Period question

[Jess-Louisa]

Bit graphic...

I’m currently awaiting a diagnosis, but I don’t seem to have heavy periods, in fact the opposite, they are extremely light, could I still be considered for a laparoscopy?

Does anyone else have this?

[weekari]

My periods aren't heavy at all and aren't all that painful either. My main symptoms are fatigue and back pain. I get abdominal pain /tenderness and bloating too. I have confirmed endo.

Endometriosis can present in so many ways. One of the issues of endo is that when the tissue is outwith the womb and sheds, the body has no way of eliminating this as it does with a period, so not having heavy periods in itself doesn't really mean anything-you could be shedding the blood in your precis which causes pain and inflammation. It's just that the main recognised symptoms are heavy periods and fertility issues... Endo is a far bigger issue though.

What age are you? Is it possible you're perimenopausal?

[Jess-Louisa in reply to weekari]

I’m 18 so I hope not🙃 is it likely?

[weekari in reply to Jess-Louisa]

Oh! No, definitely not. It really doesn't start slowing down until about 35,so I'm sure you're totally fine.

If your periods have always been light then it's maybe not related bit of they are lighter than before, it could be just another sign of something not being quite right.

Are there any other reasons your hormones may be a bit unsettled? Weight issues, excess exercise, stress, medication etc.

[Jess-Louisa in reply to weekari]

I’ve been on antidepressants for the past 4 years if that makes a difference

[weekari in reply to Jess-Louisa]

No, I wouldn't have thought so but I'm guessing if that's the case, you've had quite a lot to deal with?

I had a very difficult time growing up and it took its toll on me physically.

There is a theory about stress and hormones that I think applies to me, you may want to look until it is you feel it is relevant to you.

If we are stressed, our cortisol (stress hormone) rises, which is fine short term but if this goes on for a while, the cortisol being high all the time means that other hormones are affected, mostly our progesterone. Progesterone and estrogen are hormones that are like a little balancing act. If progestogen isn't available (which is the case if cortisol is continually high) the estrogen isn't getting kept in check and it keeps rising. Estrogen is all about growth, so that's when we start see things becoming troublesome, endometriosis growing, fibroids and other unpleasant things. It's called estrogen dominance.

The Dr's manage this by usually putting us on the pill but it doesn't really resolve the underlying imbalance and the cause of the cortisol being high.

This is the theory I believe is relevant to me and so I've been working to deal with my past through therapy and a lot of work on myself. Meditation and yoga have also helped so much. I'm also about to start using progesterone cream. It's to be used at the time of your cycle when progesterone would naturally rise, this is to help balance out the estrogen.

I'm not telling you that this is what's happening to you but just letting you know about it so you can decide.

I'm guessing you have more issues than light periods?

[Jess-Louisa in reply to weekari]

Yeah the pain is when I have my period, the whole way through and 3 days after, and 3/4 days in the middle. Thank you for this

[M-W23 in reply to weekari]

Thank you for laying this out so clearly. I was under continual emotional stress with constantly high cortisol through my years growing up, and I know about oestrogen dominance, but I hadn't really connected the two yet quite so clearly. I'm now in my 40s and finally in a much healthier emotional state, although I am under physical stress still from endo and from the constant pain of Lyme disease, and using natural progesterone cream. I am using it throughout the month, which together with a change in diet has helped.

[weekari in reply to M-W23]

No problem. Glad it helped. In my opinion, we have to take a holistic approach and deal with the hormone imbalance AND what's causing it. I don't think the medical approach actually deals with either. I think it's a combination of environmental factors (chemicals etc), diet (dairy, gluten, soy, sugar), emotional issues (unresolved trauma, grief and and suppressed emotions) and we have to deal with all of them. For some people this will be fairly straightforward but for some it's a huge amount of work. Like for me, the diet was easy, I already ate so healthily and was vegan. Its just a case of no sugary treats and so soy. But then, my diet change didn't improve my symptoms. I've had a massive amount of trauma and suppressed all my childhood emotions (which is totally oblivious to until fairly recently). When I work on this, I do usually feel an improvement. But that's not to say its all psychological because even when I've done that, I've still got a massive fibroid pushing into my spine and endo, so I need my estrogen to be managed, which I'm going to try with the progesterone cream.

This is just the theory that makes sense to me and I've not actually started the cream yet, I need to wait until my next cycle starts. I just hope so much my instincts about this and all my research will pay off and I'll see some improvement.

It seems a bit bloody unfair that you've got Lyme disease on top of endo! I don't know much about it, just that it can have a massive impact on your health and its another one that can be missed by Dr's. I hope you're seeing some improvement with everything now.

Xx

[M-W23 in reply to weekari]

I completely agree - I feel like I'm basically trying to attack the problem(s) from 360 degrees, constantly moving round to the next angle to nudge things forward. Diet wasn't so easy for me but made a huge improvement; the emotional stuff from childhood is an ongoing process, but improving gradually just by being in a more supportive environment where I can begin to work through things and heal. I've tried to keep improving the oestrogen situation through what I eat, and getting rid of chemicals in body care products etc, and generally improving liver function so that it gets rid of more oestrogen. There are so many things to think about and do, but I just try to add small new habits regularly so that I'm moving in the right direction.

For me Lyme is worse than endo, but I'm fortunate in that my endo isn't too severe. You're right, Lyme has such an impact system-wide, and it also cleverly syncs with your menstrual cycle so that the Lyme bacteria are able to flourish when you're at your lowest. The constant physical pain from Lyme, like emotional pain, also lowers progesterone, so it's a vicious cycle! I'm making some progress definitely but I had both Lyme and endo undiagnosed for 30 years so I have a lot of catching up to do! Hoping that the number of functional hours I have in the day will start to increase soon

Well done for all the progress you've made - it's not an easy road but you're obviously on the right track, and I hope you keep seeing improvements.

[Summer25]

I don’t have painful or heavy periods and never have. Just persistent pelvic discomfort pain / bloating.

I have been diagnosed with moderate to severe endometriosis.

So you definitely don’t have to have heavy periods to have endo. Xx

[princessk09]

Hey, I didn’t have very heavy periods just the pain was horrendous. Some months it was heavy but mine are normally medium with a lot of clots.

I had a lap since I had other symptoms and endo was found xx

[Peren]

Hi Jess - I have stage 4 and I’ve never had a heavy period, my periods are super light and only last a few days. Endo doesn’t have to mean heavy periods and some people naturally have short and/or light cycles.

[Tallulah182 Moderator]

Hi Jess, i never had heavy periods, usually lasted around 4 days. I was diagnosed with stage 4 endo. I remember every time i went to the doctor they asked that and also if i had pain during sex then dismissed endo because i didn't have these symptoms. x

[Hidden]

My period's are regular but erratic - I will bleed for maybe one or two days, stop bleeding for one day, and then start again for another two days! And I can either be super light, or super heavy. I was still given my Laparoscopy - I think they base it more on the pain, symptoms you are experiencing & the way these are impacting your quality of life, rather than your periods alone.