Need help ... again

Hello ladies

I haven't been here in a while. I've just been plain busy.

Well, I'm having some problems again and I really don't know what to
think of all of this. I'm not sure if anyone remembers me posting before
or not, so here it goes. I'm 46 and still having periods, but I think
I'm in the Peri stage of my periods - it's either that or something is
majorly wrong. I had a pap test back in October and also an endometrial
biopsy and everything came back normal. I had the biopsy because I was
spotting all of the time. Well, the spotting stopped shortly after
having the biopsy in October, but I think it's starting again. This is
what's been happening - I had my period on the 2nd of February (23 days
after my last one) - it was VERY heavy with large clots. I've NEVER had
clots as large as these before! Sorry for the description, but these
were different, fat ones and almost black colored (my friend told me
they were probably dark purple and not black). My period went on for
over a week - ended last Saturday. Well, today when I wipe after going
to the toilet I see pink on the toilet paper. Is this considered to be
normal during Peri? I'm really starting to panic here. I don't know
whether I should call my doctor or not.

Thanks - Kathy

"Kath" <kath*VOID*@*VOID*.com> wrote in message
news:12t29c4eog9bce1@corp.supernews.com...
> Hello ladies
>
> I haven't been here in a while. I've just been plain busy.
>
> Well, I'm having some problems again and I really don't know what to think
> of all of this. I'm not sure if anyone remembers me posting before or not,
> so here it goes. I'm 46 and still having periods, but I think I'm in the
> Peri stage of my periods - it's either that or something is majorly wrong.
> I had a pap test back in October and also an endometrial biopsy and
> everything came back normal. I had the biopsy because I was spotting all
> of the time. Well, the spotting stopped shortly after having the biopsy in
> October, but I think it's starting again. This is what's been happening -
> I had my period on the 2nd of February (23 days after my last one) - it
> was VERY heavy with large clots. I've NEVER had clots as large as these
> before! Sorry for the description, but these were different, fat ones and
> almost black colored (my friend told me they were probably dark purple and
> not black).

Ah, yes... what've been known as "chicken liver clots' on asm. ;-) Before
mine showed up in peri, a good friend experienced them in her late 30's.
They scared the hell out of her, & she went running to the doctor - who said
they were perfectly normal for her age as long as they weren't as large as
dinner plates. <g> I was so glad she'd told me about them, because when my
disgusting & gigantic clots showed up a while later, I was able to literally
laugh because hey, they were huge, but nowhere near dinner plate size! ;-)

My period went on for
> over a week - ended last Saturday. Well, today when I wipe after going to
> the toilet I see pink on the toilet paper. Is this considered to be normal
> during Peri? I'm really starting to panic here. I don't know whether I
> should call my doctor or not.

It's normal. You can bleed at any time & in any amount during peri.
"Irregular" periods are frequently mentioned as being part & parcel of
perimenopause, they just don't tend to tell you *how* irregular they can be.

