Irregular period/Light Spotting/Brown Discharge- I may have some possible answers to help

[onthesameboat]

I see a lot woman asking the same question "Am I pregnant?" "I'm spotting when I'm supposed to have my period"... ..."Haven't had my period and its be 5-8 days late, negative hpt" etc....

So, i decided to share my story and hopefully I can help. I don't know about you guys, but I'm sick of all these women asking the same questions and for help and never come back to let us know what their out come was. >:0(

But I'm not going to do that! I'm going to definitely keep you guys posted with what ever happens to me. I truly want to help and hopefully i can shed some light.

So here's my story....it may be a lot to read so I'm going to try and make it simple. Facts about me:

I'm 24 years old.
Never been pregnant before
No miscarriages/abortions
Been off birth control since 2006
Been using the pull out method with my husband since 2005
We have sex all the time. Before and after my periods. So I'm sorry, cant be specific on these dates
I recently lost an average of 17 pounds since the beginning of this year (2010).
And been having regular periods for well over 2 years

I've been bloated, fatigued, my appetite has increased a little. Been having troubles falling asleep at night. Been going through fluttering cramps (less painful than my regular period cramps). Using the restroom a lot (peeing). And having  very mild lower back pains, again not as painful as my regular period pains. And most importantly i have been stress free! Stress can play a huge part in your menstrual cycle and can cause it to be irregular.

Now...here's whats happening...

Was supposed to have my period on May 13, 2010 (Thursday)...instead i got very light pink discharge that wouldn't even stain or seep through a pad/tampon. I figured i may be a couple of days late (which is normal) and went on with my days. By the time May 16, 2010 (Sunday) came around i noticed that the light pink discharge completely stopped so of course i worry that i may be pregnant. I took a pregnancy test on May 18, 2010 (Tuesday) and it was negative. Then on May 19, 2010 (Wednesday) around 11pm i had brown discharge. So i used a tampon to bed because i wanted to see the amount of discharge when i woke up. The next morning it was practically nothing on the tampon and didn't have any discharge at all for the rest of the day! (so annoying, I know). Well, today  (May 22, 2010 Saturday) i took another hpt in the morning (that's the best time to do the test since your urine is more concentrated) and it was negative again . Then around 3 pm  i started with the brown discharge again with a little bit more intense cramps in my lower abs.

Now I'm like 8-9 days late on having a real menstrual cycle and I'm concerned. So i called my aunt, who is currently a nurse but worked as a laboratory scientist for many years in NY ( I think that was her title..either way she knows a lot about bacterias and blood cause thats what she worked with). Oh, and she knows a lot ovulation dates since she did the whole artificial insemination process last year (which worked for her first time around and had her baby at age 50! :0) ). And i also called my cousin who is a doctor in NJ.

Pretty much they told me i may be pregnant. Plain and simple. They told me if i was having painful, burning and frequent urination then it may be an infection called cystitis. However, that was ruled out because I've had cystitis before and that feels like your passing a stone! Its an horrible pain.

Then they told me the best thing to do is go to the doctor and getting the blood work done since this has never happened to me before. Now if that comes out negative as well then it will be up to the doctor to order a ultrasound or i will just have to do the waiting game because it sometimes take some women 3 months before they find out if they are pregnant.

They also said to take it slow, no heavy lifting, straining, or stressing! Just in case to prevent a miscarriage.


I know this was a lot to read but i know how you guys feel and its no fun searching for half answers. I'm blessed with a wonderful family who will take the time to help me and the least i can do is share the information as well. So please if you have any questions let me know and I'm definitely going to keep you ladies informed with my out come.

I promise!

[onthesameboat]

Just like ng15 stated the ultrasound should reveal everything. Just hold off on the pills until you have the ultrasound done.

Keep us posted!

[ng15]

It would be very unlikely that an ultrasound would be wrong, especially if you are 13 weeks late on your period. Ultrasounds show the amniotic sac and fetus even when they are done very early. Unfortunately, there are other reasons that periods stop coming other than pregnancy. I hope they can figure out what's going on and that everything works out for you!

[molly8829]

i'am going through some similar things myself i need answers....  I'm 21, me and my husband have been trying to have a baby for 1 year now and no luck yet, but i know its not him cause he has a kid of his own so it's me... but now am finally 13 weeks late on my period, i have symptoms of pregnancy, so i went to the doctor's twice took a blood n  urine pregnancy test n it came out negative they also did other test n they told me everything came out good.... the doctor order some pills to help me get my period back n some birth control pills for 3 months to get my period back on track, but am scared now to take them cause what if i'm pregnant and it kills the baby.... what does this mean? whats wrong with me? ohh yea, i also have a pelvic ultrasound exam appt in 1 week, but what if it comes out that am not pregnant and am healthy... can the ultrasound be wrong about the pregnancy?  

NOTE:my period is not regular but it also has never been this long with out it, the most has been 6 weeks late...

WHAT TO DO???

[jrobertson20]

Good luck on Monday.

[onthesameboat]

UPDATE!!!

So I just got back from the urgent care because i haven't stopped cramping and just couldn't wait till June 21st to see the gyno.

So they tested my urine and it was negative however they found a small trace of blood and ketone. but , other than that, my urine is normal and i don't have any type of UTI.  

the dr then  asked if Ive been dieting (which i have been and thats the reason for the ketone trace) and asked if i have been eliminating carbs in my diet which i haven't. My diet consisted of eating everything...just in small portions . So they drew some blood because i have all the symptom of pregnancy . if i'm not then the next step is to go to my obgyn and get thoroughly checked out.

even though i haven't planned on having kids i prefer to be pregnant than to have any other medical issue

so once i found out on Monday i will let you guys know!

hope i was helpful

[gillianl]

i get the same symptoms as you every month but my cycle is always between 26 and 28 days.  I was told almost 2 months ago i have mild endometriosis in my right tube, my right tube was twisted with clots of skin round the ovary which had to be opened, both tubes had adhesions which were now cut away.  I have now been told i may need IVF to conceive because of how badly damaged my tubes are.

I hope you get better results than i've had but it just goes to show pregnancy symptoms every month for 3 years and still no BFP, symptoms are NOT 100% reliable