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Heavy periods/fatigue--Would hormone changes or a bleeding disorder be causing my symptoms? How do I get my hormone levels checked?
I have been having some unusual symptoms: extreme fatigue (come home from work exhausted, no energy, I can’t get things done like I used to), memory problems which came on suddenly (brain fog, confusion, problems concentrating, trouble coming up with the right word, getting lost in places where I’ve been several times before, occasional slurred speech), clumsiness (drop things/can’t get a good grip), unrefreshing sleep (had a sleep study where I had little stage 3 and no stage 4 sleep, difficulty waking up, groggy in am and after a nap, I also snore) I have had several tests, all negative (MRI, visual evoked potentials, EEG, thyroid) but I am wondering if hormones or a bleeding disorder might be causing my symptoms.
I’m 43 and about 50 lbs. overweight and don’t drink or smoke. My periods have gotten heavier the past few years. They come regularly (every 30 days or so) but last 7 days. The first and seventh days are light (spotting only). The heaviest are the third and fourth days where I am saturating a super tampon every 2-3 hours. Also on those days I have pea sized clots. I have no pain with my periods.
I have had an increase in severity, duration, and frequency of migraine headaches. I have had migraines since childhood but my migraines have gotten worse and are now coming more often (2x per month) and lasting 2 or 3 days, they used to go away after a good night’s sleep. The migraines consist of a painful throbbing on the right side of my head behind my eye. I wake up several times a night with the pain. I am sensitive to light, sound, smells, and sudden movement. It doesn’t happen every time but if it is really bad I will vomit. I have tried three different medications with inconsistent results. Sometimes the medication will work for a day but it will come back the next morning. Often it will take the edge off but the headache doesn’t go away until it runs its course. The doctor just put me on daily 20 mg Propranolol, it is too soon to tell if it is working. I take no other medications.
My father, sister and son have all been recently diagnosed a genetic platelet aggregation disorder and thrombocytopenia. I was screened but came back negative. My father, sister’s and son’s hematologists have all said we have an interesting case. There is more going on with the platelets than simple Von Willebrand’s. They are still in the process of an official diagnosis. All three have low platelet counts. My sister was told she has Type1 Von Willebrand disease, probable congenital thrombocytopenia, and platelet dysfunction consistent with storage pool disorder. My son has a platelet aggregation disorder with mild thrombocytopenia. My son’s hematologist seems to think it is one diagnosis rather than two (something quite rare) but so far she has not been able to determine it yet. She sent my son’s labs to the Mayo Clinic but we haven’t heard back yet. My son’s hematologist said I might have the bleeding disorder as well since my son, father and sister have it but I have only had one set of labs done in July ‘06 and they came back normal.
Von Willebrand Panel:
Factor VIII Assay 101% (55-150)
Von Willebrand Fact AG 67% (50-165)
VWF ACT (Rist Cofac) 56% (>40)
Von Willebrand Factor VIII Activity 113% (56-190)
Von Willebrand FAC AG 64% (51-185)
Von Willebrand ACT 70% (44-195)
I had a transabdominal and transvaginal pelvic ultrasound.
Right ovary: 3.2 X 2.4 X 2.2 cm
Left ovary 2.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 cm
Uterus: 10.7 x 5.3 x 6.6 cm
Endometrium 20 mm Free fluid 1.2 cm
Impression: slightly enlarged uterus with no evidence of fibroids. Thickened endometrium. Minimal free fluid within the cul-de-sac.
I have palpable anterior lymph nodes in my neck but don’t feel any throat pain.
Blood tests:
Ferritin 16.7 ng/mL (my lab’s normal range is 0-29)
Hemoglobin A1c 5.2% (4.0-6.0)
Iron 45 ug/dL (30-150)
B12 324 pg/mL (247-911)
White blood count 6.8 K/uL (4.0-11.0)
Red blood count 4.49 M/uL (3.80-5.20)
Glucose 125 mg/dL (65-99) I had not fasted
Platelet Count 175 K/uL (150-400)
HCT 41.2% (35.0-46.0)
HGB 13.7 g/dL (11.6-15.5)
Thyroid tests:
Free T3 3.0 pg/ml (2.3-4.2) on 8/7/06
Free T4 1.1 ng/dL (.8-1.6) on 8/7/06
TSH 1.00 uIU/mL on 8/7/06 and1.24 uIU/mL on 6/23/06 (.40-5.0)
TSH Reflex 1.37 uIU/mL (.35-5.5) on 3/25/05
TSH reflex 1.15 uIU/mL (0.40-5.00) in March ‘07
I’m 43 and about 50 lbs. overweight and don’t drink or smoke. My periods have gotten heavier the past few years. They come regularly (every 30 days or so) but last 7 days. The first and seventh days are light (spotting only). The heaviest are the third and fourth days where I am saturating a super tampon every 2-3 hours. Also on those days I have pea sized clots. I have no pain with my periods.
