Excessively long period...

**NylahOK** · 05-14-2010 06:35 PM

For the past three years, I've been having irregular periods. I'll have a normal period (about 5 days long) for maybe three months in a row. Then I won't have a period for 2-3 months. Then when I do finally have a period, I'll have a month to a month and a half long period. It really varies month to month on what will happen. I've been to my OB/GYN several times for this and he says that it's a hormonal issue. I've had an ultrasound done on my uterus, and fallopian tubes - no fibroids or anything, everything looked fine. At first, he would give me BCP's to help stop the bleeding, because I would become severely anemic. I stressed out so much from constantly bleeding, that my blood pressure was high. He had me on Atenolol for my blood pressure, but it wasn't feasible for me to drive two hours away, every two weeks to get my prescription; also, the Atenolol made me SO sleepy, that I couldn't function - and I'm an extremely active person. I stopped taking the Atenolol, and my OB/GYN stopped prescribing me BCP's. I explained that I didn't like the Atenolol, and asked if there was some other blood pressure medication that I could take. He's hard core on the Atenolol. He said my only option left was to lose weight. "If you lose weight, your hormones will regulate." It's been a year since I've seen him. I've exercised, ate healthy foods, much like I was doing before - and I haven't lost any weight! I've actually gained weight. I've put on about 15 pounds since my last appointment...and I hate it. I'm extremely active - basketball, jogging, swimming and I'm a vegetarian. I only eat healthy, organic food. So, I completely doubt that my lifestyle is the cause of my weight gain. (I weighed 150 lbs. three years ago, when my hormonal issue started. Today, I'm at 250 lbs.) I've never been this heavy or miserable in my entire life. I'm at a loss. I don't know what else to do. When all of this started, my husband and I had just started to try and have children. We stopped trying after a year and a half, because it had become nearly impossible - due to my unpredictable cycles.

I'm hoping I'm not the only one going through this.

**LanaBear** · 05-16-2010 10:40 PM

Is it possible to get a second opinion?

Are you still contemplating having kids? I had two with pretty much nonexistent periods or extremely irregular at best.

**NylahOK** · 05-21-2010 11:16 PM

The problem is, all of my healthcare is through Indian Health Service. I was lucky to get in with my current OB/GYN. He's the only "real" doctor. Everyone else in the women's clinic are PA's. If there is an issue, such as mine, they schedule you an appointment with the doctor; which is a 2 - 3 month wait.

My husband and I still want children, though we found out that with my husband's CF, it's impossible for us to do it on our own. Children will have to wait until we can afford to see a RE.

**kira** · 05-22-2010 03:33 AM

You need to see a second doctor. It may not be your reproductive tract at all. A thyroid issue will cause major weight problems despite good diet and exercise. A friend of mine is in fantastic shape and looks extremely overweight because her whole family has thyroid issues. Menstrual irregularity also falls under the top symptoms of a thyroid disorder. I would see a general doctor rather than a specialist so that they can consider other possible health problems. A general practitioner will also know more about blood pressure medication.

**NylahOK** · 08-03-2010 12:53 AM

I finally got in to a new doctor!!!

My period had originally started on April 2nd. It was heavy, and still going when I first posted. Talk about annoying! As time progressed, my period got so heavy that I was literally having to change both pad and tampon every hour - if I even made it an hour.
Luckily, I wasn't cramping. I began phoning my OB's office right after I posted my initial post. I heard over and over again each week, "We'll make you an appointment, and send you a letter containing the date." Yes, this is how scheduling is done, at least for this particular IHS hospital. I was never scheduled an appointment.

By the time July came, I was beyond frustrated - and broke from having to buy so many feminine products. Then one night, my period got so heavy that I leaked out of my tampon and pad, and soaked my bed. It was insane. I was trying to get downstairs to our only bathroom, without making a horrible mess. (TMI, I know. Sorry.) I looked at my husband, and said "I can't do this anymore." We made the 1 hr 30 min drive to the hospital, I went straight to my doctor's office without "checking" in; explained everything to them - including the fact that they never made me an appointment. They got me in immediately. I told them that I was having an issue with my OB/GYN, and they told me "You're not the first. We'll get you in with our new doctor." Two hours later, after all of my blood work, ultrasound, and physical exam - everything came back clear, including thyroid levels. My new doctor put me back on Atenolol, but at a dosage that I'm happy with, and Medroxyprogesterone. So far, everything seems to be working. Granted it's only been a 22 days since I've started - but my body seems to be finally be getting back on track. At the moment, I'm ending my period on my own. Though I'll start my second of four cycles of Medroxyprogesterone here shortly.