuttedUpPear · 02/09/2012 22:07

Hello all.

I have the Mirena. It was the best thing I have ever done. I've had one since 2002, and that was the date of my last period too.

It has been fucking bliss. 10 years without a period, without feeling like I've run into a brick wall of pain every month, without having to fork out for sanitary towels. It took a few months to settle in with a few twinges and stuff but I've not heard from it since (have had it changed at 7 years though).

The best thing of all though - I am more level emotionally than I've ever been in my life. I'm used to this state of mind now but for the first few years it was a revelation. I feel more confident and capable than I used to. I am not a big cry baby any more.

I'm sorry for those who it doesn't work out for but I just wanted to put my hand up here and say I am a real person Grin

cocolepew · 02/09/2012 23:08

No problem about questions Grin. I had it done on wednesday at 5ish and got home on friday at 3. I could have stayed in but preferred my own bed. Because the drain etc was out and I was able to pee they were happy enough for me to go.

hattifattner · 02/09/2012 23:15

LavenderOil, i had an ablation with fibroids.

OP, I did not get on with mirena. 8 months of periods, with a total of 4 non consecutive weeks off in that time. And when I wasnt bleeding, I had bacterial vaginosis and 2x group B strep infections. which gave me (TMI warning) copious bright yellow discharge. I also gained 18lbs.

lovely female gynae took it out and did an ablation. 1 day of cramps, 1 month of light discharge, no periods since. 18lbs weight lost rapidly.

LavenderOil · 03/09/2012 14:31

coco - that sounds fab. only 2 nights in hosp. I could cope with that.

hatti - I am not sure why my gp said I couldn't have it then, if you have. Oh the dilemma!
As for your nightmare with the mirena hatti, that is exactly what scares me. I just know i would be in your gang with all those probs.

Cutted - glad it worked for you. I would have had it if I could be sure I wouldn't suffer the side effects, but I cannot take the risk of suffering while they force you to go through the settling down period.

CuttedUpPear · 03/09/2012 17:48

Well.... I had to go and get my smear test done today (reward=one choc eclair from reduced section).
I was chatting to the nurse about Mirena coils and she said that in all her years fitting them she'd only ever had one patient feel that it wasn't working for her (after two weeks). She said that the are very well received by everyone else and has never removed any because they were causing problems.

On the minus side, it's time for me to get mine changed. Shock Sad
I mentioned that I'd had a bit of spotting about two months ago and we worked out that the present coil I have in was changed 6 years ago and she thinks it might not be working.

She has sent me for a pregnancy test

I am 46 with 2 grown children

Sheeet....

hattifattner · 03/09/2012 18:32

lavender, ask for a gynae referral? My lady Gynae said fibroids were to be expected when ladies get to "a certain age". I think it may depend on the type of fibroid, its location and size as to whether or not it will interfere with the ablation procedure. If you havent had an internal scan, you wouldnt know where the fibroids were. She also said (before my scan) that they can be tied off/ removed sometimes while they're doing the ablation.

Having been through all the treatments, it seems that the standard route is the transexamic acid (and another one...cant remember the name) and if they dont work, mirena or other hormone contraceptive, then ablation, then hysterectomy.

Cutted....scary! Have you peed on a stick yet?

LavenderOil · 03/09/2012 20:03

cutlery OMG !!!!!

hatti - i have had theinternal scan as i was referred on from my gp to ascertain the cause of the bleeding. largest fibroid 2 years ago was 4cm. been on tranexamic acid for 10 blinking years! Sometimes it works and i have what one would call an ordinary period. sometimes its a bloddbath!! sorry tmi.

So when i went back to my gp they suggested the coil or mini pill, ablation they said was not a procedure for me. I suggested hysterectomy, they said its major op blah blah and sent me away to consider the coil
So that was afew months back and i haven't bothered to return. If I do return, it will be because i will be demanding a hysterectomy andbe done with the whole thing.

MissBoPeep · 03/09/2012 21:06

Lavender

I think you need a re-think and some expert advice.. GPs with all due respect are not experts.

A 4cm fibroid is tiny. My nrighbour had one the size of a grapefruit- had it removed and still had a lot of bleeding up to meno. A friend has one the size of her fist, so her gynae says. I have one that is small- not sure how big but it doesn't gve me any problems.

You are putting up a lot of barriers on treatment that might work, on the experience of 2 friends- there are a lot more women who have positive experiences.

Same for the mini -ill- you don't know it would cause weight gain do you- you are assuming!

If you aren't prepared to try anything, then you have no options.

