I have seen at least 3 different doctors. General Practice, Naturopath and OB-GYN's; but no one will say if I am in menopause. They only stress that a woman my age should not be bleeding. I've had pap smears (normal); ultrasound (normal); transvaginal ultrasound (normal) and an endometrial biopsy last year. One of the OB-GYN's looked me in my face and told me that the test results came back and I had cancer.
I looked at him and told him I did not. He was livid at my suggestion that he could be wrong. He had already scheduled an appointment for me with an Oncologoist for a consultation which angered me even more, because he did not have a right to assume I would be agreeable to this. He finally said, the definitive diagnosis would come from UCLA. I waited and when it came, I DID NOT have cancer. I respect the profession; but they will not dictate how my life will be lived nor what I will believe about my own health. I wasn't in denial. I just knew that my body had no cancer. When things are wrong, we as women really know it...and we will seek the help and hopefully, the right advice. I really hope to hear from others if you are in my age group or older and are still bleeding. The doctors have been taught to assume that this is not normal; therefore, it must be cancer.
Hi Sesha, I hope you don't mind my answering, because although I'm not in your age group, I did work as a nurse in ob/gyn so I feel qualified to tell you that you are in perimenopause not menopause. I suspect you knew that, lol. My aunty stopped bleeding around your age so it's not abnormal for some women to continue having a period long after what the expected cut off date is (somewhere in the 50's). I suspect I'm down the same path with mild bleeding at almost 60 here. Good for you that you know your body well enough to tell the doctor he was wrong. I respect the profession also, but they're only human and prone to making errors.
However, are you experiencing any of the horrible symptoms posted here? I'm pretty much over them, with just the occasioanl hot flashes that creep in when I ingest anything sweet.
Hi Sesha, I have a friend in her early 70's who depressed me no end when she said she STILL gets the occasional hot flush! At 57, the thought of that, well, sheesh!
You girls may have respect for the profession, but there is a lot they DON'T know and, in many cases, an arrogance that they are right.
I asked for a full blood test including vits and mins, to check levels. I was told they didn't check for Vit D levels because it was assumed EVERYONE was D deficient and then the blinding statement - 'and we are only just begining to find out how important it is'. I thought if that is the case why are you not putting all your patients on Vit D instead of pressuring people to go on statins? Oh yes, I know, there's no money in vitamins.
You know your body and it was wrong to frighten you like that. We are all different and medicine should not be a one size fits all.
As for me my bleeding had stopped for over a year when I started on HRT - then the bleeding started again So I stopped taking it.
Well, bobbysgirl, my aunty is 78 and still has hot flashes. But it all depends on the women in your family, if they were still having hot flashes at that age then chances are you might too. Follow the lineage of women in your family and that makes for a good indicator as to how long you should expect to go through it. My aunt stopped bleeding at 65 and still has hot flashes so that's not good indicator for me!
I agree, the arrogance in some doctors is just too much to deal with, those are the ones that are usually wrong too.
Hi their I didn't go through the full change until I was 68 and I was getting worried that something was going on. Whenever I stopped taking HRT the bleeding would start so I always stayed on them. I never went to the doctor about this regarding my age because I know it's different for all women and it takes longer for some than others. And some HRT do make you bleed for some reason luckily I was on the right prescription. Regards -Mary
I think the important thing to remember here, is that all human experience happens on a bell curve. It doesn't matter WHAT it is. From birth to grave we attempt to pigeon hole every human experience, and when something doesn't "fit in the box" we call it abnormal. You just happen to be on the long end of this bell curve.
Sorry you had to deal with such a block head of a physician. But don't get me started about the completely stupid things I've heard physicians say. That list could be an entire new post.
By strick defination of menopause, i.e one full year without a period, you aren't there yet. It will happen when your body is ready.
he longest I have gone with outn a period was 7 or 8 months and then there woulde always be breakthrough bleeding. I also want to share with everyone that I have never had a regular period since the age of 11. Once or tweice yearly; never been pregnant. I was told recently that I am bleedingding due to fibroids (4 to be exact) 2 are 3 cm and the other 2 are 7 cm.
When you are bleeding at this age, the doctors always assume the worst; never considering that this may be normal for the individual. Thanks for commenting.
i appreciate what you have shared. I have yet to experience a hot flash. I have no idea what it is like and hope that my hormones are kept in balance by whatever I choose to do naturally.
My take away from what you have shared is this: Not even doctors have all the answers and when they make statements that don't make sense to us, "we" have a right to question them. If we can't do so, we need to seek other advice where ou opinions are respected. Thanks for commenting.
