Write the Post/Menopause Thoughts / Meds

[Guest guest]

WRITE THE POST PLEASE:

is right – the Washington Post needs to hear how you feel about the

hysterectomy hype articles they’ve printed. I sent off my letter just now.

Some of the posts here on the subject have been great. For instance,

Gloria, if you’d take your post addressed to Carla & direct it to the Post,

that would be great. I hope they get a FLOOD of correspondence about this.

Please join me in giving them a piece of our minds.

I believe it is critically important for us to make our voices heard.

Quantity does count with editors.

Remember, editors take things more seriously which arrive with a full (real)

name, address & phone number attached to them.

Repeating the address here: letters @ washpost.com (only without the

spaces)

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Menopause:

I’m no expert on this – ‘cause I’m not there yet. I am, however, highly

experienced at perimenopause & fibroids. Might be going for the world’s

longest perimenopause --!

I seem to have gotten a LOT closer to menopause in the last 6 to 8 months –

now having very light 1 to 1 ½ day periods every 10 days to 2 weeks (more

about that below). I have to say that the fibroids are among the things

that have changed during these recent months. I have a LOT LESS trouble

with them now. Not entirely gone by any means – but things are much better.

So, FOR THOSE OF YOU WAITING FOR MENOPAUSE & HOPING FOR SHRINKAGE WHEN IT

COMES – TAKE HOPE – I THINK IT MAY ACTUALLY WORK – (at least for some of the

people, some of the time). –

Note: I did have vag myo almost 2 years ago for one pedunculated (and

totally prolapsed) 5 cm. fibroid That ended my bleeding and urinary

frequency problems.

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Thoughts on Menopause & Meds:

Here’s something I’m starting to be interested in – admit I haven’t looked

into it in much depth YET – but wondering if anyone else here has had any

related experiences.

Background: I’m nearly 56 & still menstruating – with fibroids and hoping

to make menopause sooner rather than later – to the extent I’m getting

there, clearly it could just be related to age & I AM certainly aware of

that.

However, over the past year or two I’ve had 2 very dramatic and abrupt

changes in my “cycle” – each of which came shortly after starting a routine

medication. Prior to starting the first med, I’d been having fairly

irregular and unpredictable periods – usually once every 4 to 6 weeks,

sometimes skipped one, they were pretty light.

Then I went on thyroid (levothroid) daily. My periods immediately became

VERY regular – 3 days every 3 weeks – still very light – maybe even lighter

– but you could practically set your watch by them. By about the 2d month

of this, the fibroid related pressure/discomfort symptoms which were

especially bad during periods waned & (so far) that has continued.

A few months later I went on a statin drug (lovastatin) in addition to the

thyroid. The 2d month of that, my period came on the expected 21st day

(which was the 33d or 34th day of the med) and lasted less than one day.

Since then, it’s been 1 day extremely light periods every week or two. The

bleeding is more like continuous spotting – but the rest of the symptoms are

still there (sleep patterns, appetite patterns, GI patterns, water

retention) – they’re definitely periods.

I’m fascinated by these changes & wonder if other women (especially other

perimenopausal women) have experienced similar (or even very different)

types of changes with either or both of these drugs. Both make some sense

to me – although my understanding of this so far is pretty limited –. And,

of course, being me, I’m not particularly happy about being on ANY drug on a

regular basis. Mostly, just curious so far.

Pat

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