hi,

i've been viewing the forum for awhile now, and finally decided to post. for almost 2 years now i've had an almost constant, though light, period. i'm 43, never had kids....i've read about peri-menopause and tried to convince myself that's the culprit...before that time i was regular as clockwork and had been since i was 9 years old...always a heavy flow with debilitating cramps...though my period is almost constant..on a few days, off a few days...i don't have the debilitating cramps i used to have....do cramp some, but nothing comparable to what it used to be...i have been on metformin for almost a year now....up to 2000mg a day...i also have thyroiditis and take 180grains of armour thyroid every day...has anyone else had a similar problem? i have had a pap smear in 10 years..i know it's over due...just hate to have it done...any imput would be appreciated...

thanks

Hello,
Please make an appointment to have a pap smear done. 10 years is way too long to go without. Chances are that the constant light flow is due to pre-menapuse but it is important to know for sure. I myself am in pre-menapause & I must say it is a Pain in the A__. For me the periods are very heavy, and last 5 days, which is way too long when it's heavy. Like you, I also have thyroiditis & I have lumps on my thyroid. I have had them biopsied twice & they come back OK. Please make that appointment.
Susan

Thanks,
i have discussed this problem with my doc, she thinks getting the thyroid and pcos in check will regulate...at least that's what she told me a year ago and several times in between..the problem is i never know when i'm not going to be on my period and she doesn't want to do the pap while i'm having a period..she really didn't seem concerned in the least....i did tell her how long it had been...the last year is the first time in my life i've had insurance and could afford to see a doc regularly...she's a very good doc, she's a general practioner....very good with thyroid and pcos problems...i plan to make an appt. in oct or nov....thanks again!

I'm glad you're consulting with a dr... and I wonder if you feel more tired than usual, constant blood loss can make you feel that way even if it is light. Anyway hugs to you and hope all is well.

I began having long periods in August (30+ days) it stopped for two weeks and started back and has yet to stop, they are light but annoying too. I am pre-menopause/menopause myself and what I found out was -- and this happens to 40% of women in 'our' age group. It is fibroid tumors. They did an ultrasound and I am full of grape and dollar sized tumors, non cancerous but if I want the bleeding to stop my only option is hysterectomy...which I am having in 2 weeks. So please go get the exam. and if you dr. does not want to do test while you are bleeding and thinks having a period over 10 days is normal --switch dr's ....

just my humble opinion :-)

If you haven't had a Pap smear in ten years, get it done now, whether you're bleeding or not. I am an OB nurse and I've seen lots of women have it done while having light bleeding. It's a vital part of a complete pelvic exam. I would insist on having it done.

Yes, get a pap test! You might want to have your iron levels checked to make sure you're not anemic.

I was bleeding constantly, so much so that I lost half of my blood and had to have a transfusion. It was one fibroid tumor, but the doctor removed it last month (no hysterectomy, just a tool that was, um, inserted), and I'm feeling so much better! It's a simple, if uncomfortable, ultrasound to look for fibroids. Some women, like me, can have an operation to remove them that can be done on an outpatient basis.

I don't know what age you're expecting to hit menopause, but my mom was in her mid-50s. Spending the next decade bleeding, especially when the tumor could just keep growing and the bleeding getting worse, doesn't sound like a very fun way to live.

Thanks so much for all the input....my mom and other relatives have had fibroid tumors in the past....my mom had a hysterectomy in her 30's....as for the menopause...i've heard that women who've never had kids start the process earlier and it last longer...don't know how true that is..but i started my period when i was 9 so it might not be such a stretch to start pre-menopause in my early 40's...i guess i'm going to bite the bullet and schedule an appointment. Again, I really appreciate all the feedback...thanks!

Good luck!