Please read: Desperate for HELP!

bhjmom · 10-08-2006, 12:28 AM

OK, let's start with a quick history on me:

I am 33 years old with 3 kids (1 adopted and 2 bio). Back in my 20's, I couldn't get preg, so I went thru infertility, laparoscopy, etc for 3 years. They never really uncovered a problem during the lap except to say I had "mild" PCOS. I sort of wrote it off and kept trying. He wanted me to take Met back then, but the liver stuff scared me and I continued trying. Finally we adopted in 2000 and a month later we were preg! I had gone on the Carb Addicts diet that was popular then and started doing yoga while waiting for the adoption to process. I was preg with no prob almost immediately.

I went on to have 2 bio kids. My whole life my period has been 6 days. Never shorter, never longer. Always "on time" too. However, I always had heavy/clotty periods the first 2-3 days and then light for the rest. In the last couple of years, I noticed my periods getting heavier and heavier and sometimes coming 23 days instead of 28 or so. I went to the gyn and tried one night of BCP and had a terrible heart reaction.

I found a great gyn MD who also prescribes bioidentical hormones. He put me on natural progesterone pills 100mg last Nov. It worked! I had NORMAL periods for once in my life! For about 3 months or so.... then, back to HEAVY again. He was puzzled and took blood tests. Nothing major, but upped it to 150mg. That was 2 months ago. Although it got LIGHTER (not totally, but better for me), it has gotten LONGER. Now I am on day 7 of this cycle and my period RESTARTED today!!

I was finished yesterday completely and today my cramps and bleeding returned. It was not enough to hardly bleed onto a pad all day, but everytime I wipe, bright red blood covers the toilet paper.

I called my doc today and he said up it to 200mg and come in for more bloodwork.

I should also mention that my regular doc (D.O.) put me on Met back in Nov too. I tried for awhile but stopped taking it because I really did not want to be on meds. However, I am rethinking that now. My insulin was never OVERLY high (8) but I have all other symtoms of Metabolic Syndrome and PCOS. I just can't seem to believe it.

I know this is a lot to digest, but has anyone ever had LONG periods? What did your doc say about it? Has Met helped regulate your sex hormones?

Any insight is SO appreciated!

Charity

belle84 · 10-08-2006, 01:10 PM

honey every person is different so i cant say BUT the pos and neg things of metfromin - the pos completly out weigh the neg!! xx i think iif it could help - u shud try it xx

AnnieC · 10-08-2006, 02:08 PM

I started getting periods right before I went into fifth grade. My periods were always long and extremely painful. They would last 10 days or more sometimes, and cramps were so bad they were completely debilitating. That's a lot for a kid to go through. I put up with it until 2000 when I was diagnosed with PCOS and put on birth control. Since then my cramps only last about two days and they aren't nearly as severe as they used to be. Also my periods last about 4 days now as opposed to 10. I can't say what the Metformin does for hormones. I currently take 1500 mg a day and haven't noticed a difference with hormones, but I'm on BCPs so I don't think I'd notice much of a difference anyway. Like Tinker said, everyone is different and I think it's definitely worth a try. Perhaps you could take another BCP with lower hormones? I'm on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo and haven't had any problems. Hope this helps.

jccjma · 10-09-2006, 02:05 AM

have you been checked for clotting factor problems. They do them with genetic testing. I have a friend with clotting factor V issues and the same thing happens to here.... just a thought? Hope you figure it out soon!!

Jashobeam · 10-10-2006, 09:43 PM

Mine got very heavy after DD was born and didn't get back to normal for about 2 years. Now I'm like I was in high school, pretty regular and not clotting. I have been on Met for over a year. It has helped a lot even though my IR is considered mild. I never used BCPs.

glowingpurpleaura · 10-13-2006, 02:03 PM

mine have always lasted about 2 weeks hope you find some answers soon