Same old same old

[Nanci2]

Yes I have had a reccurent problem for the past 5 years.  Once every year or so I have a prolonged heavy period that lasts for as long as a month.  Then it rights itself and goes back to normal for a time. They just did a endometrial biopsy about a weeek ago and I don't have the results yet, I had a sonogram yesterday and the tech said I had a fibroid and small simple cyst on the right ovary.  I am 51 years old and have not gone thru menopause just yet.  My period was normal, heavy normal but only lasts 7 days. until three months ago.  I skipped from Dec. 22 to March 22 and had a profusely heavy and long one with cramping for 3 weeks.  Its tapering off now.  Is this unusual for my age.  I figure the fibroid causes the heavy normal periods but what could cause it to be delayed then 3 weeks long?
I always think this it it and I am dying from it. But common sense says that is ridculous I certainly don't look it. Just waiting for some test results.  My father had colon cancer and I am alright in that dept. but I still worry. Any educated guesses would be much appreciated.
thank you
Nan

[AndiJ78]

The women in my family seem to have had a similar story, their cycles were "normal" anywhere between 5-7 days, maybe a little heavier of flow than some, and then somewhere around their 40's, suddenly a huge change in their cycles. It would start with prolonged, heavier periods and then would eventually turn into short and shorter periods of time between when the bleeding would stop and start again. In all of their cases (thus far there are 7 included in this, 8 if you count a cousin who had it happen in her thirties) it was determined to be fibroids causing the bleeding. The most recent one was in 1998 and was able to manage the bleeding for a short while with depo-provera, but eventually that stopped working.

All ended up with a partial hysterectomy. But through some recent reading on the topic, I see now that a hysterectomy is now considered somewhat radical and that in some cases that dcotors are having some success with embolization, tying off the blood flow the uterus, thus shrinking the fibroids.

Now I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on the internet ; ) Of course you shuld be working closely with your docrtor on this. I wish I could offer more insight on this topic for you. I may be completely wrong in my guess, it certainly wouldn't be the first time ; )

Good luck, I hope you are able to find an answer soon.

Andi

[PammySue]

It could also be that you are sort of going thru the first phases of meopause, in combination with your fibroid problems.  My mom would do that, skip a couple of months and then have a really long period.  Took her 3 years (yea, and I know you want to hear that LOL).  I wouldn't worry though.

Andi - that was funny stuff.  I saw that yesterday and just LOL ;-).

[AndiJ78]

At least someone saw some humor ; )

I am a complete idiot when to comes to menopause, I like your answer better. Due the hx with my family,they never went through the menstrual changes that accompany menopause. And my time in nursing was spent with the elderly, who had already dealt with those issues. Man, I think I need to start brushing up on stuff again, maybe that will help to solve my insomnia : )

Andi