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Heavy clotted period & severe cramps for 8 days, never pregnant
Hello, I've looked at Q&A's on this site (and others) and came across similar symptoms but different circumstances that rule out most possibilities. I know I should just see a doctor but I'm 22 without health insurance- long story but I've only been without since Jan. 1 (first time in my life), and of course NOW this all starts out of the blue.
I had slightly irregular periods as a teen my doctor had no concern over, and by 20 I had the standard 21 day cycle with 3-4 days of mild-moderate bleeding and usually no cramps. However my last period was in Nov. making my current one a month late. Last Saturday sharp cramps started and I couldn't go from sitting to standing b/c it felt like I had a knife in my pelvis. Spotting began Sat., severe cramps continued, (get ready for the gross-out...) When I pulled out the tampon I felt a build up left inside and used my index finger to draw out a ping-pong ball sized clot. After that my period was heavier, making me think the clot was obstructing some of the blood flow, and started dark red but by Sun night had lightened. Normally my periods last 3-4 days but I expected this one to be heavier due to lateness. The sharp cramps continues, if not increased, and I have a very high pain tolerance so I'm not whining about ordinary cramping women may normally experience. The pain and heavy bleeding has not let up after 7 days (I change my tampon every 4 hours- normally it will last me at least 8 if not the whole day when my cycle is ending). And when I pull the tampon out thick dark mucus follows. I've had mucus build-up every period but never 1wk+ of discharge.
I've never been pregnant or had any type of operation or trauma to my uterus or pelvic area. I'm not sexually active, not on birth control pills, patch, etc., and haven't had fluctuations in my diet, weight, exercise, or related health. I also don't show symptoms of UTI, VD, yeast infection, etc. (not that those would be related to the problem, but for all I know they could be).
My main concern right now is the pain, I've had to take a Vicodin from my mom just to fall asleep. Sometimes there's sharp contractions but otherwise my entire midsection pulsates and feels swollen and bruised. After pain I'm concerned about the amount of thick mucus buildup constantly discharged without sign of decreasing, as well as the continued bleeding itself.
I've had a bi-annual pap smear since I was 17, the last one being less than a year ago, without any concerns or notable change. My hope is that this is just a hard-core period that's making up for last month's absence- even so I hope this will be a rare occurrence that doesn't impact my ability for healthy pregnancy later in life.
Thanks in advance for any insight/personal experience you might share, anything is better than me just wallowing it out with my fingers crossed.
I had slightly irregular periods as a teen my doctor had no concern over, and by 20 I had the standard 21 day cycle with 3-4 days of mild-moderate bleeding and usually no cramps. However my last period was in Nov. making my current one a month late. Last Saturday sharp cramps started and I couldn't go from sitting to standing b/c it felt like I had a knife in my pelvis. Spotting began Sat., severe cramps continued, (get ready for the gross-out...) When I pulled out the tampon I felt a build up left inside and used my index finger to draw out a ping-pong ball sized clot. After that my period was heavier, making me think the clot was obstructing some of the blood flow, and started dark red but by Sun night had lightened. Normally my periods last 3-4 days but I expected this one to be heavier due to lateness. The sharp cramps continues, if not increased, and I have a very high pain tolerance so I'm not whining about ordinary cramping women may normally experience. The pain and heavy bleeding has not let up after 7 days (I change my tampon every 4 hours- normally it will last me at least 8 if not the whole day when my cycle is ending). And when I pull the tampon out thick dark mucus follows. I've had mucus build-up every period but never 1wk+ of discharge.
I've never been pregnant or had any type of operation or trauma to my uterus or pelvic area. I'm not sexually active, not on birth control pills, patch, etc., and haven't had fluctuations in my diet, weight, exercise, or related health. I also don't show symptoms of UTI, VD, yeast infection, etc. (not that those would be related to the problem, but for all I know they could be).
My main concern right now is the pain, I've had to take a Vicodin from my mom just to fall asleep. Sometimes there's sharp contractions but otherwise my entire midsection pulsates and feels swollen and bruised. After pain I'm concerned about the amount of thick mucus buildup constantly discharged without sign of decreasing, as well as the continued bleeding itself.
I've had a bi-annual pap smear since I was 17, the last one being less than a year ago, without any concerns or notable change. My hope is that this is just a hard-core period that's making up for last month's absence- even so I hope this will be a rare occurrence that doesn't impact my ability for healthy pregnancy later in life.
