absent or irreg. periods after ED...?
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absent or irreg. periods after ED...?
| Fri, 11-28-2003 - 8:36am |
Hi,
Please share with me you similar experiences or advice...
I lost about 35 pounds to an ED when I was 16. I lost my period immediately and it was totally absent for 4 years. When I was 20 I put on some weight and my period came back the next month, but is still either very irregular (and extremely light - like spotting) or non-existent. For the past 6 years since then I have been a normal weight, though I took up running and training for marathons (6 days/wk, high mileage). I went on the pill twice for a year long each time in an attempt to regularize my period (never wanted to get on the pill though). I got off the pill last Jan., and had one very brief period in May. In June I decided I wanted to get my period back to normal (like it was when I was a teenager). I cut down on my running to 3 days/wk, low mileage. In Aug., I had 12 days of very bizarre symptoms: extreme bloating, nausea, light pink spotting for a day, extreme tiredness, and browning aeroles (I was convinced I was pregnant). I took two home preg. tests that week - both neg. so I decided to go to the hospital. I had a pelvic ultrasound done to check for cysts - none found...most of the symptoms disappeared or subsided in Sept. but in Oct. they came back with a vengeance. Still no period. I went in for blood tests in Oct. and it was found my already hypothyroidism had gotten a lot worse (doctor said cause of slowing metabolism). I'm on a higher dosage of synthroid now. Sorry this is so long! Thanks to those who have continued reading! :) My blood tests also showed a high LH. Everything else is normal. A gyn. is convinced that I have poly-cystic ovarian syndrome based on the elevated LH. I am not yet convinced of it because of my history, I don't fit the profile of pcos, and because my thyroid is so out of whack. I am not totally dismissing it, but I think I should give my body a chance to adapt to the changes I've made and the changes in my thyroid levels...
Has anyone else gone through a similar thing...- i.e., big changes that cause strange hormonal reactions? How long did it take you to get your period back after an ED...? I would appreciate reading anything you have to share with me about your post-ED period struggles. Thanks for listening!
Sincerely, Trisha
Please share with me you similar experiences or advice...
I lost about 35 pounds to an ED when I was 16. I lost my period immediately and it was totally absent for 4 years. When I was 20 I put on some weight and my period came back the next month, but is still either very irregular (and extremely light - like spotting) or non-existent. For the past 6 years since then I have been a normal weight, though I took up running and training for marathons (6 days/wk, high mileage). I went on the pill twice for a year long each time in an attempt to regularize my period (never wanted to get on the pill though). I got off the pill last Jan., and had one very brief period in May. In June I decided I wanted to get my period back to normal (like it was when I was a teenager). I cut down on my running to 3 days/wk, low mileage. In Aug., I had 12 days of very bizarre symptoms: extreme bloating, nausea, light pink spotting for a day, extreme tiredness, and browning aeroles (I was convinced I was pregnant). I took two home preg. tests that week - both neg. so I decided to go to the hospital. I had a pelvic ultrasound done to check for cysts - none found...most of the symptoms disappeared or subsided in Sept. but in Oct. they came back with a vengeance. Still no period. I went in for blood tests in Oct. and it was found my already hypothyroidism had gotten a lot worse (doctor said cause of slowing metabolism). I'm on a higher dosage of synthroid now. Sorry this is so long! Thanks to those who have continued reading! :) My blood tests also showed a high LH. Everything else is normal. A gyn. is convinced that I have poly-cystic ovarian syndrome based on the elevated LH. I am not yet convinced of it because of my history, I don't fit the profile of pcos, and because my thyroid is so out of whack. I am not totally dismissing it, but I think I should give my body a chance to adapt to the changes I've made and the changes in my thyroid levels...
Has anyone else gone through a similar thing...- i.e., big changes that cause strange hormonal reactions? How long did it take you to get your period back after an ED...? I would appreciate reading anything you have to share with me about your post-ED period struggles. Thanks for listening!
