Why Am I Having 2 Week Periods?!

Updated on July 31, 2008
T.N. asks from Chicago, IL
23 answers

Hi everyone, you all have been so helpful in the past, i thought i'd try my luck again! I am 35 yrs old, and have 4 children, my youngest will be turning 2 in Aug. I have always had heavy periods, but this is crazy! Not only are my periods extremely heavy-i can go through a super tampon in an hour sometimes 1/2 hr for days straight- my periods are lasting two weeks and then some! Any ideas on what is going on with me- what are my options on stoping this- i am so tired and it is hard for me to go anywhere during this time because i am afraid that i will leak through to my clothes! Has anyone else gone through this?

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So What Happened?

I cannot stress enough how grateful i am to all the responses i have recieved!! I have to add that i have no cramping, luckily, as some of you do/have had-but when i have my period i can pass some pretty big blood clots. I also have to add that i have been putting off seeing the doc because i just figured it was something i had to deal with and also because my hubby just started a new job and we have lost our insurance until he has enough hours in before they pick him up-great timing-huh?! I would also like to add that i am not nor have i ever been on any type of birth control pills and was hoping to keep it that way if possible-not for the sake of having any more children ~ 4 ARE ENOUGH!!!-but for possible side affects- isn't it funny how you can take one thing for one problem but then that could cause several other problems in turn? Thanks again for the great advice and if you know of anyone that would be able to take me on and not charge an "arm and a child"- i'd love to know! God bless!

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S.E.

answers from Chicago on

I would get to the doctor ASAP. When did you have your last pap smear done? My sister had the same thing happen to her as seems to be happening to you. They found she had some growth and she ended up needing a hysterectomy. She got so bad every month that she became anemic and light headed at times. She is a little older than you but from what I understand this can happen at any age.
I do not mean to scare you and I pray that it is something totally different but it is better to be safe then sorry.

S.

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T.G.

answers from Chicago on

I have just started getting my period again. I have three kids, the youngest just turned 16 months. The first month I got my period back it was like I had just given birth, I couldn't even leave the house. So I waited for the next month and same thing, first two days are crazy heavy. So I finally went to the Ob-Gyn. and it turns out I have fibroids (uterine tumors) and ovarian cysts. I also have intense abdominal pain during ovulation and menstruation - oh, it's good to be a woman! The should cysts go away on their own and she is going to watch the fibroids. She really wants me to go on birth control pills, but I won't. So go to the doctor, get yourself checked out. That heavy of a period is not normal. Make sure they check your iron count too, you could become anemic. Maybe all you need is a D&C. My mom delivered seven children and I don't think she can count on two hands how many D&C's she has had! But she always said it helped.

1 mom found this helpful

B.K.

answers from Chicago on

How annoying, right??!! I feel your pain. I was there at about the same age (I'm now 45) and it turned out I had really bad endometreosis (no symptoms weirdly enough) AND fibroids. A whole bunch of them. There is thermal ablation (which is the burning out of the uterine lining) which can be helpful. A friend had that and pretty much her periods stopped or only lasted a day once in awhile. I wasn't so lucky I guess. My fibroids made it impossible for them to do that procedure on me, because my uterus was too misshapen. So I went the hysterectomy route four years ago. Best thing I ever did! (I still have my ovaries.) There were days when I would use a tampon AND a pad and change right before driving my daughter to school, and would barely make it home 45 minutes later without an accident. Not fun. Talk to your doctor soon and see what he/she thinks. You don't need to keep suffering like this.

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L.

answers from Chicago on

I did experience this once when I was younger. I experienced periods every two weeks for some time and then one night I felt extreme pain on one side of my stomach. My doctor determined it most likely had been a cyst that burst. I would contact your gyny. Tell them about how heavy your periods are too. They have options to help with that also.

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E.F.

answers from Chicago on

Well I know of two people who had this sort of symptom for two different reasons. One is my friend who had endometreosis which caused her to have heavy bleeding as you describe. She had a laser procedure done that zapped the inside of her uterus and she longer gets a period at all. I don't know what the ramifications are if you aren't done having children-my friend was done. Also my Mom had the same symptoms but hers were from fibriods in her uterus. I believe she was 40 and hers was very extreme and eventually had to have her uterus removed. I would definitely discuss it with your ob.

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M.H.

answers from Chicago on

Hi, T.. I have a similar "problem." My periods can last 10+ days and are heavy. The only way to alleviate it is to go on birth control. The one I like best is Loestrin 24 Fe. It's extremely healthy to have a period, so I don't agree that pills that give you a period every 3-4 months are good for you. My doctor's skeptical on those, too. Your uterus is self-cleaning, and that's how it does it. Loestrin 24 Fe is a lower dose pill. When I was taking it, my periods lasted no more than 6 days, but were usually just 4 days, and they're really light (I wouldn't have been able to use a tampon on the heaviest day). I had to stop taking it due to no job and insurance. I can't wait to go back on it! Until then, I'm just going to suffer the cramping and long periods I had left behind for a couple years! Good luck!

