I'm 65 years old and still bleeding occasionally. Anyone else in my age group still bleeding?
Posted , 38 users are following.
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.
3 likes, 110 replies
mary65609 Sesha777
Posted
I am 64 and have recently had a period after a gap of over a year. I had regular periods up till I was 59 and since then a few night sweats which seem to have now stopped but no other "change" symptoms . I have had two pelvic ultrasounds in the last 3 years which have been normal. The last one a week ago showed 3 follicles sitting in my right ovary. My doctor has referred me to a specialist mainly because I come way outside the norm. My doctor had never met a 64 yr old like me and maybe the specialist with whom she has already discussed me hasn't either. The doctor said it would be remiss of her if she didn't refer me. I am fit and healthy and work part time . I am not going to worry about what is happening to me, it's not normal but it's certainly not unheard of as others on this forum have shown in their stories.
louellen39047 mary65609
Posted
Hi Mary:
No matter what age any of us are at, they tend to want to investigate what is going on when we go over a year without a period then have one. That can happen at the age of 51 too! It's not just us "oldies". From the reading that I've done about this, we can still have follicles even past Menopause though it's not the "norm" to still have them at this age according to text books etc.. Honestly, I think it's wise to get it all checked out properly. That way, you won't wonder yourself silly (unless you're a control freak like I am LOL). Having peace of mind is worth it...especially, if you're truly NOT "done" quite yet.
If you're not having any more bleeding after this, I would keep it in the back burner state and see what happens. However, if you're to bleed again now...I'd be seen just to ensure that nothing is going on that we don't want going on at this age....like fibroids, polyps or ovarian cysts (which can come and go on their own). Even spotting is of concern to them at this age so, better to be safe than sorry, right? If you bleed anything again...even spotting...get it checked out for peace of mind. I've had enough now at 62 years of age and the daily spotting/bleeding so, I've just done my pre-op for a hysterectomy. I've tried everything else and am not prepared to continue on living with daily bleeding like this even though biopsies come back as nothing to be concerned about. After 9 years of poking, prodding, bleeding, cramping and otherwise, PANIC...I've decided with my gynaecologist (3rd one) that enough is enough and it's time to come out. (It's prolapsed, had an ablation, 2 D&C's, polypectomy, rounds or progestins, progesterones, the Mirena IUD and so many ultrasounds and biopsies that I'm just fed right up with it all now. Even the gynaecologist didn't want to do the surgery at first but, after 5 years of this, she was good and ready to do it and suggested that it was the only thing left to do now.).
Be well! Be safe though. Don't muscle through it. See what happens with at least a consultation if needed.
mary65609 louellen39047
Posted
Hi Louellen. Yes I am going to see a specialist and always intended to. But I am not going to worry. My main point was I suppose was that we don't all fit into the same mould. I was having regular periods later than most and so everything else will probably be later. I've had a easy time with only a few night sweats and never needed or been prescribed medication for this. We're all different. So just because our doctors haven't seen anyone like us it's not impossible it's us it's our normal.
sharlene51432 mary65609
Posted
Very true....I had my last child in my 40's, my grandmother had her period or bleeding till mid 60's, my cousins are all late....my mother started going through the change in her 60's she is now 86....
my doctor at first wasn't listening to me... and I to have a couple of visits to actually get him to hear me... I told him I never stopped... which threw him for a loop...but like my mom told me one day it will stop....as long as I do not have really heavy bleeding, she said don't worry...it will stop one of these days... which will be nice.
we are all different... and yet the same in many ways...
Sue1996 Sesha777
Edited
i found site and topic while doing a google search. I'm having the same issue and getting worried, but I don't have health insurance. This thread did calm me a bit, but I see it's 5 years old. is anyone still active here or is it a closed topic? I'm on a menopause support private group on Facebook, but it seems anyone with similar problems are 50 or younger and think it's unheard of for a 63 year old to have any problems like this.
MyLight Sesha777
Edited
Hello, yes I still occasionally bleed. It typically occurs once a year. It always feels like menstruation, i.e. low grade cramping, low back ache, slight headache, crankiness, craving for chocolate.
I do not go to the doctor. I stopped years ago when I was in my mid to late thirties. At the time, I was single (divorced) with 2 children under the age of ten, working full time, no family, an absentee father who lived in another state. Carrying the full load, I was exhausted all the time. I had no energy at all. So I went to the doctor (female) who was taking new patients on my insurance plan. She walked in, listened to my complaint and checked my ears, eyes, nose and throat. Before she walked out she said she would call in a prescription for thyroid medication. How could she determine I had a thyroid problem??? No tests were run. No blood drawn, no urine sample, nothing. Prior pap smears were always normal with other doctors. Needless to say, I never went to the pharmacy to pick up the prescription and I never went back to her or anyone since with the exception of one or two emergency room visits. I became perimenopausal in my forties with menopause in my fifties. For years, I took black cohosh and I was fine - no periods and full onset menopause which included some dryness, atrophy, no fear of pregnancy or taking birth control. The only positive was an increased libido. Two years ago, I became a widow and among other things like cessation of eating and sleeping well, I have stopped taking my vitamins and black cohosh.I get the occasional antibiotic prescribed by my dentist. When I do, I experience spotting. I don't think this is a coincidence. I think I need to get back in the habit of taking vitamins and black cohosh as doctors are not an option. Let them practice on someone else.
