Teen with Very Long Periods

You described me as a teen. My hemeglobbin dropped to 5.6 and I needed a trnsfusion and then later, when it dropped tp 6.9 I was put on the pill. My first advise is, get diagnosed. The er docs never told me what was causing the bleeding, they just treated me. My family and I never even thought to ask, duh! I was on the pill for a year (Ortho Novum) which was a miracle for me. I actually felt normal and was worried about never knowing when my period would strike, how bad it would be or where I would be. I went off the pill for over a year and while my perior wasn't normal cylce wise, the amount was. I went back on birth control until my hubby and I were ready to start trying to conceive. My doc warned me that wihout knowing the reason for my bleeding, she was not sure if I could have kids - which I had been prepared for that possibility since I was a teen. We got pregnant on the first try (thank God!). Good luck! Don't give up and keep pushing the docs to help her.

I am 29 and still having periods like what you described your daughter having. Mine started at 12 and I used to pass out alot from all the blood loss. I ended up having to have exploratory Lapersocopy to see what was going on because ultrasounds didn't show anything out of the ordinary. I was diagnosed with endometriosis which is where the cells lining the inside of your uterus grow on the outside and attach to everything and can cause alot of painful cramps and other problems. I also had blood filled cyst growing inside my uterus that had to be removed with a DNC. I had that procedure done twice and then ended up taking a drug called Depo Lupron to put my body in a Menopausal state. All this happened before I was 19. The depo lupron worked wonderfully and I didn't bleed for the whole year that I was on it, and only had hot flashes that were pretty minor. After that I was put on a birth control pill and things seemed to be regular for a while. But started to flare up again when I was 24 and I just started to accept that this was the way it was always going to be. The doctor prescribed me Vicodin for my cramps every month and kept trying different pills. It really has been a miserable experience. The doctor kept telling me that if I got pregnant that would fix everything, so at 27 my husband and I decide to try and I got pregnant right away and had absolutely no complications at all during the whole pregnancy. The doctors told me that getting pregnant would help cure my endometriosis so I expected that everything would be better after the baby. When I had the baby and stopped breast feeding and my periods started back up it has been the same nightmare all over again. Periods that last 28 and 4 days off and then back on again. I have had to start all over again with trying different pills and none have worked. The doctors told me that I need to go ahead and have all the kids I want to have and then they will more than likely have to do a full hysterectomy in my early 30's. I hope this is not the case for you daughter, but even after everything I experienced I still was able to conceive, so that should give you so hope for her in the future. I realize your daughter has a long road ahead of her before she needs to be worried about having babies. I don't know that there is anything out there that really can cure endometriosis, because I have been to every specialist out there. They might not diagnose your daugher at such a young age. My doctor was shocked to see how many cells had developed in my body at age 17, they told me girls don't usually get this till their 20's. Good luck and hopefully her doctor can help her with this.

Hello L.. March thru June 2006 I had this problem. I am 31 yrs. old, but I would be very concerned for your step-daughter. I also had a transfusion. I received 4 units and was put on Iron 3 times a day. My doctor told me that my bleeding was coming from the muscle of my uterus so I did not have a choice but to have a hysterectomy. I do have 3 beautiful girls. Does she get her period every month? Does she have really bad cramps? I know one option is to have an Endometrial Ablasion, but she will not be able to have children. What this procedure does is scrape the lining of the uterus, so she will have a lite period, but there is not enough lining for a baby to attach to. I don't know if I spelled it correctly, but you can look it up on the internet. She is very young and I would have her checked for everything possible. Do the doctors have any idea yet what is going on?

Good Luck with everything and I hope your step-daughter will be okay.

T.

I had a friend growing up that had this same problem, she is now close to 30 years old, but after a year of birth control it helped her periods. And also, she has had no problems having a child, she is the proud mother of a 6 year old little boy. I am sure it weighs on your mind, it would any mother, but keep in mind some of our medical doctors really know what they are doing.

