Constant bleeding going on 9 months- help!
I had my first period when I was 11 years old. My periods came on a relatively predictable schedule, and though they were very heavy and accompanied by painful cramps, they were pretty normal. After the first year or so, they started to get way off track and eventually stopped coming.
At 12 years old, I had an approximate 7 months with no periods at all. After that, I had another cycle of mostly normal periods. Again, they were extremely heavy and I had cramps that would keep me in bed most of the time.
Fast forward a few years- at about 16 I had a period that lasted about 4 months. After the first month of continuous bleeding, I saw my pediatrician. I was told that it was not really that unusual, that she would be more concerned if I wasn't having a period at all, but if it REALLY bothered me, she could refer me to an endocrinologist.
It took me a couple of months to get in to see her because of the waiting list, but when I did finally get in, the problem was still persisting. She subjected me to a battery of expensive tests over the course of a month or two and I can't remember all of them, but I do remember being tested for insulin resistance, diabetes, various hormonal imbalances, and even sleep apnea. She gave me a brief physical examination looking for symptoms of PCOS (patches of hair, dark patches of skin, etc).
That particular doctor never did find out what was wrong with me- but she did put me on birth control. Because of my incredibly forgetful nature, I opted for the patch. Yes, Ortho Evra did regulate my cycle- mostly. But once my 12-month prescription ran out, so did my insurance. I couldn't afford the patch or the doctor visits after that.
For a while, my periods were regular on their own. Several months passed with no issues at all. Of course, that was short lived.
For the next 9 months or so, I had no periods. I took many pregnancy tests, and at one point some severe abdominal cramping sent me to the emergency room. I remember their incredulous looks when they asked me for the date of my last period. "Are you pregnant?" the nurse asked me. Nope, not pregnant. They gave me a pelvic exam which turned up nothing and sent me on my way.
Eventually, my period returned. Back and forth, I had weeks or months of bleeding followed by weeks or months of nothing.
In October 2011, I started my period. It's been almost 9 months since then and I am still bleeding. Several times I've been dizzy and pale, only to go to the bathroom and realize that I'm pouring blood. A few weeks ago, I again returned to the emergency room (a different one). This time, it was due to sharp, stabbing, intense pain in my pelvis. It felt like someone was driving a knife into my cervix. I've never had children, but it felt like what I imagine contractions would feel like. The waves of excruciating pain would cause my eyes to water, and knock the breath from my lungs.
Again, the doctor gave me a pelvic exam. She suspected Chlamydia or Gonorrhea. She gave me Flagyll to treat it (although the test results hadn't come back yet, she said it was better to just treat it since the medication wouldn't hurt me if I didn't have either disease) and some shot I can't remember the name of that was injected into my hip. The test results ended up being negative (which was exactly what I predicted- I've only been with my boyfriend for the last three years and even we haven't been having sex because of the fact that I've been on my period for 9 months!).
This has been a long, terrifying and lonely experience for me. I don't have anyone to talk to about it that could even remotely relate to my problem. My boyfriend has been as understanding and supportive as he could possibly be- but how could he really understand what's happening to me? I want to be intimate with him but I feel disgusting all of the time. I don't feel like a woman. I worry that I may never be able to have children. I have horrible hot flashes and have to sleep directly in front of a fan, yet I still wake up clammy and sweaty. I feel a constant need to shower. I frequently go in the shower or drive around crying because it's the only time I can be alone and I have some strange need to hide my sadness from everyone.
I don't have any health insurance, and I don't have any money. It's been so hard for me to find a job that will even put food on the table, let alone pay any bills. I work under the table for about $3 an hour, about 40 hours a week. When I'm not working, I apply for jobs. I've made many phone calls searching for an OBGYN clinic that will even see me without insurance (no luck yet!). The health department won't see me unless it's for family planning or an STD. Planned Parenthood does pelvic exams for $60, and I'm sure I could find some way to come up with that money, but I just had a pelvic exam done that solved nothing. I'm afraid and mistrustful of doctors. Whenever I'm in a doctor's office I get nervous and I can't articulate what's wrong with me. Most of the time I feel like they don't care at all.
I'm lost and I don't know what to do. Please, someone just give me some advice!
