If you got your period back after chemo, what were the signs??
Did your hot flashes go away? How long after the hot flashes stopped did your period resume? Anyone have their period return & still get hot flashes? Any other signs that chemopause was coming to an end?
I'm 30 and have been in chemopause for 6 months (finished chemo 4 months ago, been on Tamoxifen for 3 months). Still getting hot flashes like crazy. I just don't want to be caught off-guard, want to know what signs to look out for that my period might resume. I also have on & off uterine pressure which worries me.
Comments
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my hot flashes pretty much disappeared....then bam period. I would say 2 months after the flashes stopped and my period returned -
I did not have a period for 18months-then boom. The last 2 months have been fun. Still having hot flashes, been taking effexor at night for that. Was kinda looking forward to being period free -
WHAT? You mean the one good thing about chemo (of course other than getting rid of my C) might be temporary? Damn. :-( -
My hot flashes gradually stopped after my last chemo and disappeared about 4 weeks after chemo. Period came back exactly 6 weeks after last chemo
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Good to hear your experiences!
SLV58 -- sorry to break it to you! I guess in theory, the younger you are, the more likely your period will return. For some it never comes back. Also depends on what chemo you had. I am so torn -- I am happy to not have periods (mine were HORRIBLE and debilitating, I would have done just about anything to stop having them!) but I desperately want to have another baby. If my periods return, I will probably go off Tamoxifen & try to get pregnant, but that could take years (we have fertility issues) and I will be so scared to not be taking Tamox for so long! In some ways it's easier if the decision is made for me (no periods = no baby). I also feel more protected from recurrence if I don't have periods, based on the research I've read... -
I'm 34 years old, finished chemo a year and a half ago, and my period still has not returned. -
I finished chemo in January, radiation early April, and got my first period in Sept, so 8 months after chemo and 6 months after active treatment. The hot flashes did decrease in intensity and frequency, and then I felt like my uterus was sore and cramped up (it felt like a hard ball I could feel all the time) and then about a week after that went away, I got a totally normal period. Once the period was over, the hot flashes resumed. I am about to get it for the second time based on the same progression of decrease in flashes and a week of cramps.... My ob/gyn and med onc both said it was quite common for premenopausal women to get their periods back on tamoxifen. It took a friend 2 months post active treatment and another a full year.
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Just to update, in case anyone else is obsessed with the minutiae of all this...
After 9 months without a period, I finally got mine back. 7 months post final chemo, 6 months since starting Tamoxifen.
Hot flashes gradually decreased a bit in intensity over the last few months (which may also be due to the very cold weather), and some days were less frequent, but they have definitely not gone away. In fact, on the second day of my period, I've had about 30+ hot flashes in the last 24 hours! SIGH. Seems like I get the worst of both worlds.
I did find out last month that I have multiple ovarian cysts and a very thick endometrial lining. My hormone levels are also way off (double the upper limits for estrogen and testosterone). I've had pelvic discomfort for months now, and am hoping this period will clean things out & maybe even get me back to normal hormonally, but who knows. I have an appt with the gyn about all these issues.
I was extremely moody & crazy (like PMS on steroids!) the day before but I've been like that on & off all through Tamoxifen. My sex drive increased a lot over the last month or two (of course, with all those extra hormones floating around in me!)
So really there, while there were signs something might be brewing, there were not a whole lot of specific warning signs that my period was actually imminent... I had one instance of very very slight fertile-type cervical mucus and I think that is when I ovulated, but it was a short luteal phase (come to think of it, that's pretty typical for me).
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I started chemo on October 18 2012. my P stopped on Dec 21 2012, so the Nov 20 period was my last one. Then i finished chemo on Feb 01 2013. my period came on Nov 22, 2013 which means exactly one year since the last P. and 9 months after my last Chemo. I had a bit of a weird sign which was acne as if i was a teen again. No mayor symptoms. I was so happy to see my P back
. I do not take Tamoxifen and i feel great as if my body is starting to become normal again. Take care
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I had TCX4 April - June 2013 My last period was May 18, 2013 after treatment #2.
My period returned January 9, 2014 after more than 7 months. It returned with a vengeance! Strongest period of my life
I had hot flashes June - November. I noticed I was cramping every 28 days or so around September/October. I tried acupuncture but have no idea if it helped or not.
I recently turned 42 and I am not on Tamoxifen. I would say my biggest signs were hot flashes going away and monthly cramps starting.
Hope that helps answer questions...
