Hello everyone. I will make this short but with as much detail as possiable. I have been struggling with the fact that my 10 yo had a period. That was last October. She has been very grown up about it and very descrete. Staring in late November we had a lot of change in our extended family and I noticed a big change in my daughter. Hair pulling is 1 and her periods became more frequent and heavier. She had a very heavy one 2 weeks ago today and I had to go get her from school again today. By the time I got her home she had blead to her mid thigh through her jeans and did have a tampon in. I got her in the shower as she removed her tampon 3 clots fell out. She ewwed a little and I assured her she was fine. She shower 20 min or so then turned the water off, I gave her a towel and by the time she stepped out of the shower she had blood to her ankles again. She had to get back in the shower. In the mean time we got her using heavy flow pads and SUPER tampons! She is leaking through the tampon and filling the pad in 1-1.5 hrs and clotting terriably. I made her an appointment with a GYN for tues but what on earth could this be? I have bad periods but not 9 days apart and an 8 day cycle and clotting. I just don't know if I should be getting her to a hospital, her Dr. office just told me to keep track of what is happening. Any advise would be greatly appreciated thank you. L.
Thank u everyone for your concerns and advice. We have an appointment at 1pm today and the bleeding has subsided a little this late morning. I will let you all know what we find out. Thank you again. I just couldn't wait til Tuesday.
Again thank you all for your responces. She is fine and her bleeding has subsided. She had an axam by a GYNO today and her uterus and everything are normal. No cysts or pollyps or anything. She just has over active hormones. She is not anemic surprisingly but is in good health so we are going to make some diet changes and get her through this difficult time for a little girl. Thank you all again!
First soaking pads more than 1 in 2 hrs needs medical attention at any age. Blood loss is blood loss. And next tampons should not be used on anyone under 17 let alone anyone not sexual active. Pads are more approiate. Please seek medical attention soon and dont think this is normal.
I would see about having her tested for clotting disorders. I battled this for years and years, on and off different birth controls that didn't help, only to find out when I got pregnant that I had two clotting disorders. (The birth control could have killed me.)
It could possibly cysts on her ovaries. I had the same thing happen to me when I first started. I had a period for 2 months straight with only a couple days here and there of no bleeding. not saying thats what the problem is but just a suggestion. The cysts will come and go. best to talk to the OB but if she seems to be in extreme pain (doubled over and can't walk) take her to the hospital.
Hi L.,
I reccommend having your daughter tested for different bleeding disorders includin Von Willebrands. Many women have this and are never diagnosed causing much suffering that could be avoided if treated properly. My son has hemophilia and I have learned so much through the bleeding disorders community and doctors. It is not very common so many general practitioners don't even think to test young girls with extremely heavy periods, which is a major indicator that something is going wrong in the clotting cascade in the body.
I hope you figure it out and things get better for your daughter. Don't let the doctors blow you off, insist that she have a hematological exam!
Take Care,
A. B.
L.; yes this can be hard to deal with, i used to get really heavy periods, and they lasted for quite a while, i would use super tampons along with a pad and had to change it every hour, when you dont have some in, it can be a mess especially in the shower, keep a tampon in, at all times, change it every hour wether needed or not, and use a pad with it, it may be unsettling to see the blood as you did, but thats kinda of what happens when you dont have a tampon, your daughter must be thankful she has a wonderful mom to help her through it, we read a study that girls are now starting periods earlier then the past generation, your daughter has had it now for 2 years, periods can change and stress can make them change too, its part of life, im glad though you got her to a dr. cause at one point in my life, my periods got really heavy, extra blood even when it was not my period, they found pollups in my uterus, and my lining was thicker than supposed to be, the pollups dr said would hand down or off the edge of the uterus inside, like stallagtights and stallagmites, this gives the blood more surface area to collect on, therefore is why i had heavier periods, i would continue like you are, be her freind, support her, have her change tampon and pad every hour if needed, she could have flow at beginning at period, and flow at the end of the days of her period, i would have heavy flow like the second day of my period, so keep track of it like dr said, and it can prove helpful to her, her flow could balance out, and it could just be a heavy flow-er, either way stay happy and continue to be the great mom you are, D. s
L.,
I hope that nothing serious is wrong, but this all sounds very alarming to me and if I was in your shoes, I would take my daughter to the emergency room right away! Please let us know what happens!
K.
L. ~
I would not take her to the ER unless she gets symptomatic (dizziness, fainting, short of breath)...that would mean she was VERY anemic. Young teens tend to have irregular periods, so the timing is pretty normal. I would take her to a gyn. The may want to start her on birth control pills just to regulate and they will also lighten the flow. Waiting until Tuesday should be fine...it will probably slow down, if not stop by then. You should probably explain to your daughter that the doctor may want to do a full exam...just so she's not totally shocked at the idea.
good luck
D. (OB nurse)
I'd take her to the ER of the hospital where the GYN is on staff. Sometimes there is a polyp or something causing bleeding. Probably nothing devastating but she can't just go on bleeding this heavily. Have her checked for anemia as well and give her lots of red meat, dark greens, raisins etc. for the next few weeks. I wonder if the doctor's office understood just how much she is bleeding. I'd get her into the ER but insist that only a GYN doctor do a pelvic on her - not just any ER doc or med student. Reassure her that you will get this resolved - and quickly.
Please take your daughter to the nearest emergence room NOW!!. This is not normal.
I remember reading that when a girl 1st gets her period they can be very unpredictable. You don't know exactly what to expect in the first months. Meaning how long or short the periods may be or if they will even come at the same time every month. However, I think 2 periods that close together is unusual.
