When Is a Period Too long...TMI

I second Jill. Sounds like PCOS ( I have it too). I was actually diagnosed before it had a name and they didn't know what to do for it except put me on Provera for 14 days a month.
LSS: Moved to TN, stranger that I got in a convo with said to se a doctor in the next town over. She was awesome. Metformin worked, for quite a while, then other hormones started going haywire. (now have diabetes and hypothyroidism- both can be brought on by PCOS)

Other symptoms of PCOS- not mentioned by Jill: dark stripe of skin across the back of your neck (looks like its dirty, but doesn't wash off), darkening of the armpits, under breasts, between legs, and some women get permanent marks where their bra straps or wires or waistband sit) This darkening is caused by insulin resistance. PCOS causes insulin resistance (body produces insulin but doesn't use it well/properly) Unchecked insulin resistance leads to diabetes.
Also your thyroid can cause period problems although usually it is constant extremely heavy flow (I was changing a pad and a super plus tampon every 30-45 minutes for 3 months) Not good for you. Very low iron.
I would look for someone who can tell you if it is PCOS wether a reg doc or a ob/gyn and ask for a T3 and T4 test for thyroid.
Let us know what happens!

If you're done having babies you could look into a uterine ablasion. I did it 2 years ago and it has improved everything about my period. I used to have long, super heavy cycles with cramps too, now I have a few days of spotting when I'm due for my period. The procedure is easy- they put you semi-under and it takes about 10 minutes. Good luck!

I was diagnosed with PCOS by a RE when I was getting worked up to see if I could be a surrogate. I've never been told how to manage it, but I have the exact same symptoms! I'm going to the gyno in two weeks to find out what can be done. I'll let you know what I find out!

I did not bleed that long, but my cycles were awful. On my heavy days if I didn't change my pad every hour I would bleed right through. I had heavy awful cramps, to where I was taking 2 - 800 ibuprofens every couple of hours. Believe it or not, my obgyn told me that was normal and I was getting older ( I was in my early 30's). Needless to say I walked out of his office and never looked back. Even I knew something was wrong and I'm no doctor. I changed doctors. I found out that I had endometriosis and 3 fibroid tumors. After laser surgery, there was a world of difference. Thank God! If you haven't already talk to your doctor.

Karen,

I can empathize with everything you described because I had "been there done that" type of scenario. However, a few years ago my ob-gyn performed an endometrial ablation on me. These are fairly simple procedures, many are done in the office. Mine was at hospital simply because she was also giving me a tubal ligation at same time. Anyway, they basically burn off your endometrial lining because yours is so thickened every month, that is why you are having such heavy periods. This was a God send for me. I would not even know I am having a period each month but I just wipe a few drops of blood. Some months I still have some cramping but it is very mild. A lot of women that have these procedures never have a period again. Having this done can cause infertility but since your husband has had a vasectomy and your done, you seem like a perfect candidate. Talk to your ob-gyn or find one that does this procedure. It is very common these days so there are several that perform it. Your insurance company should pay because of your issues each month. Best of luck to you!

Talk to your doctor. You may also have fibroid tumors.

My friend has this and her periods got so bad she was bleeding through a super + tampon and pad every 15 minutes. Her blood volume got so low the doctor said she could have died in her sleep.

Now that I scared the heck out of you .....
It could also be peri-menapause. I would have periods that would last 3 weeks. It's all about your body changing. ---- but get it checked out.

It honestly sounds like you have PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome). I have that, and my periods would go from 35 -60 days apart. I would have HORRIBLE periods when I had them. There was three different times in my life where my period lasted 15 days to 90....yes, 90. That was before I was diagnosed with PCOS. The b/c pill did keep me in check, but you can't take those if you are trying to get pregnant!

I started taking the b/c pill even after having my tubes tied to make life bearable. I got sick with a sinus infection and had break through bleeding while on the antibiotic.....and then it didn't stop. I was taking (per dr.'s orders) up to 4 pills a day to keep the bleeding at bay.

I ended up having a hysterectomy a few months ago. That obviously helped all of it!

Other symptoms of PCOS (not everyone has them): hair on the face, being overweight.....difficult time losing weight, abnormal periods, infertility, etc. Do a google. My first 3 doctors never diagnosed it, and I was seeing a specialist for infertility. My last dr. diagnosed it in seconds, put me on metformin (a diabetic pill) to regulate my sugars for my body to work properly to ovulate....and I have conceived 2 kids!

Best of luck. See your doctor and discuss your options. I wasn't a candidate for many other procedures leading up to a hysterectomy.....

If I had periods that lasted 2.5 weeks someone would have shot me by now I would be in such a constant state of bitchiness. Girl.... I feel some of your pain!!!!!!

My sister has PCOS, so I second the mama below. I was just cursed with periods that were about 9 days total.... about 4 or 5 would be "heavy" with a couple days ramp up and down on each side. And by *heavy* I wore a 'super plus' tampon, which I changed AT LEAST every hour PLUS a pad because sometimes on the heaviest days changing every 45 min wasn't enough.

I went on the pill and that fixed most of my issues. You could talk to your Dr about Norplant or the Depo shot.... do they still do either of those? My sister didn't like norplant, but LOVED the depo shot.

What about a partial hysterectomy (they can take out JUST the uterus.... leave the ovaries so it doesn't affect your hormones.... AND they can do it vaginally now which is less invasive, obviously, and doesn't have the c-section like recovery time of years past).

I am actually a candidate for that with MY periods.... and yours are worse than mine.

Good Luck.