New here, freaking out, please help!!

[Sabine]

Someone on the TTC forum asked:
"My AF** has been a week late, today I have started getting the brown discharge which tells me AF is on its way which will make my Cycle 35 Days when it is usually 28 Days.
Now the Question do I count the brown discharge as day 1 ???"

A whole lot of people responded by saying the cycle only starts on the first day of fresh red flow.
Cue nervous breakdown.

I don't get 'fresh red flow'. Ever.
Now, I know I have some fertility issues (PCOS & Endo), but have I been in complete and utter denial about how bad this is?
I always thought, something is better than nothing? I must be ovulating? Now I'm not so sure. And I am in panic mode. Does this mean I do not have cycles?
The appointment with the specialist (next Monday) just cannot come soon enough. Can this problem be resolved?

I am very frightened for the appointment. I think this may be worse than I thought.
WAY worse.
And I'm not sure I am ready for worse.

Any thoughts/words of wisdom welcome.

~Sabine~

https://alfabeats.blogspot.com/

 

[obe]

I cant really give you any advise hun, but I wish you luck with your FS. Its better to know the answers then you know what your options are xx

 

[Starbright]

Hi
Don't know the answer but I didn't want to read and run.
I hope someone can help answer you concerns
Good luck for your specialist appointment
xx

 

[Crypto1976]

The first day of af is full flow, it may not be bright red. But spotting is not considered to be AF.

Lets not panic.....what do you have every month, when do you have this? What is your length of cycle?

Sorry for asking so many questions but I am hoping to give you some piece of mind. XX

 

[Sabine]

hi guys, thanks so much for your replies.
i usually have a 33-44 day cycle, average around 37 days.
usually have thick,lumpy dark brown 'discharge'.
very little 'flow'. this usually goes on for about 4 days. and sorry to be gross, but usually a panty liner will do for a day.
this is bad, isn't it?
i am worried i should never have stopped the pill so soon and that by doing that i have aggravated the endo. absolutely terrified.
should add i have been off the pill for a year, and been ttc for about 4 months.
Thanks so much for listening
xxx

 

[Crypto1976]

I dont think its neccesarily bad. You have a regular AF- thats good, a little variation is ok. Some people are also lighter than others. I think you need to assess whats normal for you. Have you always bled like this?

If you have regular periods it is likely that you do ovulate, so thats good too. Do you temp or use opks?

I really dont think you should worry in the mean time. Why not try excitement that what ever the outcome you are on the way to see a specialist who can help. You are one step closer to a BFP! Thats all good hun. XXX

 

[peekaboo]

Hi Sabine, sorry I can't really help, but I'm quite interested in this. I don't always get fresh red flow either. I usually do but not every month, sometimes its much darker and lighter and sometimes its full on red. Weird, but I'd be interested to know what FS says. Good luck and don't worry too much. In fact I remember ages ago a girl posting on this forum saying her AF was REALLY light and only lasted a couple of days and she still got a BFP. xx

 

[Sabine]

Thanks for your replies and support ladies, really appreciate it.
I have endemetriosis, so I am pretty sure this is related and that the lining is not shedding as it should every month, which is what gives me cause for concern.
I was on the pill before for many years, and taking 3-6 packs back to back without withdrawal bleeds at the advice of my gynea.
This was just too much for my body so I decided to stop the pills 1 year before TTC to give my body a chance to recover. I think this may have backfired and am petrified it may have made the situation worse.
anyway, I will post the FS's reply here on Monday. Hopefully he will say all is fine. But if not, I am booked in for a lap on 29th Dec.
Can not come soon enough.
xxx

 

[skittles]

Not sure of this helps but I had my non hormonal coil out over a year ago(on cycle 15 now) and although I went back to a regular 28 day cycle straight away my periods were not full red flow instead brown alternating between clotty and watery(sorry TMI). Also I was spotting a small amt of brown cm/discharge 2/3 days before AF.

I found an article on chinese medicine which claimed brown flow was a sign of blood stasis...meaning your system is getting clogged up and not flowing properly. It is also linked with endo as mentioned earlier.... acupuncture was mentioned as a good solution to this issue.

After just 2 sessions of acupuncture my next period was back to normal no spotting days before...a tiny bit of brown blood at start of AF then a hour later normal full red flow. I am now on 3rd AF since starting acupuncture and all have been "normal".

I know that I have not had my BFP yet but I feel my body is now behaving and it will hopefully happen soon!

Acupuncture might not be the cheapest treatment but it is definitely relaxing and I truly believe it is making positive changes to my body

 

[Dilek]

Hi

I have endo as well, and my periods were just like yours quite light lasts maybe 4 days and maybe 1 day of bright red and the rest brown spotting. From what I know and have read for the past year most girls with endo have usually heavy periods that last a while and there in loads of pain. But ofcourse everyone is different.

When ive been with my specialist all they asked was if it was regular, not how long a cycle is but does it come about the same time every month. They are not too interested if its red, brown or blue. I think your appointment will go well.

Are you having any endo related pain?

 

[Lou32]

Hi - I'm currently having acupuncture too and was told that the brown blood usually means you have stagnant blood. I usually get it at the start and end of AF (and it's extremely common). Anyways, I didn't get any brown blood my last AF (which was after about 3 acupuncture sessions), so it might be worth considering. If you do go for it, make sure you ask if they have experience with fertility issues. Zita West has an acupuncture network and I've found my acupuncturist really helpful not just with my AF, but providing a shoulder to cry on!

 

[Sabine]

you guys are great, thanks so much!
To answer your questions, I am having very very mild period pain. nothing like when i was first diagnosed with endo, and also no endo related pain...
until you asked I hadnt thought about that - is that weird?

Because I didnt have a natural periods for so long, I cant remember what they were like before (i know they were light but cant remember colour/length etc), but they have been like this since I came off the pill a year ago.
I think I am ovulating as i get ovulation pains, but i have been testing only for 2 months, one month i got a positive on the LH, and then next month - nada.
I went for acupuncture last month, and it may have helped a bit - will keep at it if i can afford to. How often should I go?

and finally, a question for the UK ladies: the GP told me I was being referred to a FS, but I got the referral letter in the post and it says I am going to see a gynae....is that right?!?!

Sorry for the long post, thanks so much to all of you!!!!!!
~s~

https://alfabeats.blogspot.com/

 

[Crypto1976]

yes the FS will be a gynae!

Accupunture is quit controversial- i would wait and speak to fs. Good luck, let us know how you go. XX