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Reviving this topic because I'm having a similar issue as the OP. I went on Lupron for ovarian suppression during chemo and had 5 shots of it. The last shot was early December 2013. My last chemo was December 10th, 2013. Within the last two weeks I noticed a reduction in the hot flashes, increased energy, my skin feels oily again (it was so, so dry during Lupron) and now for the last several days I've had lots of cervical mucus (sorry about the TMI, folks) and all the feels associated with getting your period soon (bloating, cramping, that "heavy" feeling in the ovaries, etc.). I'm hoping it's my period coming because I'm nearly 39, had been trying to get pregnant before all this happened and really want to still be fertile. I also started Tamoxifen two days ago but this PMS-like feeling started probably 5 or 6 days ago and it's increasing in intensity as the days go on. I literally took Midol for relief it was so strong. Does this sound familiar to those got their periods after chemo? I see people saying that their period kind of snuck up on them months after treatment, without any signs it was coming. Thank you guys for your feedback.
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I am also curious about the symptoms/signs if any, that may indicate the return of your period. My last period was 7 months ago. I finished chemo 3 months ago and radiation 1 month ago. Last weekend I had PMS symptoms and cramps but no period. I have also noticed a decrease in the frequency of hot flashes. Yesterday and today I have some vertigo. I am not sure what to make of all this. Is it an indicator that my period may come back or are they just symptoms of menopause. I am 38, I wouldn't mind getting my period back. Stupid cancer has already robbed me of a boob and now its taking my youth.
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Una I am sorry you are here with us, i was 38 when i found the lump, then started Chemo right after i turn 39, my P was gone afer my 3 chemo and it came back right at one year so 12 months after it disappeared. Do you know exactly when did yours go away? I had not mayor Simpsons but i did get acne not a lot but one or two break outs in my face which i found weird as if i was a teen. Somehow now its a regular sign lol Hope my info helps.
Good luck
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Thanks for the info Enerva. My last period was actually 22 July 2013. I don't know what to make of all these weirdsymptoms though. My MO says its just the hormonal fluctuations.
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I'm almost 43. Had my last period in June of last year and then it returned at the end of January. Some signs were increased cervical mucus. I wasn't really happy to see it return.
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thanks everyone for replying. It's a few days later and I'm still having the same symptoms but no period has arrived. I'm wondering if maybe ovulation occurred but because my hormones are all wacky my body didn't create blood to be shed. Maybe that's why I have all the symptoms of a period but no blood. Although I don't like having my periods, I was trying to get pregnant when I got my dx and I'd still like to have children in a couple of years if possible. I'm also 38.
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Here's my nitty-gritty timeline for those that are wondering...
April 2013 - first chemo, last period (big extremely heavy one that lasted most of the month), started menopause symptoms
June - finished chemo
July - started Tamoxifen
August - started feeling fullness/pressure in my pelvis
Sept. through Dec. - continued with hot flashes & other menopause symptoms, but they seemed to slightly decrease on a monthly cycle... I felt like I was having "phantom periods" with irritatbility & decreased hot flashes & cramping once a month, but no bleeding... felt like a super hormonal teenager constantly up & down
Dec. - had my hormone levels checked and they were all sky high, especially estrogen... pelvic u/s showed thickened uterine lining and lots of functional cysts... noticed very small amount of fertile-type cervical mucous at the end of the month, and had lots of pelvic discomfort
Jan. 2014 - got my period back, very light, hot flashes continued (just milder/less frequent right before my period)
Feb. - got period number 2, more normal flow but none of the usual cramping, still had hot flashes
Mar. - started an antidepressant which seems to have stopped the hot flashes... expecting my period this week
I track my cycles and I've had signs of ovulation the last couple months but not very strong signs -- I suspect even though my periods have returned, I'm not very fertile and things may still be off hormonally. Or perhaps that's the Tamoxifen.
Good luck to all of you trying to figure this out... I didn't really want my period back since I can't try to have a baby for 10 years (due to Tamox) at which point I'll surely be infertile anyway.
I always had very heavy painful incapacitating periods. But in the end, I'm glad I got it back, they aren't painful yet, and I feel a little more hormonally balanced, and I no longer obsess over whether it's about to return at any moment! -
gildedcage, we did IVF preservation before chemo so i've been seeing a fertility doctor throughout this experience. My fertility doctor has confirmed I'm ovulating again (as has the digital ovulation kit I dusted off) I was using the fertility monitor before my period returned, mostly of curiosity. It showed some fluxuations but never showed ovulation until after my period returned. I've been like clockwork ever since - ovulating on time around Day 12 and period 27-28 days. I'm glad it's back as it drove all the hot flashes away! Were you also on the Cold Caps board? Your username looks familiar. I'm a happy former Cold Cap user
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I didn't really have any signs; just the monsoon periods! I was always irregular before anyway. I was on Tamoxifen 1 1/2 yrs and got the thick lining and ovarian cysts. The cysts always resolved themselves. I had to have lining biopsies because of the thickening and they were always fine, too. My Gyn told me to try taking Aleve for the very heavy periods and it helped lighten and shorten them. Weird, but it worked.