Cathy




>
> Thanks - Kathy

Cathy F. wrote:
> "Kath" <kath*VOID*@*VOID*.com> wrote in message
> news:12t29c4eog9bce1@corp.supernews.com...
>> Hello ladies
>>
>> I haven't been here in a while. I've just been plain busy.
>>
>> Well, I'm having some problems again and I really don't know what to think
>> of all of this. I'm not sure if anyone remembers me posting before or not,
>> so here it goes. I'm 46 and still having periods, but I think I'm in the
>> Peri stage of my periods - it's either that or something is majorly wrong.
>> I had a pap test back in October and also an endometrial biopsy and
>> everything came back normal. I had the biopsy because I was spotting all
>> of the time. Well, the spotting stopped shortly after having the biopsy in
>> October, but I think it's starting again. This is what's been happening -
>> I had my period on the 2nd of February (23 days after my last one) - it
>> was VERY heavy with large clots. I've NEVER had clots as large as these
>> before! Sorry for the description, but these were different, fat ones and
>> almost black colored (my friend told me they were probably dark purple and
>> not black).
>
> Ah, yes... what've been known as "chicken liver clots' on asm. ;-) Before
> mine showed up in peri, a good friend experienced them in her late 30's.
> They scared the hell out of her, & she went running to the doctor - who said
> they were perfectly normal for her age as long as they weren't as large as
> dinner plates. <g> I was so glad she'd told me about them, because when my
> disgusting & gigantic clots showed up a while later, I was able to literally
> laugh because hey, they were huge, but nowhere near dinner plate size! ;-)
>
> My period went on for
>> over a week - ended last Saturday. Well, today when I wipe after going to
>> the toilet I see pink on the toilet paper. Is this considered to be normal
>> during Peri? I'm really starting to panic here. I don't know whether I
>> should call my doctor or not.
>
> It's normal. You can bleed at any time & in any amount during peri.
> "Irregular" periods are frequently mentioned as being part & parcel of
> perimenopause, they just don't tend to tell you *how* irregular they can be.
>
> Cathy
>
>
>
>
>> Thanks - Kathy
>
>

Thank you soooo much Cathy! You are a saint! I feel so much better now
:-) I DO tend to panic sometimes.

No they weren't the size of dinner plates, but they were the largest
I've EVER experienced. I wondered how the heck can I produce something
that large! I will say one thing though, at least I don't have the
horrible cramps like I used to have.

Back in October my doctor prescribed Provera for the spotting, but I
never took them because I would rather not go the HRT route. My Step mom
tells me that I should take them because once I get into Menopause it
will help keep me healthy and my bones healthy. I don't care, I still
will not take them. Besides that, I'm prone to getting blood clots. Who
wants to risk that? Not me!

Thanks again Cathy!

"Kath" <kath*VOID*@*VOID*.com> wrote in message
news:12t2bc660a7ad8d@corp.supernews.com...
> Cathy F. wrote:
>> "Kath" <kath*VOID*@*VOID*.com> wrote in message
>> news:12t29c4eog9bce1@corp.supernews.com...
>>> Hello ladies
>>>
>>> I haven't been here in a while. I've just been plain busy.
>>>
>>> Well, I'm having some problems again and I really don't know what to
>>> think of all of this. I'm not sure if anyone remembers me posting before
>>> or not, so here it goes. I'm 46 and still having periods, but I think
>>> I'm in the Peri stage of my periods - it's either that or something is
>>> majorly wrong. I had a pap test back in October and also an endometrial
>>> biopsy and everything came back normal. I had the biopsy because I was
>>> spotting all of the time. Well, the spotting stopped shortly after
>>> having the biopsy in October, but I think it's starting again. This is
>>> what's been happening - I had my period on the 2nd of February (23 days
>>> after my last one) - it was VERY heavy with large clots. I've NEVER had
>>> clots as large as these before! Sorry for the description, but these
>>> were different, fat ones and almost black colored (my friend told me
>>> they were probably dark purple and not black).
>>
>> Ah, yes... what've been known as "chicken liver clots' on asm. ;-)
>> Before mine showed up in peri, a good friend experienced them in her late
>> 30's. They scared the hell out of her, & she went running to the doctor -
>> who said they were perfectly normal for her age as long as they weren't
>> as large as dinner plates. <g> I was so glad she'd told me about them,
>> because when my disgusting & gigantic clots showed up a while later, I
>> was able to literally laugh because hey, they were huge, but nowhere near
>> dinner plate size! ;-)
>>
>> My period went on for
>>> over a week - ended last Saturday. Well, today when I wipe after going
>>> to the toilet I see pink on the toilet paper. Is this considered to be
>>> normal during Peri? I'm really starting to panic here. I don't know
>>> whether I should call my doctor or not.
>>
>> It's normal. You can bleed at any time & in any amount during peri.
>> "Irregular" periods are frequently mentioned as being part & parcel of
>> perimenopause, they just don't tend to tell you *how* irregular they can
>> be.
>>
>
> Thank you soooo much Cathy! You are a saint! I feel so much better now :-)
> I DO tend to panic sometimes.
>
> No they weren't the size of dinner plates, but they were the largest I've
> EVER experienced. I wondered how the heck can I produce something that
> large! I will say one thing though, at least I don't have the horrible
> cramps like I used to have.

