prolonged menstrual bleeding for 10 months

[smerlo]

I have been bleeding almost every day for the past 10 months. I have been to the Dr., and she cannot figure out what's going on. I've had numerous tests: Ultrasounds to rule out fibroids and ovarian cysts-okay. C-Peptide to test insulin saturation-okay. TSH to test my thyroid-it's okay. I've had tests for hormone/estrogen levels-they're normal. What is wrong with me? Let me give you some more details. In 2001, I had my first baby. In 2002, I started using Depo-provera for birth control. When I started approaching age 30, I was getting nervous about not seeing my periods (due to the D/P), so I switched to the Ortho Evra Patch. I still wasn't seeing my period... I was on OE for 9 months. I quit using B/C altogether. My periods slowly started coming back to normal, so I thought, in January 2005. I had normal cycles for Jan, Feb... totally skipped March, and then the flood gates opened in April. Since April 2005 I have bled consistently... heavy, bright red, large clots at first.
Well, a couple weeks ago, I thought this had ended. My period stopped for a little over a week. Then, just a couple days ago, my hubby and I started "fooling around". No actual intercourse... just hand stimulation. (We didn't have any condoms on hand, and we're not trying to conceive just yet.) Well, a few hours after climaxing from clitoral stimulation... I started bleeding... again! It's constant, thin, bright red... and heavy. I change the Super-Plus tampons every hour.
Can someone please help me help my doctor figure out what's going on?

Thank you!

[RunningL8]

The sign of a competent doctor is that if she can't figure out what's wrong, she'll refer you to someone who can diagnose you. It sounds like you have a serious problem, so I hope you'll insist on an immediate referral to a specialist at a major medical center, preferably something like Mayo, the Cleveland Clinic, Mass General, or at least a university medical center where they see a wide range of unusual problems.

[heart2heart]

Has your gyne done a D&C yet to rule out endometrial cancer or hyperplasia? I can't imagine bleeding that long and not having a D&C.  I've had problems like this- but never this long as you describe...and I've gone thru 3 D&C's in my life. At the least you should have an endometrial biopsy. That can be done in the office.  If thats normal than the problem is probably hormonal. I'm not sure if the blood tests for hormones are all that accurate. Have your dr. tried stopping the bleeding with estrogen and then adding a progesterone type pill...you can try natural estrodial and then Prometrium.  With bleeding like this you're also probably anemic, are you taking iron supplements? I've used the time relase iron pills. If the hormones don't work you may have to consider an ablation, where they burn out your uterine lining.

[Curls]

Have you looked at the ovarian cancer forum?  I saw some women with symptoms like that over there, and several posters seem very knowledgeable in general.  The bleeding ISN'T a ovarian cancer symptom, so I don't want to scare you over that.  I'm just thinking that a bunch of women talking female parts may have some ideas.