It has been ten and a half months since my last period. I started spotting a few days ago - very light spotting (brown). Then it would get a bit more significant, then quiet down again. There has been some red discharge mixed in with the brown but never enough to where I needed to wear a pad or anything.
My anxiety is of course high right now. I am not really having any other issues. Some very light cramping but that is all.
Is this normal? Does this mean I have to start the count to that 12 month mark all over again?
I suggest you go to your gyn. Best to have it checked out. No one on this site should tell you something's normal and not to have it checked out by a doctor. xxx
I guess I didn't word that very well. I would never take someones advice or opinion on a message board in place of my dr. I am more wondering is this has happened to other people. Sometimes I feel very alone on this journey.
Sorry hun, but I think you do have to start the count. If your numbers show you're in menopause you should get checked just be sure all is well.
This is where I'm at now....blood work shows I'm menopausal but still having bleeds so doc did hysteroscopy last week. Results were normal. I'm still in peri. Count began all over...
You're not alone by a long shot...hugs!
I hear this from women all the time, and yes, they say you have to start counting all over again! My sister skipped 9 months, then was at the zoo with her class, in white jeans no less, and got a flooding period with no warning. What a nightmare. Moral of this story, don't wear white jeans, ever.
YES can be normal , your hormones having a failed attempt to do a cycle. I am only 2 months without a period but have been on this forum a few years and loads of ladies have said same. 10,11,12 months then spotting. If your worried see your GP but, i am sure its these pesky hormones. xx
Yes, it's very normal and you're right you have to start counting 12 months again. No getting around it. Only go to your doctor if you bleed for more than 12 days. Otherwise, you're fine.
Whats makes me so sure, cause im a retired nurse who worked in ob/gyn. Saw this a lot. Only time it was worrisome was when there was heavy bleeding or non-stop bleeding for 12 days or longer. We did D&C's for non-stop bleeding and a partial hysterectomy if they had too many fibroids.
NewfieMom, it's a total misnomer that when women reach, or or close to, menopause that they completely stop producing estrogen. There are some women who have gone an entire year without periods and will still run an estradiol level of 50 pg/ml.
As I got closer to menopause, my periods were 2, 3, and then 6 months apart. I had no idea when they would come or stop. To me, all this is indicating is that your ovaries are still producing some minimal amount of estrogen, and therefore your lining is getting some stimulation. At least enough to produce some minimal spotting.
I'm not here to tell you not to get things checked out, but to help calm your anxiety.
Do you need to start counting again, probably. But I'm pretty sure it will be a cake walk.
As you can see from the replies, this happens to lots of people and can be perfectly normal. But, it can also be a symptom of cancer. I should have been more sympathetic in my response. But I had similar symptoms, just spotting and mild cramping and it was cancer. So I worry that some ladies who are told it's normal are not going to their doctors. xxx
Well, I had only minor spotting, nothing you would deem worrisome in your post, but I was diagnosed with cancer. If I'd not gone to the doctor with my symptoms, I'd be dead by now. So, to me a visit to the doctor would be the only way to make sure that nothing's wrong.
Well post menopausal spotting is always a reason for concern and testing. Which I believe that you were menopausal for years, correct?
But peri menopausal spotting is very common and probably very rarely cancer. In fact thickening of the uterus during perimeno is also very common and very rarely cancer as well. Also having skipped periods and then getting one is also extremely common.
Let's try and not get everyone worked up about cancer, most of us have anxiety to deal with. Yes, you should always check with your doctor for medical advice. And yes, definitely get checked if you have POST menopausal bleeding.
Sochima, are you the one who told me about iron supplements causing rise in cholesterol? When I was on ferrochel my cholesterol went from 163 to 248. Can you recommend how to raise ferritin levels without taking iron?
Suzanne, you are correct. I had post menopausal bleeding. However, my concern is that some women who are in peri and full menopause who are told that it's probably normal won't go see their doctor, because they feel reassured.
As far as not getting people worked up because they already have anxiety, I understand that, too. But dealing with anxiety about what could be happening, frankly is nothing to dealing with the anxiety that results from being diagnosed.
We all contribute to this site and I believe that all the different perspectives come from those who want to help.
Thanks Ladies. I have been keeping a detailed calendar of all symptoms that I feel from twinges to sore breasts, to being emotional to crabby. When I went back and looked at it for more than a year it was all showing a very normal cycle even though I haven't had a period for 10 1/2 months. Two weeks ago I was more emotional than usual and had some slight heaviness/pain in my breasts. So I know I still have *something* going on with my hormones. Oh and I had a few hot flashes again after not having them for a while. I am feeling much calmer about it all today. I am going to take the 12 day advice.
I agree that we all benefit from everyone's experience. Just think that when you are referring to what you went through it's important to note that you had spotting after full meno so women don't automatically think they have cancer if they have perimeno spotting. That's all. So many of us in peri are in that health anxiety mode and just the thought that it might be cancer can send us thru the roof. So sorry that you had to go through all that, and I think many women will be saved by your advice.
XO
I know a few women who still get hot flashes in their 80s! Like WTH? Also, a friend of mine stopped taking HRT when she turned 60 and automatically started getting hot flashes again.
You'll be OK NewfieMom. I never heard that 12 day thing before, but I'm going to take that forward with me as well.
XO
Thanks, Suzanne. I will mention that I was post menopausal in the future. XOXO