Persistent post-menopausal bleeding

[JohnnyMarr]

I had my last period two years ago, I'm not on HRT. In June I had an episode of post-menopusal bleeding and had also had a cough which I couldn't shake off.

I saw a GP who said she'd refer me for a scan under the 2ww referral, and also for a chest x-ray. The scan came through quickly and all was well. Said GP failed to make the chest x-ray referral (twice in fact) but when this finally came through, fortunately, it was also fine.

In August I had another episode of bleeding, which has been more or less constant since, and I'm literally shedding handfuls of hair every day. I went back to the GP who re-referred me, and also made me an appointment for a smear and blood tests.

Bloods are all fine, the gynae consultant I saw suggested I try HRT and recommended a coil and estrogen gel. Somewhat desperate by this point, I had the coil fitted at the appointment, she also took a biopsy, the results of which are also fine.

I subsequently went back to the GP surgery for my smear test, but was informed by the nurse that the lab might not be able to process the sample as my cells would have been displaced by the insertion of the coil, and if this was the case I would have to wait three months for them to re-test. I haven't yet received the results.Following this appointment I attempted to make an appointment to see my GP re the estrogen, but ended up leaving the surgery in tears when they offered me a slot three and a half weeks down the line, as apparently my symptoms are "routine".

I consider myself a fairly resilient person, but the bleeding, massive hairloss, and my permanent state of exhaustion, coupled with the worry that there's potentially something other than "routine" amiss, is really getting me down.

If anyone has any words of wisdom (or even comfort!) I'd hugely appreciate them!

I’ve had a lot of bleeding over the last 18 months and have had external pelvic and transvaginal scans - nothing sinister found. Gynae consultant at Xmas was adamant I should have Mirena fitted but GP convinced me to double my progesterone instead. Bleeding got worse and last Wednesday I had my first Mirena fitted, aged 58, so hoping this finally sorts it out.
Sounds like you might benefit from some oestrogen - my oestrogen levels have been dropping and, boy, don’t I know it! I’m struggling to absorb, even at NHS max levels.
Could you contact your surgery and just ask for them to prescribe the Oestradiol as per the consultant’s advice?

@Wid Thanks so much for your reply, I'm sorry to hear that you're experiencing similar issues.

I'm waiting to see my GP re the oestradiol, but my appointment isn't for another couple of weeks.

In fairness, they've been very thorough so far with the gynae stuff but they're super dismissive of my hair loss, which I'm finding massively upsetting, but, to paraphrase, I should just suck it up.

On the bright side my smear result came back today and there's no cause for concern, which is a big relief.

Thanks again, and I hope the coil works out well for you!

At Christmas when I was exhausted and struggling to balance my HRT, a GP told me ‘that’s life’. I won’t see her again and as a result saw another GP in the practice and she’s been brilliant.
Unfortunately in life, it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil - be that squeaky wheel when you have the strength.
I’ve not had hair loss but my hair has become very brittle and doesn’t grow much - I was convinced it was because my ferritin level was 29, as apparently hair doesn’t grow if your ferritin is below 70. I went on iron tablets and vitamin C and got it up to 90 but haven’t seen a change.
Get your GP to do a whole suite of blood tests including Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin.
I don’t understand why they need to see you to put you on Oestradiol when the consultant has advised it?