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Has anyone dealt with vaginal bleeding with someone who had a full hystererctomy years and years ago? My 90 year old mom with dementia has had some light vaginal bleeding off and on for the past few months. A few nights ago she had some heavier bleeding with blood clots and was sent to the ER by the CNA at the ALF where she lives. She didn't want to go to the hospital and she was very confused and upset by the whole incident. The ER doctor said the only way to find out what's causing it of course is to do further testing, which at that point my mom was not up for. We didn't want to put someone in her state of mind through anything like that. She's on Hospice care and we would not do any type of treatment at this point anyway. We are just letting nature take its course. I'm just curious if anyone has any experience with this. Thank you.

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Sorry, no; but no-one's answered this question - Hello? Where is everybody?! Doesn't anybody know? - and I don't want you to feel like we're not listening.

So just to say I'm glad that you and your mother's carers aren't pushing for investigations, clearly the right approach, well done to all. I hope things go gently for your mother xxx
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No, but my mom speaks of getting her period, but I haven't seen anything in her underwear. Please let us know.
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I have never heard of this either, so sorry but agree with you,let the doctors keep her comfortable and out of pain, many prayers
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I'm concerned that bleeding this long after a hysterectomy may be signs of something going on. Hate to even think this way but an exam may be in order to rule out any type of abuse going on. Small tears in delicate tissue could cause bleeding, not necessarily sexual abuse but just overaggressive cleaning by staff. Gently talk to her to see what she may say but an exam should be done, esp if she is passing blood clots.
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sohillsgal, she said her mother was on hospice so i wouldn't think anything like that would happen
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My MIL had the same thing happen & it was cancer. Given her age, I agree with her carers, further investigatoin would just lead to a diagnosis and believe agressive treatment is not warranted and hospice would be more appropriate.
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Thanks everyone for your replies. She's had some light bleeding off and on for the past several months. They weren't sure if it was vaginal or rectal. She does have hemroids, and it appeared they could be causing it. The aid that discovred it and called 911 was a male, and the Hospice nurse thinks he over reacted a bit. She said it was more like bleeding would be from a normal period, not quite like the aid was describing. He really wasn't supposed to call 911, but Hospice first so they could send a nurse out. I think he just got scared. Anyway, as I said before, in her condition we will not do any testing at this time since it seems to have cleared up for now. If it gets bad we may, just so we know what we're dealing will. Nurse says even though she's had a hysterectomy it could be caused by something hormonal. I'm 99% sure no abuse of any type going on. If I asked her it would be very hard for her to articulate any information. Thanks again and if anything else happens I'll be back.
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Oh boy. Yes mom went through this and we could not figure it out for months and one day a younger dr. said it's bladder cancer and he was right. Mom had about five tumors in her bladder. We did treatment which almost killed her and it's gone but if it comes back we are not going to treat again because it's too hard on her at this point age 83. I wish you all the best and God bless you.
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Thank you burntout. I wonder about that too. Also, she's had a chronic UTI for many, many months that we no longer treat because it no longer helps, so I even wonder if it's something with the kidneys. I don't know if that would just be blood in the urine though, and not blood clots. At this point we are just trying to let nature take its' course.
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I hear ya on letting nature take it's course. Oh I remember the UTI'S would make mom nutso. Just know your doing your best for her and be at peace with that. It's tough helping our ageing parents go though this process. Hang in there my friend :)
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Get thee to a good GYN asap.
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All good posts. If your Mom is confused, more testing will just increase the confusion; can she make her own decision about this? Is she in a Hospice facility or is she at home with Hospice? My Mom was a diabetic and substituted aspirin for her diabetic pills. She ended up in the hospital and 2 days in she started to bleed profusely. Of course, the end result was uterine cancer. She wanted no treatment or surgery, which would have extended her life. I quote: "I came with all my parts and I'm leaving with all my parts!" She was an independent feisty woman and that was that. She was 86. You are doing the right thing - keep her comfortable, clean, and tell her you love her every chance you get. Blessings on your caregiving and tenderness for your Mom. Hugs.
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my husband who has Alzheimer's has a catheter and has been also getting UTI's and YES I have seen blood clots in his bag but I am not sure if it is blood or the occasional puss mixed with blood. I am not sure if this pertains to your situation but I know that my husband has had urine that looked like pure blood and it was his kidneys and bladder from retaining his urine to the point of breaking blood vessels in kidneys and bladder.
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As long as you are confident there is no abuse going on you are absolutely taking the right approach. Keep her out of the hands of OBGYNS, urologists or gastroenterologists. they will not be able to keep their hands and instruments to themselves. Clots can be coming from the bladder, vagina (Did they remove her cervix too) gut, hemorrhoids just about anywhere with a blood supply.
You don't need to know the cause and if everyone is comfortable not treating let her be. You have hospice and they seem to be on the ball. These things are common at the end of life and do not usually affect the final outcome which you are clearly prepared for. You are taking the loving caregiving approach. God bless you and grandma, she is in His hands
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Yes. My mom had that happen a few months ago.She is 81 and has had a total hysterectomy. The doctor said that in older women sometimes the vaginal walls become dry and irritated. He prescribed premarin vaganialy once a month. The applicator is small and even though she doesn't care for it, there has been no more bleeding. However, the premarin is very expensive. We were able to work with the company and the pharmacy to get discounts. Not saying this is what is going on with your mom, but its a possibility.
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Thank you burnout10 for your kind words. Yes the UTIs are awful. She's had some other things crop up over the past couple of days, that we're "letting nature takes its' course" with. It's tough. I feel like we're handing her, her death sentence, but then remember this is not what she wanted, and she has no hope of returning to good health. Thanks again.
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I had a hysterectomy in 06 and just recently I've started to bleed nothing saturated my underware but she I wipe its there I haven't had sex in over two years. The blood is heavy and plentiful when I wipe some cramping and suggestions as to what's going on
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Do you have a gynecologist? Give her/him a call and ask for a quick callback from the covering doctor if yours is not in. Can you determine if the bleeding is from the vaginal or from the urethra? I would suspect a uti, but the source would probably help the doctor in advising you.
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I had a total hysterectomy 30 yrs ago, I have had a very slight spotting for the last 8 years, dr said not to worry about it. Now I am having bleeding, I thought I was getting a yeast infection because I finished a course of antobiotics a week ago for a sinu infection. However I had none of the yeast infection symptoms except that I had some itching on the outside if my vagina . Now it is very raw and hurts, no itching. Now 2 days later I have vaginal bleeding. Does anyone know what this could mean?
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30yearsafter, The bleeding needs to be investigated by a doctor, probably by a gynecologist. Tell the doctor who treated you for an infection about the bleeding. If she/he doesn't take your concern seriously, it's important to consult another doctor ASAP.
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I had a total hysterectomy 37yrs ago, I am 65yoa and have gone thru menopause years ago also. I have started spotting blood. I am single and haven't had sex in years either. Does anyone have a clue?
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Grandy, don't mess about online, go and see your doctor straight away. I hope it will be something that he or she can set your mind at rest about, but even so the worst that can happen is that you've wasted a little time and money. Make the appointment today, do it now.
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I had a partial hysterectomy 26 years ago and I am postmenopausal 15 years. A couple of years ago I had a 7 cm mass removed from one of the the ovaries that I still had. I have had some bleeding with clots on and off for a couple of years now. Should I see a doctor? I am 65 yo.
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I had a partial hysterectomy 26 years ago and I am postmenopausal 15 years. A couple of years ago I had a 7 cm mass removed from one of the the ovaries that I still had. I have had some bleeding with clots on and off for a couple of years now. Should I see a doctor? I am 65 yo.
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Yes, you should see a doctor any time you have bleeding any time after menopause. This is not normal. Please take care of yourself.
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My mother who will be 86 at the end of the month has just started with the symptoms you are describing. On this last Sunday I was called and told mom had blood in her urine (did not really surprise me as she has had so many UTIs) but then on Monday hospice nurse said no it was from her vagina (this seemed odd to me as she has had a complete hysterectomy so many years ago.) Tuesday I was called to say mom was complaining of her butt hurting and it was found her butt was pretty raw (said she had had the runs bad recently), a good amount of blood they said from her rectum. Today I am told no it is from her vagina. She has only been on hospice since the end of November. I have to decide do I take her off hospice, send her to the hospital for tests just to find out that it might be something serious that I will not approve treatment of anyway. She has dementia as well and going to the hospital scares her and she gets violent. I just don't know how to explain it to my brothers that I am doing nothing to find out what is wrong.
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JudyJo, what are the primary medical issues your mother has that cause her to be in hospice? Is the bleeding related to those causes, i.e., does she have cancer or another medical issue that could cause the bleeding?

