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[Curlygirl]

 Hello ladies

I’m here again after some reassurance 

Bit of background for those of you that don’t know

My periods started to get lighter about 18 months ago, but still regular every month with the odd one or 2 that were heavy.

Before this my periods were heavy every month, so this was a change for me

In July of last year I had the heaviest one ever whilst staying with my Daughter in Manchester. We were out in the city and suddenly I had a huge flood and we ended up having to get a taxi home and my daughter letting me use her sweatshirt to sit on 

Then in November of last year I had a strange period. I took ages to get going but once it did, it seemed normal for me and lasted the usual time. 2 days after it finished I had some brown spotting. Then nothing for 2 days and then brown spotting again and then that was it

Then I had absolutely nothing then in December at all and after 55 days had a normal for me period middle of January

Then I’ve gone 40 days which meant nothing again in February and a bleed started again beginning of this month.

This time it is weird from the start. It started with a very light pinky / red spotting (usually mine start with brown spotting from anything from 2 days to a week) then it went to brown spotting and then a light bleed, then back to spotting before about 5 days later a bright red but light bleed started and it’s still going on 12 days later

Does all this sound okay to you ladies. My anxiety is through the roof as at the moment there is no sign of it stopping

Much love ladies ❤️

[Dotty]

Hi if you’re in peri menopause and not on hrt, then this sounds right. Periods can get heavier or lighter ; longer or shorter; nearer together or more spaced out. xx

[Curlygirl]

Hi if you’re in peri menopause and not on hrt, then this sounds right. Periods can get heavier or lighter ; longer or shorter; nearer together or more spaced out. xx

Hi Dotty, I’m not on any HRT.

Thank you for the reassurance ❤️

[Curlygirl]

Anyone else that has had or having a prolonged period got any advice ?  How long is too long?

[Taz2]

Hi Curlygirl. It's so frustrating when periods are so unpredictable. In peri the longest one I had was 7 weeks and halfway through I seemed to start a new one even though I was still light bleeding. I had the PMT and sore boobs etc and then the flow increased just like the beginning of my usual periods.

Taz x

[Curlygirl]

Hi Curlygirl. It's so frustrating when periods are so unpredictable. In peri the longest one I had was 7 weeks and halfway through I seemed to start a new one even though I was still light bleeding. I had the PMT and sore boobs etc and then the flow increased just like the beginning of my usual periods.

Taz x

You’re right, the not knowing what to expect and then you get used to one thing and it throws you something else. This is the first time I’ve had a long one. Guessing it’s just the hormonal ups and downs but it does set off my anxiety

Wow, 7 weeks is a long time

Thanks for replying Taz x

[Curlygirl]

Well after 2 weeks, this light long period seems to have shifted to a browny spotting now. So could it be actually coming to an end??

It’s the first time this has happened to me and has sent me in a spin of anxiety for the last 2 weeks 

And the uncertainty of if it will actually come to and end and when the next one might appear. It’s exhausting this peri 

[Curlygirl]

Well after 2 weeks, this light long period seems to have shifted to a browny spotting now. So could it be actually coming to an end??

It’s the first time this has happened to me and has sent me in a spin of anxiety for the last 2 weeks 

And the uncertainty of if it will actually come to and end and when the next one might appear. It’s exhausting this peri 

Oh no, forget that. Just had another bright red bleed 😢

[Taz2]

Hi Curlygirl. It is really annoying when you just don't know what's normal and what isn't. I was lucky in that my peri menopause was very much like my mums so I could ask her and that gave me some reassurance. She was lucky enough to be given HRT in 1970 at the age of 51. She started HRT the same week as I went on the birth control pill!

I tend to think of this stage like a switch going on and off. It's not very scientific though. The hormones are fluctuating and your body responds to each fluctuation. I imagined the womb had a switch/tap on it which the hormones turned on and off. So a bleed might last a long time or a short one, it could be light or heavy. It would just get going/begin to stop when the switch was activated/de-activated again and things would change. You can also go a long time between periods, leading you to think "Hooray this is it!" only for them to start again. The longest I went between them was nine months. It is really dispiriting when you have to start counting again to get to that magic twelve months without a period milestone. My GP told me after an FSH check that I would never have a period. I'd gone seven months without one then but the next month they started again and became regular for a while. At the age of 53 when the meno symptoms were really kicking in I resorted to HRT and, for me, this sorted it all out with just a monthly three day bleed. I have no idea how long it would have gone on for.

