Women - losing weight is messing up my period

sexymamadraeger

OK ladies, I need some help here. I just started losing weight again after about a year of being satisfied with where I was. Last month my period was bad but this month is the period from Hell. It's been super heavy and bad cramps and digestive issues which I don't normal have from my period. It's been 2 weeks now and I am still cramping off and on and light bleeding. I have been checked out and nothing is wrong with me. It's hormonal imbalance and being 41 I am sure. But I'm not sure I'll survive this! Anyone else had trouble like this? Does it find normal again eventually?

L1zardQueen

Welcome to menopause. Sorry

sexymamadraeger

Yah I know. Dr said well, that's the 40's for ya.

L1zardQueen

sexymamadraeger wrote: »

Yah I know. Dr said well, that's the 40's for ya.

I know, it sucks.

spiffychick85

Are you on the pill? Just wondering if that helps at all?? I just got on a low dose after my third baby, because I had ridiculously heavy cycles since I was 12....I'm honestly sorry I waited so long for relief, the low dose pill has changed my life

VintageFeline

The pill could be a good suggestion if you haven't explored that option with your doctor and there's no issues with you taking it. I had horrific periods when I started puberty for several years. Every second month, apparently only one ovary hated me, I'd have one day when I would suddenly start sever cramping, sweating, extreme nausea and near fainting. Got sent home from work and school many times. Nothing prevented it.

Then I went on the pill and it was like magic! I still have a heavier period every second month, thanks rogue ovary but that's it. And they're shorter. Curiously the times I have come off I have never returned to them being so bad. might just be coincidental with leaving my developing years.

But of course this is all completely personal and it could just be complete coincidence this has happened at the same time as continuing your weight loss.

Being female isn't all sunshine and roses!

L1zardQueen

I had a endometrial ablation which helped a lot. As I neared 50, my crazy endless cycles got worse and worse. I couldn't leave my home, no exaggeration. I wish I had the ablation sooner rather than later. Something to consider.

kshama2001

When I did WW right around age 30 I started eating a lot of yogurt that was made from milk from conventionally treated dairy cows and had bad periods which stopped when I switched to organic yogurt and less of it.

Now that I am 50, I have awful periods which are clearly due to my fibroids. I could have a hysterectomy, but am trying to hold out until menopause, when my estrogen levels will plummet, and the fibroids will shrink on their own.

kshama2001

Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »

Welcome to menopause. Sorry

Peri-menopause

Sabine_Stroehm

kshama2001 wrote: »

Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »

Welcome to menopause. Sorry

Peri-menopause

This.

R2che

Mine has been awful this time. It properly started this morning but it's been threatening to arrive for about 4 days. It's never usually like that! Meh!

Tried30UserNames

Have you recently increased the amount of soy or, as someone above mentioned, conventional dairy products in your diet? Both of those could be causing this.

Of course, I'm lucky. Peri menopause has resulted in all my menstrual misery going away. Life is fantastic for the first time since I was twelve. Light periods, no cramps, no hot flashes, no mood swings. I love it.

Sheisinlove109

If doc checked and there's nothing major then it's gotta be the "getting old"...

sexymamadraeger

Hmmmm. I'll have to think about the dairy. I don't eat/drink much dairy but it's not organic. I eat most everything organic. But organic milk is pricey and I buy fat free so there's less hormone in the fat. But I have been using some lactose free fat free regular milk. I probably should change to organic. I would never have thought of it! Thanks for the suggestion.

I do not eat soy at all. I tried the Mirena IUD a few year ago after I weaned my youngest child and my hormones were nuts. My flow was so heavy I went to the ER only to find out I was perfectly fine. I mean, I had to change pads/super plus tampons every 20 min for hours at a time. It was awful. It did help the periods tremendously but messed with other stuff. So I had it taken out after about 4 months.

My dr really pushed me to do ablation. It just didn't seem healthy? Creating scar tissue so you don't bleed? I dunno. I'd love to hear more about your experience.

I won't do the pill. My grandma died of breast cancer and my mom had it 5 years ago. So absolutely no hormones for me! I want to be as natural as possible. My dr said "ok. If you get miserable enough come back and we'll talk." Yah, great. Thanks.

