I am 48 years old an still menstruating. I have always had rather light periods. A box of tampons lasted me quite a while. And not the super ones, the regular ones. I had panty liners but nothing bigger than that.
Lately my periods have been irregular. One would come at 21 days, the next at 28 days, then 32 days. A few times it was more painful than others and I bled a little more than usual, but nothing major. Then the fun began.
I had two periods, 21 days apart, two months in a row. They were light and were very easy. The next period came at 32 days and it was a flood. I was at work and had to go home. I was changing a regular tampon every 45 minutes. I was nauseated, had sevier cramps, and laid in bed moaning. I got up every 45 mintues all night long. Luckily this happened on a Friday so I didnt have to go to work the next day. I bled all over the bed. I didnt have any of the super absorbent things I needed because my periods had always been so easy. I was too sick to go out and buy anything. I got so concerned that I called the nurse through my insurance. She said if I am changing every 15 minutes that is cause to go to the emergency room. I never got that bad, never passed any clots. But the blood would come dripping out of me whenever I took my tampon out. The flooding stopped after two days and it left me weak and upset. This had never happened to me before.
I made an appointment with my doctor. She did a vaginal ultrasound and found a 8cm fibroid, cysts on my ovaries, and said my endometrial lining was 1.4cm!! I had an enlarged uterus. I told her I could not live with the heavy bleeding. She recommended ablation surgery but said anyone that receives the surgery must get a biopsy. So I got the biopsy (that is a new subject in itself) and waited for the results. I had to wait 10 days. The amout of cortizol my body produced during that agonizing wait was enough to increase my waist size by three inches!! I was terrified to say the least. I cried to my husband all the time because I was so scared.
I finally got my test results today and it was normal. When the nurse called with the results, I started shaking all over and couldnt speak. I called my husband and cried. All I can say to you gals is dont wait, go ahead and go to the doctor. The wait for test results is agonizing but talk about relief. No price can be put on peace of mind. And just because you are bleeding heavily does not mean there is something wrong.
Full Version: Endometrial Cancer Scare
So sorry you had such a bad scare but happy it turned out normal.....((((big hugs))))
Welcome fawn to PS.. Yes it is terrifying having to wait for results. Glad to hear all is well with you... 
Heavy bleeding is considered a "normal variant" of perimenopause in doctor speak. I have been having periods like that for several years now and biopsies are always normal. Lucky me!
QUOTE (orngkat06 @ Sep 10 2009, 10:55 AM) 
Heavy bleeding is considered a "normal variant" of perimenopause in doctor speak. I have been having periods like that for several years now and biopsies are always normal. Lucky me!
Im so happy for you...i know the stress and fear all of this causes...my prayers are with you and all of us who are going through this nightmare.
Lorraine
QUOTE (fawn001 @ Sep 9 2009, 09:01 PM)
I am 48 years old an still menstruating. I have always had rather light periods. A box of tampons lasted me quite a while. And not the super ones, the regular ones. I had panty liners but nothing bigger than that.
Lately my periods have been irregular. One would come at 21 days, the next at 28 days, then 32 days. A few times it was more painful than others and I bled a little more than usual, but nothing major. Then the fun began.
I had two periods, 21 days apart, two months in a row. They were light and were very easy. The next period came at 32 days and it was a flood. I was at work and had to go home. I was changing a regular tampon every 45 minutes. I was nauseated, had sevier cramps, and laid in bed moaning. I got up every 45 mintues all night long. Luckily this happened on a Friday so I didnt have to go to work the next day. I bled all over the bed. I didnt have any of the super absorbent things I needed because my periods had always been so easy. I was too sick to go out and buy anything. I got so concerned that I called the nurse through my insurance. She said if I am changing every 15 minutes that is cause to go to the emergency room. I never got that bad, never passed any clots. But the blood would come dripping out of me whenever I took my tampon out. The flooding stopped after two days and it left me weak and upset. This had never happened to me before.
I made an appointment with my doctor. She did a vaginal ultrasound and found a 8cm fibroid, cysts on my ovaries, and said my endometrial lining was 1.4cm!! I had an enlarged uterus. I told her I could not live with the heavy bleeding. She recommended ablation surgery but said anyone that receives the surgery must get a biopsy. So I got the biopsy (that is a new subject in itself) and waited for the results. I had to wait 10 days. The amout of cortizol my body produced during that agonizing wait was enough to increase my waist size by three inches!! I was terrified to say the least. I cried to my husband all the time because I was so scared.
I finally got my test results today and it was normal. When the nurse called with the results, I started shaking all over and couldnt speak. I called my husband and cried. All I can say to you gals is dont wait, go ahead and go to the doctor. The wait for test results is agonizing but talk about relief. No price can be put on peace of mind. And just because you are bleeding heavily does not mean there is something wrong.
Lately my periods have been irregular. One would come at 21 days, the next at 28 days, then 32 days. A few times it was more painful than others and I bled a little more than usual, but nothing major. Then the fun began.
