My brush with menopause story.

Okay, so I took the blood test sometime in my late forties. Maybe 48 or 49. And according to the test, I was in menopause. Never again to experience another period and it was fine by me. But if this story says anything, it says not to trust those tests because, when it comes to old age, nothing is linear. It's more like a roller coaster that has ups and downs, and maybe a little bit of reverse.

I don't know what to attribute it to, but about a year and a half to two years after "the test" I experienced some spotting. It was minor and I ignored it temporarily because I was having a busy month and didn't have time to make an appointment. Besides, I had just finished elective dentist work and wasn't looking forward to another doctor's visit.

So, in the month prior, I had silver fillings removed and replaced, and a few weeks prior I had gone on a cruise with an elder family member (free of hubby and kids to worry about) and really relaxed for the first time in a long time, exercised well and ate even better.

Then I came back home and within a few weeks, I experienced all the symptoms of a period, though only mild bleeding. So I rushed to my doctor and he went through the scenarios. What really scared me a bit was how sure he was that I couldn't be having a normal period because the tests said I was done, finito, in that department. And he nonchalantly discussed the options. Fibroids could cause bleeding, possibly uterine cancer can too, and if bad enough, possibly a hysterectomy was in order. So I went to a referred doctor.

The test, hurt like hell. Imagine pushing a needle inside the uterus to get a scraping. That test came in ok, but the sonogram was iffy, according to the specialist. Something about different coloration, so another kind of test was recommended. Through this all I pleaded, explaining how my whole body seemed to be responding well since I had the silver amalgams removed, and followed by a cruise where I really left behind a lot of stress that I had been carrying around for too long. But, they suggested another test, a sonogram of the uterus, except this time, water is injected into the uterus to ensure that there are no fibroids growing into the uterus, causing the bleeding.

That test was put off for two weeks and I did everything I could to get it out of my mind. When the test day came, I thought I was ready for it, but I wasn't. Ladies, I am ashamed to say that Phil Gram was spot on. I whined. I think it was because I didn't know how quickly the pain would be over once they stopped squirting in the fluid. But there was pain, and lots of it. I think I repeated the words, "It hurts, it hurts." and I felt guilty for saying it because there was a trainee in the room and I felt like I wasn't doing my part. It felt like the damn thing was about to burst and the doctor kept telling the trainee to keep going. I insisted that she had stretched it as far as it would go and when the doctor said in a calm voice, that it was designed to stretch large enough to hold a baby, I think it was at that point that I felt my uterus had been water boarded and I had reached my limit.

Well, apparently they had inserted enough in to do the test and they discovered the uterus was completely normal. The doctor had to accept, then, that I was again having normal periods.

Anyway, I wasn't angry about the ordeals, because I'm glad the doctors took the necessary precautions. Just that, I hope there is some way for someone to discover a way to numb up the uterus the way they Novocaine a tooth before I have to go through that ordeal again.

It looks like the medical establishment simply loves torturing women. I have to wonder what kind of sadists come up with something like that. Couldn't they have done an MRI?

FYI, both of my older sisters had fibroids and there was no doubt about it; they had extremely heavy periods and ungodly cramps.

But they weren't enough to be the cause of the problem.

I don't know enough about the difference between an MRI and what I went through, as far as reliability of the results. I do know that the purpose of expanding the uterus was to make sure there wasn't a fibroid coming through the wall. A little Novocaine would have done wonders, but it really did feel like it would burst. I hear that the uterus may "atrophy" once you're in menopause, so couldn't it realistically happen?

I had that experience last year - I almost passed out from the pain! It hurt like hell simply to dilate my cervix and then, to have that experience on top of it, was incredible. To top it off, she did an endometrial biopsy once the water had drained out.

I truly could not believe how much it hurt. They said take some Aleve (or Advil) before-hand and all should be well. They've no idea. I felt like I'd been through the ringer. The sonogram lady wouldn't let me off the table to get dressed because she could tell how close I was to keeling over. She, at least, was compassionate.

I can't believe she did both procedures on you at the same time! What a trooper you are. I hope everything turned out alright?

Don't you agree they should find a way to numb the uterus before they do something like this?

And when they were expanding it, how reassuring would it feel if the doctor tells you, "don't worry, it won't burst, it's big enough to stretch to hold a baby?"

I stopped going to a man a long, long time ago. How can they truely know what a woman goes through with periods, cramps, labor & delivery, etc??? They may be book smart, but there's no personal experience to connect with. I now go to a fantastic woman associated with Jefferson Hospital in Philly. She's gently, attentive.....and she also diagnosed my sister with stage 3 uterine cancer. So, even though the tests hurt like hell, be happy that at least the doctor was smart enough to check all avenues, instead of letting a potential disaster develop.

BTW, my sister had surgery, radiation therapy and chemo. This was 3 years ago and now she's cancer free. 2 years ago, this same doctor diagnosed my other sister with stage 1 uterine cancer.

Very happy to hear that you're o.k.