Stress, Perimenopause, and Irregular Periods

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LisaMomOfFour
LisaMomOfFour Member Posts: 465
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

This may be off topic a bit, but just looking for some others who might have experienced similar bleeding problems post surgery.  In the past three months, I have been diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer, had a BMX on Nov 9th, had my port inserted for chemo just two days ago, have started taking Vitamin D, calcium, multi vitamins, iron, and xanax, all new.  Have also lost roughly thirty pounds due to stress.   Getting ready to start chemo on 12/30. 

My periods have been pretty regular so far, I am 47 years old.  In the past couple of years they started creeping closer together, but were very predictable.  I am now experiencing a strange period, been bleeding, not heavy, just not stopping, and am on day 9 of bleeing, highly unusual for me. 

I am assuming that this is likely a combo of both physical and emotional stress, plus perimenopause.  Anyone experience similar?  I know this means I have to go to my GYN two months ahead of schedule, just to be on the safe side. 

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  • misfit
    misfit Member Posts: 60
    edited December 2010

    I'm premenopausal and normally fairly regular. My problem was different than yours but also stress related. I had just started my period when my surgery got postponed. I turned into a total basket case and my period just stopped completely. I ended up having the surgery 2 weeks later and it came back that day before I went to the hospital. I told my surgeon and she said it was due to stress. I then got another one two weeks after that one finished. I don't know how long it would have taken to get back on track because I started chemo and that messed everything up again.

    So stress must affect our hormone levels, though I'm not sure how or why. Because of that experience I've tried to make managing stress a priority. Exercise helps a lot.

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  • LisaMomOfFour
    LisaMomOfFour Member Posts: 465
    edited December 2010

    misfit, thanks for responding.  Saw my GYN, he did go through an endometrial biopsy, but expects it to come back normal.  Said the prolonged spotting is very due to hormonal craziness, stress, but also, 40 pound weight loss, 30 of it in the last three months.  So I get the results on Monday, but we're not expecting anything.  Thank you for responding to my post.

    I'm also 47 and thinking perimenopause is getting more evident..... really light vague hot flash type feelings, my head gets hot and flushy for a few seconds.... 

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited December 2010

    I'm 49. I have always been 28 days plus or minus 12 hours ;-)

    But once I was diagnosed: July & August was 1 week early and I swear I was having moods swings. September, after my BMX was 1 week late. Then Chemo started in October and the period just stopped… and slight night sweats have started.

    Yes I think stress is part of it and being perimenopausal too. BTW on chemo (current weight) I put on 11 lbs. 8 of them in the last 2.5 weeks. Yes I do think a lot of it is bloat. I'll know for sure when I take the steroids on Monday. They always deflate me by at least 4lbs.

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