longest time between cycles

Just started spotting this morning, December 16. My last spotting started September 23. This is the longest time between cycles. Interesting.
I am 44 now. Could this be an early sign of menopause?
So far I only have a dull headache at the right temple. It could be from the three glasses of red wine last night.
I had the annual PAP exam in October and all is well.
Thank god for continuous BCPs. They have given me my life back.

Light period this time

I stopped the BCP and had light spotting for several days. Finally my period came but it was light compared to previous cycles. I had the horrible headache a few days, sometimes at the right temple, sometimes at the left temple.

My scalp was tender several days and each time I would rub/massage it firmly and sure enough the pain would go away (after the initial intense pain).

One thing I did notice this cycle is how much clear discharge I had. The blood was light but I was still changing tampons within 4 hours (like a good girl should anyway). I have no signs of a yeast infection so who knows why the heavy discharge (not blood).

I will start the BCP tonight. That made a 9 day break, shorter than previous cycles.

Ahhhh...the dreaded spotting. No wonder I felt badly this afternoon.

This afternoon I noticed I felt bloated like something didn't agree in my intestines. I was a little gassy and felt tired. Sure enough, I was spotting. Now that I take my BCPs continuously I almost forget what it feels like to have an Endo period.

I will not take my BCP tonight or for the next week and see what happens with this cycle...

We never know, do we?

No more headache, down to light flow

Today I am feeling human again!
No more headache. The flow is much lighter. Cramps are minimal.
Hooray!
It's been a week since I stopped taking the BCP. I will resume tonight and see if that will stop the light flow.
Last cycle I waited until I stopped spotting and it took almost two weeks.

Even though experiencing my cycle still in less than enjoyable, my life is much better than before when I would experience a week and a half of hell every two weeks.

Menstrual headache continues

The nagging headache continues...
This morning I woke up and felt a slight headache. I did drink wine last night so I figured, well, today it's my fault.
But, what happened was the headache got worse during the day instead of better.
I've had my fair share of hangovers over the years and this was not a hangover headache.
The headache would get stronger, then back off, then get stronger, then back off. I wonder if my flow was doing the same thing?
All day long I suffered through the pain. I took Advil in the morning, but finally a little after noon I took a half Vicodin. That seemed to help a little once it kicked in. When it wore off, the headache returned strongly. I took more Advil.
The headache is strange how it gets stronger then backs off, but is always still there.
We were hoping to attend a show tonight, but with this pain that I've been enduring for two days, I am wiped out. I am ready for bed.
Tomorrow should be a better day.

Menstrual headache today

Man, I have an obnoxious headache and I have had it all day.
At first I thought, did I drink too much last night?
No.
Oh yeah, this is my menstrual headache.
Shoot, I almost forgot about how I get a headache during my period now. I never got them when I was younger. This started after 40.
This sucks.
I've taken Advil but it's not really helping.
Also, I've been cramping a lot. The cramps are moderate, but considering what I've experienced all my life, moderate is tolerable :-)

Heavier flow after a few days

Finally the flow has really started. It is odd how the spotting is very light for a few days and then..BAM! Whoa Nellie!

A cycle at 10 weeks - I can live with that!

This time I managed 10 weeks until break-through bleeding. Hooray!
The last cycle in April did last a bit longer than normal, but it was fairly light except for the two heavy days at the beginning.
This afternoon I noted some spotting and stopped the pill.
I have been feeling great and so far am very happy to be taking the pill continuously (until I spot),

Not taken BCP for 3 nights and now the heavy begins

This morning I woke up a little tired. I went to the bathroom like usual and whoa nellie! The heavier flow has started.
Within a half hour I started cramping mildly. A half hour later, the cramping is much heavier.
Ick.
Funny thing, I haven't noticed that I had the all-day bad headache like before. I'll have to look back in my blogs but I thought the headache came a day or two before the heavy flow. Hmmm.
So, other than cramping and bleeding, today is going to be a great day! At least it's Sunday.

Finally home and stopping the BCPs

I am finally home and will not take my BCP starting tonight.
I have been lightly spotting since Tuesday (2 days ago) but no other symptoms have started.

Made it another 8 weeks before my period

Early this morning I thought I noticed a slight discoloration when I wiped. Since I didn't feel any cramping or have a headache, I shrugged it off.
Early that afternoon, I was definitely having spotting. Darn!
I made it 8 weeks since my last period, so I guess that's o.k.
Unfortunately I am traveling so I will continue the BCPs until I get home in a couple of days. No sense in allowing the wrath of god to destroy my last few days. And, traveling is always difficult anyway.

Now taking Levora .15/.30 - Been working great!

In the middle of January I noticed I was running pretty low on the Mexican BCP's. Some research on the internet for equivalent U.S. BCP's helped me find that out of all the matches (same dosage), Levora seemed to be the best priced.
Sure enough, Costco has it for $13.75/pak. Awesome! Since it's all out of pocket and a pak only lasts 21 days, I was relieved at the price. Some of the BCP's are upwards of $60/pak! That's insane.
So, I've been on the continuous BCP and just tonight I started spotting. Time to take a week long break. I just happen to have an appt with my Acupuncturist tomorrow so if I'm cramping, he'll be able to help. I noticed I am lightly cramping tonight already.
Without counting the days, I think it's been 8 weeks since my last period. I would like to see a little more time between spotting, but hey, at least it's 8 weeks and not 3!