@Miss PumpkinPenguin: Oh no! I'm so sorry, *hugs*. My cycles have gone long before but never THAT long. I do know of someone in my NFP group who had cycles that were often 3-4 months.
@ScottishMrs: thanks for the hug, i could use it. :(
my cycles were always erratic before birth control, so i'm not sure why i fooled myself into thinking they might be different now.
i'm tempted to go back on the pill just so i don't have to deal with the frustration, but i know that's not the answer.
I had some cycles like that. 111 days was the record, only ended because I got a provera prescription that induced my period. You could make an appointment and inquire about that if you want to put an end to it. Or if it doesn't bother you just let it go, and be happy you're AF free for a while. My doctor always said she wanted me to have at least 3 periods a year, so the lining doesn't get "disorganized" and thick.
@Miss PumpkinPenguin: I agree with SapphireSun, that it may be time to start a round of Provera. You shouldn't exceed 120 days very frequently (when off BC) due to risks for endometrial cancer (a nurse practicitioner told me, I'm having trouble finding information backing it up though, so it may not be true).
@ChuckNorris: That's what my gyno told me as well. The excessive time between periods makes your endometrial cells disorganized, and that puts you at higher risk for endometrial cancer. Old damaged cells are more susceptible.
@SapphireSun: Ah, thank you. I thought I was going crazy. But that's exactly how she explained it to me.
oh geez, that's pretty scary. i guess i need to set a deadline and say "if no cycle by X number of days, i'm going for provera". really, really not looking forward to that. :(
@Miss PumpkinPenguin: Hey hun. I can totally sympathize. I am on day 65 and going mental. I have an appt with my doctor today to get the results back of some labs I had run as well as an ultrasound (to confirm or rule out PCOS) and I'm definitely going to ask for a round of Provera. If DH and I happened to get pregnant right now, the timing wouldn't be the best as our due date would be the week of my best friends wedding, which I'm in. I wouldn't be so concerned about being pregnant/or just had a baby - but the thought of possibly missing it would be devastating. So, i think Provera I go and hope that next cycle isn't so horrible.
FX for you. I'd definitely set a date that you could see your doctor to induce a period if that makes you feel best about it. I know a few bees that have gone over 100 days but I don't think I could do that to myself!
Good luck, keep us posted!
Have you thought of charting just for your own sanity to see where you are at?
I never had regular cycles before BC, and once I went off I had one "normal" length cycle (same cycle as BC), then my next cycle was ridiculous. I had started charting just to see what the deal was, at least then whenever we decided on kids I would be prepared for the doctor. I kept saying I was going to get Provera but then would delay and set another deadline, delay again, etc, etc.
Just be careful if you aren't planning for kids right now. DH and I had talked about it but not committed to a timeline. After about 50-60 days we assumed I wouldn't ovulate and just weren't careful.. well I ovulated on CD108/109 and here I am 29 weeks pregnant, and we only DTD one time during that week and that was on ovulation day. Oops.
A few months after going off the pill, I was having 35-day cycles, then out of nowhere, I had an 80+ day cycle once - it must've been 86 days or so, and at the tail end of that, I saw my OBGYN and she was ready to put me on Provera to induce. That was also the cycle I started charting and temping, so because I had a temp shift, I knew that I at least had ovulated (on day 75!!) and that I was either going to get my period soon or find out I was pregnant. I got my period.
Because of my long cycles, I thought I'd have PCOS or something but when I had some bloodwork done to check my hormone levels, everything was clear so it was a little frustrating to know that my levels were okay but still having crazy periods (seriously, what the hell). Going off BC can definitely put your cycles out of whack so if you're becoming extremely concerned and your periods weren't like this before you went on BC, you should see your doctor to confirm if you have PCOS so you know what you're dealing with.
@Miss PumpkinPenguin: I've gone years (unless I was on BC). I was FINALLY diagnosed by a doctor who actually cared to do blood tests. I have extremely high prolactin levels caused by a tumor on my pituitary gland. I also have a nodule on my thyroid. It explains a lot due to other symptoms. I am now on medication to help control the prolactin levels which are regulating my hormones and ovulation.
@StaceyA, keep us posted on the result of your dr's appt.
@snoie: I have charted before... I charted for a couple of months before I got so frustrated with it. My temps were all over the place with no pattern, I couldn't make any sense of my CM, I just stopped charting because it was becoming too stressful. I think after my next period (if/when that ever comes!) I will start charting again.
Thanks for the replies, all. I am currently at day 100 and don't really want to go much further... I may try to squeeze out time from work (just got a new job, so it's awkward asking off) for a dr's appointment in the next couple of weeks.
@Miss PumpkinPenguin: hey hun, cross posted from the Charters thread :)
Just wanted to update you all as you have been so supportive through this journey, that I got pretty good results back from the doctor! I mean not PERFECT, but i'm fairly happy with them.
