can perimenopause make ends worse?

[Shabs2024]

I have been having the worst endometriosis symptoms for the last 3 cycles. Ended up in hospital the last 2 times. recently to get answers I got a private MRI which shows adenemiosis fibroid uterus multiple fibroids kissing ovaries stuck to uterus with endometriomas on both ovaries. Had to also get Private gynae consultation who told me I need full hysterectomy and that this is stage 4 endometriosis.Ive noticed my cycles are every 3 weeks. My question is can HRT help with these symptoms? I know my hormones are all messed up and I am going through peri menopause. I am just not ready to jump for a major surgery without exploring my options or at least try, what has helped you ladies? I will be waiting at least a year on the NHS for surgery even longer as there is a long wait for hysterectomy. any advice appreciated,

[Bakewey]

I’ve just turned 50 and have stage 4 endo - all of what you have listed and more.

I started on HRT in January and it has improved my sleep patterns (though that’s just started to go crazy again) and for a while, bleeds appeared lighter and less painful.

However, put in to the mix of this resent surgery (May) and things are not as good. I’m now Verdi g for about 20 days a month but this could be due to my hormones being out of balance (who knows)?

So yes, I’d say HRT is worth a try but I’d also explore the injections that force menopause - these should also help shrink the endo as well as giving you relief (make sure you have payback hormones too).

Good luck 🤞

[Shabs2024 in reply to Bakewey]

Did you have a hysterectomy? I will discuss the injections with my doctor this week. I haven't heard good reviews about it. I guess everyone react differently.

[Bakewey in reply to Shabs2024]

Will decide on Thursday whether to proceed with hysterectomy- got my post op face to face then.

[Shabs2024 in reply to Bakewey]

Hopefully you get sorted soon and feel better, it's bad enough dealing with endometriosis, then messed up hormones to add to it. I haven't even had a laparoscopy yet, I found out on a Mri scan that I got done privately. it's only then I have had an urgent referral. up until 2 weeks ago my doctor was telling me its only fibroids. I wish they would have took me serious sooner.

[Sunset-lady]

Hi I'm in a very similar situation to you but they couldn't do a hysterectomy as they didn't know I had endometriosis. They went in and found it and as it's all stuck, had to leave it. I then went private and had an MRI which showed fibroids and stage 4 endo. I'm on HRT which is great for my mental health but estrogen drives endo and fibroids. In peri menopause our hormones are erratic (not steadily declining) which is why we feel like we are having an endo flare up because we have sky high estrogen one day and low the next. This is why blood tests aren't done to diagnose peri. You need to be careful taking HRT if you have fibroids and endo. I'm on zoladex which is the injection Bakewey mentions below. This puts you into chemical menopause and you take addback HRT for your mental health. For most women estrogen is fantastic but not for women with endo and fibroids. We need some for bone health and mental health but we need to find the right balance and often taking more natural progestetone like utrogestan is the answer. I'd also change your diet to a very low inflammatory diet as this does help. I think we need more research into estrogen for women with endometriosis. If you read about estrogen dominance it can help. I know I need some estrogen but I'm desperately trying to shrink fibroids so I can't have too much. I hope that makes sense.

[Shabs2024 in reply to Sunset-lady]

Thank you for taking time out to message. Are you waiting for surgery? Or trying other ways to help with pain. I have cut out coffee and some gluten, red meat, still taking some sweet. Is there anything else I need to cut back on? I will make appointment with gp to discuss my options. Are you still experiencing pain while on injections? I just want this awful pain to go away. I just finished the most painful period, and the pain is still there. Will be a year before they do surgery from what i heard. I saw gynaecologist private. Who said i definitely need hysterectomy.

[Sunset-lady]

I'm not having surgery as I'd need a bowel resection and my endometriosis is extremely complex so they have told me that I could end up with many more issues post op than I have now - including a stoma bag which I don't want. I've probably had this for 20 years and I'm not in a lot of pain; my issue is that I'm hemorrhaging. I bleed so much without zoladex that I need blood transfusions and iron transfusions. They don't know the reason why. They think it's the fibroids embedded in my cervix and the HRT I take doesn't help. They want me on Tibilone which I don't want to do as i know my mental health is dreadful without estrogen. I would go for the hysterectomy as soon as you can. Endometriosis is such a complex disease. It can come back after a hysterectomy too and the tissue makes its own estrogen which is why we are estrogen dominant to start with.

I eat Paleo which also cuts out dairy (which makes a huge difference) I do have Kefir though. I don't eat grains or dairy or any processed food. It works for me at the moment. I walk a lot too and exercise as much as I can when I'm not bleeding.

[Shabs2024 in reply to Sunset-lady]

I am also anaemic, it makes sense why. I will get a hysterectomy. It's a long wait, I am looking at prices to get it done privately. I can't live like this for a year.

[Sunset-lady]

Being anaemic is awful. I have been on and off for 18 months. I investigated private hysterectomy. If they can do it then I'd get it done as soon as you can so you can get your life back. Xx

[Shabs2024]

Yes I am looking into it, I hope you get sorted. xx