Bleeding?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2003
Bleeding?
20
Wed, 10-01-2003 - 6:47pm


Hi everyone!

I am on my 2nd week of Phase II. I've lost 11.5 pounds now...I think I finally broke through my plateau thanks to Alison and Maryann and others for their great advice.

Small problem and a personal one at that...I'm on the Birth Control Pill...been on it for years...but this month, I'm in the second week of pills and I just started bleeding today. A little cramping and enough for a tampon...which is unusual since my periods are seriously light in the first place. has anyone had this side effect from changing their WOE? I'm worried because of the cramping in my back...and because I've never had spotting on the pill...I've been on time and taking my pill everyday. Any advice to put my worries at ease would be great!

A girl at work said she had the same problem...and hers was internal bleeding! :( Scary! But it went away in a couple of days. But still...that can't be good.

Thanks for listening to my worries!!

Amy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2003
In reply to: amydmbfan
Wed, 10-01-2003 - 7:16pm
Hi Amy,

I noticed a slight change in my period while on phase 1 but nothing to be concerned about, for me anyway. You should probably call your GYN just to report what has happened to you. Tell him/her about the diet that you are on and let them be the ones to tell you that everything is OK. This WOE affects everyone differently. Definately call your doctor tomorrow so you can put your mind at ease, that's what he is there for. Have a great night.

Dawn
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: amydmbfan
Wed, 10-01-2003 - 8:17pm
Breakthrough bleeding/spotting is not uncommon during SBD or Atkins. Usually not a long-lasting problem. Your hormone levels are changing... just keep on taking the pills, and you should be fine in terms of contraception.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2003
In reply to: amydmbfan
Wed, 10-01-2003 - 8:27pm


Thanks for the advice from both of you.

The breakthrough spotting...is it supposed to last long? I'm hoping not...one TOM is enough for me! :)

I had no idea that our hormones are effected by this WOE as well?

Thanks in advance.

Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: amydmbfan
Thu, 10-02-2003 - 10:10am
This happened to me too! I just had my annual, and I didn't mention SBD, but my Dr told me that it happens sometimes after you've been on the pill awile. It's something to do with the pill thinning your uterine lining, but sometimes it doesn't all clear out, and then you spot. You can change your pill or take some extra estrogen for a week or so to reduce the lining for a while.

I'm on week 2, which is where this happened the last time, and it isn't happening. I've fallen of the SBD wagon though, and need to get back on.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-23-2003
In reply to: amydmbfan
Thu, 10-02-2003 - 12:14pm
I am so glad to have read these posts! I started spotting about 2 days ago and I am on day 14 of Phase 1 (yippee) and almost 2 weeks away from my my expected period. I am also on the pill and have never had any odd bleeding behaviour before. I thought maybe it was SBD, but couldn't find any information to back that up.

Glad to know I'm not alone :)

Jenn

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: amydmbfan
Thu, 10-02-2003 - 2:14pm
I posted something last week about PCOS sufferers. (polycycistic ovarian syndrome)

There was a physician who posted and said that the reason my period was so heavy is because when you change the levels of insulin in your body it changes other hormones as well.

I guess I never thought about insulin being a hormone, but when you have PCOS, your insulin levels really interefere with your cycle.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: amydmbfan
Thu, 10-02-2003 - 10:56pm
Hi, I was the one who posted in response to your PCOS post last week. This WOE reduces insulin levels, and insulin has a very distinct impact on both estrogen and progesterone (and androgens) as well as other hormones in the body -- for non-PCOS folks as well (it is more pronounced for those with PCOS). When your body has become accustomed to this WOE (after several days) the insulin levels come down and the distribution of the hormones start to change (they get better!). Also, as you lose fat cells you are reducing the amount of estrogen and androgens in your body, which is another good effect. For one thing, improving this hormonal balance plays a large role in the way your body metabolizes fats -- and therefore affecting your blood lipid (cholesterol) profile -- again in a positive way. This is one of the reasons that people with PCOS usually have such poor blood lipid profiles, and why it gets better with this WOE and with weight loss.

Insulin plays a role in SO many bodily functions, that when you do something (like this WOE) to normalize your insulin levels, and stop the back-and-forth peaks and dips in insulin/glucose, you are positively impacting so many different metabolic and endocrine functions in your body that I can't begin to describe it.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2003
In reply to: amydmbfan
Thu, 10-02-2003 - 11:16pm


Then why do I get spotting...not even spotting...this is almost a full on TOM? I would think it would stop bleeding before causing it...with our leveling out of hormones and all. Like when a person who is loosing weight would not get their period, versus getting more? I just keep thinking of a couple of fellow gymnasts that had lost their period because of their weight loss or exercising. I'm just frustrated because one period a month is plenty for me and having this in the middle of the month is not fun. :( Any advice...to make it stop would be great. Doing great on the diet other than that! :)

Thanks for the explanation.

Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: amydmbfan
Fri, 10-03-2003 - 10:55am
I would not think this will be something that will go on and on. If it does, definitely see your doc. This is just my opinion and I am speaking in general terms here (disclaimer, blah blah blah...) but when you lose weight, you are reducing the overall level of estrogen in your body. In the menstrual cycle rising levels of estrogen are what are responsible for buildup of the uterine lining and falling levels are responsible for separating that lining from the uterus (menses -- or spotting). When your cycles regulate again things should stabilize. Falling levels right now = spotting/bleeding. It will establish a new set point.

The athletic amenorrhea or lack of periods seen in athletes and/or those with extreme weight loss is something that happens over a period of time which is associated with loss of too much body fat, not enough estrogen in the body even to build up the lining in the first place (so there is nothing to slough off at the end of the cycle -- therefore no bleeding). You've had sufficient estrogen in your system and you've already got that buildup, though (you're about mid-cycle, right?) so the decrease in estrogen levels you are seeing is causing the buildup to loosen. Does this help?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-23-2003
In reply to: amydmbfan
Fri, 10-03-2003 - 11:25am
That definitely helps me. I was just about to respond to Amy's message that this is more than spotting, almost like another TOM. That is what I have had this week too. My "regular" period is only ever 2-3 days at most where as this "spotting" has been going on for almost 5 days now, and quite heavily. Your explanation (medically correct or not) helps a lot. It makes perfect sense and I will see this inconvenience as another validation of the fact that I am losing weight! Must always find the positives in things :)

Thanks again!

Jenn

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