DietPrada

I'm 42 and I spent 4 years having my period 3 weeks of the month (was totally regular and under 4 days a month prior to this). Sometimes really heavy and sometimes barely there but enough to be gross, annoying and inconvenient. Tried different forms of birth control, nothing helped - in fact the pill just made me hormonal and moody (which wasn't an issue before I had my kids and was younger). Ended up last year getting my tubes tied (no more birth control) and having an ablation. It's helped. I often only get the heavy part one day a month, but the damned spotting can last most of the month still.

travelgirl77

Another thing to consider is that if you are losing weight, estrogen is stored in your fat cells and that could be wonking out your hormones simply from the estrogen release. When I was losing weight last year I began spotting between periods and visited my doctor who ran a bunch of tests and also offered me an ablation. Unlike you, it was more inconvenient than anything, so I voted not to. I might give it a few months to see if it levels out.

MoiAussi93

kshama2001 wrote: »

When I did WW right around age 30 I started eating a lot of yogurt that was made from milk from conventionally treated dairy cows and had bad periods which stopped when I switched to organic yogurt and less of it.

Now that I am 50, I have awful periods which are clearly due to my fibroids. I could have a hysterectomy, but am trying to hold out until menopause, when my estrogen levels will plummet, and the fibroids will shrink on their own.

I'm 46. I had very heavy periods due to fibroids. I had them removed about a year ago...very simple surgery. Outpatient...went in early morning and was home by lunch with normal activity resumed the next day. It completely solved the problem, and now my periods are normal. Not a bother at all. I highly recommend exploring that option if you already haven't ruled it out for some reason.

MoiAussi93

My experience was the opposite. My periods were very abnormal my entire life...they might come after 4 weeks, or six, or after three months. I never knew when to expect it. At times, I would take the pill to regulate it...which mostly worked, but not perfectly. But I didn't like taking them long term, and when I stopped after a few months everything got wacky again.
When I lost weight, my cycle suddenly normalized on its own. I think less fat fixed whatever hormonal imbalance I had.

counting_kilojoules

sexymamadraeger wrote: »

My dr really pushed me to do ablation. It just didn't seem healthy? Creating scar tissue so you don't bleed? I dunno. I'd love to hear more about your experience.

I won't do the pill. My grandma died of breast cancer and my mom had it 5 years ago. So absolutely no hormones for me! I want to be as natural as possible. My dr said "ok. If you get miserable enough come back and we'll talk." Yah, great. Thanks.

Well there's really only so much they can do. Surgery or hormones through the different birth control methods. I had really terrible periods during which I tried all the hormonal birth control methods except the pill (because it makes my migraines worse.) In the end I had an ablation which was one of the best things I ever did. I went from two week long, extremely heavy, painful periods to three day long periods every couple of months that are really light and not at all painful. I really recommend it if it's something that's a possibility for you.

sexymamadraeger

It's crazy what hormones do to us ladies! Totally sucks. Haha.

As for the fibroid surgery, I don't have fibroids. Never have and every time they check there's nothing there. No major cysts on ovaries either. Everything is perfectly fine except I am CRAZY right now.

I thought about the losing weight/ releasing estrogen theory. I think that's a big part of it. When I was really heavy I was on a cycle where 3 months I'd have next to nothing and the next month would be horrible. I know that wa because the extra fat stores estrogen. When I started losing back then my period got so much better! But I was at a steady 205 lbs for a year or so and I just lost about 13 lbs and I plan to keep going until I hit 140. So I am hoping if I ride it all out I will end up with a normal again. I started out at 283 and I am now 192. Almost to that 100 lb goal and I can't wait!!!

L1zardQueen

amyrebeccah wrote: »

Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »

I had a endometrial ablation which helped a lot. As I neared 50, my crazy endless cycles got worse and worse. I couldn't leave my home, no exaggeration. I wish I had the ablation sooner rather than later. Something to consider.

Thank you for saying this. I've had it recommended for adenomyosis and I have seen nothing but bad experiences posted on the web. I know people are more likely to post about bad experiences than good, but still, this is reassuring.

I had complete confidence in my doctor, I'm glad I did not look to far on the internet. However, I did find a woman on the net, a surgeon no less, speak of her experience and the reason she had the procedure. She was pretty miserable, like me. Lol

Best wishes!