Thanks in advance for any insight/personal experience you might share, anything is better than me just wallowing it out with my fingers crossed.
Do you have a family planning center in your area? In many cases, they will conduct general women's services (not just pregnancy) at a reduced rate. The clotting you describe might be an indication of fibroids, polyps or cysts. If your heavy bleeding continues for another couple of weeks and you are feeling weak, I recommend taking an iron supplement, and then keep taking it for at least a month beyond the bleeding to enable your iron to replenish.
I hope that it's just making up for the missed period and that it stops soon.
I hope that it's just making up for the missed period and that it stops soon.
Honestly I think the heavy, ridiculously long period might be "normal." I know of several women who experienced a very horrible type of period after not having one for several months. Not pleasant obviously, but shouldn't be dangerous. It's more concerning the amount of pain you're in.
Is there any possibility that you're having a miscarriage? Have you had sex since November? But my mom once told me that her early (before 3 month) miscarriages were EXTREMELY painful and nauseating. And she's definitely not much of a whiner as far as pain goes. One of my friends has had a couple of miscarriages due to her medical reasons and she told me that all the hospital was wiling to do for her is give her vicodin. So even if there is a possibility, you would only have an idea of the cause -not any relief of the symptoms.
Do you have any family or personal history of ovarian cysts? Is it possible that could be causing the pain or does it feel more like stabbing/ spasming, central cramps?
Random question- Are your poos bad? If you are constipated that could cause horrible pains too. If you've been moving a little slow try drinking some prune juice. It's horrible stuff but it will get you moving like nothing else!
Lastly by biannual do you mean every other year? (I hate that word because it can mean either 2x a year or every 2 years, so I have to ask) If it's every 2 years- does that mean you have average risk for cervical cancer: aka no abnormal results, no family history of it, no family history of other cancers (ovarian, uterine, breast, etc.), non "risky" sexual behavior? Have you gotten the HPV vaccine? The reason I ask is because my sister was experiencing months of PAINFUL periods and painful sex before finding out she had cervical cancer. No need to freak out if you have any of the risk factors. It was several months of these bad periods before seeing an abnormal pap smear, and then 6 months later seeing it grow and deciding on the leep procedure (which leaves the uterus and most of the cervix intact). So it does take a while to grow and can still be removed without harming fertility.
If this keeps going on through next week and is unremittingly painful you will need to find a way to see a doctor. Perhaps your uni has a school nurse or doctor? I know mine gave discounted medicine, advice, and even counseling because the Uni helped to fund the cost for students.
Is there any possibility that you're having a miscarriage? Have you had sex since November? But my mom once told me that her early (before 3 month) miscarriages were EXTREMELY painful and nauseating. And she's definitely not much of a whiner as far as pain goes. One of my friends has had a couple of miscarriages due to her medical reasons and she told me that all the hospital was wiling to do for her is give her vicodin. So even if there is a possibility, you would only have an idea of the cause -not any relief of the symptoms.
Do you have any family or personal history of ovarian cysts? Is it possible that could be causing the pain or does it feel more like stabbing/ spasming, central cramps?
Random question- Are your poos bad? If you are constipated that could cause horrible pains too. If you've been moving a little slow try drinking some prune juice. It's horrible stuff but it will get you moving like nothing else!
Lastly by biannual do you mean every other year? (I hate that word because it can mean either 2x a year or every 2 years, so I have to ask) If it's every 2 years- does that mean you have average risk for cervical cancer: aka no abnormal results, no family history of it, no family history of other cancers (ovarian, uterine, breast, etc.), non "risky" sexual behavior? Have you gotten the HPV vaccine? The reason I ask is because my sister was experiencing months of PAINFUL periods and painful sex before finding out she had cervical cancer. No need to freak out if you have any of the risk factors. It was several months of these bad periods before seeing an abnormal pap smear, and then 6 months later seeing it grow and deciding on the leep procedure (which leaves the uterus and most of the cervix intact). So it does take a while to grow and can still be removed without harming fertility.
If this keeps going on through next week and is unremittingly painful you will need to find a way to see a doctor. Perhaps your uni has a school nurse or doctor? I know mine gave discounted medicine, advice, and even counseling because the Uni helped to fund the cost for students.
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