CLOTS ! I never bled between periods - will this keep happening to me???

[bellamia1]

Hi,
I am 53 - - will be 54 next month.

My periods have been irregular for months. I had a complete exam this past August, pap test, etc. All was normal.

I was always regular - - every 26 days. For the last six months or so - I will have a period 18 days or 45 days. I know at my age this is menopause.

BUT - - something happened this time and I would appreciate your input or if you can tell me if this ever happened to you.

I started my period Oct. 21 - - it was 25 days. Two days later, my son was getting married and I thought to be safe, I would wear a tampon plus a pad.
After the ceremony, it leaked and I was bleeding enough to wear tampons and pads for the rest of the day.

The next day things slowed a little and I just wore pads as usual.

When I would go to the bathroom for the following few days, there was nothing on the pad - - - but when I would wipe, I would see pink.

I would see very slight pink for a few days and there was nothing on the pad at all. BUT - when I saw the pink - - - it was like I knew there was more to come . . .it didn't get dark red or brown like it usually does when the period is over.

Nine days later - on Saturday Oct. 30, I had to urinate and felt a clot FALL out and there was a little blood in the toilet. I thought I was starting again. I wore a pad the rest of the day and there was nothing.

I had nothing the next day and then the same thing happened. I was NOT having any flow - - but it is like all of the clots may not have passed from the period. Is this possible ?

The clots were not huge - but were there - - and when I wiped, there is only a slight pink color on the paper. Sometimes there was a slight flow.
Every day for a week - - the clots fell out every time I went to the bathroom.

My GYN told me not to worry as long as I am not bleeding heavy for days. . . and it was GOOD they were passing.

Did this happen to anyone else?


By Weds. Nov. 3rd, I was still passing clots with hardly any bleeding on the pad.

I don't know when to think I would have another period - - - I don't know when to start counting . . . . and I was wondering how long it will take for these clots to pass.

Thursday night in the shower, two "fell out" and there was minimal bleeding. . . with some down my legs - - - and yes, I needed another shower.

As of Sunday- NOv 7th - - - I have stopped. There was nothing there yesterday either - - - and I am finally relieved.

So many people have told me this is normal. . . .

WILL THIS HAPPEN TO ME AGAIN ?

Was it just that there was such a build-up of tissue that this happened ?

I can not believe that there was so much "tissue" built up to rid itself !!!

When should I begin to count my days again?

My last "period" began Oct. 21 and was over Oct. 25.

There was no bleeding again until Oct. 30 . . with the clots.

I am so confused. I thought that I would be done with periods by now.
I will be 54 next month.

I was told it was all endometrial tissue that was shed from the uterus. I am wondering if anyone had this continue for months - or if this was just a crazy month.

I am not sure when I should excpect another period . . . . . should I count the "period" from Oct. 21 - - - - that ended in 5 days or should I count the clotting and bleeding on Oct. 30 that just ended yesterday after a week of HEAVY clotting . . . . . as a period ?

I am so confused. ANY input would help me very much and I truly appreciate it.

Sincerely,
Maria

[Nance77]

Hi Maria:
I haven't had the clots so I cant help you with that, but it seems that it may be normal for menopause...I am 46, and my periods have become irregular like yours within the past 2-3 years...They would come anywhere from day 17 to 38, and they became very short (1-3 days) and very light...The last few months they were only like 1 day; barely had to wear a pad...Now this past month, everything went crazy..I had spotting, dark brown or pinkish, then that would change to regular light bleeding, then stop for a few days, then back to the spotting, then a little heavier with some small, light clots, etc etc...I would think it was stopping, then a few days later, back to the bleeding again... I also sometimes would not notice anything unless I wiped after using the bathroom...This has been off and on for almost 3 wks now! I did go to the gyn, my pelvic and pap were normal they said, and she put me on birth control pills for 2 mos to regulate my periods and stop the bleeding, hopefully! Today was the first day I took a pill, and she said it would probably take a week until it stops....I have to go back in Dec and she wants to do a trans vaginal ultrasound at that time to see if everything looks ok...I am very scared also, even though people tell me its just peri menopause, and since its the first time it happened, it is probably normal...
I dont know when to start counting the dates for my period again either, so the BC pills will help with that...If you are concerned, make a doctors appt just to get checked out..
Take Care

[molly123]

Hi Maria,
My sister used to have very heavy bleeding with clots that would fall out too. She said it was like giving birth to a piece of liver and often it would fall out before she can reach the bathroom (yikes!) She often had to wear a tampon plus a pad. She said it was a royal pain and a big mess because she had to be in the bathroom constantly. This went on for many years and continuously for her and she was checked out by her gyn on a regularly basis and all was fine. She just put up with it. Her gyn wanted her to have hysterectomy years ago but she didn't think it was the way to go just to stop the heavy bleeding. Apparently, the clots are normal.

Last month, she had a high temperature that caused her to go to ER (separate issue - she had an infection). At that same time, she was having her heavy bleeding and her blood was tested and found it was low. Ended up having a blood transfusion and a hysterectomy at age 52 (going on 53 in Feb.) while she was at the hospital. If you're losing a lot of blood, make sure you get your blood checked out to so you don't become anemic or have too low of a blood count. My sister is not on any kind of HRT either - she thinks it is because she was close to menopause already.

If your gyn said things are OK with you, try not to worry about it. This is all part of pre-menopause.

Take care,
molly

[bellamia1]

Dear Nance and Molly,

Thank you for writing. It always helps to talk to others when we are experiencing things that are so different to our bodies. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with me.

I stopped bleeding all together last Sunday after one full week of the clots that I thought would never end. It is so stressful not to know when and if you will make it to a bathroom or restroom. Then when you do - - the clots just drop out and the toilet seems to be full of blood - - - but it is just watery blood that comes with the clots. No clots - no bleeding.
The shower thing did me in - - - when they fell out - - I was so afraid I was going to bleed to death ! Then when I would go to the bathroom an hour later -- - there was just pink on the tissue. So confusing.

I have no idea when I will have another period. My mom had a hysterectomy when she was 42 - - - so I don't know when I will stop. My sister is 45 and is watching me closely - - - - and isn't happy I told her we are all different and maybe she will go through it easier. My daughter is 28 and I just tell her what is happening so she will remember this when she gets older.

I never knew menopause was like this. All we hear about are hot flashes and sleepless nights. This bleeding was weird - - but SO MANY people are telling me this is "normal". I can deal with periods - - - but the clotting is a mess ! ( I am a full time caregiver to my 86 year old mom who lives here and I need to be o.k. ! )

Again - - thank you. I am glad I can come here for support and info !
God bless you.
Maria