Sue1996 Sesha777
Edited
Is anyone still here that posts on this thread? I'm 63 and still having issues and kind of freaking out because it keeps stopping for a few months then starts again sometimes in a month or two, sometimes longer. This last time 2 months ago it was really heavy then nothing for 2 months then this month, super heavy for 7 days, then a night of flooding, almost went to the ER but no insurance. then it stopped for 2 days then another weird night of a huge gush and goop, then it stopped again for a few days and now spotting again. Kind of freaking out.
jude84900 Sue1996
Posted
Sue,
Did you have a span of over a year without a period before all this bleeding started or are you still waiting for your periods to end?
Sue1996 jude84900
Posted
I think I've come close but not hit 1 full year or maybe just hit a year. I've kept track back through 2018 on my calendars which I've dug out and gone through again. For a while nothing, other times spotting once a month, other times heavy bleeding, then nothing for months again. The last one was 2 months ago then nothing, not even any spotting again, until this one which was a nightmare. I'm not sure about before 2018, I still have my calendars, but I hadn't been marking on them since my teenage grandson was living with us at the time and his friends always over, didn't want to have them ask about the red dots on my calendar. So I really not sure how long I went without any since I didn't comment, but since 2018, that's what's been happening, sometimes nothing, other times spotting once a month for months, other times bleeding and spotting on and off more on than off for an entire month. It's just been crazy. Haven't been able to afford insurance in years.
Sue1996
Posted
I wish my mom would have talked more about this sort of stuff. But when my sister and I both started our periods, she handed us a booklet to read. Then said to just write on the shopping list when we needed pads. That was it. I learned more about it at school from friends. My sister had more period troubles when she was young and most of her life than I ever did. She had a non-cancerous tumor in her late 50's and had a hysterectomy, so I have no clue if she would have been late like me or not.
jude84900 Sue1996
Edited
Sue,
I know anytime unusual bleeding happens it is alarming. I had really heavy bleeding for a couple years leading up to my periods finally ending. There was times I hated to leave the house because it would gush out at times leaving you feel quite nervous. I hated to go out of town because of being afraid to soul someone else's bed. All I can say is those periods, with heavy clots eventually ended for good. Each one of us are different how long we go before it finally ends. If you would have told me you had been off periods awhile it would have been more alarming but it may just be your body just isn't through with those periods. I was 55 when they ended for good. Its not unusual to be in your 60s still having periods either. I hear you on no insurance but maybe start putting aside a little money so if this lingers too long you can eventually have a piece of mind by going in and being checked out.
People never discussed periods years ago. Its a shame. Like you both my mom ans sister had hysterectomies and I had no idea what was happening when things started winding down.
Sue1996 Sesha777
Posted
I had it so bad last month. A week of super heavy then an all night of flooding. Then a big glob and a lot of blood and then it was over. Figured whatever that was was the end. But then I've had pink discharge the past few days and just now blood again. So far not bad but enough that it was on the pad. Freaking out because it's only been a week and a half since the bad one. Surely I can't be starting all over again so soon. In all my life I never had one sooner than 28 days. I don't know if it's just menopause or if something is wrong. I can't get health insurance until November now. Why the heck they don't leave the enrollment open all year, sure would make less work for them. If I move and change zip codes I can try, I gave up this time since I thought we were moving by March and needed every penny for that, figured hopefully we'd find a cheaper place and I can apply then and maybe get something I can afford. Then the complex gave us a 4 month extension so we have until July to move, which is good but I can't apply for healthcare without a life change and moving is the only one we have coming up. I don't know what to do but how do you not freak out about this?
Sue1996 Sesha777
Posted
I wish you ladies were still active on this thread. I could really use the support. After having nothing but one day of spotting in the past two months, this month was horrible again. Really heavy for a week, 2 days of flooding not being able to leave the house again just like 2 months ago, including huge clots. Then it would stop for a day or two and spotting again and stop again and now bleeding a little more with clots again. This is going on 3 weeks now of starting and stopping. last time, 2 months ago it stopped after 8 days. I don't understand why I go some months with nothing, and then suddenly horrible again. I'm 63 and on my other menopause board the women who went through the same thing as this, were in their 50's and say it's not normal at all at my age.
belinda84736 Sesha777
Posted
Hello
i am going through what you have, as i speak, medical professionals wont acknowledge that menopause is as individual as the person, and i have older family members that have gone through simply late menopause! what happened to continuous education? sometimes i feel so excausted and alone trying to get the healthcare team to listen and look closer at the facts, if experts can see and diagnose a catscan of a 3000 year old mummy, with expertise, why not a catscan of a person as of a few days ago, that shows no signs of cancer, be ignored????? please someone help me understand !!!