Irregular periods

[cambonesegirl]

So I know this is probably not just happening to me. But I have crazy irregular periods. At one point I was bleeding everyday for a whole month! Sometimes super heavy, sometimes light. Of course I saw a gyno because my blood count dropped. So now my periods are scheduled with pills I'm taking, they were working for a while but now I seem to also be getting periods when they're not scheduled....uggg. They suggested an IUD but since I never had a baby they didn't want to do it, then they did and it didn't work out to well, so I wanted to know for all the ladies out there that have had a similar issue what's working for you?

[misschell78]

  have u and the gyno talked about paramenopause?  and when u are bleeding heavy stay on top of ur hct and hmg.  they can drop quickly.  it may be just part of ur disease process. stay in touch with the docs and dont let them blow u off


peace and love









EDITD: Fixed smiley tag error-kitkatz,moderator

[KICKSTART]

Mine stopped altogether about 12 months ago 

[MyssAnne]

I use the patch JUST for that reason. I was just miserable with heavy periods, erratic periods, and long periods, it just skipped from one to the other every month. Now that I'm on the patch, I know when I'll get my period, and I know that as soon as I put the patch back on, the period will STOP. It's not as
heavy, either, now.  I would not recommend the IUD. I would recommend the patch if you can have it.

[Romona]

The kidneys do regulate a lot of the hormones. I have 4 kids and had a tubal 7 years ago, so they did an edometrial ablasion. It is wonderful. But you can't have children after it. Since you are still young that wouldn't work for you.
I hope you find relief soon. If you are going through feminine hygiene products very quickly go to the ER to prevent too much blood loss. Kidney patients are usually anemic to begin with. Good Lucjk to you!

[mariannas]

I was on oral contraceptives for about 3 years before last March when I stopped taking them.  Between the hormones in the birth control and the wacky hormone issues I was having with the kidney disease I just decided to stop what I could and see if there was a difference.  Honestly, I'm not sure if there has been a difference, but I have not had my period once since I stopped.  I cant tell if it's because I've lost so much weight (I used to hover around 105 and now weigh about 86) because my appetite has become so poor or if something about the kidney disease is stopping it.  Hmmmmm...maybe it's something I should bring up with my doctor now that I think about it! 

[Romona]

Your weight may have something to do with it. Many female atheletes that are underweight miss periods.
Ain't it great to be a girl! We worry if we have periods and worry when we don't!

[cambonesegirl]

Ain't it great to be a girl! We worry if we have periods and worry when we don't!

Hehe.... yeah, we already have enough problems dealing with dialysis. 

Mine stopped altogether about 12 months ago 

With no pills or anything? I know that's not normal and must be nice but is that okay that your body is not having a period all the sudden for 12 months?

If you are going through feminine hygiene products very quickly go to the ER to prevent too much blood loss.

Yeah, one time I was SOOO scared I did. I was going through a super plus tampon in less then ten minutes! And when I went to the ER they kept me in the waiting room for over 15 hours! Bleeding!

[angela515]

Mine stopped altogether about 12 months ago 

With no pills or anything? I know that's not normal and must be nice but is that okay that your body is not having a period all the sudden for 12 months?

It is normal for anyone with ESRD, as ESRD patients can go from a normal period to none or low flow, high flow, whatever... you never know, and it is all considered normal for a ESRD patient.

[jbeany]

I only had those problems when my period happened on dialysis days - uggh, what a mess.  The heparin was the culprit for me.  I couldn't stop taking the heparin, so I ended up with a Mirena IUD.    Someone else on here had one and said it worked well for them, so I checked with all my docs and they said it wouldn't interfere with any of the meds I'm on, including the insulin, so I tried it.  It's worked really well, and my periods get lighter every time.  They are supposed to go away completely after about a year.

One of the myths they like to tell female dialysis patients is that your period will stop as soon as you start dialysis.  It's true for some of us, but for others, it just makes it worse.

cambonesegirl, you can request a lower dose of heparin on the days that you are bleeding heavily when you go to dialysis.  It won't solve all the problems, but it will help a little!

[Deanne]

I'm not ESRD yet, but my gyn put me on progesterone a few years ago to stop my periods. It's been about 4 years since I've had a period and I feel much healthier. The only time I ever seemed to catch a virus before when when I had my period. No period = rarely a virus! I used to be run-down and sick every month and miss multiple days of work because of my period. I still feel run-down because of my kidneys, but I'm still able to function.

[Jill D.]

The kidneys do regulate a lot of the hormones. I have 4 kids and had a tubal 7 years ago, so they did an edometrial ablasion. It is wonderful. But you can't have children after it. Since you are still young that wouldn't work for you.
I hope you find relief soon. If you are going through feminine hygiene products very quickly go to the ER to prevent too much blood loss. Kidney patients are usually anemic to begin with. Good Lucjk to you!

I had a tubal and an ablation 7 years ago too! The ablation definitely helped lighten things up for awhile, but as my kidney function decreased, I only had a period about 2 or 3 times a year. When I started dialysis, they returned to normal. Since my transplant, they are very inconsistent as far as flow - I think I am premenopausal.

