Hi, I am nearly 43 and in the last two months have started CBT, which is great but has also increased my awareness of my anxious thoughts. She said this was normal as I am learning to challenge them. I tend to get health anxiety when really stressed about other things, I kind of fixate, a need to solve, to know and to be reassured I think.
Anyway, I practically brought myself up and didnt have a mum around to really ask things of and cant talk to my sister, so with regard to female issues, I have often got myself in a pickle and felt like a small girl who is just convinced I havent looked after myself or noticed something. So I thought I would write here for some responses.
In this moment, I am sure that what is happening is natural, a change in my periods for the last two cycles. Over the past year or so the time between cycles has reduced by a couple of days to 25/26 but is regular. The last two cycles though have been really light, usually I can guarantee the flow is light one day(maybe some light brown), moderate/heavy for a couple of days, tapering off for a couple more days, spotting(sometimes browny) for one day and then gone. So about 5/6 days total.
The pattern the last two months has been a day of light brown/pink spotting, moderate/heavy flow for a day maybe nearly 2 and then it stops for maybe 12 hours, followed by very light flow/spotting for a couple more days. There are also no clots and the blood is brighter and more fluid (sorry if TMI).
In the past I have had ovarian cysts which burst, without too much drama (in my 20's and maybe 7 years ago) I had a smear test and a swab last year which were fine, I have a cervial polyp which was found then which doctor said was fine to leave (I was too anxious to have it removed and it was showing no symptoms). I freaked out about the connection to previous cysts etc and was it something awful and she said no, no no, your are NORMAL!
I dont think its the polyp, she said this might cause heavier bleeding or inbetween cycle bleeding if it was to show symptoms. I have also noticed I just dont feel like my period is on its way, no bloating, water retention the day it starts or any heavy feeling or a sensation of ovulation (sometimes used to get slight pinching mid cylce).
All in all I do feel better in myself, over the last year I have been under a lot of stress and working to support my adrenals because I was feeling so tired. So on one hand I think this period might in fact be better e.g lighter and no clots, but its new to me and that in itself is what is freaking me out.
I dont really want to go to the doctor as I suspect she will say watch it and see, sounds ok, maybe your age. It is also part of the CBT to try discerning rationally whether I need to act or not and not to just jump to safety behaviour (Which is probably what writing here is!)
Even though its not normal to me, does this sound like an un-usually light period (length and flow) or a regular period for some. I am pretty sure the signs to really watch for to visit GP are heavy bleeding, the cycles were different in length, mid cycle bleeding, discharge or smell, that continue for a while. I am driving myself crazing imagining this change is really bad and wrong!
Any advise on managing the anxiety of periods changing? Whether anyone at this age has had a change in their periods after years of being the same? I just hate this anxiety as I can tell its more the anxiety than the real symptoms of anything terrible because at this point I am pretty sure I would still feel anxious even if the GP said all was well.
Any reassurance would be greatly appreciated - even my best friend advised her periods went awol about my age and settled again, could be stress or just fluctuating hormones. I still didnt feel reassured! She isnt aware of this flare up in health anxiety. Wish my mum was around and I am 42!!
Thanks for reading
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