I think that if you really want help you should ask to see a gynae- or maybe even 2!- to get an opinion on what really can be done.

cocolepew · 03/09/2012 21:23

There is a hysterectomy thread in health, some of the posters on it have had massive fiboids removed, 4 cms is tiny. It may have been only 2 days in hospital but I'm at home on bedrest for at least 2 weeks and a recovery time of up to 15 weeks.

hattifattner · 03/09/2012 22:06

Id agree with missbopeep. See a gynae and discuss all the options. Id even urge you to try the mirena. I also have many friends for whom it has been fantastic, they are delighted with it. None of my mirena mates have had any issues, just me. Even my gynae says its like marmite - you either love it, or you hate it. Thing is, you have to try it first.

I really wanted it to work, and I put up with 8 months of bleeding because the alternative bloodbath was too horrendous. The weight gain was horrible, but again, the alternative was worse. This meant that when I saw the gynae again, I could hand on heart tell her I had really given it a really fair shake, and I was able to tell her the negative symptoms I had experienced so she had a really good idea of why I needed an alternative.

MissBoPeep · 03/09/2012 22:27

I don't know if this could be offered but removal of the fibroid and an ablation under the same op is surely not out of the question?

A hysterectomy usually brings on an earlier menopause, and there is the additional risk of prolapse and injury to the bladder and bowels ( rarely.) It is now only offered as a last resort after everything else has been tried.

CuttedUpPear · 03/09/2012 22:27

No I haven't peed on a stick saving my pennies for nappies - I have got a pot to pee in next week.

When we will discover that I am NOT effing up the duff!

LavenderOil · 04/09/2012 08:30

Thank you people. It was a gyanae who did the internal scan and wrote the report back to the gp . That is where I am confused!

May make an appointment again to see whats happening.

LavenderOil · 04/09/2012 08:30

cuttedUp- Would it be the end of the world? I think it would be quite lovely!!

CuttedUpPear · 04/09/2012 09:19

LavenderOil I think it's bit forward of you to say it would be quite lovely for me to have another child at 47 Grin

A lovely thought yes. But I'm a self employed single mother with back problems and some kind of ligament damage to my ankle so I am limping all the time and considering going on the sick as I can't work properly.
Also I have no support network were I live and an elderly and frail DF to drive to visit all the time.

No it wouldn't be a good thing to happen now. Even though I do adore babies.

Original poster
Horsemad · 05/09/2012 21:30

Jeez Cutted, I think I'd pass out if that happened to me!

My friend at work has a Mirena and she went back as she was having problems and the gynae who checked it said it had 'slipped' Shock and it had to be re-fitted!

Imagine if she'd got pregnant - she's just turned 50!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Horsemad · 07/09/2012 15:39

Had blood test results which said although on the low side, they are stable so have another test in 3 months.

OP posts:
digerd · 08/09/2012 17:34

One young GP told me that his mother sailed through it doing yoga!!! Every woman is different, as in life some are luckier than others. I am now 68 and still on HRT, but when a traumatic event happens, I get one again. It's called a " breakthrough on HRT". When it first happened at age 54, I was sent to Emergencey at hospital, but was told it was normal for some women, but then, just incase, I had a scrape and biopsies, and bled with pain for 6 weeks afterwards. needless to say when it happened again several times, including this year, I didn't bother going to GP as knew what he was obliged to do, and stuck it out by coming off HRT until bleeding stopped. But during this time I always had bouts of depression and crying etc. And couldn't wait to go back on it. My sister though, stayed on the mini contraceptive pill until the age of 55 when she looked like 35, and had no symptoms. When she came off the pill, she still had no problems at all, but she did begin to show ageing !!!! But at 65, she looks very good. But then she was born lucky. I went on the HRT at 49 and immediately got rid of the night sweats and nightmares and terrible aching bones in bed, and heavy legs and muzzy head during the day. But my periods had become very light . Sorry for those experiencing such awful effects, HRT is usually wonderful for most people

digerd · 08/09/2012 17:47

Not impossible to get pregnant at 47, but it is rare, and at 50, only with IVF with a doner egg.. .I know of 2 women who gave birth at 47, and one at 46, naturally. The 46 year-old was a famous english actress and had never got pregnant, so when she missed her periods for 6 months and put on a bit of weight, she went to GP thinking it was the menapause, and was told she was 6 months pregnant. They showed her at 49 with her 3 year-old daughter and she was delighted with her surprise.

Bellaciao · 09/09/2012 12:52

digerd quite worrying to have a bleed at 68 but interested to hear you are still on HRT! What HRT do you use and have you had the same for years? I presume you are on continuous combined HRT if you don't normally have bleeding? I am 59 and have been on it for 5 1/2 years and don't intend to stop - but I have chosen to go the cyclical route - which means I have a bleed (that I expect) every 2 months - but wondering whether long term it would be better to be on continuous prog - although I really don't like the idea as I think it interferes with some of the beneficial effects of oestrogen. Not looking forward to regular bleeding when in my 60's though - but it's all a choice.
Cherie Blair became pregnant with No. 4 child at age 46 I believe.