What is normal at this stage?

20 months ago my doctor advised that I stop taking the pill because they didn't like girls of my age taking due to problems further down the track. I am 55. The only reason I was taking the pill in the first place was to help regulate my period and my moods.

20 months on this same doctor is surprised that my periods are still around. I could say that 2017 is turning out to be the year of the period. I had a whole week not having any form of bleeding This last one is scaring me with how heavy and painful is it. I have spent three weeks in a mental clinic because of mood issues. It's night here when everything seems worse. I am reluctant to back see my p'doc and want nothing to do with my general practitioner.

I just feel embarrassed because of my recent behaviour. Maybe everything is normal? Maybe not. I am scared that he will pass this off as just normal for this time in a womans life. On a previous occasion he mentioned that other forms of HRT have side effects. In two minds about seeing him. Teary. Overwhelmed. Going through my normal pain killers too fast.

Perimenopause?

He said that there is no way to test for it. So over this.

Hmm. A couple of years ago I was given a mini-pill to regulate my periods and it helped do that, without causing mood issues.

I'm finding menopause to be every bit as challenging as my grandmother, many years ago, said it was for her.

I don't know if my MI had anything to do with it, but my last period was when I was past 54. I suppose MI or medications could affect it. Also my last was very heavy, much heavier than normal but when it stopped, I was done. So maybe, hopefully, that is what you are experiencing.

Do you have the option to see another doc? Gyno? There is a hormone test, but I am pretty sure at your age you are approaching menopause. I know many professionals were surprised when I still had mine after age 50, so it is within the bounds of normal, but not really common.

PM me if I can help you.

They can test for ti. I think the test has to be done on the 3rd day of your cycle, something like that. I know this because I had a hysterectomy when I was in early menopause. My gyn told me that I would complete menopause within about 5 years of the surgery as the blood supply to my ovaries was reduced which speeds things up. She also said that I'd not know for sure because I'd not know when to test and so the hormone levels wouldn't be helpful. Sure enough I'm just about 5 years from surgery and no longer have hot flashes or night sweats so I'm assuming that things have wrapped up but have no way to know.

I am dithering around in about seeing another doctor. Even fronting up to my normal GP is something that I am loathe to do at the moment. Many of the decent doctors where I live are so booked out that are no longer taking on new patients.

I thought that having a hysterectomy meant automatic menopause. There seems to be so much that I am clueless about. Pretty sure that my hormones aggravate my moods and have done since my teens.

Don't want my doctor to see me as a pest.

A hyseterectomy means immediate menopause if the ovaries are removed. I kept mine because there was a huge risk of serious mental health problems with surgical menopause.

You have a genuine, valid concern. I don't think your doctor will see you as a pest.

Have you discussed MIRENA iud option with the dr?

Mirena releases a small dose of progesterone.

How are things going possum?

Mirena has been an life safer for me. I had to get off certain hormones due to my age. Look into it

Apologies ladies that I didn't check in earlier. I had an iron infusion early august due to extremely low iron levels. I also got some blood tests done and the doctor said that there were changes and that my hormones for FSH had dropped on the one side but not for the other side. ??? He said I should give it three months and I would be finished. He has said other stuff too but our bodies don't always follow the rules.

My doctor who used to deliver babies a few years ago does do Mirena insertions "all the time" at his clinic. But I don't want a Mirena insertion. He also said that he wouldn't do a mirena for me because of my psych issues etc. Another time he said that I needed and ultrasound and that I should have an anesthetic. So I would need to see a specialist.

So is it wait for 3 months until things stop? (Or not) I had planned to go in after another blood test in dec but have to say I am sick of what is happening now. If truth be told my period this time has been going on for three weeks and clotting...... UGH. Fibroids? Fibroids go away eventually according to dr google.

This could all be normal for this time of life. I would hate to have things done - and the expense and find out that there is nothing wrong. Maybe this is what females have to put up with???

Hi possum, First of all, fibroids...I have been told I have uterine fibroids for fifteen years. They have never gone away. And they can cause heavier bleeding.

It does sound like an ultrasound would be a good idea, just to evaluate the condition of your uterus. I'm confused, though, as to why you need an anesthetic for an ultrasound?

Thanks Laurie.

I did try hrt earlier this year a patch and pill but it made no difference.

When I mentioned fibroids I have no idea whether I have them or not. I am just guessing. Assuming maybe even wrongly. They seem to fit the symptoms. Clotting and having a very extended periods. Today is day 24 of the current one with no clue as to when it will stop. My doc has never said the word fibroids it just comes up a lot when I read about this time of life.

