[Mustang_Shelby]

I've been having a lot of trouble with my period since march. I think it's been stress. I have anxiety disorders anyway and then I've been having trouble with my current job that has been stressing me severely. I skipped a period in March after my horse passed and we had a lot of family stress too. Then when I did get the period I was throwing up three days in which I never do but only once and then I was fine. My period after that was a little over two weeks late. I had bad PMS but nothing was abnormal about that period. Then again I skipped an entire month and I just finally got my period today. I had some problems with my breasts this past month (severe swelling and pain I seen a doctor about and she said it was hormonal) and some bad PMS symptoms but never any abnormal pain or abnormal symptoms. When I started today though it was very different than my usual periods. I usually start slow and my blood is either a darker color or a very bright spotty pink and then as my period goes on it gets darker and heavier. This time I started flowing (not heavy but average) right away a bright fresh red blood color. This is abnormal for me and from what I've been reading it means it can either be really healthy or it can be cysts..I don't feel like I have PCOS at all in fact some of the biggest signs of PCOS i do not have. So far I'm cramping and a little nauseas but nothing more than what I usually feel even on my healthiest periods. I guess the only thing Im worried about is the color. I have a doctors appointment this friday but I dont want to have to worry the next three days, cuz i'm a worrier!

[Ashlee T.]

Sounds like what I went through after my boyfriend was killed. I skipped the first months period almost entirely, had weird muscle spasms in my abdomen, breast pain, and then when I finally did start it was thin and bright red where usually it's thick and pretty dark. Anyway, once my stress levels calmed down a bit things got back to normal. Try finding some ways to relieve some stress. My chiropractor says when stress and emotion is high, adrenals get bogged down and cause all sorts of issues.

[Mustang_Shelby]

Thanks for your reply. I'm hoping it's just stress because I don't want to go on hormone therapy. So sorry about your boyfriend. Life hits us hard and it saddens me that it effects our health.

[Ashlee T.]

Thank you. I am sorry for all your stressors and sadness lately too. I lost my dad at age 17 and did go through some really terrible things. But losing my boyfriend at age 31 was a totally different experience. My 31 year old self experienced SO many different physical side effects from the grief and stress. Many more than my 17 year old self did.

Don't jump on birth control or any other hormonal therapy until you've had time to focus on your overall well being. Make it a priority: yoga is wonderful for this, pamper yourself, write/journal, avoid unnecessary negativity and anyone who brings it into your life, spend a lot of time reflecting and being thankful, make it a point to smile even when you don't feel like it. It sounds like your body is BEGGING you for some relief. Listen to it.