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missing periods and heavy flow periods

12 years ago

Is this part of perimenopause?
Im almost 46 missed one period then next one was super heavy and I mean heavy...
Then I had two regular periods then missed two more periods then here I am again with a super heavy and messy flow is this common?

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Comments (5)

Paulas2cents
12 years ago
Yes, this is common. Expect your period to start skipping, then returning, being heavy, lasting longer, lasting shorter, it all comes down to perimenopause. My first alert this was starting to occur was when I was 46. I had a period two weeks after the prior one and it freaked me out. Then I had a period like no other, with heavy bleeding and clots. It lasted almost 3 weeks, which is what sent me to the doctor. I went for a sonogram and found out the clots and very heavy/lengthy flow were due to fibroids. The periods skipping, changing in flow, etc went on for four years. The most difficult years for me though were ages 50 - 53, during which I had almost every symptom named in this forum. Thank God for all the caring women who have taken the time to share their stories here. From sore joints/muscles to heart palpitations to strange periods to anxiety to "weird head feeling," I have had all these and more. I was tested for all kinds of things and often told "it has nothing to do with perimenopause," as though it wasn't even real. I wish the medical community would do a better job communicating the issues related to this time of life. I say all this to give you a heads up now as to what might be ahead. Consult your doctor about anything that seems "off" to you, even if it's just to have peace of mind. But also know that much of the time, changing hormones are behind a great many of these symptoms. I never realized the enormous role hormones play in our lives. I am now 54 and still have the odd hot flash or muscle stiffness but things are getting better. I hope you will be one of the lucky ones for whom perimenopause is a breeze.
angelswed
Original Author
12 years ago
Should I be going to a doctor about this or just let nature run its course?
I'm really confused on what I should or need to be doing.
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Paulas2cents
12 years ago
Though I believe what you're going through is normal, I recommend you schedule an appointment with your gyn for your own peace of mind. I also suggest that you start tracking your period. This will help you see over the course of time what it's doing. The doctor I saw about the fibroids did not recommend treatment for them, unless the excessive bleeding continued.
angelswed
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you for your information and advice, one last question are they going to want to do a pap or do they x Ray.
So I should wait till period is over before I do anything.
Paulas2cents
12 years ago
Yes they will want to do a pap, so good idea to schedule an appointment after your period is done. Doctor may also send you for a sonogram if he/she thinks you could have fibroids. Often times fibroids will shrink and disappear after menopause.

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