Period lasting for 8+ days- is this unusual?

[thatsnotmymonster]

I have always had very heavy, irregular periods- can be anything from 3-6 weeks cycle.

Most of the time it lasts around 7/8days and is very heavy for about 5 of those days.

They have been very bad since having my 3 dc's (now aged between 5 and 2).

My last period just before Christmas was really light and only lasted a few days which is unheard of for me but I was happy about it. It was then a full 6 weeks exactly before next one and I am now on day 11 of it and today I had some clots come out (sorry TMI ) which again is not unusual for me but on day 11??????????

What the hell is wrong? Do you think it could be a missed miscarriage? We are not trying but not using any contraception, though go appointment for next week to get some!

bump

As you know, there's absolutely no way we can answer for you, only a GP can. But if you've had unprotected sex, then of course there's a possibility that you are/were pregnant. It would take an hcg check or scan to confirm this.

My periods are usually around 5/6 days and not too bad. I'm on day 9 of the heaviest, clottiest period but it's my first post-IUD insertion so normal apparently. I feel terrible.

Can you see a GP today? I don't think you need to worry necessarily because it might be a miscarriage happening naturally or a freak period or peri-menopause but it's sod's law that it's Friday and you won't be able to see anybody easily until Monday.

thatsnot, how old are you?

I am nearly 40 and my cycle is every 3 weeks but a period for me can be really heavy to begin with, then nothing for 2 days then more

I'm only 31! What's a 'peri-menopause'?

I'm not worried just thought it was unusual even for me and can't be bothered with heavy periods that are going to last for well over a week. Will speak to gp about it when I go to get contraception next week. Maybe being on the pill will help as it will regularise my cycles etc.

SOH- I read a thread on here a while ago about the Mirena coil- put me off for life, I had been considering it before then. Loads of people just saying they bled heavily and constantly for months!!!! Hope yours works out though.

I have exactly what you describe but I also have an underactive thyriod and blame my long cycle&bleed on my thyroid

I actually thankgod for mn or I would never have discovered (whispers)the mooncup, as wearing sanitary towels for more than 10 days was not comfortable!!

Yes IKWYM- I am all sore down there now- especially after the long walk to school and back twice a day recently.

I have wondered about underactive thyroid but thought it was just wishful thinking i.e. good excuse for being overweight.

I have considered the mc but thought it might fill up too quickly and create a right mess??? but I am ignorant about these things.

Peri menospause is the time leading up to the menopause. I doubt it is that at your age, but you never know.

I was going to say that my periods have changed in the last few years and now could almost encompass any description (i had a 14 day long period the other month, followed by a 4 day one - never had one so short!) but I am in my 40s so I don't expect my experience is relevant to you.

You can only try the GP but ime they say anything is usual and simply something to be endured.

It's not the mirena (which is a lot of cases gets rid of periods altogether, or significantly lightens them). It's a hormone-free copper coil. It's interminable.

The peri menopause is the stage of your life before the menopause. It's almost definitely not this because though it can rarely happen in your 30s, it's more common in your 40s. You just start to notice changes in your cycle, moods and other things like sleep patterns and your hair. It's like the beginnings of puberty before starting your periods but at the other end of they cycle.

It could be hormonal, thyroid, mineral/vitamin related, just the way it is, something physical/gynae related. I'd just mention it when you see the GP and they could do a couple of simple blood tests to rule out most common reasons for irregular/changeable cycles.

It doesn't sound that abnormal tbh and my periods have certainly changed since having dd. That's normal.

By it doesn't sound abnormal, I don't mean you should put up with it, I mean you probably have no reason to worry iyswim.

Know it's just more of a PITA

It is more or less how it's always been for me but just even worse since having the dc's- but that is normal too, as you say.

I've always thought that if I asked for a thyroid test I would get laughed at as all the symptoms I have are normal after having dc's- extreme tiredness, want to sleep a lot, dry skin, coarse hair, weight gain and the heavy/irregular cycles.

Ikwym SOH. I can put up with irregular cycles but I can't put up with bleeding for nearly 2 weeks!!!

thatsnotmymonster I bled for 21 days and that what finally sent me to gp, and was diagnosed with underactive thyroid

that was 8 years ago, and I really wish I had discovered the mooncup then as I was so sore because I would feel ill if I used a tampons for too long so had no choice but to use towels which when using them over 10 days as you know is sore

Thanks PlumBumMum- sounds horrible for you, did you have any other symptoms of underactive thyroid?

Yeap I put on weight before I got married, found it really hard to shift,
Was falling asleep in work
always felt cold
dry skin
dry hair
there is a long list of things they I could put down to thyroid but the things above were going on for about 2/3 years before diagnosed,
with periods slowly but surely getting more irregular especially after dd1 was born,

70 something days before the 21 day bleed did do a pg test and it was negative but I knew I wasn't pg, I went to the doctor saying I really think my hormones are out of wack and he put me on the pill and I continued to bleed so went back and said think we'll do some bloods

Although most of my aunts have an underactive thyroid and my mum has been diagnosed about 2 years now, but the thyroxine really agrees with her as any weight she had put on just drops off her, shes very skinny anyway,
where as I have to work really hard
I'm not overly big but bigger than what I should be in comparison to the amount I eat iyswim