Recent Adenomyosis Diagnosis and possible Perimenopause

[Aloha79]

Please help me understand hormones! I am well versed on everything cycle/fertility related but not prepared for this next step.

I recently stopped breastfeeding my youngest, age 20 months. I am 43.

I had very heavy periods when they returned but thought this was due to breastfeeding. A few months ago I started having random spotting at any point in my cycle. And I am very bloated.

I stopped nursing my baby 6 weeks ago and saw my GP 2 weeks ago with these symptoms. I had a TVUS last week and my GP called with the results on Thursday. Suggestive of Adenomyosis and a very small fibroid (1.3cm). All else looked ok.

My GP suggested Qlaira COP. However, my latest bloods didn't check my estrogen levels. This is what I don't understand - how will the COP help, if this condition can be caused by high levels of estrogen? But don't I need estrogen?

My latest bloods did show FSH of 31, which is suggestive of perimenopause. And my TSH is high (I am on levo).

Generally, I feel great but have so many questions about what is best to do.

Any insights into Adenomyosism, the COP and peri? TIA!

[BloomingMarvellous]

Whoa , that’s alot on your plate ! Can understand why you feel at sea. First you asked for hormone clarity /info on adenomyosis roots and the oestrogen relationship. Traditional views are the primary root of adenomyosis and endo is that it’s oestrogen fed and that’s the nub. Progress is being made with the unravelling & it’s seeming to be a whole lot more complicated and sophisticated than that. You can get both with low levels of oestrogen for one. So oestrogen equates to endo/adenomyosis isn't the done deal it was thought to be. I like Kate Edmonds book Heal Endo as being a useful exploration of this. She has an instagram account which gives a taster of that ( same title as the book) .

Next you take LEVO so your thyroid may still be adjusting having being post partum and breastfeeding. Breast feeding can really drain the body of nutrients so some of the cyclical chaos maybe down to a combo of both those ? Worth perhaps talking to a qualified naturopath/ nutritionist. Magnesium/ zinc/selenium and calcium all come to mind ( used to be a therapist) .

Last (and certainly not least !) on the question list - I think you are on the money to consider perimenopause . Great resource for info and support on this can be found at Dr Louise Newson’s website Balance. She has loads of info on the hormone side , what to expect, nutrition, effects on things like endo and adenomyosis. You’ll get info you need about where to go for what and how to ask for what you need which I found useful.

It’s really easy when things go off beam to become anxious as the familiar is suddenly not there … pain, hormone chaos, sleep deprivation will all do it and then getting all manner of uncharted diagnoses all at once can be really unnerving. Most of us here totally get that utter panic and feeling lost. It’s easy to get swept along and not keep feet on the ground making it ten times worse speaking from bitter experience. Amid the overwhelm finding my calm point really enabled me to process and chart what I needed first and foremost otherwise my headless chicken would take over. I tried various methods but in the end self compassion and the Curable app is what helped me the most manage the inner talk and confusion.

Hope it all gets sorted soon x