long periods over 42 of age

[Mrslotus]

I had three week long periods last month . Feel exhausted ! Is it normal sometimes for over 42 yrs of age ?

Thank you sausages75 glad to hear it all worked out well for you

So glad to have found this thread... finally hearing what other people are experiencing is very reassuring. I'm also into my fourth week (although dd get a blessed 2 days off a week ago) of the heaviest period I've ever had. I feel exhausted! Can't see a female GP for another week and a half, I've had enough :-(

did

I can't say I'm glad to hear we're in the same boat @Jgeorge but at least I know what I'm experiencing is not unusual. I scared myself a bit on Dr Google last night! How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?

Don’t mind at all... I’m 44 and for the last 2-3yrs I’ve had heavy periods but they have lasted for about 3days and been at regular 28 day intervals so not felt concerned. Then I had a longer gap and was waiting for a period to come, not getting any of the usual warning signs (massive hunger/sore breasts/bad mood) and then the mother of all periods arrived. Four weeks later it is still here apart from a short 2day break. Today is the worst day so far and just glad I’m not at work as it’s been messy and hard to contain

@Jgeorge Uff .. sounds a very long one. But to be honest i have been there myself . Few times the bleeding continued for 3 weeks. with light and heavy bleeding at times. I feel for you. It can be a very annoying time. But i am glad i started this thread . Thanks for sharing your experience .
Good luck with everything. Hope it settles.

I have my appointment tomorrow for the possible adenomyosis (mentioned upthread). Any tips on what I should mention or ask?

NB with the gynaecologist

I had my GP appointment today and she's ordered 2 blood tests to check for menopause, as well as an ultrasound to rule anything else out. It's the "anything else" that worries me but reading the experiences on this thread reassured me somewhat.

@PineappleFwitters Do not worry about any thing . All will be fine. We wld not be worried too much if we were given education about this when we hit 35 or so. I can not believe that i got so much response here and so many of us going through hell. Lets support each other and Be positive .
Eat healthy and sleep well. Take care.

Thanks @Mrslotus, that's actually brought a tear to my eye as I suffer from slight health anxiety and have stupidly been googling uterine cancer.

Blood test number 1 is now done, so I've got to have another in 6 weeks. I'm going on holiday next week so the ultrasound will probably have to wait til I'm back. It's an internal one, which I'm not looking forward to at all. Smears are bad enough!

This is a very timely thread for me. I'm 42 and I got my period today, a week early, without the usual hangriness the day before. About three years ago my periods became short and light but this year the trend seems to be reversing, with periods lasting 3-4 days and the first full day being heavy with occasional "accidents" due to unexpectedly heavy flow. I've also been quite lethargic and achy. The aches are a new thing for me. I wonder if exercise would help - I'm trying to lose weight as well.

How is everyone doing? @Welliesandpyjamas hope your gynae appt went well, @Jgeorge hope your period has now stopped!

Thanks for asking, pineapplefwitters. Going back in 2 weeks for a hysteroscopy (a camera up me - nice!) to confirm whether it is Adenomyosis and to do a biopsy on some polyps they also spotted in the ultrasound. She gave me 2 different medicines to help with heavy bleeding and pain (names escape me right now). So I’m getting closer to knowing what happens next.

I’m 46. Mine are getting longer. My cycle is 35 days on average. My last cycle was 43 days. I ended up taking a pregnancy test as I got a bit worried!

Thanks to all for their experience . My last periods 3rd of July to 9th of July this month. Was not too bad luckily . Going to see when the start next !
And for how long !

Will keep you updated . Xx

Its important to actually have a chart and know exactly your dates as if need to visit Gp then you have correct idea. I will recommend this to keep a diary .

Correction * shared experience

I agree @Mrslotus, I've been using an app to chart mine for a few years.

@PineappleFwitters Which app ? Pls .Share !

I use iPeriod (despite the name it's not affiliated with Apple) but the Fitbit app also has period tracking, as do the iOS or Android health features on most phones. iPeriod is probably not the best one out there but it's storing about 5 years worth of my cycles atm, so I don't want to switch!

@PineappleFwitters Thank you so much . 💐

Just reviving this thread to say I got the results of my first blood test test back. Apparently it was normal but I asked the receptionist who I spoke to what my FSH level was and she said 59.3. But I'm not sure she read the right figure as that would put me well and truly into post-menopause and I don't think I'm that! Anyway will what happens in my next blood test. I've got an appointment for my ultrasound a week from Friday.

@PineappleFwitters Glad results came ok . Hope all comes fine for you. Best of luck . 💚

Definitely Peri-menopause, and I highly recommend HRT, because you will most definitely start to have lots of other symptoms. Anxiety, insomnia, hot flushes, etc. Here's a really good article...

i.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/113666670/perimenopause-lead-up-to-menopause-very-uncomfortable-and-poorly-understood

Btw, I started peri at your exactly age in the same way with the long periods, after a lifetime of short, easy periods not using hormonal birth control because I had my tubes tied at 27. Whatever you do, DO NOT let your gp fob you off of you go for help.

I must be lucky then as my GP actually mentioned HRT to me as protection for heart and bones. The GP I saw for lack of periods was very much "wait and see" but the one I went to after I had the 4 week period is the one who ordered the tests and ultrasound.