At 12 years old, I had an approximate 7 months with no periods at all. After that, I had another cycle of mostly normal periods. Again, they were extremely heavy and I had cramps that would keep me in bed most of the time.
Fast forward a few years- at about 16 I had a period that lasted about 4 months. After the first month of continuous bleeding, I saw my pediatrician. I was told that it was not really that unusual, that she would be more concerned if I wasn't having a period at all, but if it REALLY bothered me, she could refer me to an endocrinologist.
It took me a couple of months to get in to see her because of the waiting list, but when I did finally get in, the problem was still persisting. She subjected me to a battery of expensive tests over the course of a month or two and I can't remember all of them, but I do remember being tested for insulin resistance, diabetes, various hormonal imbalances, and even sleep apnea. She gave me a brief physical examination looking for symptoms of PCOS (patches of hair, dark patches of skin, etc).
That particular doctor never did find out what was wrong with me- but she did put me on birth control. Because of my incredibly forgetful nature, I opted for the patch. Yes, Ortho Evra did regulate my cycle- mostly. But once my 12-month prescription ran out, so did my insurance. I couldn't afford the patch or the doctor visits after that.
For a while, my periods were regular on their own. Several months passed with no issues at all. Of course, that was short lived.
For the next 9 months or so, I had no periods. I took many pregnancy tests, and at one point some severe abdominal cramping sent me to the emergency room. I remember their incredulous looks when they asked me for the date of my last period. "Are you pregnant?" the nurse asked me. Nope, not pregnant. They gave me a pelvic exam which turned up nothing and sent me on my way.
Eventually, my period returned. Back and forth, I had weeks or months of bleeding followed by weeks or months of nothing.
In October 2011, I started my period. It's been almost 9 months since then and I am still bleeding. Several times I've been dizzy and pale, only to go to the bathroom and realize that I'm pouring blood. A few weeks ago, I again returned to the emergency room (a different one). This time, it was due to sharp, stabbing, intense pain in my pelvis. It felt like someone was driving a knife into my cervix. I've never had children, but it felt like what I imagine contractions would feel like. The waves of excruciating pain would cause my eyes to water, and knock the breath from my lungs.
Again, the doctor gave me a pelvic exam. She suspected Chlamydia or Gonorrhea. She gave me Flagyll to treat it (although the test results hadn't come back yet, she said it was better to just treat it since the medication wouldn't hurt me if I didn't have either disease) and some shot I can't remember the name of that was injected into my hip. The test results ended up being negative (which was exactly what I predicted- I've only been with my boyfriend for the last three years and even we haven't been having sex because of the fact that I've been on my period for 9 months!).
This has been a long, terrifying and lonely experience for me. I don't have anyone to talk to about it that could even remotely relate to my problem. My boyfriend has been as understanding and supportive as he could possibly be- but how could he really understand what's happening to me? I want to be intimate with him but I feel disgusting all of the time. I don't feel like a woman. I worry that I may never be able to have children. I have horrible hot flashes and have to sleep directly in front of a fan, yet I still wake up clammy and sweaty. I feel a constant need to shower. I frequently go in the shower or drive around crying because it's the only time I can be alone and I have some strange need to hide my sadness from everyone.
I don't have any health insurance, and I don't have any money. It's been so hard for me to find a job that will even put food on the table, let alone pay any bills. I work under the table for about $3 an hour, about 40 hours a week. When I'm not working, I apply for jobs. I've made many phone calls searching for an OBGYN clinic that will even see me without insurance (no luck yet!). The health department won't see me unless it's for family planning or an STD. Planned Parenthood does pelvic exams for $60, and I'm sure I could find some way to come up with that money, but I just had a pelvic exam done that solved nothing. I'm afraid and mistrustful of doctors. Whenever I'm in a doctor's office I get nervous and I can't articulate what's wrong with me. Most of the time I feel like they don't care at all.
I'm lost and I don't know what to do. Please, someone just give me some advice!
, but, I woke up with fever and flu today, so, I didn't go to my classes, next classes will be on Sunday, it looks like I am only able to give you some possible answers (hopefully) after Sunday. Sorry for the wait! 
But, probably you have other symptoms that have been worrying you? not only the bleeding? pain etc. etc?
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