Spotting when I lift something heavy

Hi Friend, I know some about atrophy. I got it real early (38!) from sudden shut off of my hormones from an autoimmune autonomic neuropathy supposedly caused by an unfound cancer....my case is rare and not fully figured out. I went through rapid atrophy when my hormones dropped-estradiol from what we now know is my normal range of high 200's down to 30! My hpa axis/pituitary hormones keep coming back on line after months of ivig blood infusions and then tissues improve and gi and bladder function but then when I relapse I re-lose the hormones ans menses and have to keep going back on hormones. I hope to find underlying cancer that my body is trying to kill and that my body is instead attacking my nervous system affecting endocrine/pituitary...(autoimmune).

With the initial atrophy in inner labia shrunk severely/some melding in to vulva in one days time and I lost subcutaneous fatty tissue from inside my vaginal canal that basically functionally shortened the vaginal canal feeling by an inch...periodically I have also had brown discharge in between times when my menses stops.

Back to your story; It sounds to me like you need it looked at again where its happening when lifting...it would be important to know if the blood is coming from your uterus through the cervix or is it coming from some kind of injury or breakdown of the tissues and ofcourse not a mass). I am not a doc. Did you have your hormones tested (i presume you are post menopausal?) and also do you have pain upside aside from bladder urgency? were you tested for infections and sexually transmitted stuff if that's applicable? Glad you got pap and ultrasound. my gyn said uktrasound is still bed kind of inaging for gyn stuff....

sorry for what you are going through! I can relate to the pain inside when my hormones go very low and I do know bladder urgency is a major symptom in atrophy...this is bc whole area including urethra apparently atrophies from what I understand and the tissues become friable. We are also prone to constant yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis and utis AND in my case with all the autoimmunity or due to hypoestrogenism I also had desquamative vaginitis requiring clyndamycin inserts on consecutive days (a antibiotic that is being used for antiinflamatory properties) which did relieve it

as an aside wonder if you have other health issues. Along with my neuro/endocrine autoimmune illness i tested pos for small fiber neuropathy (ankle and hip biopsy) and that causes bladder issues as well as bowel and vaginal, autonomic, etc Most autoimmune sufferers are women.

Hope you get some help here/answers.

Best, Melissa

ps Been seeing closed loved ones that are say older than 60 experience ageism in dealing with medical community. Things often get chalked up to older age when they are finding out that Alheimers is autoimmune neuro driven (autoantibodies at play)and same with Schizophrenia. I have a another friend with a rhematologic illness affecting his arms/legs but because he is 67 its like people treat him like thats to be expected with age when its autoimmune and there are treatments for it albeit risky ones....

Were you put on hormone cream after the atrophy diagnosis? I did not use the cream despite diagnosis as the atrophy did not cause any problems other than uncomfortable pap test. Three years later diagnosed with LS. If you are not using the cream I would start. I avoided it as my sister had stage 4 breast cancer at the time. Realize now it's better to just use it.

Re the spotting, I have never had that despite constantly lifting things I shouldn't so best to discuss with your gyn.

I was never on hormones, when the doctor or maybe it was the nurse that did the pap test told me about the atrophy, I didn't really have any symptoms, but during the last three years I realize that I do. My husband and I no longer have sex cause it is too painful. I am scheduled for an ultrasound, probably be awhile because if the coronavirus, will ask about hormone cream when I see my doctor. Thank you both for your quick response.

Am also wondering what LS is?

I also forgot to say that I have three small fibroids and had a polyp removed several years ago. Will be glad to get the ultrasound, mvaybe another polyp could be the reason for the spotting.

I have had vaginal atrophy very severely. I'm 64 years old and I have to use the Vagifem pessaries that you insert to get any relief I have got to use them I don't have a choice . It is the most unpleasant thing it causes so many problems urgency soreness painful bladder burning you name it the this goes on there needs to be more research into this. I'm fine at the moment no symptoms. I have never had the discharge that you speak of so I would probably make sure that everything is ok but I think you've probably already done that but pursue if you're not happy with what they've said. The LS they're talking about it's something called lichen sclerosis ( think I may have spelt that's wrong) I don't know a lot about it I haven't got it but it causes white patches very sore and brittle skin down in the vaginal area, as far as i know.