Long periods and short cycle. New for me. Any ideas?

[EustaciaVye]

Hi there.

I have always had a long cycle 35-42 days. My period itself lasts 7-10 days. They are heavy and often painful.

In the last 4-5 months my periods have changed. They have become 'less' painful but my cycle is shorter - 3 weeks , and the period is longer - 2 weeks.

This means I've had about 6 weeks NOT bleeding since October.

I dont see the pill as an option as I have tried 2 different types and become depressed/anxious/irritable to the point where I thought I had PND. I dont really fancy the Mirena either.

I have booked an appointment with the GP to discuss this with him but I'd appreciate any info or advice.

how old are you? these symptoms are common in women approaching the menopause

I'm bleeding 11 days out of every 22. No advice but I'm right with you!

Can you post back what the GP says?

I'm only 33. DDs are nearly 5 and 2.

I went through something like this in my early twenties. IRRC (that was 20 years ago - eek!)I did have to take hormones for a month or two to get it sorted out.

I'm the same EV. 2 wks on and 2 wks off! (since having DD nearly 4 yrs ago). I saw GP who put me on the pill but it gave me headaches so i came off, haven't been back to gp though, interesting to see what yours says.

Tis a PITA!

can't offer advice. just wanted to wish you luck & I am sure GP will sort everything out for you. I agree it must be a pita.

Can you have a scan to check for fibroids? My GP talked about medication I can take (similar problem) during my period last time I saw her. Sorry, EV, can't remember the name but ask your GP. I haven't taken it further as I've had more pressing things to worry about

Oh, yes, I hadn't thought of fibroids. That is something to look into.

Thanks everyone. My appointment is on Monday.

My GP knows my cycle problems as when I was trying to conceive my cycle was too long at 6-10 weeks. Lol. I had some hormone checks then and they were normal but that was 3 years ago.

Will he think it a bit weird if I start asking he checks for fibroids etc? Ie, I am telling him to do his job.

I was about to mention fibroids. I had the Mirena coil, which helped control their growth and the bleeding, however when I had them removed...my God. It was like Niagara.

Do you ever feel any pain around your womb (whether or not around your period)? Or slight shooting pains down from your hips (classic symptom).

If you do have fibroids and don't want surgery (can be excellent but it will leave you with a caesarean-type healing process) you could go to a herbalist (if you're near Northampton I can recommend a lovely and excellent lady). Also you could try acupuncture - I am about to try this. Then there's an enzyme called sodium dismutase (SOD - ) which is said by cancer medics to shrink fibroids. It's found in high qualities in wheatgrass and barley grass juice. I started drinking wheatgrass for two weeks and found that my ovulation pain, which is normally pretty bad, massively reduced. I need to get mah ass back to the health food shop and get me some more!

Do let me know - I'm a bit of a fibroid pro these days and would be glad to help.

Hmm...there was quite a lot of info in that!

Don't worry about telling the Dr if suspect fibroids. If you do have them and it's not brought up during the appointment, won't that be a worse outcome? I once correctly diagnosed my DS with a specific milk allergy which my Dr hadn't even heard of. I pushed for a referral, and she reluctantly gave in. When he was tested, guess who was right about the allergy?

Always same length 30 day cycle but 12 days bleeding spotting. Since my late twenties. Was not menopause! Did not have fibroid then but had something similar show up recently, and removed, and it did not affect pattern of bleeding, though slightly less painful periods than before perhaps?

Would ask GP for a referral to a gynae. You should be checked out further by such a person rather than the GP (such problems are not often within a GPs remit of understanding).

Oh dear I've had some of this too. Mine were always about every 19 days or so even when I was younger. Lovely .

As I got older they got heavier and heavier as well. I ended up having an ablation to remove the womb lining. (Not as horrendous as it sounds.)

The plan was that I'd not get periods any more. I did for a while but at least they were lighter.

Then hooray they stopped for a about a year. But after Christmas it all came back and hasn't stopped since. I'm sick of it.

I'm awaiting the results of a blood test now to see if I'm pre-menopausal. Not sure what anyone can do if I am. I don't want to start taking drugs either. I thought I could leave all that behind me now at 44.

GP is investigating, but I will have to take progesterone only tablets to stop the bleeding so thaey can examine me.

