Perimenopause and the Coil

[Userxxxxx]

Hi,

I seem to have difficulties here in the home counties getting medics/GP/doctors to believe perimenopause exists. Is this an area thing?

I'm 42 and for the last couple of years have had strange goings on, periods become lighter/non-existent since 2021/22.

May 23 I am scanned at an nhs hospital and told little info other than I have a fibroid.
I'm told menopause won't happen until 50+, peri doesn't exist from the attitude I'd genuinely got and feel now I've had smoke up my backside that I was nowhere near menopause.

March 24 I go for a hysteroscopy under general anesthetic on the nhs - I'm brought around and when asked if a fibroid or polyp was found, told the plain answer of no. I was also advised they fitted a coil which I never got if there was no gynaecology reason.

GP doesn't want to know. Aside from it coming back through pre-op bloods they'd be giving me too much levothyroxine, the nhs consultant was then uncontactable for weeks.

April 24 I go for a private scan at one of those pregnancy/fertility places to be told the fibroid is present (it has got a little bigger and the type has changed) I didn't go there for any other reason except to have liver, kidneys, gallbladder, coil position checked which advised looking fine and coil correctly positioned - however, it was advised from the ovary viewed there is evidence of peri. And quite possibly this is why I have the coil and given the advice to let it remain until 6 months to see as it may help with peri? I was quite relived as I think it explains a few things.

I just don't know where to go - I understand private scans don't have to be accepted by the nhs/primary care and perhaps I've got to the point of wanting to not be prodded and poked whilst seriously not understanding the actions of the nhs hospital where the hysteroscopy took place.

I'm due an appointment for an 'assessment' on a gynae ward next week which could mean anything and with the hospital far from my doorstep I'm in two minds as I've really no idea how long I'd be there for on day and the week-long bleed just had appears to be finally easing up. I was due to have or request the coil out but maybe that is not the smartest move?
My question is how do they know from the coil that peri is advancing? (as I'd understood the coil can sometimes take away periods on its own when it was meant as some sort of treatment for the fibroid)

Thank you.

Wait, you say: “I was also advised they fitted a coil which I never got if there was no gynaecology reason.”.
Did you consent to having a coil inserted? What information were you given beforehand?

That it was treatment for a fibroid the nhs then decided couldn’t be seen when taken down the hysteroscopy route but a private scan picked it up immediately- I was still having bowel problems which are indicative of fibroid/s ie constipation to diarrhoea and due to the way the nhs conducted themselves something felt off so I attended a private scan for my own peace of mind.

I’d have rather they woke me up said nothings wrong, go get coil fitted in the hard way, but I was completely oblivious to the peri as the West Suffolk and East Suffolk and North Essex Trusts don’t recognise peri menopause it seems.

Surely they cannot carry out unnecessary operations for hysterectomy’s when no fibroid exists once down to theatre. I know some people get offered this for large fibroids.

I’ve now told the nhs peri and the fibroid have now been found to which the answer is would I like to see the nhs gynae private - err hell no. So if I’d gone private, I’d got a different answer from that hysterscopy?

I’m just trying to get questions to the coil ‘monitoring’ whilst getting problems of continuous bleeds to night sweats.

It seems I could go to the hospital next week and sit there all day for a 20 minute ‘assessment’ which could get cancelled anytime or I could go to a closer but different hospital and see a specialist coil clinic nurse as first stage with a fixed time in the afternoon, I think I may be better to hold out for next month and go to my nearest hospital and see if they’ll accept questions as it seems the coil was put in for some reason. This different hospital indicated they thought I was missing a conversation as to why the coil was put in for no evident reason when later treating an infection.

It never sat right and I’m glad I had a private scan as soon as I could as I understand sometimes you can’t go on to hrt with a fibroid if I chose to get the coil removed.

I don't understand, who referred you for the gynae assessment and what was it supposed to be for?

And if you think you are in peri, you can ask for some oestrogen to top up your coil.

I'd be tempted to go and see a private gynae. I saw a private gynae a few months ago and was in the first consult for 45 minutes. Then I've had two further follow up consults, plus exploratory surgery.

Im sorry I don't understand
Did you agree beforehand (pre hysteroscopy) to them inserting the mirena?

Interesting what you say though, I was told following ultrasound I had a polyp which would explain the bleeding. Waited a very very long time for the hysteroscopy under GA and they told me afterwards they couldn't see/find it. But very keen to get me to agree to them inserting a mirena regardless. I refused that.

I’m sorry I feel woefully under informed so yes it’s confusing I agree.
I don’t fancy paying to see the nhs gynae as I’ve just been left going round in circles and really don’t want to lose a crucial day so early in my new job so suppose that’s my answer.

I was told the coil had a high probability of stopping periods and would ease fibroid symptoms therefore it is used as a first line treatment while repeatedly telling me the menopause was years away, peri didn’t exist medically but now I’m truly unsure. If I’d known I was closer than I ever thought.

I’m just going to get some questions together for the coil nurse at the hospital willing to take it out and attend that.
Sorry to have troubled you I have no friends who’ve had the coil in to ask the ridiculous questions of what happens when a tool is used to artificially stop cycles at such a turning point.

There's a helpful website called menopause matters which has a chat forum in it, that might be helpful information for you

OP the coil doesn't actually stop your cycles, I still get period pain and some women still bleed a bit each month.

You can still ovulate.

The main benefit is that the progesterone stops the bleed happening in most cases.

And it's usually very beneficial to have the mirena at peri unless you have issues with it. The progesterone can help with sleep and keep your mood calm (the progesterone is delivered locally, but some does become systemic in my opinion).

The other benefit is that you can add some oestrogen to help with any peri symptoms such as night sweats or flushes or anxiety etc.

Thank you, all crap I wasn’t told. Dad reckons he read up the oestrogen coming from the coil helps.
Everyone say’s preserve for x months but there are two crowds
one the coil does suit
and
one the coil doesn’t suit

I’m so torn hopefully the removal hospital laughs at the latest development.

hopefully I get another month with seeing if I have another period.

I appreciate there is menopause cooling cami tops out there, it’s never been better than ever and I could buy an armless nightie etc.