I have had an increase in severity, duration, and frequency of migraine headaches. I have had migraines since childhood but my migraines have gotten worse and are now coming more often (2x per month) and lasting 2 or 3 days, they used to go away after a good night’s sleep. The migraines consist of a painful throbbing on the right side of my head behind my eye. I wake up several times a night with the pain. I am sensitive to light, sound, smells, and sudden movement. It doesn’t happen every time but if it is really bad I will vomit. I have tried three different medications with inconsistent results. Sometimes the medication will work for a day but it will come back the next morning. Often it will take the edge off but the headache doesn’t go away until it runs its course. The doctor just put me on daily 20 mg Propranolol, it is too soon to tell if it is working. I take no other medications.
My father, sister and son have all been recently diagnosed a genetic platelet aggregation disorder and thrombocytopenia. I was screened but came back negative. My father, sister’s and son’s hematologists have all said we have an interesting case. There is more going on with the platelets than simple Von Willebrand’s. They are still in the process of an official diagnosis. All three have low platelet counts. My sister was told she has Type1 Von Willebrand disease, probable congenital thrombocytopenia, and platelet dysfunction consistent with storage pool disorder. My son has a platelet aggregation disorder with mild thrombocytopenia. My son’s hematologist seems to think it is one diagnosis rather than two (something quite rare) but so far she has not been able to determine it yet. She sent my son’s labs to the Mayo Clinic but we haven’t heard back yet. My son’s hematologist said I might have the bleeding disorder as well since my son, father and sister have it but I have only had one set of labs done in July ‘06 and they came back normal.
Von Willebrand Panel:
Factor VIII Assay 101% (55-150)
Von Willebrand Fact AG 67% (50-165)
VWF ACT (Rist Cofac) 56% (>40)
Von Willebrand Factor VIII Activity 113% (56-190)
Von Willebrand FAC AG 64% (51-185)
Von Willebrand ACT 70% (44-195)
I had a transabdominal and transvaginal pelvic ultrasound.
Right ovary: 3.2 X 2.4 X 2.2 cm
Left ovary 2.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 cm
Uterus: 10.7 x 5.3 x 6.6 cm
Endometrium 20 mm Free fluid 1.2 cm
Impression: slightly enlarged uterus with no evidence of fibroids. Thickened endometrium. Minimal free fluid within the cul-de-sac.
I have palpable anterior lymph nodes in my neck but don’t feel any throat pain.
Blood tests:
Ferritin 16.7 ng/mL (my lab’s normal range is 0-29)
Hemoglobin A1c 5.2% (4.0-6.0)
Iron 45 ug/dL (30-150)
B12 324 pg/mL (247-911)
White blood count 6.8 K/uL (4.0-11.0)
Red blood count 4.49 M/uL (3.80-5.20)
Glucose 125 mg/dL (65-99) I had not fasted
Platelet Count 175 K/uL (150-400)
HCT 41.2% (35.0-46.0)
HGB 13.7 g/dL (11.6-15.5)
Thyroid tests:
Free T3 3.0 pg/ml (2.3-4.2) on 8/7/06
Free T4 1.1 ng/dL (.8-1.6) on 8/7/06
TSH 1.00 uIU/mL on 8/7/06 and1.24 uIU/mL on 6/23/06 (.40-5.0)
TSH Reflex 1.37 uIU/mL (.35-5.5) on 3/25/05
TSH reflex 1.15 uIU/mL (0.40-5.00) in March ‘07
you know sometimes there may not be a cause. I had to have my uterus out 6 months ago due to heavy heavy heavy periods. I usually couldn't leave the house the first couple of days because I was forever having to change. Some women have an extra thick uterun linning. Which my doc found out that mine was almost twice as thick as normal person. Having my uterus out was the best thing I ever did. I am 29. I have everything else so I still get my hormones, plus I still have my cervix so my vaginal walls won't collapse. They did it by bandaid surgery. Super Cervical Hysterectomy. I was up and outta the hospital that night. The other thing is you could have a polip. I also use to have to use super plus tampons, and I bet I was changing mine almost every hour first day and second. Plus at night I would also have to wear a pad because it was going to overflow. Have you ever been tested for auto immune disease? I just say that because they did that test on me and I found out I had it.
by the way for everyone that doesn't know what auto immune disease is, everyone knows someone who has it. Rumitoid Arthritis, Cronic Fatig, Cronic Hives, Hormone Disease. Many Many more. It affects a bunch of women. 75% of the cases are women where only 25 % are men.
hi , have you looked into fibromyalgia ? there is a forum for that here and they are clued up on this kinda stuff over there . i have similar stuff with my thyriod and have benn tested for 6 years on and off then it finally was pos after loads of tests . they said i was riding along borderline so i was being missed . get a re test , it cant hurt ! but do try over there as they are similar syptoms x x
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