[rookiegirl]

The last time I went to see my GYN was 2 yrs. ago.  I know you are suppose to go yearly.  My Dr. gave me some pills to take for 10 days.  This cause me to have a period for 10 days and then that was it.  The following 3 months after that no period at all.  Then one month it lasted 1 day.  Other month it lasted 3 days.  Sometimes just spotting.  I haven't had a period in over 6-7 months now.  My neph told me this is mostly because of the ESRD.

I'm going to call my GYN to schedule another check-up, but I'm not sure what to tell him?  I don't really want to take more pills to make me regular.  I'm enjoying the fact I don't have a period.  Sorry, I don't miss my "monthly friend".

[Romona]

Talk to your gyno. Anemia comes with the territory of ESRD. Explain how you feel. Becoming regular again and the possibilty of heavy bleeding would be hard on you. After a thorough exam to make sure everything is ok you'll have one less thing to worry about. The no period thing may just need monitoring. Good Luck!

[TynyOne]

I know this is basically an old topic but I have not been on here in quite a while and I was just going through some of the topics I have missed.   Anywho, I too, have noticed a difference in my periods; however, first let me say that before I was diagnosed with ESRD, my periods were irregular and now that I look back they may have been that way because of ESRD and I did not know it.  Anyways, now that I am aware of having ESRD, my periods are still irregular and when I have one, I still (like before) do not bleed much BUT the difference I have noticed is the cramps are HORRIBLE!!!!!    I never before have had cramps that I can recall that literally made me double over and I seem to be soooooo tired and sleep like half a day.  I am not really going to try and change anything unless the cramps begin to happen during EVERY period, then I will take the issue up with a GYN.   Thanks for letting me put in my 

Tammy

[cambonesegirl]

So here's a new related question, since I have a transplant now, will my periods start being regular without being on meds?

[monrein]

I only had about one period a year while on dialysis for 5 years but got it back TWO DAYS after the transplant.  I would have preferred if it had waited a couple weeks but there it was.  So my guess is you'll get it back.  Having said that we're all so different who knows when it will.
Gail

[angela515]

Mine is still ireggular after transplant... but it has been that way since I was dx'd with Lupus.

[KT0930]

Mine has always been pretty much like clockwork every 4 weeks, whether I was on dialysis or had a functioning transplant. It lasted longer and was heavier the last two months (transplant 3 months ago), so hopefully that'll stabilize soon.

[paddbear0000]

So I know this is probably not just happening to me. But I have crazy irregular periods. At one point I was bleeding everyday for a whole month! Sometimes super heavy, sometimes light. Of course I saw a gyno because my blood count dropped. So now my periods are scheduled with pills I'm taking, they were working for a while but now I seem to also be getting periods when they're not scheduled....uggg. They suggested an IUD but since I never had a baby they didn't want to do it, then they did and it didn't work out to well, so I wanted to know for all the ladies out there that have had a similar issue what's working for you?

I was taking Seasonale since 2003, up until 8 months ago. Starting about 1 year before i stopped it, I was having this exact same problem. My gyn told me it was because of the combo of my 'advanced' diabetes and the estrogen in the pills. Now I'm wondering if it really did have something to do with my kidney failure? Now, I'm not on anything, and my period is wacked! At first, it would last less than 24 hours and barely be spotting, plus only every 3 months or so. Now, it's still really light, and erratic. My doc wants me to go on Mirena too, but I'm kind of nervous about it.

[kellyt]

Bringin this thread back...   Sorry!

I've been irregular for the last few months now.  I went a whoe 12 days this time before starting again.  I'm not on dialysis, so I'm guessing it's just the disease that is starting to cause this.   Does/Should your cycle return to normal after transplant?

[TynyWonder]

My periods have been irregular for a long time now!   This month I started REAL early & this time I have also bled heavily and then began to "spot" & now I am back to bleeding heavy again.    Stupid me keeps forgetting to tell them at dialysis to hold the heparin because that seems to count down the amount of days I bleed and also the heavy flow is cut down tremendously.    Has anyone else experienced these same things?

Sorry ladies, I just went back & read others posts and learned my answer to my questions.......... me, I spoke before I read this time.      So, disregard this post...................

[monrein]

Bringin this thread back...   Sorry!

I've been irregular for the last few months now.  I went a whoe 12 days this time before starting again.  I'm not on dialysis, so I'm guessing it's just the disease that is starting to cause this.   Does/Should your cycle return to normal after transplant?

I was on D for 5 years last time around and got one period a year (I was 26) but got my period back 2 days post-transplant.  I wish it had waited just a bit longer.

[TynyWonder]

Odd thing...............BEFORE I was on "D" I hardly ever had a period and now that I *am* on "D" I seem to have a freaking period every month!!!    I absolutely hate it!!!!   

[monrein]

On the other hand TW, it 's a messy sign that you're pretty healthy overall because as a basically non-essential service, the period is often missing in action if we're too sick.  I've had anorexic clients in the past who never got periods because they weren't well enough to maintain it.