Issues before 9/21 hysterectomy ( Northrindrone to stop the bleeding, but never stopped; menopasue symtoms!)

My hysterectomy is scheduled for September 21st. I started bleeding in July after missing my June period and have never stopped. Oh it's been fun (she says sarcastically). Had endometrial biopsy in August. Ovaries are covered in cysts and I have an extremely large fibroid sitting on my bladder. Anyway...the whole reason I went to the doctor back in July was just the massive bleeding. After all the tests and all, we scheduled the hysterectomy, my doctor prescribed me Northrindrone to stop the bleeding, and I went along my merry way just waiting for the surgery date. But my bleeding has never stopped. Slowed down, yes, but not stopped. I should mention I am also anemic (gee, I wonder why?) and had an iron infusion last week and another one this week. But the past few days I have had pain. Well, I hesitate to call it pain...but major discomfort (I do have a high pain tolerance). Yesterday I actually went to the ER. Let me backtrack...I live in Florida and I DID call my doctor to see if I could get an appt but we were experiencing Hurricane Hermine so my doctor's office was closed. That's why I went to the ER. I was really, really uncomfortable and I was bleeding like no tomorrow. So the ER doc took my history and heard about upcoming surgery and basically said, "okay, well you'll have to just deal with this until your surgery." I promise I'm not a big baby but I really don't feel good and I just want to understand why. He said something about a lot of trauma to the area in the past couple of months between all the bleeding and the biopsy. I am also am emotional wreck, can't seem to control my body temperature, can't sleep at night and seriously feel like I'm beginning to lose it. I know these are all menopause symptoms but can they really come on like that all of a sudden? The weird bleeding was one thing but all the other symptoms have started over the past few days. I guess I'm just grateful my surgery is just 18 days away and I'm not just now beginning the whole process. I feel like I didn't get a gradual "get your toes wet" dip into menopause but a dive in head first, OMG I want to die, forceful shove into it. Anyone else have any type of similar experience? Please tell me I'm not alone, lol.

Hi Lynnleigh6 -

I am so sorry you are going through all of this.

I do not have any experience with the medication you are taking, but we do have lots of women on this site. Hopefully one who does have similar experiences will see this post and respond.

I do have experience with surgical menopause, as I lost everything with my surgery at age 46. So, I do understand the feeling of being rudely dumped into menopause. For me, it was MISERABLE.

Do know that you are not alone. We are here for you, and understand how you feel.

In July I had norethindrone for bleeding. I had 5mg every 6 hours until bleeding stopped (a full week) then 5mg every 8 hours for 3 days, then 12 hours for 3 days, then once a day. But I started bleeding again so went back to 12 hours for another week. Tapered to once a day for 3 days then had another heavy heavy period. Anyway, I had terrible mood swings (mostly rage and unexplained sadness) and unending hot flashes!! I suspect what you are experiencing is side effects. Mine went away within 2 weeks of stopping it.

I am not on any medication to stop my bleeding, but I can relate to being "dumped in the deep end" of menopausal symptoms prior to surgery. I think mine is because I stopped taking the contraceptive pill a few months back, which back then was somewhat masking my menopausal symptoms. Fast forward a few months, one skipped period, then the period from hell is here, preceeded a few days by buttock pain and throbbing pain all the way down my right leg and part way down my left leg. Boom - hot flashes and yep...you guessed it, insomnia. It's incredible!!! I have so much admiration for women who smile politely and say their having a hot flash. I'm thinking "Woah - what has hold of my body and how do I get rid of it?"

I hope you get some relief soon and I wish you well for your surgery.

Wow

I could have written that. Had a hysteroscopy in June for D & C and very large fibrioid pressing on everything. Post surgery I was given tranexazmic acid. Next period was the same, period after was missed and I have just started my last one ever (hyster booked for 29TH) Presented to ED on Monday due to uncontrollable pain. Got sent home yesterday with nothing (long story) Hot flushes are continuous and worse at night which I know because I'm awake. Unless I take a sleeper I do not sleep a wink. I am a psych nurse and part of my job is teaching sleep hygiene to patients and none of that works either

I wonder that if this is menopause now..does it just carry on post hyster or stop. Or do we get it again later when were "supposed to"