Read this book and get this natural progesterone at VitaminExpress.com

The Estrogen Alternative by Raquel Martin

Go to http://w-i-n.com and read the articles on natural progesterone

buy Progest-E Complex at www.vitaminexpress.com

See also http://efn.org/~raypeat All his articles and especially the ones regarding menopause.

The Natural Progesterone will correct your menstrual cycle and normalized the blood flow.

I had your problems only more severe at age 46. This corrected it. If this does not, you may need to discover if you are also hypothyroid. The information above will include hypothyroid information and also include information on how to use the progesterone. If it does not, e-mail me directly.

popcornhazel. Who are you? Why do you take such an authoritative stance as if you know what is right for everyone who has a question on the forum? You seem to recommend the same thing for everyone. I can understand your enthusiasm for something that has been very helpful to you, but it may not necessarily be the best thing for someone else. It would be more helpful if you would simply state your experience and what has helped you.

Marion,

I'm 43 and started having the same problems last June. I've always had painful periods but not spotting in between. I had bright blood and brown, thick discharges, hot flashes, serious cramps (made me nauseaus) constantly. Tests showed I was not in menopause, hormones normal. My doctor put me on progesterone for a month, didn't help. Then put me on the pill for 6 months, slowed down the spotting a little. Finally, he did an internal ultrasound of my uterus and found that I have fibroidal tissue. He suggested that I have hysteroscopy (spelling) and balloon abalation. I had to get 2 monthly injections of Lupron to put my body into menopause before surgery (scheduled for January 3). Hysteroscopy is where they use a scope inserted in the vagina (no incisions) to go into the uterus. They will zap the uterine lining with electric to destroy the cysts. Then they will insert a balloon filled with scalding hot water (I'll be out, so won't feel a thing) that will scar the uterine lining. The end result (hopefully) will be no more periods or extremely light periods. Ask your doctor lots of questions and don't stop until you feel better!

Hi Marion, I am positive your symptoms are not pre-menopasual and understand your worry.
I too experienced excessive bleeding (clotting, dark coloration) and periods that seemed to run for extended days. My periods were painful and I was in a state of constant discomfort during my menstrual cycles. After visits to the Doctor and making the decision to have the discovered fibroid tumors removed, a very large fibroid tumor was discovered while I was in the operating room. The decision to have a hysteroctomy was the right one, for me, and may eventually be the only one for you. I actually think I put up with the pain, misery, fear of bleeding in public, a limited sex life, and constant worry, too long. I hope this helps. E-mail me if you would like to talk more. Elaine

Hi Marion

I agree with the other ladies in that you may have a fibroid uterus. I talk from experience having had the same problem due to fibroids.

I'm pleased you are seeing your Doctor soon and can get this investigated further. I feel the second posting on this thread pointing you in the direction of self-medication irresponsible advice under the circumstances.

My problems are now solved, no more periods to my immense relief and I hope this happens for you soon.

Good Luck
Joan

I agree, sounds like fibroids, I had the EA Photobug mentioned a month ago, and I feel great ( plus so relieved) Let us know how your surgery goes, Photobug, if you have any questions just email me, I will be happy to share my experience. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year :) Norma

Marion, I think we are living during a wonderful time. We have much information available to help us make the right decision for ourselves. The internet is one of the best tools for helping us live a healthy life and I just wish I had all this info, at my finger tips, 10 years ago. It's good people are suggesting alternatives.....that's for sure, female surgery creates major changes in our bodies.