Sincerely, Trisha

Hi Trisha and welcome to the board. I will try to answer your questions as best as I can, but
Love & hugs, Kristina
I really appreciate your advice. I will try the Don Quai Black Cohosh mixture. At the time the symptoms started I was under stress (working a lot) so that may have been a factor like you say. Though for Oct. - well, I was back in school (I'm 26) and not having any more stress than usual - in fact, it's been a good semester...I guess you've never had bloating, nausea, etc. due to changes in your thyroid level...? Those symptoms are truly mystifying me. I had my estrogen tested too and that was normal (at least at the time of testing.) My LH level was the only out of range one (for the "follicular phase")...I will take look at the www.saliva.com site too (thanks)...I think will look into your other suggestions (such as getting in touch with your or some other nutritionalist)once my thyroid levels have had time to adjust and if the symptoms don't go away with that (my budget is not so flexible - especially with Christmas coming!) Oh, one more question: I've read that a pelvic ultrasound won't show any smaller ovarian/uterine/bladder cysts but that you need a vaginal ultrasound to be sure...(I've also heard that a pelvic ultrasound is sensitive enough to pick up cysts - small or large)...what do you think? Thanks again!
Trisha
The did run a vaginal US on me but it was just to see the exact location of uteran fibroids they found.
Most doctors will check your estrogen level but not your progesterone levels. You really need to check both because they work together and it is not true that the progesterone level does not affect you overall symptoms.
Good luck and I hope you will feel better.
Love & hugs, Kristina
The opinions I have expressed here are from my own experience and are not intended as medical advice or to take the place of your own physician's advice.
Love & hugs, Kristina
Im 18 and I have had anorexia for 3 yrs. I can totally relate to your probelm. My periods are very irregular too. I am at a healthy weight but I find that my period either skips 2 months or shows only for 3 days. Before my ED, I had my period every month for like 5 days. Now I'm sorry because I don't know what could be causing this. I haven't gone to a doctor about htis because currently I dont have any health insurance. All I know is I dont smoke,drink caffeine, over exercise or under a lot of stress.
Good luck on finding the source and please tell me if you do.
Yeah, I would guess the anorexia has everything to do with your irregular periods...don't give up hope. It takes a long time for the body to adjust to the big changes after recovery from an ED. My sister had anorexia and bulimia very seriously for 10 years and it took her another 9 years to get her period on track - she happily reported 4 consecutive months of normal periods a couple of days ago. It's been a long 9 years for me waiting for my period to regularize and stay for more than a day. I think my running interfered with my recovery though. Anyway, this is not to scare you! I'm sure if you take care of yourself and are patient with yourself your period should show again...I'll keep you posted on what's going on with me...I'll be going back to the doctor mid-Dec. (when my thyroid pills should've kicked in) if the symptoms don't go away or if my period doesn't show...hopefully I'll get a clearer picture of things...
take care!
Trisha
You are experiencing bloating, sore breasts and cramping too?! I've been all over ivillage (thyroid, PCOS - a gyn. diagnosed me based on a blood test that showed slightly elevated LH though I don't fit the profile (though I'm not entirely disregarding the idea either), pregnancy message boards) and no one could relate to these symptoms. (By the way, it's not true that your period has to come back immediately after getting off the pill - it can take up to a year for some women, though normally it takes about 2-3 months.) Low body weight could be causing the delay in period, but if you are at a normal weight now and eat heathily it could just be because of the hormonal changes caused by the pill and post-ED recovery...You can get a blood test too to see if your hormone levels are normal. Anyway, I am amazed that someone can relate to my symptoms - can you please keep in touch if you find ANYTHING out - I am at my wit's end with these symptoms and feeling sick all the time - my email is bunnicula@sympatico.ca or post on this board if you're not comfortable emailing me. I'll keep you updated on anything I find out too...thanks for sharing your experiences with me! Take care and good luck!
Trisha