I'm coming back as a man next time.

Thanks for the info everyone. I am not planning on any more children but havent 100% ruled it out. If the Dr asks me if I want more children will my answer affect his course of action?

I dont know much about fibroids, but I will do some research. I dont get major cramps like I did in my twenties but I tend to get a kind of dragging ache low down, often on my left side. I occasionally get shooting pains but couldnt say if they were from my hips or not.

Thank you so much for all of your info/comments. I want to be as prepared as possible when I go to GP so that I am not brushed off with a 'wait and see' or 'if you wont go on the pill we cant do much'.

If you're unsure about children and it turns out that you do have fibroids, you should not consider the 'something something embolisation' treatment - it's newer than surgery and was pioneered at St Mary's Hosp in Paddington, W London. It runs the risk of damaging fallopian tubes, as I recall.

I had a myomectomy and then got pregnant 5 months later (first try!), so it can be brilliant in terms of results, but full-on in terms of healing.

Best of luck!

Hi EV
Feel for you. My periods stopped for over a year after coming off the Pill and ttc ds. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. I managed to sort it out myself with diet, supplements, exercise etc and periods returned. But I have 5 days spotting, about 3 days off then a 'proper' period of 5 days. So I bleed for about a fortnight every 5 weeks.
Is the dragging ache all the time or is it at a certain time of the month?

Hello EV,

My cycles were exactly like this when I had an ovarian cyst. Because I'm under 40, when the cyst was taken out, the surgeon reconstructed my ovary, so I'd still be fertile. If you do have cysts or fibroids, as long as you let them you you might want more children in the future, they won't hack out (sorry that sounds too graphic) any more than they need to.

You definitely need a referral to a gynaecologist though, as some (not all) GPs can let this sort of thing drag on far too long.

Eek. Starting to feel a bit scared now. Still, I'm on day 16 of this period. Seems to be heavy one day and lighter the next. No distinct pattern to it.

The dragging pains tend to be just before my period and then the first few days. Cramps always on the left and pain generally on the left in my back.

EustaciaVye, I highly recommend seeing a herbalist about the bleeding. I saw one who gave me some really foul-tasting herbs, but it stopped the bleeding (I had seriously been afraid that I might be getting into blood transfusion territory if it hadn't stopped).

Don't be afraid, the more you know the better you'll be able to deal with whatever's going on. And we'll be here for you, too! Good luck on Monday xxx

EV,

Sorry if I worried you, I didn't intend to. When you visit the GP or Sexual Health Clinic, get them to do a bi-manual check, as they can often feel fibroids. The dragging pains you mentioned happening just before your period sound healthy, when I had a cyst, I had these all the time. I'm not an expert, and can only give advice based on my own experience, but get it checked anyway, for your peace of mind. Hope the bleeding stops soon.

PS To echo what Mrs SMH wrote, herbal meds can be good; a friend of mine swears by Agnus Castus. However, I'd go down the conventional (?) route first.

Thanks MrsSMH and SubRosa, Nothing you said has really worried me overly. I think that as I have finally booked an appt my mind is going over all of the possibilities, that's all.

I will keep the herbal route as an option but would like to try more conventional first.

I am getting increasingly tired at the moment but then I figure that is just the extended blood loss tbh. My skin is awful too, but again I'm sure that's because I'm run down with it all.

Thanks for your support though. I realise this isnt a huge issue in the grand scheme of things but it is nice to have someone listen

EV let us know how you get on at GP tomorrow

Thanks redrobin.

I have come up with the following list:

Dates. I have been bleeding for 55 of the last 90 days ie 60%.
I have significant pains on one side intermittantly.
Increased tiredness.
Increased weight gain (10lb since Christmas )
Loss of appetite
Spots
Facial hair increase
Heavy, prolonged blood loss

Will see what he says.

He checked my notes and saw I'd been to him a year ago for heavy bleeding which we hadnt found a cause of. (Bloods were clear).

He prodded checked my tummy, couldnt feel anything. Said he would order a blood test to check I wasnt anaemic and then said we may not find the cause of it. Once my bloods come back I am to book a repeat appointment to see what we can do.

Suggested the mirena but I said I wasnt keen as the pill and minipill have been no good for me, and I dont really want anything hormonal if possible.