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[jaypo]

Hi ladies,sorry to be thick & all but what is & how do you know if you're peri/post menopause?
I had a hysterectomy 8 or 9 years ago age 45 but they left my ovaries,they told me I may have an early menopause but I didn't start getting symptoms (flushes & sweats)until about 4 years ago & up until 2 years ago I occasionally got really sore breasts,just like I would get before a period although they were few & far between & haven't had that again since & just in the last few months the whole anxiety thing has gone through the roof,so can anyone help?
Thank you

[BlueButterfly]

Because you had a hysterectomy, the only way to know if you are post meno is with a blood test for your FSH levels.

[jaypo]

Hi BlueButterfly & thanks
Had bloods done & all I was told was I was menopausal,didn't actually need a blood test to tell me that  but what is post menopausal mean exactly,are you on the road to recovery then?
I live in hope

[Katejo]

Hi BlueButterfly & thanks
Had bloods done & all I was told was I was menopausal,didn't actually need a blood test to tell me that  but what is post menopausal mean exactly,are you on the road to recovery then?
I live in hope

The usual definition is that you haven't had a period for over a year. It seems that everyone is different re. 'recovery'. A very individual experience.

[BlueButterfly]

Sorry, probably not the right term.  it's just the after menopause years.

Honestly the doctors probably use blood tests for themselves more than us.

Still figuring it out but feeling more hopeful. Just staying calm with doctors. "Oh your dad had blood clots?? I don't remember you mentioning that. We should test for clotting factors/genetics." I have told every doctor for years and multiple times. It is in my records. At least this doctor is testing. I have an aunt with breast cancer as well, another that had cervical and many hormonal issues with maternal side that I mention about every visit but they act so shocked to hear it each time.

[jaypo]

Thank you katejo,oh yes BB I know EXACTLY what you mean,my dad died of a blood clot on his lung & my mum her sister & their mum all had breast cancer & the drs STILL don't get it “what about hrt Jennifer “ aaaaaargghhhhh & off I go again,explaining it all over again 

[CLKD]

The term 'menopause' is literally 'the last period'.  But because hormones are devilish  periods can wax and wane for years  until they disappear.  Sometimes even then they pop back  . 

GPs can do blood tests and I'm sure someone will let you know which ones to ask for but symptoms are useful too.  Some ladies find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary means that they don't forget how good/bad they can feel.  Also taking a list to the appt.s can help.

Post menopausal doesn't happen for some ladies: peri is those years leading up to the loss of periods, then we go into menopause.  End of.  Except for some, it ain't.  Symptoms persist and require treatment. 

Vaginal atrophy probably needs life-long treatment but does that mean that a lady hasn't 'gone through' to the other side, probably does if she has no other symptoms.  4 me I have itchy skin which is bearable; vaginal atrophy is treated; fortunately nothing else so I consider myself 'out the other side'. 

[BlueButterfly]

Thank you katejo,oh yes BB I know EXACTLY what you mean,my dad died of a blood clot on his lung & my mum her sister & their mum all had breast cancer & the drs STILL don't get it “what about hrt Jennifer “ aaaaaargghhhhh & off I go again,explaining it all over again 

I hate it but so happy to know I'm not alone in this. My father had over a dozen clots at once. Not a small thing for sure! I've always felt nervous about the risk but more so as I get older.

[CLKD]

By the way, no one is 'thick' nor is any question here stupid or taboo 

[jaypo]

Thank you clkd was never sure about peri post etc I suppose the partial hysterectomy is what confuses me as I don't know about periods but thanks for saying I'm not thick 😂

[Hurdity]

The term 'menopause' is literally 'the last period'.  But because hormones are devilish  periods can wax and wane for years  until they disappear.  Sometimes even then they pop back  . 

GPs can do blood tests and I'm sure someone will let you know which ones to ask for but symptoms are useful too.  Some ladies find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary means that they don't forget how good/bad they can feel.  Also taking a list to the appt.s can help.

Post menopausal doesn't happen for some ladies: peri is those years leading up to the loss of periods, then we go into menopause.  End of.  Except for some, it ain't.  Symptoms persist and require treatment. 

Vaginal atrophy probably needs life-long treatment but does that mean that a lady hasn't 'gone through' to the other side, probably does if she has no other symptoms.  4 me I have itchy skin which is bearable; vaginal atrophy is treated; fortunately nothing else so I consider myself 'out the other side'.

Hi there jaypo - just to clarify - the terminology is confusing! Post menopause ALWAYS happens for ALL women! It is the whole rest of your life following the last period - and in fact some definitions start it from 12 months following the last period. As discussed if you have no womb you don't know when that is....

Because you had a hysterectomy, the only way to know if you are post meno is with a blood test for your FSH levels.

This is not the case  - you cannot predict menopausal status from FSH levels which can go into the menopausal range even while peri. Many doctors make this mistake and tell woemn they are post-menopausal when they are not.

There are other tests (AMH I think) which can be done but they are not yet part of the routine testing in UK (I think they've just been approved in US). Otherwise you really don't know and docs will just treat symptoms.

Jaypo if you have all those symptoms then you are likely to be well on the way - according to stats 80% of women will have reached menopause by age 54. The anxiety is typical. If you have no womb then oestrogen replacement is very easy as you don't have to worry about progesterone. Transdermal oestrogen ( patches or gel) is associated with the least amount of risks. Re breast cancer risk - you can ask for a genetic test in your positon to assess your own risk in view of your relatives who have had the disease - and also maybe you can find out whether it was oestrogen positive and the age at which they had it? A specialist may well decide that you would be fine with a very low dose patch for example just to take the edge off things?

If after specialist referral it is decided that you cannot take HRT due to BC risks then there are prescribable medications that you can take which may stop hot flushes and deal with the anxiety - these are some anti-depressants or sometimes blood pressure medication. From memory I think the AD that comes out best in trials is Venlaxafene (also I think Paroxetine?). I can find the paper if you like - but do ask for a specialist referral first.

Hurdity x

[jaypo]

Oh thank you Hurdity for taking the time to get in touch,my mum was in her 40's post hysterectomy when she got breast cancer but my aunt & nana were older,my %age has gone from 75 to 50% risk when I reached 50,I guess it's all a risk it's just knowing which way to go but I ‘ll definitely go back to dr,they just always seem in such a rush to get you out the door,I never get to go into depth.anyway,thank you xx