What does the hospice staff think about the bleeding?
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Advancing dementia and general decline of health is what has prompted us to put mom in hospice. I am waiting for the hospice RN to do another assessment tomorrow here what their thoughts are. I don't know of any medical issues other than cancer to make a woman bleed vaginally after hysterectomy and now sexual activity.
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Your situation is so similar to my mothers. She'll be 90 this summer, has dementia and we took her to the ER two nights ago.The ER did a pelvic exam and found 3 lesions - 2 that were rough areas on the pelvic tissue and one that was larger, but she (ther ER dr )didn't know what it was. I know one dr wanted to do a cystoscope exam a year ago when the bleeding first started but we were like you.  What would be the point.  Those are painful and if it was cancer we would not do anything.  She sees her obgyn next week. I will let u know what we find out! They are giving her Premarin cream nightly. I will get back with u after her appt on this Friday. (June 10th)
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Hello 30yearsafter. I too have had a hysterectomy 23 years ago and started bleeding this year. It started May 2017 and my gynecologist found a polyp at the opening of the vagina. She took a biopsy and it was benign and the bleeding stopped. Four months later I started bleeding again and this time it's much heavier with blood clots. The craziest thing is it doesn't come out of me, only when I wipe the clots and blood are on the toilet paper. I have an appointment this Thursday with my Gynecologist and hoping it's the same thing.
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