Please forgive, I didn't mean to imply that answers would not be welcome if you're younger. I have never been on a discussion board before and assumed tht the only one's who would reply would be those who share this experience. I especially appreciate your perspective because not even a doctor has implied that I may be perimenopausal. It gives me a lot to ponder. Thank you.
Sesha, break through bleeding every so often, fibroids or no fibroids, no matter what age, you're basically in perimenopause until you've stopped having a period for more than a year. Since your fibroids are large and probably closer to your uterine wall, you may always continue to bleed unless you decide to get them removed. You've been lucky you never got hot flushes. Having a period every 7-8 months isn't a big deal. My guess is that you're fine the way you are. Best of luck.
I saw your posts both here and in Patient. Can you let me know what you or your doctor want to achieve using the Progesterone (reading Dr. John Lee?)? And has this approach worked for you? Are you using it as an alternative approach and because you want to avoid any surgery such as hysterectomy? Where would you suggest those who share your problems go for help? Sorry I am asking so many questions because I have been crazily searching answers to no avail. I am 60, have fibroids and suffered heavy bleeding because of that for almost 10 years, and things slowed down since last year and my fibroids appear to be shrinking, needless to say I have had many TV ultrasounds and once the doctor suspected that I had sarcoma and an MRI proved not, and now the doctor suspected that I have uterine cancer and asked for another TV ultrasound only shy of 3 months after the previous one. Needless to say I am still bleeding however she would not test blood on hormone level saying it is not accurate unless I am just about to menopause.
I have also heard that bleeding will not stop with fibroids unless they are removed by hysterectomy. Do you know if this is true?
It has almost been a year since I signed into Patient; but was thankful to see this response from you. I am feeling better; but am still bleeding daily. I have consulted a Naturopath doctor who is helping me to balance my hormones naturally. I am appreciative of all the posts concerning my problem and want to share that I have decided that I will no longer assume that something is wrong with me that isn't affecting other women. My FSH is still 18, which is not indicative of a 66 year old in menopause). I agree with you that my body will know when I am in menopause. Until then, I will continue living my life with an attitude of gratefulness and love daily.
Since age 11, I have never had a period each month. It would come every 6 months or once a year....and I have never been pregnant. I began using natural progesterone cream because the endometrium lining was getting thicker and thicker. In answer to your question, I have never gone 12 months without a period. There was always break through bleeding at some point.
Yes, I have definitely read Dr. Lee's books and believe the use of natural progesterone is the right approach to alleviate estrogen dominance. Synthetic progesterone are progestins and are not natural. I was given those when I was younger and the period would not start on it's own. The side effects I experienced were horrible. I am trying to help my body get back in balance naturally; therefore, hysterectomy is not what I choose to do...at this time. It is my prayer that I will never need to submit to this procedure, but I don't know what the future holds regarding this consistent, slow bleeding for the last 3 years. I was recently told that I am so anemic that it isn't understood how I am still functioning. I've recently begun taking 325 mg of ferrous sulfate twice daily, per doctor's instruction. I am definitely not a medical professional and am seeking answers as you are; but, regarding your question as to my suggestion where others should go for help...my honest response is that each of us must research natural treatments to educate ourselves about alternatives to western orthodox medical methodologies. Natural makes more sense to me. I am not concerned about my fibroids because my last ultrasound showed that they were shrinking. I have read that they are never cancerous but do return sometimes if you opt for surgical removal. How ironic that your doctor was also resistant to complete blood tests to determine if you were in menopause. Doctors that I had 6 months ago said the exact same thing and I quote: "Oh, your hormones do not need to be tested for menopause. Of course you're in menopause, you're 66 years old". I concluded that it wasn't important to them because they "assume" certain things about women when they reach a certain age. This is not fair to me; therefore, I found a new doctor last month.
My new doctor completed a myriad of blood tests and at 66, I am NOT in menopause. I sincerely hope that you find a path for yourself that leads to abundant health
I am 64 . I have had the same experience of bleeding and going to the gyn . i was told it was cancer and they had not even ran any tests or any thing. after tests it was shown to be fibroid no cancer now they want to take out my uterus . I have not bleed in 3 months.
Sorry to say this and I'm not trying to be offensive but I worked in ob/gyn for some years. I'm retired now. It sounds to me as if they just want to make money off of you. I have 3 fibroids, which on occasion will cause me pain but my gyne has never made the suggestion to have them removed. I'd avoid going under the knife for something millions of women live with. I was told i'd have bleeding on occasion, which does happen but I'm not worried about it, since I know it's not cancerous but my fibroids acting up.