Long periods

[periodhelpplease]

I'll start this by saying I've made an appointment with the doctors, but looking for stories of reassurance from anyone who has had a period go on for more than 7 days.

My periods were a bit erratic earlier this year, they seem to have got back in a normal rhythm, had 1 normal in September, then 5 weeks later had very light spotting (only when wiping) and now 3 weeks later I've got one which I'm on day 11. It's not majorly heavy but it stops and starts and is always bright red.

I've got terrible anxiety and night sweats. I'm nearly 42 so not sure if it is age related, or I've been really stressed since September with my son who has been in A&E twice with self harm and suicidal thoughts.

I'm looking for some reassurance please - no horror stories!

I had erratic periods from about the age of 35. I'm the same age as you OP. At one point I'd probably get about 2 or 3 days of no bleeding in any given month (sorry, I know you didn't want any horror stories). Anyway I went for lots and lots of tests and kept going back to try get to the bottom of it but the best I got was that it was hormonal and to go on mirena coil. I found that the GPs and gynaes that I saw weren't that great (or interested) in dealing with it once they determined it wasn't anything sinister. I did lots of research (which was hard as there's not much literature on it) and self diagnosed myself as having low progesterone so started a natural progesterone cream I bought online. It did help. In your case it could be stress related especially if you've always had a consistent cycle. I suppose it could be peri menopause as well.

Good luck with docs, I hope you get to the bottom of it and I'm very sorry about your son

Thank you so much for your reply, I just noticed this. Sorry you have been through this as well and didn't get listened to by the GP :-(

I went to the GP last week and she gave me pills to stop the bleeding. I have to go for blood tests tomorrow (due to family history of younger menopause) plus I'm getting an internal examination. She said I'll get a scan, and it may be urgent if she finds anything in the internal (comforting!)

I hate this anxiety but I suppose good it's getting checked out

I had this around the age of 46, I had a coil fitted and a large polyp removed.

Best of luck @periodhelpplease hopefully it's nothing and all the tests provide some reassurance but I completely understand the health anxiety aspect of it