Could I be having a "mega-period" and could it cause these symptoms?
Asked by
Mariah (
25883
)
April 4th, 2011
My surgery in January really scrambled up my menstrual cycle and I hadn’t had a period since then, until today.
By missing my period a few months in a row, could I have had any sort of “build up” of hormones causing my current period to be more intense than usual? I don’t know if this happens, but it seems like it could.
If I am having a “mega-period” lol could that cause me to have PMS symptoms way far in advance? My appetite has been extremely poor for a couple of weeks now, I’ve been waking up with headaches for the past several days, and I’ve been very low on energy for the last several days too. Is it possible for PMS to begin a few weeks before your period, especially if it’s the first one you’ve had in a while?
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12 Answers
All I know is it sounds like your hormones are totally screwed up. What sort of surgery did you have?
@snowberry I had abdominal surgery (colectomy to be specific). It is common for me to miss periods when I have big changes in my body (missed my period when I had a kidney stone a few years back, for example) so the missed periods weren’t surprising.
Menstruation isn’t exactly associated with a buildup of hormones (although you do need progesterone to signal your body to shed uterine lining). The pre-menstrual period is actually associated with a relative decrease in estrogen and progesterone.
I don’t know much about surgery, but it seems entirely possible to me that can result in changes in lots of hormones, not just the ones involved with menstruation—stress hormones, for instance, like cortisol and epinephrine. And these might also be involved in the symptoms you’re experiencing.
@nikipedia Okay, thanks. I had no idea if my thought process there was logical at all, haha. Could missing two periods have changed my hormonal balance at all, do you think?
I would think that the influx of stress hormones would have happened soon after the surgery and wouldn’t be hitting me now, almost three months later. But I don’t know.
I would go the other way… missing two periods is good evidence that your hormones were not cycling normally :)
Hormones are weird, dude. There are all kinds of feedback loops and stuff. But are there other explanations? How’s your diet, post-op?
@nikipedia Right. That makes much more sense. XD
My diet is pretty normal, although I don’t have a colon anymore so I’m obviously losing electrolytes and water like mad. I’m drinking a ton of water to try and counteract that, but I should probably be drinking Gatorade too. And like I said, I’ve had a very poor appetite recently, so I’ve been losing a little weight.
I second @nikipedia assessment. Sorry that you’ve been unwell. And hormones are a bitch. Stress can have a lot to do with messing with hormones. Going through surgery with general aesthetic is quite stressful on the body and our anxiety about surgery and being ill certainly adds to that stress.
I hope things return to normal for you soon and you’re feeling much better.
I don’t think the concept of a ‘mega-period’ makes any sense to me. I think you just didn’t have your period and now you’re having one and your body is re-adjusting so it might feel as if it’s worse/longer/heavier than usual.
I think that you might want to run your symptoms by your doctor. They do not sound like PMS to me.
Oh my god you guys, now I think I’ve become allergic to my pads…. WORST PERIOD EVER.
Thanks for all the input. I figured the idea of the “mega-period” was just a silly concoction of my brain. XD
Regarding your pad issue, consider this option: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/11/make_your_own_pad.php Lots of sites offer already-made-pads in designer colors too.
Gives you something to think about anyway. If this intrigues you, try a Google search for allergy to sanitary pads and see what you get.
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