Marion, No one can predict how your menopause will progress; you may have these problems for months or even years. I can tell you I had the same experience from age 48 to 55. Very irregular and heavy bleeding with clots, pain, and spotting inbetween. My gyne wanted to do a hysterectomy. At one point I was so anemic my internist had the blood work repeated because he thought the lab had made an error. I did not want a hysterectomy and consulted a chinese acupuncture practitioner. She was able stop a heavy bleeding episode with one "needle" treatment. After that she prescribed a combination of chinese herbs to take whenever I had heavy or prolonged bleeding. They always worked to stop the bleeding; I used them for years until my periods stopped on their own. She recommended I start using natural progesterone cream too, but she did not explain it's usefulness and I delayed using it for a few years. Wish I'd started when she first recommended it. At that point I was just beginning to take on the responsibility for my own care instead of blindly trusting doctors to know what was best for me. The best thing I ever did was read books on menopause and learn various perspectives on approaches to dealing with menopausal problems, then make up my own mind about what I needed. It meant changing doctors a couple of times, but I feel good with the one I have now.

Popcorn, if you have no financial link to vitamin express or the products you say we all SHOULD buy, why do you recommend them so explicitly? There are other otc progesterone creams and many excellent books available.

It is really too bad that earlier posts are removed from this forum. A couple of years ago there were lots of posts addressing this problem and many women told their stories about heavy bleeding and what they did about it. So much valuable experience and sharing is just thrown away! There ought to be a better way!

anifani

How is it that my informational resources are less respectable than other posters or yours? You sought your answers for your symptoms and avoided hysterectomy.

However, you decided to seek acupuncture and herbs for ongoing heavy and prolonged bleeding when progesterone would have corrected those symptoms promptly and completely.

Only after menopause did you discover natural progesterone's value. Marion nor anyone else should not have to suffer with these symptoms for years when they are easily treatable. Hysterectomy is usually the 'cure' to stop the bother after many nightmare years on synthetic hormone replacement.

The information I choose to share with others seeking answers is the information you should have had before your natural menopause. The information I used to cure the problem, therefore no more symptoms as in the subject heading.

Yes, thankfully the information is here and abundantly if one searches for it. Each woman will decide on her own whether to read and use the information. If you would read it, you may find it valuable enough to share on other forums you use. I am hardly every woman's authority. If others don't have the sense to decide for themselves, then they are here only for the misery-loves-company chatting.

The information I share is the best of the sources I have found over the last 10 years.

Read it yourself before you decide it is worthless or of less value than your own experience.

I have no financial link to the product at Vitamin Express, it is just the sublinguinal natural progesterone I use. Kenogen, the manufacturer sells it as well, but as Vitamin Express can buy in quantity the savings are passed on.

If you are familiar with the work of Dr. Raymond Peat, this is his natural progesterone. His work is the authority for of all my information.

I still use prescription natural progesterone Prometrium. The Kenogen brand is for adrenal support with my thyroid replacement.

Marion...like the other posters, you could have fibroids. But it also could be nothing but a signal that you are at the beginning of the end of your periods. The same thing happened to me,I had what I called the "never ending" "eternal" period. My GYN did a pile of tests, ultrasounds,a D&C (which helped for a few months). He came to the conclusion that since I wasnt ovulating any more there wasnt the progesterone there to tell my uterus to stop shedding its lining, so it just kept going. He started me on Prometrium for 5 days a month as to trick the uterus so I would have normal periods, which did work. A few months later I stopped having any periods. Thats my story...but please see your GYN as there are so many possible things that could be causing your bleeding.

Dear Marion

I'd like to assure you that should you eventually require a hysterectomy there is nothing to be worried about that.

I had a hysterectomy 3 years ago and have made 100% recovery and would not turn the clock back at all.

Before popcornhazel gets started with her diagnosis my situation was:

(a) An enlarged fibroid uterus with heavy monthly bleeding which did not respond to treatment.
(b) I have NEVER taken any form of HRT, NHRT (or any variation) or Birth Control Pills and take NO medication at all and still don't so my situation was not attributable to medication. I have children.

I am now extremely well and delighted to be relieved of my monthly problems.

Just to tell you that there are options and if surgery happens to be one, it can be extremely successful.