Consider yourself lucky in that respect, then. I had the return of the
killer cramps for a while there in peri. But I also wondered how on earth
those clots made it through my cervix (the same one that has refused to
dilate enough to let a doctor do an endometrial biopsy).

>
> Back in October my doctor prescribed Provera for the spotting, but I never
> took them because I would rather not go the HRT route. My Step mom tells
> me that I should take them because once I get into Menopause it will help
> keep me healthy and my bones healthy. I don't care, I still will not take
> them. Besides that, I'm prone to getting blood clots. Who wants to risk
> that? Not me!

Smart choice, IMO. You have to do with what *you* feel comfortable with.

> Thanks again Cathy!

You're welcome. :-)

Cathy

Kath <kath*VOID*@*VOID*.com> wrote:

> Back in October my doctor prescribed Provera for the spotting, but I
> never took them because I would rather not go the HRT route. My Step mom
> tells me that I should take them because once I get into Menopause it
> will help keep me healthy and my bones healthy.

The WHI has shown that's not the case. There is no significant health
advantage to taking hormones; what advantage there is, is nullified by
all the risks, some of which _are_ significant.

BTW, thinning bones can still be healthy bones. There is no correlation
between thinning bones and breakage; thinning bones are a normal part of
aging and affect men, too. And you don't start running a _risk_ of
breaking bones until you are well into old age, even with thinning
bones, assuming normal health. A couple of decades of HRT and its
attendant risks for that? Not necessary.

> I don't care, I still will not take them. Besides that, I'm prone to
> getting blood clots. Who wants to risk that? Not me!

Smart girl. Your proneness would make HRT a bad choice for you.

--
Keera in Norway * Think big. Shrink to fit.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

Cathy F. <clfr@adelphiadot.net> wrote:

> But I also wondered how on earth
> those clots made it through my cervix (the same one that has refused to
> dilate enough to let a doctor do an endometrial biopsy).

I'm thinking they do that octopus-through-a-keyhole thing. That's one
flexible animal! The octopus, I mean.

--
Keera in Norway * Think big. Shrink to fit.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

On Feb 13, 5:16 am, Kath <kath*VOID*@*VOID*.com> wrote:

> Back in October my doctor prescribed Provera for the spotting, but I
> never took them because I would rather not go the HRT route. My Step mom
> tells me that I should take them because once I get into Menopause it
> will help keep me healthy and my bones healthy.

As far as I know the best way you can protect your bones is by
exercise, exercise, EXERCISE. Weight bearing exercise will keep your
bones strong and balance exercise will keep down the risk of loosing
your balance and falling down -- the major cause of broken bones, I
would say ;-)

JustGB

"Keera Ann Fox" <thinkbig.shrinktofit@online.no> wrote in message
news:1htgqnr.qe9j321hvjzz0N%thinkbig.shrinktofit@o nline.no...
> Cathy F. <clfr@adelphiadot.net> wrote:
>
>> But I also wondered how on earth
>> those clots made it through my cervix (the same one that has refused to
>> dilate enough to let a doctor do an endometrial biopsy).
>
> I'm thinking they do that octopus-through-a-keyhole thing. That's one
> flexible animal! The octopus, I mean.

;-)

The cervix is probably also a little bit auto-dilated at the time (during
menstruation/the mega clots; wasn't at the times of the attempted
biopsies!).

