This is a long post, but I need help. And this board is often educated and helpful.

[Anonymous]

OP, on Monday call your gyn and schedule an appointment. Since you are 45 and have intermestrual bleeding, she will probably have you get a pelvic ultrasound, endometrial biopsy, or both. Chances are this is NOT cancer. Try to concentrate on the trial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My guess is you’re addicted to Klonopin and experiencing anxiety related to that/withdrawal/rebound anxiety. You can’t just quit it cold turkey, you need to taper down and possibly be given an anticonvulsant to prevent a seizure.

This post screams of mental health crisis, not medical crisis.

Klonopin withdrawal is hard but it's not going to produce health OCD like this specifically.

OP, do see your mental health provider.

[Anonymous]

OP you need a new dr if they haven’t explained to you that this is classic perimenopause. I had the same beginning around 44. Now, as I’m almost 50, it has gotten more annoying bc right before the mid cycle bleeding, I now break out on my chin. It’s like clockwork and so frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is you’re addicted to Klonopin and experiencing anxiety related to that/withdrawal/rebound anxiety. You can’t just quit it cold turkey, you need to taper down and possibly be given an anticonvulsant to prevent a seizure.

This post screams of mental health crisis, not medical crisis.

Klonopin withdrawal is hard but it's not going to produce health OCD like this specifically.

OP, do see your mental health provider.

I'm not OP, but someone keeps posting on here whenever people bring up intermenstrual bleeding and spotting that women have health anxiety. Sure, some folks are anxious and could benefit from therapy and this probably includes OP. But it's not crazy to be worried about intermenstrual bleeding. I can tell you that I was NOT worried about my intermenstrual bleeding until I mentioned it to my gyn and she was like this is NOT normal and made me get a ton of tests including an operation. It wasn't cancer, but she made me go through a lot before being willing to say that. So, insisting that perimenopausal women who are having bleeding are worry about it irritationally isn't fair or right.

For example, ACOG guidelines state that any woman 45 or older who is having intermenstrual bleeding for more than six months should get an endometrial biopsy. Is that necessary? Probably not. Personally, I think my gyn was being super CYA and put me through a lot unnecessarily. But the medical establishment does not agree with your assertions that there is no need to worry about bleeding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is you’re addicted to Klonopin and experiencing anxiety related to that/withdrawal/rebound anxiety. You can’t just quit it cold turkey, you need to taper down and possibly be given an anticonvulsant to prevent a seizure.

This post screams of mental health crisis, not medical crisis.

Klonopin withdrawal is hard but it's not going to produce health OCD like this specifically.

OP, do see your mental health provider.

I'm not OP, but someone keeps posting on here whenever people bring up intermenstrual bleeding and spotting that women have health anxiety. Sure, some folks are anxious and could benefit from therapy and this probably includes OP. But it's not crazy to be worried about intermenstrual bleeding. I can tell you that I was NOT worried about my intermenstrual bleeding until I mentioned it to my gyn and she was like this is NOT normal and made me get a ton of tests including an operation. It wasn't cancer, but she made me go through a lot before being willing to say that. So, insisting that perimenopausal women who are having bleeding are worry about it irritationally isn't fair or right.

For example, ACOG guidelines state that any woman 45 or older who is having intermenstrual bleeding for more than six months should get an endometrial biopsy. Is that necessary? Probably not. Personally, I think my gyn was being super CYA and put me through a lot unnecessarily. But the medical establishment does not agree with your assertions that there is no need to worry about bleeding.

Oh also -WOMEN NEED TO TALK MORE TO EACH OTHER ABOUT PERIMENOPAUSE AND MENO SYMPTOMS. Including on forums like this. It's GOOD for people to post about this so women can talk and compare symptoms. We are trying to figure out what the heck is going on with our bodies, and we don't know because it's all shrouded in mystery and no one talks about it.

[Anonymous]

There is also a difference between spotting (like seeing a tinge when you wipe or a droplet on the tp) and bleeding (needing pad or tampon). I really wish more women TALKED ABOUT THIS.

[Anonymous]

Symptoms of ovarian cancer completely overlap with what happens during perimenopause, and it is terrifying! This happened to me a couple of years ago, and I was absolutely positive that I had cancer - thankfully everything was fine.

OP, I know what you’re going through mentally, but you have an appointment scheduled and you’re going to go in and get it checked out, and the overwhelming likelihood is that you are completely fine. The timing being the same, mid cycle, every month, is a big sign that this is peri related and not something more serious. Hugs ❤️

[Anonymous]

If you search Reddit -- this is INCREDIBLY common. The board Healthy Hooha (seriously) has a wealth of info on this.

[Anonymous]

OP -- I was just at the doctor this week with your symptoms and my AMAZING doctor was like, yep totally normal in perimenopause. We were laughing because my damn iWatch alerted twice during the appointment that I should expect my period in the next two weeks when I was having my period. We talked HRT but I am high risk so she said she would feel more comfortable for me to be in menopause before prescribing.

Also anxiety uptick is normal during perimeopause and can come out of the blue. It sounds like you are doing everything you can for that too. Hang in there. It is a wild and bumpy ride that can last for so damn long!