Good Luck

Joan

Thank you for all your responses. I was told by a doctor 2 years ago that I "might" have ademyosis (sp?). At that time, my anemia was awful. My recent blood tests shows that I still have anemia but it's not too bad. At that time, the doctor gave me pills which stopped the bleeding and within a few months, my periods got better. Then a few months ago, it started acting up again. I had not thought about fibroids but I will mention it when I see the doctor. I am living in a new place now and this will be my first visit to this doctor.

I just went through a real heavy period. Sometimes I get a period and sometimes I don't. This time I started December 23 and ended December 28 I had huge dark clots for the entire time and used an entire box of tampons and pads. I feel fortunate I didn't get any cramps before or during. I just felt bloated and wondered why I was eating so much chocolate LOL Last month I did not get a period and often wonder if the clots are due to not shedding the lining of the uterus the previous month. If this is possible please let me know.

My doctor did hormonal tests and say that my hormone levels are normal and that I am not going through menopause. My thyroid is also okay.

I am 45 years old and have had irregular periods since I was in my 30's. I had an ultrasound 10 years ago and everything looked okay.

My 47 year old friend just died recently uterine cancer that had spread throughout her body. This scares me. I am due for a pap test and hope everything is okay.

Thank you to all on this forum who I am sure will provide me with all the answers I need when I go through menopause or peri menopause. I will also be looking at reading posts about HRT. No one in my family has used HRT and my one friend who is on it has to keep going to the doctor to get regulated. I was never able to use birth control pills because it caused my blood pressure to rise quite high.

Anne

popcornhazel

Nice company you keep. Maybe I should throw in a viper or two just to stir the pot :-)
Michele

Please go to your doctor and ask for an ultrasound. I had the same symptons and suffered for a year believing it was perimenopause - I was 47 at the time. The bleeding and clotting got unbearable and then I had cramping which I never ever had before. So I went to a highly recommended GYN. He said - probably perimenopause but at my age these symptons had to be checked further for cysts, etc. Lo and behold - I had a huge endometrial cyst which was removed by hysteroscopy. Well - it was endometrial cancer. And because I had waited so long I had to have radiation after the hysterectomy. Luckily a year and a half later I remain cancer-free.

The moral of this story is trust your body and get thee to a doctor. Rule out the serious problems, educate yourself, then decide on treatment.

Don't attempt to self diagnose or self medicate if you are suffering. And find a good doctor and trust him/her!

By the way, my surgical menopause has been uneventful and I do not take any hormones, synthetic or natural.

popcorn
I never said your sources were less reliable than others that are mentioned. My problem was with the WAY you ORDER people to read the book and buy THE progesterone from vitamin Express. At first you did NOT say these were the things you personally found most helpful, you just spouted your orders as if your way was the only right way for everyone. Sorry to disappoint you, but it is just not true; progesterone is not the panacea that Dr. Lee and Dr. Peet contend it is. Some women have horrible reactions to it, or it does no good for them at all.

Each of us is free to read, then take or leave what is presented here. I'm sorry I forgot that, and spoke up about my problem with the way you presented your information. It is my problem and really just a difference in style.

I am sorry ladies, but some of the comments sound to me
like little children arguing about what candy is sweeter.
I am not trying to be a hornet, but honestly now, it appears that popcornhazel has done her homework and others here don't like the fact she has some knowledge,hmmmmmmm insecurities maybe? Just MHO. Peace to you all.
Just starting the fun years,
Michele

Jifrah, did you have any pain between periods? I get a gnawing pain on my lower right side sometimes between my periods. I will definitely ask the doctor about an ultrasound. If he says no, I will seek out another doctor just to be on the safe side.

Hi Marion

Not answering for Jifrah but I used to get the pain you describe. Turned out it was a benign ovarian cyst. Definitely go for that ultrasound so you can find out what's going on in there.

Regards
Joan

Nope - never had right side pain. But the ovarian cyst theory sounds plausible. A friend and co-worker had the same symptpms recently. They turned out to have benign ovarian cysts which were removed hysteroscopically. That procedure is ambulatory and can sometimes even be done in the doctor's office. Now they're both fine and barely perimenopausal even though they are 49 and 50.