Cathy


>
> --
> Keera in Norway * Think big. Shrink to fit.
> http://home.online.no/~kafox/

Keera Ann Fox wrote:
> Kath <kath*VOID*@*VOID*.com> wrote:
>
>> Back in October my doctor prescribed Provera for the spotting, but I
>> never took them because I would rather not go the HRT route. My Step mom
>> tells me that I should take them because once I get into Menopause it
>> will help keep me healthy and my bones healthy.
>
> The WHI has shown that's not the case. There is no significant health
> advantage to taking hormones; what advantage there is, is nullified by
> all the risks, some of which _are_ significant.
>
> BTW, thinning bones can still be healthy bones. There is no correlation
> between thinning bones and breakage; thinning bones are a normal part of
> aging and affect men, too. And you don't start running a _risk_ of
> breaking bones until you are well into old age, even with thinning
> bones, assuming normal health. A couple of decades of HRT and its
> attendant risks for that? Not necessary.
>
>> I don't care, I still will not take them. Besides that, I'm prone to
>> getting blood clots. Who wants to risk that? Not me!
>
> Smart girl. Your proneness would make HRT a bad choice for you.
>
Thank you Keera Ann. The strange thing about my GYN doctor is he told me
that the HRT wouldn't be a risk for me because I had gotten a DVT after
gallbladder surgery. He's telling me that the surgery caused the clot,
but I am still not convinced to take it anyway. I still believe no
matter what caused the clot that there will ALWAYS be a higher risk for
me because I have had a clot.

JustGB wrote:
> On Feb 13, 5:16 am, Kath <kath*VOID*@*VOID*.com> wrote:
>
>> Back in October my doctor prescribed Provera for the spotting, but I
>> never took them because I would rather not go the HRT route. My Step mom
>> tells me that I should take them because once I get into Menopause it
>> will help keep me healthy and my bones healthy.
>
> As far as I know the best way you can protect your bones is by
> exercise, exercise, EXERCISE. Weight bearing exercise will keep your
> bones strong and balance exercise will keep down the risk of loosing
> your balance and falling down -- the major cause of broken bones, I
> would say ;-)
>
> JustGB
>
Would Yoga be okay? I was thinking of trying that.

"Kath" <kath*VOID*@*VOID*.com> wrote in message
news:12t4nvrhb6e0a1b@corp.supernews.com...
> JustGB wrote:
>> On Feb 13, 5:16 am, Kath <kath*VOID*@*VOID*.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Back in October my doctor prescribed Provera for the spotting, but I
>>> never took them because I would rather not go the HRT route. My Step mom
>>> tells me that I should take them because once I get into Menopause it
>>> will help keep me healthy and my bones healthy.
>>
>> As far as I know the best way you can protect your bones is by
>> exercise, exercise, EXERCISE. Weight bearing exercise will keep your
>> bones strong and balance exercise will keep down the risk of loosing
>> your balance and falling down -- the major cause of broken bones, I
>> would say ;-)
>>
>> JustGB
>>
> Would Yoga be okay? I was thinking of trying that.

Yoga would be good for flexibility and balance but for the weight bearing,
WALK WALK WALK, easy on the joints and power walk for the cardio.
Personally I love my elliptical, great cardio/weightbearing all in one hour.
Lifting weights play a big factor in strengthening bones,building muscle and
maintaining good posture.

Make excercise a priority.Only half hour daily and will pay off in big
dividends,you feel fabulous and energized.If you're prone to mood
swings,it's the best thing to get those endorphin highs to alleviate the
blahs.I'm at the gym for 2 hrs,4x/wk even after a 12 hr shift.It's a
tremendous lifeline.

Roseanne

Kath <kath*VOID*@*VOID*.com> wrote:

> Keera Ann Fox wrote:
> > Smart girl. Your proneness would make HRT a bad choice for you.
> >
> Thank you Keera Ann. The strange thing about my GYN doctor is he told me
> that the HRT wouldn't be a risk for me because I had gotten a DVT after
> gallbladder surgery. He's telling me that the surgery caused the clot,
> but I am still not convinced to take it anyway. I still believe no
> matter what caused the clot that there will ALWAYS be a higher risk for
> me because I have had a clot.