M.

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J.E.

answers from Chicago on

Yep I agree with everyone need to see the dr could be fibroids etc. I ahve endo and enver have problems with bleeding but go get it checked out and do nto make them put yo on birth control pills is right too unless you have tried everything.
good luck
J.

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B.D.

answers from Chicago on

Dear T.,

I am a little bit younger and had the same problem. My doctor ended up checking my hormon level and found it was way out of wack. She put me back on birth control pills and now it is so much better. I was getting my period every two weeks and then they would last for two weeks. They would be so heavy and I would cramp so bad. I had my tubes tied so I didn't think that I needed birth control pills. i would definetly talk to your doctor. Just to let you know we did have to try a couple of different pills to find the right strength for me. But now I am so much happier. Good luck.
B.

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A.S.

answers from Peoria on

Hi T.,

I go through this, too. I have a condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Check it out with your OB/GYN as a possibility. Sometimes we can't get periods to stop without drugs, sometimes they just won't start at all. I am on a drug called Glucophage, which is generally for diabetes, and it seems to help things. I would definitely get checked out before you start guessing as to what it is, though. Sometimes going on the birth control pill will help, but if you're 35 they probably won't want you to do that. Good luck - they'll figure it out. You're not as uncommon as you think.

A.

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L.M.

answers from Chicago on

Make an appt w/your ob/gyne asap. Don't keep suffering like this. One of my friends had the ablation and it helped her -not right away, but it helped. If you see your ob/gyne and are not happy with their diagnosis, my doc specializes in problems such as this. She did another friends hysterectomy and she was up and around in no time and didn't feel like she was hit by a truck like so many women-she thinks it's because of this new pain med technology Dr Yockey does. She is out of Alexian Brothers in Elk Grove, Her office is in their new office building attched to the hospital. She uses traditional and Alternative methods of treating women's issues. Her name is Dr. Ranae Yockey and practice is Advanced Women's Care center. Their website is: http://www.advancedwomenscarecenter.com/
I highly recommend her. This is from their site:

Minimally Invasive Surgical Options

For those women that suffer from heavy bleeding,
loss of urine or pelvic pain, surgery is sometimes
necessary. Dr Yockey prefers to use minimally
invasive therapies (NovaSure® Endometrial
Ablation, Ace Harmonic Scalpel by Ethicon).
“Our goal is to offer patients the best surgical
outcome through the least invasive procedure,
thus shortening recovery time and returning to
normal daily activities,” says Dr Yockey. Patients
that do require major surgery are offered an
innovative pain management device (the On-Q
Pump) that helps alleviate the need for medication
and shortens hospital stay.Dr. Yockey, her
certified-nurse midwives, nurse practitioners,
physical therapist and staff are dedicated to
unparalleled female healthcare.

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K.D.

answers from Chicago on

I had a similar situation at around the same age. I am now in my early 40s. I used tampons plus maxi pads because I was so afraid of leakage. I was always tired. I talked to gynecologist and we decided on the ablation procedure. I've haven't had a period since except for minor spotting. I still get the symptoms of a period, but I am so relieved. Good Luck.

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R.R.

answers from Peoria on

Make an appt. to see your Dr ASAP!! Nobody is normal if they are going thru a heavy pad or tampon in under an hr, that's just too much! You certainly need to talk to your Dr and get something done. I would also put myself on an iron pill, if you are having that much bleeding your iron level has got to be awful low. GOOD LUCK!!!!

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L.M.

answers from Chicago on

Hello T.,

My best friend had this problem for a long time. She was experiencing the same symptoms you are having. She was soooo tired all the time. Due to the constant blood flow she became anemic. Don't suffer, Call your doctor asap. There are options to cure your problem. I suppose everyone is different, so your doctor will be able to tell you what will work best for you. Some of the treatments my friend went through included hormone therapy (bc pills), a few d&cs, iron suppliments and alot of patience! She finally found a doctor that performed a procedure that involved cautorizing her uteris. This was the magic cure for her, but she understands that they needed to try the least invasive things first.

Good Luck!

Lor

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M.A.

answers from Peoria on

Go see you GYN!!! Don't put it off. This could be nothing but it could be something serious. Take it from someone who has gone through the mysterious bleeding--mine turned out to be cancer. M.

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L.J.

answers from Chicago on

I too was having two perids a month - although it wasnt as heavy as yours sounds to be -
GO TO THE DR! I went to mine and I had a cyst (easily corrected and I had been switching around birth control pills.
Praying for you.

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K.L.

answers from Peoria on

Hi T.,

I went through this just last year. I had a period for almost a year. When it was time for my regular period I would bleed through a super tampon and an overnight pad together within 1 to 2 hours that is how heavy my periods were. I tried a D & C hoping that would help but it did nothing for me, I still had my very long period. I ended up having endometreosis and fibroids. I had to have a total/complete historectomy. My endomitrios was so bad that he had a very diffucult time finding my ovaries and it had attached to my bladder, blowels and kidneys.

