Need some health advice (warning: long and may contain TMI!)

**lisettelovebug** · 10-25-2008, 12:25 AM

Ok. So since April my period has been extremely abnormal. We were in a car accident in March about the time I would have been ovulating. Though I do not know if this has anything to do with my current problems, I just think it's funny that that is about the time I started having problems. I had my son in November and I was regular for the next 3 months. My cycle has always been regular - ALWAYS - since I was 12. So, April's started weakly for 2 days and then stopped, started back up 2 days later. This one was on time. Next month there was 34 days between my periods. Then June came and I didn't have another period until July - I believe it was 43 days apart that time. My next period was 46 days later. Last month was exactly the right number of days! yeah... then I got it for October and it only lasted less than 2 days!! I thought maybe it would start back up, but it's been about 2 weeks and it hasn't.

I went to the nurse practitioner at the midwife's office in June and she and the regular nurse of course said things like: oh it's because as you have more children it can change things (I just had #3) and as we get older sometimes that can mess up things (I'm 31!!!!! for goodness sake!). She did order a pituatary test, and thyroid test. My thyroid number was slightly high (6) so she sent me to a specialist who put me on meds because I do have a family history of thyroid problems. The NP basically just dismissed my concerns.

I actually thought I might have been pregnant this month - I took a test and ruled that out. I've been moody and cranky, I've been breaking out like crazy, gaining weight (even though I'm trying to lose - I weigh 10 pounds more now than I did after my son was born almost a year ago). I also have lower abdominal pain sometimes to the left of my right pelvic bone - it's like an achy feeling, not a sharp, stabbing pain or anything.

Does anyone have any ideas what might be wrong with me? Or even who I should go see? I'm feeling reluctant to go to see the NP again as I feel like she didn't believe me. Thanks.
Lisa

**AmyBoz** · 10-25-2008, 12:37 AM

Have you been particularly stressed? Stress can make your periods go crazy, even when on the pill for regulation.

**lisettelovebug** · 10-25-2008, 12:49 AM

No. I haven't been stressed, especially not for 7 months. Though I do know that stress can do that. I'm not on any birth control right now (just using condoms). I didn't want to go on the pill until my cycle was normal again because I was afraid it would mask any real problems I may have. Does that make sense?

**AmyBoz** · 10-25-2008, 12:57 AM

I absolutely understand. The regulation that the pill could provide would certainly mask anything that might be going on underneath.

I don't know anything about the effect of thyroid problems on the menstrual cycle. I know the nurse kinda shrugged you off...could you see an OB/GYN directly?

**lisettelovebug** · 10-25-2008, 01:18 AM

Yeah I think I could go to an ob/gyn, but I'd have to find one. I had midwives for my deliveries so I haven't had an actual ob/gyn since I moved here. Then of course they would have to send over my file. I would still like to go there for my yearly and maybe if I decide to have just one more baby, (the midwives are wonderful there) so I'm wondering how that works.

I've been on the thyroid meds for several months now. I guess they're working - it's really hard to tell when you're busy mom. I'm always tired anyways... lol. I really don't think my thyroid has anything to do with it because the number was just slightly elevated. The endochronologist (sp?) told me that normally she wouldn't even prescribed anything but since I have a family history she did.

**AmyBoz** · 10-25-2008, 01:20 AM

I know that my OB/GYN office has a midwife on staff as well as the doctors. My sister-in-law goes to an OB/GYN for her yearly checkups, but used a midwife to deliver her babies, who was unrelated to the practice. I think it's kind of like seeing a specialist. I don't imagine it would be a problem.

**Darlene** · 10-25-2008, 09:39 AM

I agree about going to a gyn too, you might need an internal ultrasound to show them how things are inside.
With the thyroid meds, are they monitoring you with those? I may be wrong but I always thought the thyroid was a delicate balance and getting meds just right is key. Too much or too little of something can give you problems, weight gain for one.

**Jskell911** · 10-25-2008, 10:45 AM

I will agree that you should see a GYN. An ultra sound could rule out such things as a cyst, endo (which can develop at any time), etc. It is worth the time. At 31, I would not think perimenopause, but that is about when mine started (VERY unusual). There are so many reasons something like this would happen. I really think a GYN would be able to offer you better answers.