irregular menstrual cycles

[needadvice73]

Should I be concerned?
My menstrual cycles are becoming more and more erratic.
Current cycle is 5+ weeks and still waiting, previous cycle 5 weeks, one before that 9 weeks.

History
My periods started at around age 14 and my cycles were always between 4 to 6 weeks.

Over the years I went on and off the pill.  I had a lot of difficulty finding one that I didn't get break through bleeding and that wasn't high does - 50mg.

After first child at 21 went back to roughly 5 week cycle, even with stress of having baby die in labor.
At 22 had cin3 and had laser surgery to remove. I have HPV.
At 28 had polyps removed.
At 29 went off the pill again and cycles 4 weeks apart and then 8.
At 30 had second 2nd child
after finishing breast feeding cycles are again 8 weeks.
At 32 had 3rd child.
stopped breastfeeding to start on Effexor, cycles were 5 weeks then 3 weeks.  Hair loss and doctor prescibed the pill to regulate cycles.  Periods started after only 18 to 20 days and would last up to 10 to 12 days.  Tried two different pills.
Went off all meds and cycles are now jumping around.  5 weeks, then 9 weeks.

Could this be ovarian cancer?
My aunt was diagnosed last year.

[needadvice73]

My husband doesn't want to move and we live in an expensive area of southern california.  He grew up here so he doesn't want to move.  We live in a townhouse and don't have any other debt except our house, but that is a big loan.  I could stay home and we could live off the equity line for quite a long time but I just don't think that is the right thing to do financially.  My current job won't allow part time but that is what I am aiming for long term.  Definately going to push for that next summer before our oldest goes off to kindergarten.  I am only 10 mins from work and have a flexible schedule which really helps.  He also caved about 9 months ago and I got a cleaner which helps a lot.  I am hoping next year or the year after I can just work school hours.  I wanted to move but I have decided not to invest anymore energy into it, as I know he won't change his mind.  We are looking for a cheaper house, eg bargain with the current market, but we would need to sell our place first so we will have to wait and see. Once the kids both are in school our childcare costs will reduce significantly which will reduce the financial pressure further.

Going to do some research tomorrow for a new gyno tomorrow.

Thanks for the ear.  It is nice to know that I am not the only one with doctor's office issues.  I hope you start getting some answers also.  I had stomach pain for 10 years before I got diagnosed with IBS and it was so frustrating to not know, as I started to think they didn't believe me.  It flares up every now and again but now that I understand it, I can cope with it.

Keep me posted.

Thanks

Rebecca.

[hatgal]

I agree your cycles are not normal and I couldn't even begin to tell you what could be causing it.  I can just offer my experiences and support to you.

I've been to three different gyos in the past year and this coming week am going back to my original gyno.  He was a wonderful doctor but was in a practice with four other doctors and I never knew if I'd see him.  Plus the last time I went to see them I waited for 2 hours (after making the appointment three months in advance) so I got up, left, and never went back.

I then moved further south in my area and, 10 years later, I have re-found this doctor in another practice (a women's practice) very close to my new home.  And I can request him and he can be my permanent doctor.  I am very excited about this.  He did my cone biopsy several years ago for Stage III dysplasia without incident and also delivered my middle child via c-section.  A very caring, compassionate doctor.  He is not an oncologist but does specialize in women's disease and surgeries.  In addition, he has two oncologists on staff at his new location.

So there ya go.  I'd look for a new doctor if I were you also.  Most of my experiences have been with the nurse/receptionist and I hate that.  In fact I had a neck disc replacement in June of this year to the tune of about $45,000 all said and done and I can't even talk with my neurosurgeon unless I call him after hours and he is on call.  Bullsh... if you ask me!

Also, the effexor made my symptoms one thousand times worse - I had very serious thoughts of suicide (something I NEVER had before), exhaustion, and extreme irritability.  Thank God I realized it was the meds and got off of them; I'm much better being back on Zoloft.