I don't mean to be an alarmist. It just pays to be cautious and not blame every symptom on menopause. Although usually it thankfully is just the normal progression of this unavoidable life cycle.

Just wanted to let everyone know I had the hysteroscopy and balloon ablation this past Thursday. The doctor removed 3 sizable uterine cysts. I had a wonderful anethesiologist that put some medicine in my IV to prevent nausea (worked wonderfully). The doctor also ordered a pain medicine be put in my IV before surgery. I feel great! The only problem I had was pressure from constipation (easily corrected with laxative). I'll let you know down the road if it helps in the long run.

Photobug, I am glad you went thru your procedure without too many problems. Keep us posted.

Glad to hear it, Photobug :) You take care and make sure and rest. N

Photobug. Would you email me please. anifani4@rochester.rr.com

I had a hysteroscopy to remove an intrauterine polyp about two weeks ago. I would like to compare notes on the proceedure, meds, after effects, etc.
Anne M

Anne,

Email is on the way.

I can only share my experience. My periods became intolerable-pads and tampons together would not hold the bleeding and excessive clots for one hour and the duration of my cycle kept increasing.
I first went to my physician to determine that I did not have any fibroids or serious medical conditions. After an exam and tests he determined I needed progesterone and prescribed me with Prometrium 200 mg. I take it from day 12 until day 24. I have been on it for 2 cycles and things have changed remarkably for me. I also realize I feel more "balanced" emotionally, something I did not realize until I now felt different. I take it at bedtime because the first few nights I felt a bit dizzy, but now I have no apparent side effects. It is funny I put up with so much pain and bleeding for so long-I wished I would have addressed it sooner. We should share our information and care for eachother-let's put our efforts in positive directions. Many of your messages helped me get help and I am grateful and only hope my sharing helps someone get help or identify their needs. THANKS!

I have a new symptom. Two weeks after my last period, I have my "period" again. It started today but its color is a different color of red. It just seems very red and not period like, if that makes any sense and please excuse me if I am sounding gross. I have my doctor's appointment at the end of the month but am now worried that I will have my period at that time. Any thoughts on what may be causing the bleeding? Thanks again for all your advice.

Hi Marion, As my fibroids grew, my periods started to come every 2 to 3 weeks, and they were both heavy, crimson, and with clotting. I had to be examined when flowing ( at that point I had been in stirrups so much I felt like a cowgirl LOL ) I am glad your appt is soon, let me know how it goes. You are welcome to email me if you want :) I don't gross out easy :) Norma

I went to my gyn about 3 years ago not being able to live with my periods. I couldnt go away Id be standing in grocery store feeling it running scared to death it was goona show in public. I used 2 heavy duty pads at a time sometimes 2 pads and a tampon all at once . I had numerous accidents in public. I would go to athroom gwet to bottom of stairs only to find it ran through everything.She said you hold on to your uterus.We tried everything to no avail/. Then i started getting my period 2 times then 3 times a month till it was all month. Finally she said if i want a hysterectomy shed do it.,i said yes we did. vaginal should have been cut she said her arms hurt pulling it out. It was too big one of my problems. Later she told me its good I did have it I had 5 things going on could have been serious if left go.dont regret it.

Didn't she do any diagnostic tests before "pulling it out," like when you were suffering?

Yes she did some tests,we tried hormones, that didnt help. She showed me a movie,she gave me books to read. in this book it talked about how bad it is for some women going through menapause they actually committed suicide it was so bad.They were sure they had cancer or something else serious.anyway after trying to talk me out of it ,she left the decision up to me. i said yes.I suffered ALL my life from puberty on .Im 46 now.

Glad I came here. I was going to ask about this very thing then found this thread.
I am having a period about every 2 months(sometimes, but rarely, monthly), and they are very heavy with clots.I am totally worn out when I get them and can hardly lift a finger. Wonder if I'm anaemic???