Even if the doctor is right about the cause of the clot, considering
that HRT strictly speaking is unnecessary, i.e. not a choice for most
women, only for a few (and even then, it's supposed to be smallest dose,
for shortest time), why even take the chance?

--
Keera in Norway * Think big. Shrink to fit.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

Kath <kath*VOID*@*VOID*.com> wrote:

> Would Yoga be okay? I was thinking of trying that.

Power yoga (ashtanga) is weight-bearing like push-ups are. Actually,
most yoga poses require either the ability to hold your own weight, or
to move your joints completely. Both require body control. Takes
practice, but yoga is rewarding even badly done.

I took a course in ashtanga this fall and our instructor was muscular
but sleek and could out-push-up most men. Yoga gives you deep breathing,
balance, flexibility, and works all muscle groups in the body (I got
acquainted with muscles I didn't know I had). Ashtanga isn't for
everyone, but it does show that you can use yoga to strengthen muscles,
not just for flexibility.

BTW, the idea behind yoga is to discover the unity between soul and body
(work your body vs. work with your body); if you're focused on it being
"just" exercise, it won't feel as rewarding.

--
Keera in Norway * Think big. Shrink to fit.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

On Tue, 13 Feb 2007 22:13:45 -0500, "foggydoggy"
<foggydoggy@cogeco.ca> wrote:

>
>"Kath" <kath*VOID*@*VOID*.com> wrote in message
>news:12t4nvrhb6e0a1b@corp.supernews.com...
>> JustGB wrote:
>>> On Feb 13, 5:16 am, Kath <kath*VOID*@*VOID*.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Back in October my doctor prescribed Provera for the spotting, but I
>>>> never took them because I would rather not go the HRT route. My Step mom
>>>> tells me that I should take them because once I get into Menopause it
>>>> will help keep me healthy and my bones healthy.
>>>
>>> As far as I know the best way you can protect your bones is by
>>> exercise, exercise, EXERCISE. Weight bearing exercise will keep your
>>> bones strong and balance exercise will keep down the risk of loosing
>>> your balance and falling down -- the major cause of broken bones, I
>>> would say ;-)
>>>
>>> JustGB
>>>
>> Would Yoga be okay? I was thinking of trying that.
>
>Yoga would be good for flexibility and balance but for the weight bearing,
>WALK WALK WALK, easy on the joints and power walk for the cardio.
>Personally I love my elliptical, great cardio/weightbearing all in one hour.
>Lifting weights play a big factor in strengthening bones,building muscle and
>maintaining good posture.
>
If one really needs to protect ones joints, one might consider
swimming.

R

Ratatosk, Jola


--

If you need to e-mail me, replace "don'tbother" with "zedicus"

On Feb 14, 3:04 am, Kath <kath*VOID*@*VOID*.com> wrote:
> JustGB wrote:
> > On Feb 13, 5:16 am, Kath <kath*VOID*@*VOID*.com> wrote:
>
> >> Back in October my doctor prescribed Provera for the spotting, but I
> >> never took them because I would rather not go the HRT route. My Step mom
> >> tells me that I should take them because once I get into Menopause it
> >> will help keep me healthy and my bones healthy.
>
> > As far as I know the best way you can protect your bones is by
> > exercise, exercise, EXERCISE. Weight bearing exercise will keep your
> > bones strong and balance exercise will keep down the risk of loosing
> > your balance and falling down -- the major cause of broken bones, I
> > would say ;-)
>
> > JustGB
>
> Would Yoga be okay? I was thinking of trying that.

Like the others, I found yoga to be very rewarding. At the time,
without losing an ounce of weight, I went down a size and a half --
loss of fat, gain of muscle. Win/win. Why I'm not still doing yoga,
I can't really say, just that I've filled my time with other exercise.

I do aerobics once or twice a week, Pilates Floor once, and Core
once. On the "off" days I try to get on the treadmill for half an
hour.

I haven't stopped getting older ;-) but I feel great.

JustGB