My heart goes out to you and I hope  you find some balance very soon.  My husband and I gave up alot (our house we built, etc.) so that I could be home with the three kids for now.  That in itself is putting more balance into my life.  It was just a little hard at first convincing my husband that I am not wonder woman and I cannot do it all (and don't want to) for the benefit of having a better house, car, travel, etc.  We're finally on the same page with that!

Take care of yourself and post whenever you like - I'll listen and share!  Elizabeth

[needadvice73]

I was on the Effexor for about a year.  It made me worse than I was before.  I wasn't on it for depression, just really bad moods that were really related to extreme sleep deprivation. I have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and the effexor made it even worse.  I was more exhausted the whole time I was on it.

The sleep deprivation was because my second child would wake up during the night up to 10 times a night until he was 18 months old.  He also slept only 6 to 8 hours a day in total from the day he came home from the hospital.  He had colic that whole time and we now know he also had reflux and still does.  I went back to work full time when he was 10 months old and his sister followed when he was 20 months old.   She was a good sleeper until 4 months and then I had both of them up every night and I was working 25 hours a week.  That was when I went on the effexor because the doctor said it could help.

I have since found out from other family members that we don't seem to handle anti-depressants very well.  My brother couldn't sleep at night and got rashes and my grandfathers whole face went black like a bruise..... Staying away from them unless I have to....

As for my cycles, 5 weeks I completely understand but 8 and 9 weeks has only started since I was 29, up until then I was never longer than 6 weeks, even when I only weighed 100 pounds.

I decided last night that I am going to find a new Gyno as I can't get past my current doctors receptionist to get an appointment.  The last time I called to say it had been 9 weeks she told me I must be pregnant, even after I told her my husband had a vasectomy, and refused to give me an appointment until I did 2 pregnancy tests.  Of course by the time I did that I had my period....

I do also want to discuss my aunts ovarian cancer but all I know is that her ovary was as big as an orange when they removed it.  My grandmother is relaying information to me and she doesn't really know/understand anything more than that.  Family relationships are strained at the moment because my mother and aunt's are all waiting for their parents to die and collect the inheritance... I will have to see if I can find some way to get the details.

Thank you for taking the time to write.

Rebecca

[hatgal]

Everyone is very different in their cycles and these erratic cycles are just probaby your norm as they have been that way since you began at 14.  You had three children (and I am extremely sorry for your loss of your first one) so apparently your organs are working fine.  Conception is a very delicate and precise occurrance and you pulled it off even with your cycles being as they are.  That is the only advice I can offer on that subject (I have three of my own and know alot about having children).

Since your aunt has OVCA, I believe (and others may chime in with me here) you should be monitored as they say it can play a very genetic role, but not always.  I would talk with your doctor about that in detail.  And, that is all the adivce I can offier on that.  I would consider others on this forum who have this horrible disease or others that are here for support of a loved one who has it to be the true experts on OVCA.

However, I consider myself somewhat of an expert (and I use that term loosely of myself) on anti-depressant medication.  Were you on something before Effexor or did the doctors start you on that for whatever reason (anxiety, panic disorder, depression, etc).  I was on Zoloft and Wellbutrin for years.  (Wellbutrin to counteract the sexual side effects of the Zoloft.)  Due to the lack of sexual desire from the Zoloft (and the Wellbutrin was not counteracting it very well), I decided to try something else and the doc prescribed Effexor; he said it was sure to work!  I cannot tell you enough how nuts I went and did actually begin to lose my hair as well as my marbles.  However, AND THIS IS A BIG HOWEVER, many people that I have talked to and researched have great success with Effexor.  I gave it 8 weeks and switched back to Zoloft (am dealing with the sexual side effects again, but it's better than the alternative of Effexor for me).  So that may be something for you to look into and consider.  Sometimes it takes a while to find the right medication that will work for you.  What stinks is that you have to give these medications the full 6-8 weeks to see their final and full effect.

Take care of youself!  My very best to you....... Elizabeth