Greetings Mama's.
I have been like a clock, for my whole life basically. My period comes about the same time each month and the duration is the same. So, 2 1/2 weeks ago when it arrived, everything seemed normal. It appeared to be ending on it's normal schedule, but instead of ending, the next day I flowed very, very lightly. That continued for another 5-6 days or so with an extremely light flow like what you might see on your very last day of your menstrual cycle. Then, about 2 days ago, it started to get heavier where I had to change from a panty liner to an actual menstrual pad. I have not been in pain lately but today, I am beginning to cramp a little. I have not stopped flowing in about 17-18 days.
I really don't have the time to go to the gyno so here are my questions.
1. Any mama's ever experience this?
2. At what point or how much more time would you allow to pass before you sought medical treatment?
3. What do you think are the most common causes of this kind of thing?
A little about me. I am 46. I'm not pregnant nor have I recently suffered a miscarriage. I don't suffer from fibroids or endometriosis. I'm not on birth control.
Thanks for your wisdom.
Thanks for all the responses. The bleeding stopped yesterday but then started ohhhhhh so lightly again today. I feel fine except for some mild cramping. (I always had cramps w/ my cycles so that is normal.) I am going to go to the doctor just to make sure that it isn't something serious or to get my hormones checked or whatever he recommends. I've had some headaches the past few days too and I am also prone to hormone headaches. So I will call the doctor today to see if they can get me in this week.
ah yes.....welcome to perimenopause.... it's not unusual to have longer periods and then shorter ones...SUPER HEAVY ones and then lighter... Eventually, yes !! you may want to go to the docs and consider having them do hormone tests to determine if in fact it's perimenopause or not.....
best of luck
After the birth of my second son I had out-of-control periods too. Long-lasting, heavy, crampy periods for months. I finally went to the GYN and she put me on birth control (which I was grumpy about -- spouse had gotten a vasectomy and I thought I was past that). My GYN said it was important to get the periods under control, because heavy periods can mask other problems later. The birth control worked well.
Good luck!
Hello, "I really don't have the time to go to the gyno," is not an option. If you don't take care of your health no one else in this world is!!! Just because you are 46 does not mean that things cannot change in an instant with the repro department. I had bleeding and heavy periods for quite some time and went to doctors (military another story) and when I was referred to a GYNO it took him 45 minutes to go through my medical records and come up with a plan to help me. I had endodrometris and several huge fibroids. My daughter said I looked like I was 5 months pregnant. Doctor gave me a shot to stop my period but it came back and I had it again for the next six weeks until surgery when he removed two softball sized fibroids. He said I looked better after surgery than I did before and that was 17 years ago. I was anemic and underweight because my body was trying to make blood to keep me well. I never felt better in my life.
We don't know what causes this but many women tend to have fibroids in later years. Some may be environment and other genetics.
But PLEASE go to the doctor. He/they will be the ones that can give you the advice you are seeking. If you have any children that are young you do want to see them grow up.
The other S.
Definitely go to the doctor. I know how hard it can be to find the time, but you have to when it comes to your health. I put it off, too, after I was having extended bleeding after the birth of our second child. Finally, after two months of bleeding, I went and saw the doctor, who confirmed this wasn't normal. I was put on a prescription that finally stopped the bleeding and got my body back to normal.
At 46, it could definitely be related to hormonal shifts, so you really need the expertise of a doctor to be certain what's going on. Don't play guesswork with your health.
Something similar happened to me. I had endometriosis and the doctor had started me on birth control pills and I guess my body had a reaction because I ended up bleeding for almost 45 days. If I were you I would see your doctor.
it sounds like you are starting menopause
I would go now for medical treatment, especially if this is something abnormal for you. Not that it has to be something serious, but it's just not normal for you or your body from the sounds of it.
My sister has had flow for up 21 days and the first it happened we her sister get to the doctor. Found out she has fibroids and that it can happen if the flow last more then 21days call the doc. If your next 3 or 4 flows last as long then call the doc. Be prepared for the flow to start again when your normal cycle would begin if the flow was only its normal5 or 6 six days. You are on your way to menopause your hormones are getting to be out of whack. Are you getting enough rest and exercise, and proper nutrition all these things will make the transition easier. Good Luck to you.
J.
Have you ever tried a bio-identical progesterone cream? They sell it at health food stores near me, I'm sure you could find some. Its over the counter and unless you have an allergy to progesterone (doesn't sound like it) its safe to use, can't hurt. Use it twice a day for one to two weeks and it should regulate things.
Yes, it may be perimenopause but its definitehormonal. You should definitely take some time out of your busy schedule to take care of yourself or you might not be ABLE to maintain your busy schedule or your health.
It could definitely be the beginning of peri-menopause, but it could also be a sign of something more serious. My friend started having extended long drawn out periods. About 6 months into this she was becoming anemic from losing so much blood. And then they detected the beginnings of breast cancer. They caught it early, removed a lump and some lymph nodes, did chemo/radiation and she's been in remission for many years now.
Make the time for an appointment now - sooner than possible.
If it's nothing, then maybe some birth control pills can help regulate your period for awhile (and keep away those problems from excessive blood loss). Also, fibroid s can develop at any time.
If it's something serious, you need to deal with it early as possible - you can't afford to wait.
I know how hard it is to find time to take care of ourselves when we have little ones to take of. But, just like everything else, we have to MAKE time. Your kids need you well and healthy and if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be.... or worse. How do you KNOW you don't have fibroids, endometriosis or worse?
At the very least, call your doc and see what they say. And if they say you should come in, then do it!
I would go now if you can. I agree, sounds like could be start of menopause.
I agree that you should go to the dr's, you can't take anything from your reproductive organs lightly. How old are you? I don't like to ask this but could you have had a miscarriage? After my miscarriage it went on for a few weeks.
Kelly,
I suggest you try your hardest to make an appointment and go see your doctor. We can all speculate, but since it's been so long now, it's best you get checked even if it stops. That's just not normal. You might just be ready for menopause, who knows.
Blessings
Dear Kelly,
What do you mean you don't have time to go to the gyno?! To me, this sounds like it could be any number of things. I mean, it could be you are starting menopausal symptoms or something more serious. Please think of your family and just make the time to go.
Thinking of you,
A.
I would be most likely inclined to believe that it's your hormones. I was like you...periods were pretty much like clockwork, then all of a sudden in the last year (I'm 42), they became very irregular, long, short, or skipped a couple months altogether. I decided to go the bio-identical hormone route. I found a doctor that someone recommended to me here in the Riverside area that is amazing! She ran a ton of bloodwork checking things I'd never had tested before, and found that I was low in a number of hormones and different vitamins. If you've ever heard of Suzanne Somers and the books she writes, that is what this doctor follows right along with. It's pretty early on so far, and it's never a quick fix when you do it naturally, but it's so much better for your body than the pharmaceuticals that all the other gyn docs prescribe....anyways, good luck...I hope you get it figured out soon and all is ok with you!
I started peri-menopause at 40 years old...two years later I was done, through menopause. Those two years were acting like your periods are now. So, I've been free of any period for 10 years! Welcome to the world of menopause and beyond! :-)
