confusing symptoms

[beckybarefoot]

according to the GP i am well and truely through Menopause. About 3 years ago i had a bleed and tests revealed the lining of my uterus was 5.2mm thick and i had a polyp which was removed.

fast forward to now, and once again a bleed.. tests hae revealed my uterus is now at 8.2mm.. no sign of polyp's but i have to have further investiations.

BUT.. some of my menopause symtoms have come back.. hot flushes and sweating like a pig, mood swings and the most horrendous cramping, and excrucitling pain in my left side?

I am aware, I'm now in an 'at risk' category and I am fully aware of where these new investigations are taking me.. but what could explain the return of the symptoms.

How old are you and when was your last ‘period’?
Im assuming you’re not on HRT?

I can understand why you're confused @beckybarefoot

When your GP said you were post menopause, had you gone a whole year with no period?

If you're over 50 that would usually mean you were post-meno, but in younger women periods do sometimes come back after a year.

The point about your flushes etc- these 'peri' symptoms (flushes, sweats etc) don't stop when women are post-menopause. They often start then for many women, and carry on indefinitely for some women (unless they use HRT.)

I guess what you're asking is if you are post-meno at all ?

That depends on why your dr decided you were post meno (and if they were right.)

i am 57 years old... my last period was 2019... i then had a bleed at 2021 which lasted 1 week and turned out to by polyps. i then have not had a bleed since then, so 3 more years and i had spotting 2 weeks ago.

no HRT, not allowed anything like that due to family history of DVT and breast cancer, so i've done it all unmedicated so far.

I didnt realise these symptoms would carry on after it had all finished? thats annoying

It may be another polyp.

When you say you aren't allowed HRT because of family history, what exactly is that?

I can direct you to a video on the British Menopause Society website if that is of any use where a consultant (professor) discusses this.

The only reasons not to use HRT are if you have had some types of breast cancer or a recent heart attack or stroke.

Not all types of HRT have a clotting risk and some types actually reduce the risks of CVD.

The medical facts are you should be cautious of using HRT if you have 2 first-degree relatives with BC at a young age- that means your Mum and sister- and the BMS video suggests that in those cases women are tested for the BRACa gene.

Yes, symptoms can and do carry on post menopause for some women. I know women in their 70s who use HRT for that reason.

my mum passed from DVT and i have had heart issues and also a lump removed from my breast.. so the GP has decided its probably for the best i don't take anything.

i'll happily take any advice.. and yes i am hoping the outcome is another polyp but im going to discuss possible surgery as i also have a substantial prolapse which i am also waiting to see a consultant about.

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I can't know your medical history and it wouldn't be right for me to say 'Yes you can have HRT' based on what you have said. You'd really need to discuss this with a menopause consultant.

But it really depends on what your heart issues are and if the lump you had was cancer or a benign cyst.

Obviously you may not want HRT but it all depends on how much the symptoms affect you and if they are very troublesome.

The BMS videos covering lots of different questions are here....https://thebms.org.uk/

Go to Publications on the top right of the menu- and choose BMS TV.