Is this normal? Like a Period

[SusanKay]

For several days I have had a lot of fluid...it looks quite like a period...tender bloating to abdomen and muscle spasms in low back kidney area. I have put off having my blood tests...should I ? I'm very fatigued.

[radd]

Susan,

If your blood test is for thyroid hormones, there is no specific timing in the menstrual cycle for this to be done....

If this is a doctors blood test, leave 24 hours between last med dose and blood draw and try to have the blood draw early in the morning when TSH is highest.

If it a blood test for yourself, the timing doesn't matter as you can take timings, etc into consideration when you read your results.

Low thyroid hormone can cause fluid retension.

[SusanKay]

Thank you radd. I forgot to say that I am 57 and I have not had periods for many years. Evidentally my hormones are out of whack. Is it normal for this to happen? nothing to worry about? My tests are for Thyroid (the lot of 12) with Blue Horizon

[CarolineC57]

Susan - I'm no expert on thyroid (I'm here myself to find out about it - currently self-treating), and I don't know when the best time to take bloods is, but I'm a bit alarmed by your post. If you say you are bleeding yet you haven't had a period for years, and you also have kidney pain and bloating, I'd be concerned that you have a bladder infection or something like this? Personally, I'd go to see your doctor about this if I were you.

But I may be wrong, and this might be something to do with whatever thyroid treatment you are taking - in which case I'm sure someone who knows more about that side of things than I do will be along soon.

[Jazzw]

I'm with Caroline - it's probably nothing, but this sort of thing should always be checked out by a doctor, just in case.

[startagaingirl]

Susan, I agree with everyone else - go to your GP as a matter of urgency. Any post-menopausal bleeding or abnormal discharge should be checked out immediately as there is a small chance it could be a symptom of endometrial or ovarian cancer. I hope it's not but you need to get it checked out. Good luck.

[Hidden]

Yup. Even if it is swelling and pain, no discharge, check with gp.