When I was that age I had horrible periods with heavy bleeding just about every month. I remember being in bed with cramps (clotting the size of quarters) for at least two days a month and missing time in school. This went on until well into my twenties and I did not have fibroids. This was years ago so when my mom did take me to a dr. We would get the looks like "It's just a peroid" No one thought it was a big deal.
I would take her to an OBYGN and have them do a pelvic exam to check her out and maybe an ultrasound. Also, check to see if she has become anemic for losing so much blood.
I don't know if I have any advice, just personal experience. Within a year after I first started my period I had problems with long heavy periods. I was about 14 at the time of this (1st) incident. I had my period for 56 days straigth. It was very heavy and lots of clotting. I cannot remember if we went to any doctors before but almost fainted in school, I fell. I had lost so much blood. My mom had to take me to the hospital and I almost had to have a blood transfusion. I don't remember a diagnosis, but they put me on birth control to regulate my periods. A couple years later, still in high school, the same thing happened. 47 days straight. This time they found ovarian cysts and I found out 2 years later that I had endometriosis. My only advice is, I don't think it's normal and make sure you keep track of everything and go to the doctor as planned. As long as she feels okay (not dizzy or lightheaded) I think waiting until Tuesday will be fine. Good luck!
You need to call a gyno. Her pediatrician (man or woman?) is crazy to think that is normal and you should just keep track of it. Call your ob/gyn to see what is going on.
I wouldnt wait till tuesday....that is really weird. It is like a hemorage or something (not to scare you) I would get her in right away. Did you talk to your actual DR or jst the receptionist??? If not talk to your Dr first hand she/he will know what is best.
YEs and I agree with Kim....if she is bleeding that much and clotting no tampons...just pads. Just like after a baby you cant wear tampons becuz of clotting. And let her stay home from school. The poor thing.
I went through puberty very early and started getting my periods when I was 8 years old. I know that heavy periods that young seems alarming, but don't panic! Early puberty is genetic in our family, and there are many things they can do to treat the symptoms now. It is a hormone imbalance, and talk to the doctor. Your doctor should probably refer you to a specialist then. I can totally relate with your daughter. Get in to see your doctor soon, but I don't think it is needed to go into the emergency room. Being supportive, compassionate, and taking her to the doctor is the best thing to do right now. :)
I have had 2 daughters that are now ages 32 and 29 and they both had their periods early and had heavy flows but nothing like that.i am sorry but i would get you daughter to the emergency room asap!! I would ingore my doctor and take her in. Good luck to you,i hope everything turns out ok.............B. w
L.,
She could possibly have fibroid tumors, or a list of different things going on. I highly siggest you get her to an OB/GYN asap. She may need her hormone levels checked too. This is not something to just watch for awhile.
I had a similar problem but not at that young of an age. One thing to have them check if they don't bring it up on their on is her Thyroid levels. Having a Hypothyroid can cause irregular menstral cycles. Just as her mom stand firm and push to have them figureout what is causing this if the first dr. doesn't seem to worried then get a second opinion it took me months to find a Dr. that ran lots of tests and found out what was going on with me. Good luck!
Hello L.,
Keep a small journal so the gyn can get the complete picture, because usually we forget to ask or bring up something that may have happened. I do know when one starts they aren't regular but your daughters does sound very irregular. Let her stay home on Monday and see what the gyn says on Tuesday. Stress could be part of it to. You are definitely doing the right thing.
Hope everything goes good and you get answers.
L.
This is not normal...take her to the doctor immediately!
I would definitely take her to an ob/gyn. There are those that specialize in adolescent medicine. I don't know names that i would definitely recommend. I do know of an office in Brighton, but I haven't had my first appt yet, so I cannot recommend them, only tell you that some of their doctors in their office have adolescent medicine listed in their bio.
I do know from experience that hormonal imbalances can cause these types of symptoms, including endometrial fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, severe cramping, and the list goes on.
The office is: Associates in Gynecology and Obstetrics ###-###-####.
As I said before, I really can't "recommend" them since I haven't been to them myself yet. It is just another resource. Maybe you could do a search for a specialist in this field.
Did your pediatrician recommened you taking her to the Gyno? My gyno said it's not necessary for people to start seeing them until they are older (or sexually active). I just ask my ped. questions.
My daughter also started her period at age 11. Unfortunatly she is having VERY bad cramps (I used to have AWFUL ones). I told her that next time she starts feeling pain (even just a little bit) to make sure she takes medicine..to help with it..anyway, I am getting off track here. I would just contact her doctor to see what they say about the heavy flow. Some females just have heavier flows then others. Regarding the hair pulling: could just be her way of letting out frustration. Her hormones are RAGING and we all know how us girls can get when we have PMS!! LOL
I hope everything works out for you and your daughter..keep us updated!! Oh..another thing..our doctor told us her periods won't be "regular' for up to a year. She could have one, one month..then not another for the next month..very irregular at first.
WOW can't they see you sooner at the dr. I would either go to a different one or call them for an earlier appt. She might have to double on pads and I wouldn't have her use tampons just double pads or us like depends for older woman just till the heavy ness is gone. Good luck I really can't wait to hear what it is it would scare me too I ma a mom of 4 and my oldest is hitting peuberty soon. I hope everything goes well I keep you in our prayers.
First; I understand how this time can be difficult. I started when I was 11 and had a teacher that didn't believe me. My cycles have always been very heavy and long. Midway through I normally stop for a couple of days the start back up again.
The biggest thing that I would suggest is that if you are this concerned then call the Dr. back. Tell them how you feel and ask to have a nurse call you back. Explain how concerned you are and let them know that you mean business. If you believe that your daughter needs to be seen sooner then be her advocate and push for it.
You know what is normal; she does not. There are so many reason's why she could be having these problems, some of which you should not mess with.
Remember you know her better than some Dr. Listen to your instinct.
I do hope that this helps.
