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Menopause

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Menopause, linked to Covid or something else?

5 replies

DianeC2020 · 20/11/2021 22:59

Hi everyone.

Apologies for the long post.

About 18 months ago, I got Covid (although no testing was available, my family all suffered the same symptoms). Until that point, I had not had a period for several years - I was taking the progesterone only pill (Desogestrol).

Almost overnight, my periods returned - heavy and every few weeks. They have since become worse with the bleeding. I get about 9 days of bleeding, two weeks off, then it starts again. I went to see the GP about it months later and I had scans and various tests. Nothing showed, so they pushed me to have the Mirena coil. I had it fitted and now, 6 months on, it's falling out, so they're having to take it out and put a new one in (gotta wait until the new year). I have asked the medical staff whether they think this is linked to the Covid I had, but all have said there is absolutely no link. Recently, in the media, I am hearing many stories of women's menstrual cycles affected after either having Covid or the jab. So my worry is that the medical staff I have encountered don't seem to be as knowledgable as I'd hoped.

The strange thing is this - in those 18 months, I have become short of breath more and more with chest pains and a heart that seems to flutter. Have any of you had this during menopause? Could it be anaemia? I was tested for the latter, and although low, they were not bothered.

I am keen to get this checked out, but I'm also worried I will see the same staff who may get my diagnosis wrong. I'd like to find out if this is normal. I just seem so fatigued all the time - I have to sit down for a few minutes after climbing stairs, ironing, walking etc.

OP posts:
Libelula21 · 20/11/2021 23:09

How old are you, OP?

There are lots of anecdotes about strange effects out there.

After my second vaccine, I didn’t get a period for 90 days, but I’m 46 and my periods were already becoming erratic

WarriorN · 21/11/2021 07:36

I think I'd be starting from scratch with what's going on and asking them to rule out lots of things, and help you improve some things eg iron (was it ferritin?) to see if it helps.

How old are you? As then, after monitoring the other things for a bit perhaps looking at hrt could be an option.

Your symptoms are similar to how I was when hypothyroid. I was also very constipated and I actually lost weight though many gain (I was in my 20s though.)

I know a woman who had Covid and has similar long lasting effects re what she can do, getting out of breath etc.

I've also had low ferritin and had similar symptoms despite thyroid levels being ok, and the impact of raising it over 80 from around 35 was huge for me. They're only allowed to actually treat if absolutely on the floor. (I use Spatone with vit c x2 and followed instructions religiously. For me it works really well. You'd need to be tested though after a few months as also too high is bad.)

I also recently took extra b12 on top of my usual b complex and noticed an improvement in brain fog. My blood levels were middling low but not deficient. I've seen an nhs study into links between b12 and Covid.

However, peri and menopause can obviously cause a lot of issues too.

So it's really what exactly is the issue for you. Fwiw I found peri symptoms (particularly hot flushes and post period exhaustion ) have increased for a while after each Covid jab, and my flu jab!

Whataday21 · 21/11/2021 07:54

Could be low iron now you've started bleeding again. But yes, the jab did affect my cycle as I track them and get a graph.

ragged · 21/11/2021 10:55

MN seems to be full of women age 38+ with absolutely bizarre (in their minds) sudden huge period changes that they are sure are linked to (peri)menopause.

These anecdotes have been very common on MN for years, long before covid was a thing.

WarriorN · 21/11/2021 11:49

@ragged

MN seems to be full of women age 38+ with absolutely bizarre (in their minds) sudden huge period changes that they are sure are linked to (peri)menopause.

These anecdotes have been very common on MN for years, long before covid was a thing.

My (male) Gp friend said he'd had a lot of reports of it.

It was hot flushes for me. But the flu jab did the same too.

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