To speak to the doctor about my period changes?

[Wednesdayschilld]

Hi all.

I am experiencing a sudden shift in my hormones which I’ve noticed take place over the last three months.

My regular, clockwork 29 day cycle has dropped to 24 days. My periods usually last 5 days maximum, but this month I bled for 10 days. My hair is also falling out at similar rates to when I was post partum with my children. I am so very fatigued a lot of the time too and struggling to focus in work. My children sleep through the night so it isn’t due to lack of sleep.

I am 30 years old and have not experienced anything like this before, but I know how quick many GPs are to brush off menstrual changes, especially when you are relatively young still.

Would you feel it was appropriate to seek advice in these circumstances? I am worried they will think I’m wasting their time.

Exact same thing happened to me. Still not got to the bottom of it! I would get your thyroid tested though, I've found a nodule on mine which may or not be the culprit.

There is no harm in speaking to your GP. Whether they will do anything about it, I am not sure.
So what if they think you are wasting their time. Their private thoughts are of no consequence to you. Or are you worried they will tell you that you are wasting their time? They won't.

Not so much worried about how they view me, more so just worried they will deem this as ‘normal’ and something I have to put up with which would frustrate me as 10 long periods are not something I want to accept.

From what I’ve read online this seems to be the outcome for many women approaching gps for menstrual issues.

@Heidi1976 have your cycles returned to normal yet or did this become a permanent change?

People are not going to put online how amazing their GP has been dealing with their menstrual problems, are they? There is a massive selection bias when it comes to reading information online.
I've had dozens of appointments related to reproductive health since the age of 16 and I can't say I was ever treated unfairly or told I was wasting people's time. I had multiple changes to my OC in effort to regulate my cycle which is still not perfect but something I can live with comfortably now.

No they've stayed the same. It was the same as you, literally happened overnight and stayed that way. They range from 24 - 26 days now (used to be 28 - 30). Really bizarre. They do seem to be taking it somewhat seriously, testing my bloods etc but I think in absence of finding anything specific from that I expect they will chalk it up to peri.

I do think 30 is often the turning point for shorter cycles and bleeding duration/amount changes, but I understand it's quite a big shift, and coupled with the fatigue and hair thinning, there is no harm in going to your GP, as it sounds miserable.

I agree with @Catza above – I have been to the GP (in different areas of the country I have lived) about my menstruation before – short cycles, spotting, heavier periods etc. They have always taken me seriously and always either done something about it or decided on a game plan together.

Get bloods done , the hair falling out could be thyroid issues or iron levels or any number of things . It's worth having a chat with the doc about all the symptoms combined.

Get your blood tested but I would also start taking iron and vitamin B if your hair is falling out.

@Wednesdayschilld I went to my GP because of a complete change in my periods. I also had the constant fatigue and palpitations and also unintentional weight loss. Had my bloods done and it showed I had an overactive thyroid. With all you've described I'd definitely be getting your thyroid checked out

@Wednesdayschilld sorry forgot to say I was 37 when I went to get checked out

My situation is different to yours in the sense I’m over 10 years older than you and on HRT but on my last cycle, I had an extra period which is completely unusual for me. I went to the doctor and had an ultrasound within two days and have now been referred for a biopsy. As I said, a different situation but just pointing out that my doctor took the change in my cycle very seriously and said it is worth investigating. It doesn’t hurt to go and speak to a medic about it.

I would 100% get those symptoms checked out. All added together is definitely a bit of a picture for something not quite right. Any weight loss? Go to your GP and don't let them fob you off with nothing - ask for basic bloods if nothing else.