Sneak Attacked by Menopause Symptoms!

When menopause symptoms return to bite you on the bum...

Last year was all a load of hormonal hiccups and bloody surprises! Just when you think it’s all quietened down and you’ve got those flushes, anxiety, mood swings et al under control, those pesky hormones make like a 90s boyband and boomerang back into your life. So, let’s dive into the drama of navigating the post-50 hormonal maze, starting with my recent adventures with HRT and more…

My mood swings were wild in 2024 (and so was my clash of print!)

The Big Bleeding Problem

For the past couple of years, I’ve had intermittent bleeding while on various regimes of HRT so, quite rightly, my G.P has sent me for all the investigational procedures as outlined in the NICE guidelines. I must say I’ve been lucky with my G.P as she has been really understanding and sympathetic to my plight. What’s even more admirable is that she admitted to me that she’s not as educated on menopause matters as she would like to be to help me with my symptoms and so she has made sure that I have seen specialist gynaecologists at the local hospital with no hanging around. I feel lucky about that and I can imagine how frustrating and worrying it must be for those women who haven’t got the support of an understanding G.P.

The Long Road of Tests and Procedures

I’ve had numerous procedures: vaginal scans, hysteroscopies, colposcopies, smears and fibroid removal. My anxiety levels have been pretty much through the roof while waiting for the results of some of these tests - particularly the biopsy of the cervical cells and the fibroid/endometrium lining. Thankfully, there wasn’t anything sinister going on. During the hysteroscopy in November 2023 I had a large fibroid removed and, on the advice of a gynae specialist, a Mirena Coil fitted. Both these things would, said the gynae ‘almost certainly stop that pesky bleeding.’ Unfortunately, my body had other ideas…

Hormonal Whiplash: My On-and-Off Relationship with HRT

A couple of times I have come off HRT to see what would happen and if the bleeding would slow down and stop. It was hard. Within 2-3 weeks of no oestrogen, symptoms would return: hot sweats, anxiety and the worst symptom for me - adrenaline rushes in the early hours of the morning that would blast me awake with an alarming feeling of dread - as if everyone I loved was about to die. It seemed totally rational that these horrific things were going to happen, even though I tried to tell myself I was catastrophising and everything was ok. I felt as if I was standing on the ledge of a mountain, about to jump off and some night this could be absolutely petrifying.

When/if bleeding stopped, I excitedly went back on HRT and within a week or so, I would continue to bleed on and off. What made it worse was that the bleeding had no pattern—daily and light some months, heavy and random the next.

An Interesting Discovery

After my 4th internal scan in July last year, the Sonographer reassured me that everything looked as expected in a wizened old womb of a 57 year old (my words, not hers 😁) But when I was sent the results and before I went to see my G.P to discuss them and talk about what next steps we could try to stop the bleeding, I noticed that it said in the ultrasound report that I have Adenymosis - a gynaecological condition that causes the lining of the uterus to grow into the the muscle wall of the uterus and can cause heavy menstrual bleeding and pain. My G.P said it was possible but not conclusive evidence for the bleeding. I felt annoyed when I remembered the years of heavy bleeding and pain I suffered in my younger years as I was never told it could’ve been down to Adenymosis. As is the experience of most women looking for answers from G.P’s about gynae matters back in the day, it wasn’t taken seriously and it was never investigated. I was simply advised to go on the contraceptive pill to stem the flow and ease the pain - or just put up with it.

When it Feels Like a Bloodbath

2024 holidays saw my luggage allowance taken up by sanitary pads (just incase) and, along with my regular kaftans and bikinis, I took a selection of suitable outfits and swimwear for the days I might bleed. It was worrying never knowing whether a dip in the pool might lead to a scene not out of place in the film, Jaws. But, luckily, for most of the trips I had, bleeding was on its best behaviour and although present almost daily, was very light and easy to deal with. It soon made up for its limited appearance and after summer, decided to up the ante and I had heavy bleeding every day for months. By November 2024, I couldn’t take it anymore. My G.P didn’t know what else to do but refer me back to the hospital Gynaelogical Department for further guidance. At this point I had replaced gels and patches with the Femoston - tablet form HRT.

A Plan for Hormonal Balance

With no break from the bleeding, I became frightened that there was something seriously wrong with me and while the GP escalated my gynae appointment on the 2-week cancer pathway, I came off HRT again. I guess it’s ironic that Christmas was coming just as I was going cold turkey with the HRT! Not a great decision but by now I was at my wit’s end and the loss of blood was making me exhausted and anxious.

At the appointment we went through all of my past test results and my gynae explained that adenymosis could very well be contributing to the bleeding but also, she believed my hormone levels from various HRT regimes could still be out of whack. I had been off HRT for almost 3 weeks by then and she told me that if HRT was the cause of the bleeding, after a couple of months, she would expect it to slow down and stop completely. If it didn’t, then at the beginning of March 2025 we would consider further investigations and a possible hysterectomy. It felt really reassuring to have a plan and my gynae was so understanding and sympathetic about my situation. At the same time, she was pretty horrified that I’d stopped HRT without decreasing it slowly and joked, tongue-in-cheek, about the return of menopause symptoms adding to the stress of Christmas and hoped my husband had hidden the turkey carver 😂

My final question at the appointment was, “What if I decide I need to go back on HRT before March?” My gynae said she would make sure I had a very specific, tailored regime and would be monitored closely. That was just what I’d hoped to hear.

Photo by Ron Smith on Unsplash

The New Year, New Update

A couple of days after Christmas, I stopped bleeding completely! It is early days and I’m not getting my hopes up that I won’t start again, but I feel so much better. That said, the adrenalin rushes are happening in the early hours again and although I can get back to sleep after them, they do leave me feeling out of sorts for a while. Will I return to taking HRT? Considering my nan had osteoporosis and my mum and sister have oesteopaenia, I would like some oestrogen to help with bone health and other health benefits. All in all, I don’t think my menopause journey is over yet (is it ever for any of us?) I just hope that it’s a more positive one in 2025!

Menopause is messy, unpredictable, and exhausting—but talking about it helps. What’s been your biggest surprise during menopause? DM me or comment below!