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Thanks for the responses. I'll be getting my FSH levels tested and hear the results in about two weeks. My doctor says that Tamoxifen shouldn't influence the results and that I can get tested a second time in a few months to kind of double check the reading of the FSH test. I'm anxious about it because I really don't want to be postmenopausal, even though I did IVF egg retrieval before chemo. I still want the opportunity to try to get pregnant naturally after two years on Tamoxifen. It's now day 12 of taking Tamoxifen and I've not noticed many symptoms, except for increased emotionality in that first week of taking it when your estrogen levels surge and some bloating. I'll keep an eye out on cysts, as a number of women on the boards here have mentioned it was an issue. I never had a problem with cysts in the past and I don't know if a past history is an indicator of what to expect in the future or not. I'll keep that info about Aleve in mind as well should the need arise.
Yes, SusieQ, I am also a successful cold caps user. I just got a haircut about two weeks ago and although my hair is pretty thin, it's impossible to tell that I completed chemo recently. I hope I never have to see a cold cap again (just the idea of them makes me sick because they remind me of chemo) but I am so glad I had them when I needed them.
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I hear you gildedcage. Other than finishing chemo, shipping those caps back was my second favorite thing. Still glad I did it, but also glad to be done. It fills back in faster than you think! And of course no one notices the thinning as much as you Hope your period returns. i wasn't put on Tamoxifen and it returned about 7 months post-chemo. A friend had no chemo but DOES have Tamoxifen and has intermittent periods, often skipping a month here or there. Keep us updated, and best wishes! Susie
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Checking back in to report that I got my period yesterday. Even with all the PMS symptoms I was surprised that it arrived since it's only been three months since I finished chemo and I'm on Tamoxifen and almost 39 years old. I was reading that getting your period is not a for-sure proof of fertility or that you haven't gone into menopause but it is a strong indicator. Let's hope for the best! Thanks for the well wishes.
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I started ACT chemo in August of 2012 at age 44. Last period was 3 weeks later. It has not come back and I am disappointed. I still get hot flashes and the lack of hormones makes me feel like I'm 80. I'm still hoping it will come back.
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yay gildedcage! I was so happy and shocked when mine returned.
Placid44, hang in there. My hot flashes were brutal but eventually went away and my period returned. Here's hoping the hot flashes go away !!!
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Have you considered following a diet such as what women experiencing premature ovarian failure do? What about using Chinese medicine? I found the book The Infertility Cure helpful while I went through primary infertility not due to cancer.
This site has a forum of lots of women trying to improve their fertility with diet and alt medicine:
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Started chemo in April, did not have any periods through 5 months of it. I am 5 weeks PFC and ta da!!! There it is. My hotflashes did decrease 2 weeks ago, none this past week. Sex drive and lubrication also back about 2 weeks ago and my insomnia is somewhat better.
I have never been so happy, we weren't done with kids and decided to start chemo as quickly as possible which meant no time to freeze eggs (no money right then either). I know it doesn't mean I am definitely fertile, but it's not a bad sign! -
I got AF back as well. 5 months PFC, 7 month since my last period. I am 44 and women in my family tend to go into menopause around 50 years
First hot flashes, night sweats diminished, then vaginal dryness abated, sex drive started to return. Next I started having aches in my back by my kidneys that I thought were kidney stones but my chinese medicine doc insisted was a blockage in my kidney energy, important for you menstrual cycle. After that my vaginal secretions returned in abundance and about six weeks later i got my period. Boy what a freaking heavy period it has been as well. Hopefully it is just heavy due to things being a bit out of tune. Im hoping my acupuncturist can help.
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Mine returned with the symptoms just like Agnes's above! My last period was in August 2014 after starting chemo in July 2014. I finished chemo the week before Thanksgiving and my period just returned yesterday.
Extremely heavy too. I'm happy it's back because I have finally been feeling like my old self. I was feeling depressed and down. I really felt like my feelings were menopause related. Good luck ladies
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My first teo cycles were heavy, the subsequent ones have settled down into my old pattern. Sex drive is just fine and I'm still relieved for that.
Good luck to everyone
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hi.. Just came across your comment on this thread. How did it work out for you eventually? I am 38, dont have any kids and recently diagnosed at stage 2B
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