I had two periods, 21 days apart, two months in a row. They were light and were very easy. The next period came at 32 days and it was a flood. I was at work and had to go home. I was changing a regular tampon every 45 minutes. I was nauseated, had sevier cramps, and laid in bed moaning. I got up every 45 mintues all night long. Luckily this happened on a Friday so I didnt have to go to work the next day. I bled all over the bed. I didnt have any of the super absorbent things I needed because my periods had always been so easy. I was too sick to go out and buy anything. I got so concerned that I called the nurse through my insurance. She said if I am changing every 15 minutes that is cause to go to the emergency room. I never got that bad, never passed any clots. But the blood would come dripping out of me whenever I took my tampon out. The flooding stopped after two days and it left me weak and upset. This had never happened to me before.
I made an appointment with my doctor. She did a vaginal ultrasound and found a 8cm fibroid, cysts on my ovaries, and said my endometrial lining was 1.4cm!! I had an enlarged uterus. I told her I could not live with the heavy bleeding. She recommended ablation surgery but said anyone that receives the surgery must get a biopsy. So I got the biopsy (that is a new subject in itself) and waited for the results. I had to wait 10 days. The amout of cortizol my body produced during that agonizing wait was enough to increase my waist size by three inches!! I was terrified to say the least. I cried to my husband all the time because I was so scared.
I finally got my test results today and it was normal. When the nurse called with the results, I started shaking all over and couldnt speak. I called my husband and cried. All I can say to you gals is dont wait, go ahead and go to the doctor. The wait for test results is agonizing but talk about relief. No price can be put on peace of mind. And just because you are bleeding heavily does not mean there is something wrong.
I am sorry for your scary experience, I had also at one point perios every 2 weeks, and went for ultrasound and the biopsy, but never heavy bleeding.
It all turned out just fine, and my period has been regular since then, but I agree with you, run to your doctor right away at any unusual or worrisome sings, don'g just chuck it all to perimenopause.
I been saying it all along, when in doubt, get checked.
The heavy bleeding and wacky perios, IMHO, caused by lack of progesterone. I hope your doctor suggested 3 months progesterone supplementation, to purge endometrium and stop the heavy bleeding.
I beleive that thick endometrial lining is worrisome when you no longer have periods, but it is prudent you got it checked. Everything and anything is possible at this stage of life.
Best of luck
I.
[/quote] Fawn
" just because you are bleeding heavily does not mean there is something wrong".
I am so glad you have posted on this and that you are oK. What you have said is so true!
I was unlucky-I did have endometrial cancer and I did not ever have excessive heavy bleeding as a symptom. I had irregular but pretty normal periods and one or two episodes of light spotting (also fairly normal in peri). In fact my main symptom was a clear and very heavy watery discharge which got progressively even heavier. Never once did I have any really heavy bleeding until the day of my endometrial biopsy which seemed to set it off.
I know there is no rule of thumb here but my view is that if there is heavy bleeding then the endometrial lining is clearing itself out-thus preventing a cancerous build up.
It is still best to get it checked out though and well done for facing it. I know the wait following the biopsy is agony but you must be sooo relieved.
janet c
" just because you are bleeding heavily does not mean there is something wrong".
I am so glad you have posted on this and that you are oK. What you have said is so true!
I was unlucky-I did have endometrial cancer and I did not ever have excessive heavy bleeding as a symptom. I had irregular but pretty normal periods and one or two episodes of light spotting (also fairly normal in peri). In fact my main symptom was a clear and very heavy watery discharge which got progressively even heavier. Never once did I have any really heavy bleeding until the day of my endometrial biopsy which seemed to set it off.
I know there is no rule of thumb here but my view is that if there is heavy bleeding then the endometrial lining is clearing itself out-thus preventing a cancerous build up.
It is still best to get it checked out though and well done for facing it. I know the wait following the biopsy is agony but you must be sooo relieved.
janet c
Fibroids and polyps can cause all of this heavy bleeding too.
Original poster here.
I got my next period after the flood and it was a normal period. I used about six tampons and three pads. No cramping, it was a breeze.
However, there was one thing I noticed. The blood seemed to be a dark burgundy color. Sort of like it was old but not that old. Then later on it changed to more like a red color and got much lighter and seemed to be watered down.
I remember reading one person saying they had a large amount of clear, watery discharge and had endometrial cancer. Well, I have had a lot of the clear, watery discharge too and my biopsy came back normal.
My period has been over for about a week now and I am starting to spot a little. If I hadnt had the biopsy I would be thinking the worst! But that just goes to show what I said in my original post, just because it is a symptom of endometrial cancer doesnt mean there is something wrong.
I got my next period after the flood and it was a normal period. I used about six tampons and three pads. No cramping, it was a breeze.
However, there was one thing I noticed. The blood seemed to be a dark burgundy color. Sort of like it was old but not that old. Then later on it changed to more like a red color and got much lighter and seemed to be watered down.
I remember reading one person saying they had a large amount of clear, watery discharge and had endometrial cancer. Well, I have had a lot of the clear, watery discharge too and my biopsy came back normal.
My period has been over for about a week now and I am starting to spot a little. If I hadnt had the biopsy I would be thinking the worst! But that just goes to show what I said in my original post, just because it is a symptom of endometrial cancer doesnt mean there is something wrong.
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