I don't have any specific answers for you, but I wanted to respond. I had this problem when I was younger too. I would have very heavy bleeding for a month, then I may go 3 or 4 months without a period.

However, I never had to have a transfusion and going on a birth control pill did help solve my problems. I do have 3 healthy kids and a regular 28-30 day cycle now. As a mom I think I would be concerned that she can't see a Dr. before the 3rd. Best wishes!

My daughter had this problem 2 years ago. She had to be started on birth control pills and at 1 point took 4 per day until the period stopped, then down to two, one etc. By the end of the summer she was normalized and went off altogether. She's been more or less normal since. A good adolescent medicine specialist would be helpful.

well i no i started my cycle at age 7 and it lasted four 3 weeks and all so I am guessing it is all on the age and all

i wish you the best
A.

I don't have any insight, but I am concerned and curious as to what the medical reason is for this. I have a daughter who is 12.5 yrs old. Maybe you can email me when you find something out. (((hugs)))____@____.com

I sincerely hope that nothing serious is the matter with your step-daughter. However, I'd strongly advise you to ask about Polycystic Ovarian Disease (POCD) - I think the true name is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - as these symptoms are very similiar to what my 2 adult sisters experience.
To answer your question - my older sister hasn't been able to have any children and my younger sister hasn't tried yet - both have POCD.
Another factor with my older sister is her weight - she's at least 30, if not 50 pounds overweight.
My sister had been trying for over a year to get pregnant and then started to see a fertility specialist -- never mind having this bleeding thing for years and being so weak she couldn't get out of bed. Or like my younger sister, bleeding through pads and loosing so much blood she needed a transfusion.
So when my older sister went to the specialist, they wanted to start with this problem and found that b/c of the POCD there was scar tissue around the ovaries (only 1 had a change of producing a follicle - so that's every other month for just a chance of conception.
It's a year later (2 years trying to get pregnant) and she's finished a few courses of fertility treatments and still not pregnant.
I'm not telling you this to worry you, but I am telling you to act on whatever it is now. I'm sure you get a lot of slack b/c you're worrying about a teenager and her fertility, but someone has to... even if she doesn't necessarily see a family in her future. I think the POCD can lead to cancer -- don't quote me on this one, but I think its true b/c my sister gets tested frequently for ovarian/uterine cancer and she also has pap smears every 6 months.
But definately do some research and keep supporting her.
Good Luck.

Just looked it up and its PCOS... sorry about that.

Look into seeing a pediatric endocrinologist. These guys are hormone specialists and it seems to me that her hormones aren't working like they should. I agree with the other mom who said to look into as much treatment as possible- now while she's young and before her body does too much to compromise her fertility. We girls have to stick together no matter what age we are! I had a friend who had PCOS and she went through TREMENDOUS efforts to get pg- it's emotionally taxing as well as financially devastating. Plus, she shouldn't be suffering so much right now! I'm sure we all remember how horrifying and freaky we all felt at that age, having non-stop periods is too much to throw into those adolescent years!
Good luck! Keep us posted-
C.

L., you just described ME as a teenager.........at 17 I bled so much, I passed out and was rushed to the hospital for a transfusion. At that time they put me on the pill to regulate my period, which it did, but I stayed on it until I was 29 when I tried to conceive my first child. It was not difficult to conceive, yet as I got older, I realized what a mess my body was from all those hormones. At 38 I had a difficult time trying to conceive my second and was feeling all the signs of menopause. I went to a natural doctor after my own OB/GYN could not help me get rid of the hot flashes, sleepless nights, depression, night sweats etc. This naturopath changed my life, I realized that all that hormone treatment over the years had destroyed my natural rhythm.....after working with him, staying away from sugar, eating very healthy, avoiding meat with hormones etc, I am symptom free and for the first time in my life have a normal cycle and period every 28 days.......Never before has this been the case. I want you to be aware that the pill has its effects long term and there is a huge amount you can do nutritionally to regulate hormones. I have done a ton of reading about this subject because I refused to go on anymore hormones or replacement therapy drugs. I am 40 and the healthiest I have ever been. E.