A question for the women...

[lynnieb]

My periods have been haywire for years. I'm 45 now, and from 2001-2012 they stopped completely. I lost a huge amount of weight because I was ill and they told me that was why they stopped. They suddenly started again in 2012, and I was told it was because I put a little weight on. 6 months ago they stopped again, sort of. I have lost weight again since my ET diagnosis, so I think it may be that. I also had an xray after a fall and was told my bones look thin. I have been osteopoenic in the past. I've had a DEXA and am awaiting the results.

Has anyone else had issues with menstruation? It is just all a bit strange.

[ggrana]

I actually had irregular periods my whole life. I'm 45 and I now have been regular every month since I was diagnosed with et/PV three years ago. These diseases actually regulated my menstration ! How crazy is that? My doc doesn't think there is any relations ( but I do ).

[jane13]

yes, my periods more or less stopped just before i was diagnosed with PV - and my HCT was high, that is my blood was thick - and restarted once treatment for PV underway and my blood thinned down. Could something like this have been involved in your more complex situation?

[Hidden]

My periods stopped when my first child was 18 months old. Attended out patients clinic for investigation. This threw up diagnosis of high prolactin caused by micro adenoma on pituitary gland. Treated for years with bromicriptine which much improved my quality of life at the time. I was monitored yearly by way of skull x-rays and when in my mid forties stopped my medication and out patient appointments due to pressure of work and difficulty in keeping appointments. At the time too I felt unwell and tired which was put down to stress. However working in a Bank in the 80s wasn't to be recommended as many others could testify.

I was diagnosed with PV Jak2 positive in 2011 after retirement and my determination to find where my health problems stemmed from. As we all say "the rest is history". I too have wondered about a connection but it has been dismissed. I might add that since starting on hydroxycarbamide my bloods have been well-controlled and although I take a regular regimen of other medication and excepting the bad phases I am much better in many ways than I was before retirement. Oh sweet mystery of life......x

[lynnieb]

I know it is easy to blame every little thing in ET, but I really do feel like a lightbulb has pinged, and a great of my problems, I'm certain are because of it. My periods haven't appeared now for 5 moths, after coming back for 3 years, after STOPPING for 10/11 years - phew! I have had a strange symptom though. It was like a period without haemoglobin. A plasma period, if you will. For about 5 months, regular as clockwork, where my period should've been, I had 5 days of what looked like all the world like plasma. This was BET (before ET). Now I'm thinking if my blood was too thick to pass, and it separated leaving just the plasma to be eliminated? Sort of makes sense? Who knows with the vagaries of this 'splendid' condition...