I can sympathise with your sudden flood when out with your daughter. I ruined a guest house mattress once (luckily I'd stayed there before so it wasn't as embarrassing as it could have been) and also a white dining chair while at a wedding reception at a very wonderful venue. Well, whoever decided on white chairs for goodness sake!

Although it sounds unlikely at the moment you will get used to this and it wont be so stressful. Hopefully this stage wont last long. If you want to put your mind at rest you could always contact your GP just to discuss your worries - I know this isn't easy in current times though.

Taz x

[Curlygirl]

Hi Curlygirl. It is really annoying when you just don't know what's normal and what isn't. I was lucky in that my peri menopause was very much like my mums so I could ask her and that gave me some reassurance. She was lucky enough to be given HRT in 1970 at the age of 51. She started HRT the same week as I went on the birth control pill!

I tend to think of this stage like a switch going on and off. It's not very scientific though. The hormones are fluctuating and your body responds to each fluctuation. I imagined the womb had a switch/tap on it which the hormones turned on and off. So a bleed might last a long time or a short one, it could be light or heavy. It would just get going/begin to stop when the switch was activated/de-activated again and things would change. You can also go a long time between periods, leading you to think "Hooray this is it!" only for them to start again. The longest I went between them was nine months. It is really dispiriting when you have to start counting again to get to that magic twelve months without a period milestone. My GP told me after an FSH check that I would never have a period. I'd gone seven months without one then but the next month they started again and became regular for a while. At the age of 53 when the meno symptoms were really kicking in I resorted to HRT and, for me, this sorted it all out with just a monthly three day bleed. I have no idea how long it would have gone on for.

I can sympathise with your sudden flood when out with your daughter. I ruined a guest house mattress once (luckily I'd stayed there before so it wasn't as embarrassing as it could have been) and also a white dining chair while at a wedding reception at a very wonderful venue. Well, whoever decided on white chairs for goodness sake!

Although it sounds unlikely at the moment you will get used to this and it wont be so stressful. Hopefully this stage wont last long. If you want to put your mind at rest you could always contact your GP just to discuss your worries - I know this isn't easy in current times though.

Taz x

Thank you Taz for your reassurance and such a good way of explaining things. I’d never thought of it like that before

Unfortunately I can’t speak to my mum about how it was for her as she has over the last 12 months suffered several strokes which has affected her memory substantially, and before that she was of the generation that just don’t speak about that kind of thing

I’m hoping that this bleed sorts itself out and stops soon. It’s so on and off it’s like it will never end

I do have a GP appointment tomorrow. Since I started Peri my GP sees me every couple of months to see how I’m getting on. She’s very good

Thank you so much for your word of wisdom and advice, it really has helped me x

[Taz2]

I'm glad it was helpful. It's really good to hear that you have a sympathetic GP. Let us know how you get on.

Taz x

[Curlygirl]

I'm glad it was helpful. It's really good to hear that you have a sympathetic GP. Let us know how you get on.

Taz x

I will update tomorrow

Thanks again for taking the time to help me xx

[Curlygirl]

Just got back from the GP now.

She said that she’s not worried about me bleeding lightly for the last 2.5 weeks and that it’s all part of coming up to the menopause.

She did give me some progesterone tablets for 5 days that she said I could take if I wanted to, to see if it will stop the bleeding and produce a ‘proper’ bleed at the end of the 5 days

She asked if I’d been bleeding at any other times that I shouldn’t, checked when I last had a smear which was 2020
and all fine. Not due another one until 2025.

She didn’t seem worried at all and said to go back and see her at the end of April to see how things are going then

Although I feel better for seeing her I still feel anxious about it all as it’s the first time it’s happened to me

Thanks to those that have taken the time to help me with this

Much love ❤️

[Taz2]

That sounds like standard procedure if you want to stop the bleeding. Personally I didn't bother, and just let it go on till it stopped, as progesterone is not my favourite thing but I can understand it if the bleeding is worrying you. Let us know how it goes.

Taz x

[Curlygirl]

That sounds like standard procedure if you want to stop the bleeding. Personally I didn't bother, and just let it go on till it stopped, as progesterone is not my favourite thing but I can understand it if the bleeding is worrying you. Let us know how it goes.


Thanks Taz. I’m unsure of whether to take them or just see how long until it stops in its own. I think it’s worrying me because it’s the first time it’s happened and took me completely by surprise and then anxiety has taken over 🫤

I will update if anything changes

Thanks for everything Taz  x