My blood labs all came back within "normal" ranges with the exception of testosterone. Mine was 3.2 and normal range is 0.4-2.6. My LH was 25.8 (normal mid cycle is 19.2-103) and FSH was 9.4 (normal midcycle is 4.5-22.5). Estradiol came back at 576 and normal mid cycle range is 350-1590. The ultrasound came back with the following "multiple small follicles present (on left ovary) some of these are peripheral with some slight variability in the more central aspect. Opinion: there are multiple small follicles resent although the ovaries are not that grossly enlarged the left at the 10cc size range. PCOS cannot be ruled out and could be a consideration. Correlate biochemically". As some websites indicate (thank you YellowClover!) my LH:FSH is about 3:1 (anything above 1:1 can be an indicator of PCOS) so that, combined with the elevated testosterone makes me believe that PCOS is a definite possibility, even though they aren't saying it's a definite diagnosis. Also, it seems that an ovary with greater than 10cc size could be a factor, and mine is bordering that size on the left. So...
I certainly *may* have PCOS. She said with the testosterone level being higher than normal that we won't rule it out, but that my results otherwise were good and not overly alarming/concerning. She said the follicles could be prohibiting my ovulation hence the long cycles but since I haven't experienced painful menses, endrometriosis (sp!) etc that even if I did have it, it wasn't something she was too concerned with. She was thankfully in a much more positive/pleasant mode this time around lol.
She asked if my DH had his SA done yet as the results weren't in, and of course he hasn't. He is going to do that this week as i need a serious TTC break and don't want to get pregnant around my bff's wedding (an O date this week would basically guaruntee that!). So, I'm kind of excited to take a break from the bd'ing, to be honest.
I mentioned that I was on day 65 on my cycle and asked about the provera etc. She said she wouldn't prescribe it at this point unless I REALLY wanted it. She said she'd rather not introduce more drugs at this point and just let my cycle be. I am not having any cramping/bloating/spotting etc so she saud to just carry on and see what happens.
She was quite optimistic about seeing an RE and said she'll get the consult rolling for us once the SA is in. She said I obviously just need a little "help" ovulating and that we would hopefully be successful with a little assistance.
So, that's that. I asked for copies of my labs so if anyone wants other specifics back out of curiousity i'm happy to supply them.
Overall, i'm feeling good about it all. While its not "perfect" i know it could always be worse. I am optimistic that with something like Clomid or Metformin my body will be able to O earlier in my cycles and hopefully one day in the new year finally get our BFP!
Any questions please ask ladies :)
@Miss PumpkinPenguin: Mine was a mess too, but I just kept going to see what would happen. If you wanted to see the chart you can look at it. I think this is the one thing that kept me from freaking out about being pregnant constantly (as I used to worry prior to BCPs).
I've had cycles that long and longer. You should see a doctor about it because, as @ChuckNorris says, you want to shed your endometrial lining at least every 90 days. I've had to take provera to induce my period several times -- it's totally fine. (It also turns out that I have PCOS -- which is also manageable.)
People used to say to me, "You're so lucky you never get your period!!!" which, sorry, is a totally dumb & thoughtless thing to say. Think of the implications! Anyway, good luck; I'm sure your doc will straighten everything out for you in a flash.
@StaceyA: glad you are feeling more positive with this info and thanks for sharing your results! Keep your head up!
@stillme: you're right, it's totally silly when people make those comments!
i'm at day 105 now. i felt really crappy this weekend, with lots of headaches and feeling emotionally uneven. one friend insists i need to get to the gyn right away, but i hate taking off time from my new job... maybe in the upcoming weeks.
@Miss PumpkinPenguin: Sorry to hear about your cycle. I can totally relate. I've had 100+ day cycles (i have pcos) before as well. As @stillme said, taking provera to induce your period is totally fine. Whenever I get to 60+ days I talk to my doctor and to get provera and induce. I would try and fit in a visit with the work schedule to try and get it worked out. Best of luck to you.
Thanks, all. I started this spin-off thread for ladies to chime in on their Provera experiences.
http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/experiences-with-provera-slight-spinoff?replies=1#post-4892791
quick update:
i am now on CD 109. i squeezed in a dr appointment today. she prescribed 10 days of provera to induce a period and took two vials of blood to "test everything"... not exactly sure what "everything" includes, haha!
i should have lab results back on tuesday.
thanks, all, for your advice! <3
Whoa! That doesn't sound too good. I'd go to a doc first and see what they say. Maybe they will make you wait for 120 day mark, maybe not. Depending on your medical and BC history. So please do go see one to be sure what your next step is for you.
@Sasha2011: Thanks... I did go to the dr.
I'm currently on CD 112 and started Provera 3 days ago. No period yet.
I gave up tracking my cycles after going off the pill! They're all over the place! But I did go 3 and a half months without any sign of Aunt Flow. It frustrates the heck out of me!
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Just venting here, because I just checked my tracker and realized I'm on day NINETY-EIGHT of my cycle. I've posted before about my frustrations with abnormal cycles, especially since I've been off birth control for 5 months and my cycles are completely erratic. I was told years ago that I probably have PCOS, but never really felt like I understood the whole PCOS thing.
I feel so un-feminine. Ugh.
Anybody else facing cycles THIS long?
EDIT: I posted to the TTC board even though we're not actively TTC at the moment. We can never really decide about the whole kids thing, even though I'm probably running out of time, but that's another post for another day.