I probably got the other term wrong..... not ultrasound but hysteroscopy. In oz they can do them as a day stay in hospital. My doc doesn't want me to freak out. Because he also said maybe things will stop in three months then I should wait. Having said that it has now been over three months since he did the last blood test. Mind you it will take months to get in to see a gyn anyway.

Time to be brave and get back in to see him.

I had a polyp in my uterus early in peri-menopause. I was also having a lot of pain with my periods and my periods were heavy and long and horror movie-esque.

I had a hysteroscoy, D&C and a laparoscopy (they went into my belly with 3 little incisions and checked my ovaries for cysts, removed cysts from my tubes, checked for endometriosis, etc.

The end result was that the D&C cleared out the polyp but my uterus was "boggy". I wasn't fully shedding the lining every month and so it was building up and trying to shed itself.

I had a mirena IUD placed during my surgery but it was a bad experience for me. It completely destabilized my mood and I had periods every 2 weeks. They weren't as heavy or painful but they weren't great. And I was suicidal. So we pulled it, deciding we could always replace it. When it came out my mood improved rapidly but all the pain and heavy bleeding came back and I had a hyserectomy about 4 months later. That's not the usual course of things necessarily I think but I went into menopause young and there was no way to help me but remove that horrible uterus. During my hysterectomy they discovered my fallopian tubes were misshapen which probably was why I had so much pain as an egg tried to force its' way down.

What you are experiencing is not normal and you deserve better care. If nothing else they should be monitoring to see whether you need another infusion.

I agree with Rainbow- you need better care. Yes, this time in a woman's life is wacky (and doctors seem rather clueless about the menopausal years), but you shouldn't have to bleed for weeks at a time.

When I last saw him in August my doc did give me a request to get my iron levels tested again and a full blood count to be be done but he has written on for December. Hence my reluctance to see him earlier because I fear he will get angry with me. (Not that he ever has).

Two days ago I was up at 5am trying to book an appointment online with my doc but I mucked it up. My p'doc wrote a note to my doctor him without me knowing about my exhaustion back in September.

Arrrrgh............. Just dont want to feel stupid......... Like some waste of time. I am dithering. I know.

I stayed just a tiny bit above needing an iron infusion but during the months before my hysterectomy (and maybe before my other surgery, I don't remember) they drew blood monthly to be sure I didn't need an infusion. Maybe it was because the number was so low and so close to the edge but the monthly monitoring seemed reasonable to me.

It is hard to stand up for yourself. But you need to get the care you deserve. If is something like the boggy uterus I had then all it takes is a D&C that can be done with the hysteroscopy and apparently things really improve (I have no idea since I got the Mirena from hell). The boggy uterus thing is not uncommon.

Did they do an internal ultrasound? It wasn't fun (I'm a sexual abuse survivor) but it was quick and not horrible and it gave them a good idea about what they needed to do with the surgery.

Thanks for the support. I tried to write a response about two hours ago about this. Had pretty much decided that I was going to delay seeing the doctor.

Then my switch got flipped. I can't believe how it just kicked back in with a vengeance. I have made an appointment to see my gp at 4:20 pm tomorrow. I hate this. I am going to write stuff down so I don't forget what I need to say.

This is not normal. This is not funny. Had enough.

I'm thinking good thoughts for you, possum! Keep us posted.

With much angst I went to see my doctor today. He was very supportive. In my hot little hand I now have a referral to have an ultra sound done. If they aren't happy with the abdominal scan I may find myself on the end of an internal scan. My doc said that the place I am going to is very good at what they do.

When I have the results of this scan in my hot little hand I can then go back to my doctor to discuss treatment options. It's night time here so I will phone tomorrow and make an appointment.

Thanks for being with me on this journey.

I'm so glad you are getting help finally. I hope you can get in soon.

I phoned them today and I can get the ultrasound done tomorrow at 12pm. I am pleased that the wait will not be a long one. My body continues to remind me that what is happening now is not normal at all.

It is a relief that I have finally done something rather than continuing to stress about it. Trying not to do the what if's scenarios either. I will know what I know when I know it.

I'm glad they got you in so soon. Hopefully you'll soon have results and a reason for your troubles.

I thought I responded to this earlier but didnt submit the reply properly.

Today I had the ultrasound 12pm. They were lovely. I do have to have another procedure done under anaesthtic. I need to discuss what procedure is with him. I was overwhelmed by how bad it got this afternoon. Panicked by what was happening I made a call to my doctor who will have the report back by tomorrow.

This can't go on..... My appointment is tomorrow at 9:40 am.

Keep us updated, possum.