Over the last five or so months I have been experiencing shorter cycles than in the past. I am 39. They seem to come every three weeks now. They start off so slow and take about five days to get a full period. I am really worried as I've had indegestion off and on for a while now too. When I google it everything points to ovarian cancer. I mentioned the shorter cycles to my obgyn and she seemed less than concerned. But I didn't Mention the stomach issues. I've recently had blood work done where my thyroid was checked. I came off the pill about 11 months ago.
Has anyone had this? I'll mention it to my dr again of course.
Welcome to perimenopause. And stay off the internet looking for a diagnosis- it will drive you mad. :)
I am thinking that it could be menopause approaching.
Late 30's is not too young for peri-menopause.
Gradually over a long period (mine lasted 15 years) you will have less predictability.
For me I was sure what it was once I had my first hot flash (Estroven helped me manage those).
I'd go normal, normal, short, normal normal, long, normal, short, normal, normal, normal, skip, normal, normal, etc.
Indigestion can be reflux and isn't necessarily related - but sure, you can mention it at your doctors appointments.
Since it alarms you, stop Googling symptoms/diseases.
Nothing you mention so far would have me leaping to any sort of cancer diagnosis conclusion.
Why do you still worry? Do you not trust your doctor? He knows a whole lot more than the Internet. He knows what to expect for diagnosing anything. Cancer is a complex condition with which your doctor has experience. He knows what to look for that would indicate the possibility of cancer. The internet does not know you or your body.
Apparently you haven't looked up the symptoms of peri-menopause. I suggest that they are similar to those you find for cancer. Geez! We have a very complicated body in which one organ influences another. There is no way the written word can address the complexity of illness and our bodies.
I suggest you're having stomach issues because of the stress your anxiety is putting on your body. I would talk with my doctor about stress management. You can change the way you feel so you'll have less stress. You may need medication because anxiety and depression changes our brain chemistry just as it wears down our body.
I'm the opposite (2-3 very short periods a year), and my OB/GYN said your situation is much more common.
When did we get to the point in our lives when we use the word menopause? Some days I still feel like a kid!
at 39, you could and probably are now experiencing perimenopause... a shorter cycle is definitely one of the signs (albeit not the only one)
additionally, it's not uncommon to start out light and then eventually get a full on period, especially in the first stages of PM. As for the indigestion,
there is an interesting article I read on this site that suggests fluctuating hormones may result in things such as gas and bloating, it's worth a read
http://menopausemission.com/menopause-affects-digestive-h...
also, Dr, Vliet, who wrote/writes a lot about women's health has many books out there and has done more work on the topic than most gynecologists. Dr. Vliet thinks that often, in the doctor's office, female patients are not taken serious or their symptoms... I found her books to be very interesting and helpful...
also, if you go online, there are MANY MANY boards and articles about PM.... but start with the link above and then go from there..
good luck
Same exact issue here at age 45.
I went to the gyn this past winter, had a physical and an endometrial biopsy. Everything came up fine, basically. My options are mirena (?), ablation or hysterectomy. Right now I'm doing nothing and will talk about it with her again next year.
I think even subtle hormone changes can affect digestion. I'm about to go the integrative route and see if that helps.
No matter what, get in with the gyn and get all your basics done. Check your iron and ferritin levels too. Abnormal uterine bleeding is aggravating at best.
ETA: Oops - just realized that you already saw your gyn. I'd go for a second opinion.
it's more likely to be peri-menopause. wonks you up for sure.
if you don't trust your gyn, get a second opinion.
google is NOT a good choice for a serious medical opinion.
khairete
S.
i think its worth a second mention to the dr and don't forget the digestive issues. if the dr does not test things and help you figure this out then its time for a new dr.