You are very possibly anaemic and should have a blood test to check on this and have it corrected. You should also have the cause of this investigated.

Joan

I wrote in another post that the doctor scared me by saying that I had a large fibroid and my uterus was the size of me being 15 weeks pregnant. I have an appointment this Tuesday to discuss the ultrasound I took a week ago. The doctor called me the other day to say the biopsy he took for cancer came back normal. Also, the thyroid tests came back normal. The pap smear was also normal but only the outside (I think) of the uterus was tested because of the fibroid being in the way. I don't recall my last doctor telling me to watch for fibroid problems and she had dismissed a doctor before her saying I had adenomyosis (sp?). My mother told me she entered menopause at 42 and my sister stopped at 50(I am almost 51), so I am the latest in my family.

The doctor said we would discuss my situation on Tuesday at the appointment. Since I am tired of the pain, clotting and duration of my periods of late, I am almost hoping he suggests surgery to stop it. A woman in my office had gone thru the exact same thing and waited years to have a hysterectomy, keeping her ovaries and says that she regrets ever waiting, that is how well she felt afterwards.

I will write after my appointment as long as the ultrasound results are in. I might be needing a lot of support. TIA

I saw the doctor this morning and these are my choices. Take birth control pills to regulate my periods or preferably Prevera to regulate them. The provera has made me gain weight in the past and the doctor says that is because it gives you more of an appetite. A cyst was found on one of my ovaries on the ultrasound. The doctor says I must have another ultrasound in 8 weeks to see if it gets smaller or goes away. If not, he recommends a hysterectomy OR he says I can schedule a hysterectomy for his first opening in April in which he will also remove my ovaries. I am almost 51 and the doctor says I am not in menopause although I could get it soon. The ultrasound confirmed multiple fibroids and that it is like I am 15 weeks pregnant. My first inclination is to wait for the next ultrasound to see if a hysterectomy is warranted anyways while not taking any pills for the next 2 months. Should the cyst problem go away on its own, should I go on Provera or birth control pills and ride this out until I reach menopause. The chances are minute that the fibroids are cancerous. Of course, he would want to keep a close eye on the fibroids if I don't have the surgery. My periods are still extremely painful, heavier than before, 7-8 days now instead of the 3-4 days before and I have lots of clotting. Also, the spotting I am constantly getting between periods is old blood, according to the doctor. The surgery doesn't scare me. I love the thought of no more periods but am I exchanging one problem for another by going thru with the surgery? The doctor also explained that he would take the ovaries (even without the cyst problem) because women over 45 have more of a chance for cancer if they kept their ovaries. Besides, I had my tubes tied years ago and don't want any more children. Any suggestions out there for me? What would you do in my place?

Dear Marion, I am going to speak from my own personal experience. I have had a hysterectomy and I am one that needed the hormones. But, it wasn't until after they took my ovaries that I found that I have such bad reactions from just about every form of hrt. I have never been the same. Poor memory, anxiety and insomnia. Never had those symptoms before. My Mother also had the fibroids and after seeing all the misery I have gone through elected to keep her ovaries anyway. She has had excellent results. Now, my cousin age 42 just let her doctor remover the whole enchalada 6 mos ago and has called me several times, crying about the hrt replacement and how her doc promised that removing the ovaries with the uterous would be no big deal, that hrt would be fine. She is not handling it well. I could go on and on. Personally I would take a male doctor, remove his testicles and start giving him different forms of testosterone and let him see that all have side effects and that you never feel the same. GRANTED (some people do just find with no ovaries) however, one never knows until it is too late. I would not be concerned regarding the cancer issue. With the uterous gone chances are slim and one still gets a pap every two years. Please, if I had it to do again I would have made them leave my ovaries, once they are gone you cannot get them back. AND ladies love you all but there is huge difference between hysteroscopy and hysterectomy. Hysteroscopy would be the best of all. Thanks for listening and Marion I received an email for you from a friend of yours. Ann B. Please email me so I can forward her message to you. God Bless.... Lorran

Marion, what you have been through is no picnic.