I was never aneimic because I took a vitamin from Melaleuca. It will absorb at the cellular level because it has fructose compounding in it and it is patented. My ob-gyn was quite amazed because of all the blood I lost I never became aneimic.

I ended up having to have the hysterectomy because I was hemoraging.

I agree to see your Dr ASAP... Do not put it off.

Good Luck,
K. L.

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P.P.

answers from Chicago on

Hi T.,
I had this problem in my late 30's. I was haviang 2 periods a month like you. heavy heavy heavy bleeding. I had three children in my 20's..

First rule out any sort of fibroid tumor or endometriosous.. sp..and make sure you aren't anemic with all of the bleeding. After all of my heavy periods I wasn't but I keep getting it checked. My first 2 days are still heavy.. (I'm 46) but my friends say theirs is too.

I had an internal ultrasound to check these things out for possible fibroids and so forth. I didn't end up having those problems. Many OB's want to throw you on birth control pills to control your periods. My old practice did that and it made my particular situation WORSE.. initially the first month or two it was lighter and then it came back like nuts.
I highly recommend researching natural progesterone cream. I used that in my late 30's and I have used it off and on in my 40's. You probably are suffering from low progesterone and not sluffing off your uterine lining properly due to this. there are books at the library and at the book store to educate yourself. I finally did and I'm glad I did. It saved my life, truly. Authors to consider.. Dr. john Lee.. and Dr. Christiane Northrup has excellent women's health books and she has been on PBS and Oprah and is widely known. I have read all of her books and Dr. Lee's on natural progestrone cream
good luck.. go natural. Take a good multivitamin and progestrone cream. Don't expect your OB to support the cream. They can't write a prescription for it. IF you want more info on where to buy it you can email me. It is widely available.

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S.B.

answers from Chicago on

Did you ever go off of the pill? Did you notice this is when it started happening? This happened to me and from beginning of the bleeding till the end, it would last 17 days till I got pregnant with Erik who is now 5. I started bleeding while pregnant with him and just a little and we checked everything out and the levels were going up so that was good news. It took us 8 mths to get pregnant with him. We also have two girls. Anyhow, then I started bleeding really bad and was so scared and my midwife talked to me and prepared me just in case I was miscarrying. I went in and was checked and my levels were going up at rapid speed. So, I bled like a period for up to my 4th month and then it stopped and after I had him, I bled like normal but breastfed so did not have it for a while and then got it again when he was 4 mths but it was back to normal. I have always had heavy ones too, but nothing like this. Then, I stopped nursing at 14 mths and guess what? The periods started to be 17 days again. And, the first 4 were like spotting and then the rest was really heavy like you said till about the last day. It sucked. I still bleed really heavily now, but now, I spot for about 4 days and then I have a full heavy period for 5 days, so that is better then it was but still I dont like it. I am also 35.
S. bailey CLD
Aurora
www.tendermomentsdoula.com

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S.D.

answers from Chicago on

Have you been to a Dr. or a chiropractor and had a blood work up done to find out if you are anemic? I too had very heavy 2 week long periods. You need to get a work up. Hormones are another thing. If you can find someone to help you naturally, that would be best. Find a good chiropractor, they know so much more than you can imagine. We deal with hot flashes, cramps, heavy periods all the time at our chiropractors office. I was put on a product called Total Female and Estro-Balance. Worked like a charm. S.

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R.B.

answers from Chicago on

Hi T.,
Sorry you are having this problem, especially with small children. Its hard to get thru the days. I had this and it ended up being endemetriosis. You need to visit your gyno and get that checked out cause it doesnt get any better! I was 33 yrs old and was bleeding all the time before I went to the doctor, my weight went down to 93 pounds and I was light headed and fainted a couple of times. Not good when you have little kids. So dont wait like I did. Get it checked out ASAP

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D.G.

answers from Decatur on

Yes I have been through it. after having a biopsy to make sure no cervical cancer. We tried hormone shots to try to get the bleeding stopped, it did not work and got worse. I ended up having endometrial ablasion done and it changed my life. No more babies but no more periods either but I still have all of my organs so i have not went into menopause. I feel very blessed that my great ob/gyn look out after me so well. Good luck!

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D.F.

answers from Chicago on

I went through the same thing @ 51..it was the beginning of menopause. It lasted for 2 years. When I went to work I took a box of super- plus tampons and a bag of super pads. It was insane.I was in the bathroom every 15 to 30 minutes all day. It also happened to several friends of mine. After 2 yrs it was done. However you could also have fibroids. My sister had them and they can cause excessive bleeding. You will need to see your dr. Some people have fibroids removed.Some people just wait till menopause because when the blood supply to them slows up..they will just shrink. I hope this helps.

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B.P.

answers from Chicago on

I had a very similar situation and last year had an endometrial eblation and it has been the best thing ever!!!! I hardly have a period any more. You have to be done having children which I was but it was minimally invasive and I was up and going within a few days. There is life beyond the periods! Talk with your doctors because there are options to dealing with this and don't let them tell you it's something that we just have to deal with. Good luck!

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