Muana1005

It could be that the weight loss has kick started ovulation or normal menstrual cycles. I used to have lighter irregular periods when I was a bigger weight and didn't ovulate, as I lost the weight periods got heavier, longer and regular and I started ovulating again.

mitch16

I've had Mirena since I was ~40 (I'm 47 now and on my second one), so I really haven't experienced too many peri-menopausal symptoms. No periods (spotting the very first month), no crazy mood swings, no monthly weight gain!

annacole94

As a way to deal with periods more pleasantly, I can't say enough good things about a menstrual cup. I've had a Diva Cup and a Lunette over the past 15 years; both are great. Changed my life (sounds dramatic, but seriously: sleeping for as long as I want, in any position, and not leaking is a life-changer. Also, on med/light days, dealing with it only twice a day is a life changer. And on heavy days, having something that lasts for several hours: life changer.)

If you've only tried conventional products, think about the switch. It's positive for the vast majority that try it.

lioness803

annacole94 wrote: »

As a way to deal with periods more pleasantly, I can't say enough good things about a menstrual cup. I've had a Diva Cup and a Lunette over the past 15 years; both are great. Changed my life (sounds dramatic, but seriously: sleeping for as long as I want, in any position, and not leaking is a life-changer. Also, on med/light days, dealing with it only twice a day is a life changer. And on heavy days, having something that lasts for several hours: life changer.)

If you've only tried conventional products, think about the switch. It's positive for the vast majority that try it.

Menstrual cups are life changing!!!! No more cramps, made my periods so much lighter, and I can work all day, or be gone most of the day, and not have to worry about it. I forget I'm on my period most of the time.

Lizzypb88

Yes and I HATE THAT!!!!
I'm such a hypochondriac, so I've talked to my Obgyn a lot about this! Over the last couple years I've had extra periods, bleeding inbetween, 2 light periods a month, very late periods etc, I feel that when my hormones go out of wack it's new each time!
I've been to the dr twice for it, and been given the all clear and been told my hormones are adjusting, and within a few cycles I'm back to my usual "normal"
Here's what I've been told by my dr-- your fat holds estrogen, and when you lose body fat, that estrogen floods your system, screwing with your hormones. Your body eventually "fixes" itself. For me, now I'm just experiencing lighter periods, which for me is great lol only 5-6 day periods instead of a full 7-8 days! but I was ovulating twice a month etc, damn hormones!

Lizzypb88

And thank u for posting this, I had yet to see someone post of extra bleeding and painful periods! I'm glad I'm not alone

Lizzypb88

sexymamadraeger wrote: »

Hmmmm. I'll have to think about the dairy. I don't eat/drink much dairy but it's not organic. I eat most everything organic. But organic milk is pricey and I buy fat free so there's less hormone in the fat. But I have been using some lactose free fat free regular milk. I probably should change to organic. I would never have thought of it! Thanks for the suggestion.

I do not eat soy at all. I tried the Mirena IUD a few year ago after I weaned my youngest child and my hormones were nuts. My flow was so heavy I went to the ER only to find out I was perfectly fine. I mean, I had to change pads/super plus tampons every 20 min for hours at a time. It was awful. It did help the periods tremendously but messed with other stuff. So I had it taken out after about 4 months.

My dr really pushed me to do ablation. It just didn't seem healthy? Creating scar tissue so you don't bleed? I dunno. I'd love to hear more about your experience.

I won't do the pill. My grandma died of breast cancer and my mom had it 5 years ago. So absolutely no hormones for me! I want to be as natural as possible. My dr said "ok. If you get miserable enough come back and we'll talk." Yah, great. Thanks.

I also was told that the only other option would be the pill, but I have clotting issues so I always had to wait a couple months for my hormones to stabilize which they always did.
My mom had gone on birth control for this and she ended up with multiple blood clots in her lungs, one went to her heart and it stopped, drs said she's very lucky to be alive, and that, for her, taking birth control at an older age increases the risk of clots a lot! Scary stuff that birth control

weightloss_acc

Being overweight has messed up my period, I have been several months before without a one. Hopefully when I loose weight it will cause me to be regular. The birth control pill made me gain weight super fast.