My diagnosis was adenomyosis, with a couple fibroids thrown in for good measure, and a uterus the size of a 12 week pregnancy. Once I finally was diagnosed (which took a long while, thanks to being repeatedly blown off as perimenopausal)(yes, I have a new dr now) I started taking birth control pills and they have been a real blessing for me. No more long bleeding or clotting, very little pain.

Best wishes to you.

Sylvia, birth control pills are not an option for me because when I took them in the past they caused me to have high blood pressure. I requested the medical papers from my previous doctor today. We'll see what the last doctor diagnosed. The doctor before that thought I had adenomyosis but my previous doctor dismissed that as being misdiagnosed. After what Lorran had written, I am really concerned about having a hysterectomy and getting the ovaries removed.

My periods were lasting loner, and getting heavier (including clots). I went to my GYN, he did a sonogram and found three fibroid tumors within the uterus wall. He told me to take birth control pills for 13 weeks straight with no break, that was supposed to hold back the bleeding. It didn't work. I am now getting periods every 2-3 weeks,they last 4 to eight days, but not as much clots. I am seeing a new gynecologist. She said I must see an endocrinologist, and I have an appt for April 1. Will let you know what happens...

The best solution I have found for both cramps, backache and heavy periods is taking MSM, methyl sulfonylmethane. It is a natural supplement. You can do tons of research on the net searching on either word. I buy it from pennysaved.com (tablets) and msm-msm.com (capsules and less expensive). I started taking it 4 years ago for pain in my foot and my first period (three weeks later) had no pain and lasted only 3 days.Used to be 7 days, extremely heavy and very painful. I've been taking it ever since and am pain free and down to 2 day periods. In the last few years I have gotten at least 20 women on it and all of them saw the changes I did. One girlfriend had recurring monthly cysts that would pop and they are gone now. In fact, MSM is wonderful for any inflammation in the body, my mom takes it for arthritis. Her ankles, knees and hands were deformed and painful. Over about 12 months, one by one everything healed. It's been three years for her with no recurrence. One side effect is your hair and nails grow a lot faster than normal. If you decide to try it, I believe the local brands at Eckerd's, Walmart, GNC are not as effective as the net sites listed above. And start off slow, 1000mg a day for a few days, then 2000mg a day until you are taking 1000mg a day per 50 lbs of body weight and then maybe 1 extra. I take 6000mg a day and even though I am a computer potato during the week, I work my butt off in the yard every weekend and have no pain on Monday. MSM-MSM.com has a message board where you can read imput from real people asking questions and getting answers, giving their experiences on it, etc. You will find my msm experience there, quite a long story!
Good luck!
Val

Hi I'm jae. 18 years old. Yes I'm sexually active but I want to know why my periods are severally bad and clot all the time. I also spot. And when its the time for me to start my blood will be so clotty and purpleish looking. Get back at me thanks.

Hello all,
Wow where do I start... I just turned 37 I have Two kids and a tubal ligation about 9 years ago. I have always had heavy periods with ALOT of pain and it just stops me in my tracks for however long it descides to go.. I have had cysts (spelling) that have all either gone away or burst. I have been on all kinds of birth control.. all making me sick to my stomach. In the last 3 years my periods have been unpredictable... more than usual. These last two monthes have been horrible... heavy bleeding HUGE clots to the point where I would have to sit on the toilet and it would just keep coming out... I dont sleep cause I know I will have to get up and change. I cant do anything but sit and wait for that gush and run to change... I was laid off of work last year and havent found work. I also in like a matter of 2 months put on some weight around my waist. I am VERY active I exercise every day I eat healthy. I feel swollen??? puffy?? and I can gain another 7lbs just in pre period hell... Can someone please help me?? I cant stop living my life anymore. OH and there are hot flashes and cold flashes.. for 4 years now.

Anne