does anyone have any ideas as to why my period would start by spotting for 7 days then have a period for over 8 days and still counting with abdominal cramps and low back pain. I couldn't have anything funky since I haven't had sex in 6 years since my husband walked out. It is driving me nuts and I can't get into the dr until maybe tomorrow

Irregular bleeding is typically a sign of a hormonal change and most women will experience it some time in their life. There are other factors which I have covered extensively in the other posts under this topic. You may want to browse through them.

These things can cause irregular periods...

- aging
- stress
- hormone changes or imbalance
- birth control
- antidepressants and other medications
- unhealthy eating habits

and in more rare cases...

- illness or disease
- chemicals in your environment

So are you on any birth control or meds, experiencing stress, not eating properly, etc? If not, it's most likely that you are experiencing a normal hormonal change. The only way to know for sure is to see a gynecologist.