So worried....Uterine Lining, FSH, etc.

[terryann99]

Hi Everyone!
I just can't relax and I thought I would write and see if anyone here can shed light. I am 55 years old, have had large fibroids for years, and am still having periods. I did not think I had entered menopause yet as I still have the periods.Mostly periods are regular, but are extremely heavy and I have had some irregular periods as well, meaning close together. But they are definitely "periods", at least they seem that way. I had hot flashes for a few months about 2 years ago, and have never had any again. One year ago my FSH indicated I was not menopapusal.

Now FSH is 34 and I was told the other day that my uterine lining is 9mm, so my gyn did endemetrial biopsy. I am very worried obviously, but I don't  understand why I am having regular periods but am in menopause, and why hot flashes only lasted a short time and afterwards I had normal FSH.

Can anyone tell me what they think? So worried about cancer due to uterine lining being thick. By the way, the ultrasound that determined the thick lining was done just a few days before my period was due.

I'm just so nervious and can't reach my Doctor. Hope you can help me.
Thank you,
Terry

[LivingInHope]

I'm glad they didn't find any cancer w/the biopsy!  When I had my D&C, the doctor removed six polyps.  Later, with an emergency laporotomy, I learned I had severe endometriosis.  This can be a cause of heavy bleeding.  I tried progesterone for a very short time for my bleeding troubles, but it did not help me and I think I got really dizzy or lightheaded or something with it.

[terryann99]

Thanks for writing to me! You are the only one. I got my pathology report back and fortunately there is no cancer growth, but there is evidence of polyp. I am having Dr look into that more soon.

Dr. said about the same as you, and she thinks I am just not changing over to menopause. She is wanting to put me on progesterone to help bleeding. I just don't know how I feel about it...I have to do some reserach on this.

Isn't this all fun?????????????? Geez, as if us women didn't have enough all our lives, then we have to go through this. Just not fair. But I'm not sure I'd trade with a man.
Thanks for talking to me.
Terry

[LivingInHope]

TerryAnn, I had a hysterectomy back in 2006, but before that, I had FSH tested a couple of times.  One reading was very low and the other very high.  The doctor explained to me that just meant that with the low reading, I didn't ovulate and with the high reading, I did. Here is a guideline for normal ranges I got this year when I had my own FSH tested:
Mid-Follicular phase: 3.85 - 8.78
Mid-Cycle peak: 4.54 - 22.51
Mid-Luteal phase: 1.79 - 5.12
Postmenopausal: 16.74 - 113.59

My own reading this year was 169.11.  So, we don't all fit the "normal range".  Now, I checked with a gyn doctor and she is not worried that my reading was so high.
I wouldn't trust an ultrasound done shortly before a period was due- I would try to get one done just after a period was finished if you want another done.  I had an abnormal endometrial biopsy once when I still had my uterus- they said I had "disordered proliferative" which was the first step toward cancer.  The doctor tried to scare me into taking birth control pills, but I did not succomb.  I did get a D & C and everything came out non-cancerous, thanks be to God!
I hope you are getting not only a complete blood count, but also your iron tested, including stored iron: ferritin and total iron binding capacity (T.I.B.C.) tested as well.  It's not uncommon to get anemic and it doesn't show up very quickly in just the complete blood count.
If you still have large fibroids, it's a clue your estrogen is still up there, because I've heard with post-menopause when you still have a uterus, the fibroids shrink naturally.