[Anonymous]

It is perimenopause. But even if it is cancer, you have to believe that you can handle it. You can and you will. Avoiding and wanting reassurance that it isn’t cancer isn’t how you deal with health anxiety. Acknowledging that the likelihood is low but not zero but you will handle it regardless is how you do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is you’re addicted to Klonopin and experiencing anxiety related to that/withdrawal/rebound anxiety. You can’t just quit it cold turkey, you need to taper down and possibly be given an anticonvulsant to prevent a seizure.

This post screams of mental health crisis, not medical crisis.

Klonopin withdrawal is hard but it's not going to produce health OCD like this specifically.

OP, do see your mental health provider.

I'm not OP, but someone keeps posting on here whenever people bring up intermenstrual bleeding and spotting that women have health anxiety. Sure, some folks are anxious and could benefit from therapy and this probably includes OP. But it's not crazy to be worried about intermenstrual bleeding. I can tell you that I was NOT worried about my intermenstrual bleeding until I mentioned it to my gyn and she was like this is NOT normal and made me get a ton of tests including an operation. It wasn't cancer, but she made me go through a lot before being willing to say that. So, insisting that perimenopausal women who are having bleeding are worry about it irritationally isn't fair or right.

For example, ACOG guidelines state that any woman 45 or older who is having intermenstrual bleeding for more than six months should get an endometrial biopsy. Is that necessary? Probably not. Personally, I think my gyn was being super CYA and put me through a lot unnecessarily. But the medical establishment does not agree with your assertions that there is no need to worry about bleeding.

I encourage you to re-read the OP. She is describing intrusive anxiety symptoms that are so extreme that she feels the need to qualify that she is not considering self-harm. She already has an appointment for thorough investigation of the bleeding's cause and also has pretty reasonable basis for belief that it's not for a grave cause.

That is the combination of facts--physical and mental--that people, including me, are responding to in this specific thread.

If you have not had health-related PTSD it may be impossible for you to understand the degree of disruption to her regular functioning that she is experiencing and asking for help with. I have had it (similarly, because of complex health problems that involved painful and protracted treatment) and so I do understand it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is you’re addicted to Klonopin and experiencing anxiety related to that/withdrawal/rebound anxiety. You can’t just quit it cold turkey, you need to taper down and possibly be given an anticonvulsant to prevent a seizure.

This post screams of mental health crisis, not medical crisis.

Klonopin withdrawal is hard but it's not going to produce health OCD like this specifically.

OP, do see your mental health provider.

I'm not OP, but someone keeps posting on here whenever people bring up intermenstrual bleeding and spotting that women have health anxiety. Sure, some folks are anxious and could benefit from therapy and this probably includes OP. But it's not crazy to be worried about intermenstrual bleeding. I can tell you that I was NOT worried about my intermenstrual bleeding until I mentioned it to my gyn and she was like this is NOT normal and made me get a ton of tests including an operation. It wasn't cancer, but she made me go through a lot before being willing to say that. So, insisting that perimenopausal women who are having bleeding are worry about it irritationally isn't fair or right.

For example, ACOG guidelines state that any woman 45 or older who is having intermenstrual bleeding for more than six months should get an endometrial biopsy. Is that necessary? Probably not. Personally, I think my gyn was being super CYA and put me through a lot unnecessarily. But the medical establishment does not agree with your assertions that there is no need to worry about bleeding.

I encourage you to re-read the OP. She is describing intrusive anxiety symptoms that are so extreme that she feels the need to qualify that she is not considering self-harm. She already has an appointment for thorough investigation of the bleeding's cause and also has pretty reasonable basis for belief that it's not for a grave cause.

That is the combination of facts--physical and mental--that people, including me, are responding to in this specific thread.

If you have not had health-related PTSD it may be impossible for you to understand the degree of disruption to her regular functioning that she is experiencing and asking for help with. I have had it (similarly, because of complex health problems that involved painful and protracted treatment) and so I do understand it.

Exactly. OP didn't say "I'm worried about spotting and bleeding." She described herself in crisis over her worry about the spotting and bleeding.

What OP *doesn't* need is people acting like her level of fear is appropriate for the symptoms she is experiencing. Enough concern to go to a doctor, yes. So much concern that she is checking herself 30 times a day, obsessively reading the internet, unable to do her job, and experiecing so much distress she considers life not worth living in her current state? That is not a reasonable reaction, and pretending it is only reinforces to OP that there is probably something terribly wrong with her.

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP! I want to really thank everyone for their replies. Deep down, I am fairly sure this is nothing because I had a CT scan and an ultrasound not long ago and because the blood is cyclical (and judging from threads here, fairly common. Which I did not know.) My dr. is not concerned.

It is what the bleeding represents. I cannot stop checking myself. Like, I go to the bathroom and cringe and pray. I keep looking "down there." I am in a major OCD spiral and I cannot go on like this (I am also working all weekend preparing for a trial, barely functioning all while wondering if I will bleed).

I do not know what drug to ask for or if it's a drug that can help. I am on my maximun dosage for SSRI. Does anyone know of any health anxiety support specifically, or a center that deals with this?

[Anonymous]

What helps me with health anxiety:

Realizing that worry does not fix anything and in fact the stress from it makes my health worse
Do not use the internet for symptom diagnosis
Take things one step at a time

[Anonymous]

OP I had this and it ended up being a benign polyp.