Ladies - long periods

[jeanette1976]

Hi girls,

My period has always been irregular. I was normal for ages and then i had my period in Oct 06. This didn't stop until I went on the pill briefly when i met a guy on New Years Eve but came off pill when we split mid-Feb. My period came and I've not stopped bleeding ever since.

I'm 31 next month, I eat a healthy regular diet, (although I don't excercise at all), light smoker (3-5 a day) and only drink at weekends. I'm not in a relationship so refuse to take the pill as i hate any kind of medication (even paracetamol), even more so when unnecessary.

At 25, I went without a period for 10mths and my longest was in 2004, which lasted for a whole 18MONTHS.

I'm not bleeding heavily by any means, but it's really annoying (good job i'm not going on hols!) I've seen 3 doctors (one a woman) and all have said that it appears that this is my regular body clock and nothing can be done to change it, other than to go on the pill, which I don't want to do. I tried the injection but bled constantly for the 3 mth duration...

I guess i could see a specialist but frightened of the camera, if it's needed!!!

Can anyone help, I'm at my wits end, AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! :O

[Vanilla Face]

Crikey bird, this must be driving you insane! If I were you I'd defo see a specialist because it can't be good for your body in the long term. The pill is a good way to stabalise your periods and it takes a while for your body to re-adjust when you stop and start taking it-why do you not want to stay on the pill?

[jeanette1976]

I know that it increases the risk of some cancers inc. breast cancer, and my mum has had it twice already by 50yrs, first time when she was only 36... and she's teetotal and super healthy. I just don't want to increase my chances unneccessarily... especially as my chances are already doubled already with my mum.

[rabbitygirl]

I have just written an answer and deleted the lot. It was just too much. Anyway in brief, I lost a close friend from school days from cancer which began with bleeding irregularly. The doctor missed it and treated her with iron tablets until she had major surgery. She died several years later from brain cancer at 32. Her doctor missed the chance to save her. They are not always right. Another one caught it in time to give her a few more years.
I went on the pill for your problem but always had problems and elected later for op to get my life back. It may well be your body clock but see that specialist, see 2, but go.

[3Rainbows]

Hi Jeanette,

No magic answers here but I can strongly recommend you try and get a refferal to a gynaecologist. If you prefer you can request a female one. I second previous poster not all doctors are right.

They misdiagnosed my mums breast cancer when she was 40.(she ok now though) and my nan had breast cancer too. Anyway my sister is on the pill and i'm pretty sure there is one with only one of the two hormones ( can't remember but i think its progesterone only) and this is safer than the combined hormone pill when there is a history of breast cancer.

Might be worth another trip to the gp for a refferal or speak to your local family planning clinic. I have found them very helpful in the past.

Hope you get things sorted. Take care.

3Rx

[Floella]

Hi Jeannette, I totally sympathise with you as my periods were irregular for years.
I've now got the Mirena coil and I can honestly say its the best thing I could have done. I don't have periods at all now. You don't say if your family is complete, because obviously it's no good if you want to have a family, its a contraception, but its brilliant for sorting out heavy, long and irregular periods.
It might be worth asking your GP to refer you to a specialist and you could discuss the option.
Good luck.