The beginning?!

[Iactuallydothinkso]

Hello, I'm 42. I have the contraceptive implant. My last period was 2 weeks ago, it was awful, really really heavy with a lot of large clots (sorry) and then after a week, just a lot of brown discharge which still meant I had to wear protection, still going on except now it has turned back into a full blown bright red period again.
I am itching intensely on my face, shoulders, head, neck and lower legs and feet. I'm not sleeping well. I'm permanently tired and can barely drag myself to do something today. I have horrible restless legs and just feel drained. I also feel queasy and cut my food shopping trip short yesterday because I thought I was going to throw up.
I know I need to go to the doctors because the period thing isn't normal but do you think I'm probably hitting menopause? Should I say this to the doctor? I don't actually know what to say.

[fubbsy]

I had frequent periods, then fewer periods, then frequent periods, etc. so it could be peri meno. OTOH with all those symptoms, there could be something else going on. Either way, there should be things to do to try and make you feel better.

What do you say? Just describe what's bothering you, as you have done in your op. Perfectly fine to say you wonder if you are starting menopause. The doc will probably ask questions to clarify things.

[VenusDeWillendorf]

When did you get your implant.

Have you had any other side effects?
Itching and feeling faint and nauseous is a side effect I'm pretty sure iirc.

Maybe you should contact your GP and think about some other contraception, as it sounds to me (non medic random person on the Internet) you're having a reaction to the implant.

I'd talk to an expert irl.

Hth

[Iactuallydothinkso]

I'm going to the docs tomorrow. Had the implant for 2 years now, it's been fine, haven't had anything strange, it seems to work for me.

Thanks for the replies.

[MoJangled]

Feeling dizzy and achey around /post ovulation and then again pre-period seems to be a peri thing, something to do with hormone shifts, although I've yet to find a good explanation as to what/why. Here is a possible explanation for your last few weeks:

Period, normal build up for first half of cycle
Fail to ovulate, so miss the trigger for the second phase of the cycle, and the hormones don't cascade as normal. As your hormone levels do their unscheduled drop you feel dire, and your uterus lining starts breaking down because it's not being maintained by progesterone, effectively going into an earlier, less organised period.

Or something completely different!

Hope the doc helps

[Iactuallydothinkso]

Thank you.

Well, I went, I thought she'd say "it's peri menopause, man up Princess" except I've been referred for an urgent vaginal ultrasound at the hospital as the most likely suspect is fibroids. The light headedness and nausea is most likely because I don't have enough iron now due to the blood loss so she's ordered a blood test. The itching, she didn't connect with anything but gave me anti histamines to see how I get on with those.

I'm glad it's an urgent referral, I'm feeling more spaced out everyday. I'm struggling to concentrate at work and I'm feeling quite miserable.

So, I don't think I'm desperately bothered about a vaginal scan although slightly concerned about "how one presents oneself". Time for a proper trim?! Or what?!

So, fibroids..... I don't know anything about them?

[MoJangled]

You poor thing. Glad you're being looked after properly.

IME vaginal scans are a waste of topiary - paper or cloth modesty drape over your bits and legs, briefly lifted and long wand scanny probe thing swiftly installed, then operated with one hand while looking at a screen. No time to appreciate any handiwork.

Good luck!

[Iactuallydothinkso]

"Waste of topiary" thank you for making me laugh! Very reassuring!

[Iactuallydothinkso]

Hello! Back again. Was diagnosed with multiple fibroids. Apparently I have multiple clusters of multiple fibroids. Hey, not just the one then eh?! My periods are currently every 9 days! I've been put on tranexamic acid and I saw my insides on VagCam!

More worryingly, my doctor demanded I have a smear. She told me I haven't been since 2003. Yes, that makes me an utter idiot. I get the results Friday when she wants to see me again.

However, I did manage to make an idiot of myself when the scan lady said she'd be gentle as she had had one done before and I said "did you do it yourself". Why did I say that? Why?