"Btw you are menopausal, so we need to check this cyst further"

[lborgia]

I've been to the gp today to follow up a tv ultrasound because I have persistent, strong, ovarian pain. The sonographer said that there was an ovarian cyst that was just within normal limits, but was surprised I was getting so much referred pain (down my leg). Anyway, also had bloods done and still in alot of pain, so went to get results and ask what I could take for the pain.

Wasn't my original gp, but when my bloods came up he said, oh, well this says you're menopausal, so I'll call you and track down the ultrasound report as that makes it more important to check.

Weirdly, I'm not particularly worried about the cyst, but burst into tears when I got in the car because I'm menopausal, which is ridiculous. I had a complete ablation a couple of years ago because of constant bleeding, so no way of telling from a cycle, so am struggling to understand why this has hit me so hard.

Any thoughts? My closest girlfriend is away, and dh would be sympathetic but baffled, and more worried about the report....

What were your blood test results?

Um, frustratingly he printed them out for me, but forgot to do the hormone ones. I will go and get them on Monday. Do you think he might be wrong?

Possibly! I think menopause/peri is more diagnosed on symptoms than blood tests, so I'm interested to know what it was. Do you feel like you might be? How old are you? Mine was 12 and my doctor said FSH is unreliable and not to worry about it. I'm 39.

Well I'll have a look, I know there was fsh, ostrediol?, and something else...

I suppose I still need to come to terms with the fact that this has been coming a long time. I'm 48, and was first told I was peri menopausal about 5 years ago. It should not be a shock! It is true that my symptoms probably line up. 5 years ago I had a few months of horrible hot flushes, but since then I'm now on thinning hair, really sudden weight gain, and my skin looks like my mum's if that makes sense, still good, but thinner, drier, slightly more paper-ish.

Also vaginal dryness and weeing issues... I think that covers it!

Hello, well apparently it's pretty conclusive, fsh was 55, estradiol, 11....?

I've been given a script for tibolone, but will ask pharmacist again because I've had endometriosis before, and that seems to be a contraindication.

I'm still reeling a bit, but ploughing on with reading, organising, because it stops me being miserable.

Try not to worry- easier said than done.

It sounds as if you are def in peri but one single blood test is not always accurate.

I had the same experience, though I didn't have any peri symptoms.
I had a blood test (for other reasons, seeing a gynae) and it showed I was post menopause. I assured him I was having regular periods. He laughed and said it proved the point.
I went on to have periods for another 18 months (at least.)

I also had a cyst that was discovered at the time, The limit is 5cms and up to that size they follow the guidelines of 'watchful waiting'. This means they will possibly scan you every few months.

Mine went away but took 2 years and I had scans every 4-6 months (privately - insured- not sure if the NHS would do it so often.)

Wondering about the Tibolone- I thought it was one of the better HRTs if you'd had bleeding issues as it didn't stimulate the womb lining as much?

Sorry to hear that @lborgia.