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charlie horse like cramp in lower left abdomen
steffie06072008 posted:
My periods have decided to come and go when they want. To start I never had cramps and bleed very little for 3 days then I had my first child who was a c-section baby. After c-section my periods were very heavy and very very painful. The first day it was best I just stay in bed layin on heat. I was told my uterus is backwards. Instead of flowing with gravity it fights againist. Now 14 yrs later it likes to skip a month here and there. but I never start the same time every month. Like for example from aug till now this is how it has been. Aug. start date was 8-15 then skipped sept and oct start date was 10-25 then nov start was 11-5 then Dec start date was 12-10 all were 3 days heavy with med cramps till Dec. Dec was 5 days very heavy,lots of clots with charlie horse like craps on left side. Maybe 4-5 times a day. One time I was standing in kitchen fixing a drink when the pain hit me and was so bad i went to my kness doubled over. Any advice what is going on?
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:charlie horse like cramp in lower left abdomenMy periods have decided to come and go when they want. To start I never had cramps and bleed very little for 3 days then I had my first child who was a c-section baby. After c-section my periods were very heavy and very very painful. The first day it was best I just stay in bed layin on heat. I was told my uterus is backwards. Instead of flowing with gravity it fights againist. Now 14 yrs later it likes to skip a month here and there. but I never start the same time every month. Like for example from aug till now this is how it has been. Aug. start date was 8-15 then skipped sept and oct start date was 10-25 then nov start was 11-5 then Dec start date was 12-10 all were 3 days heavy with med cramps till Dec. Dec was 5 days very heavy,lots of clots with charlie horse like craps on left side. Maybe 4-5 times a day. One time I was standing in kitchen fixing a drink when the pain hit me and was so bad i went to my kness doubled over. Any advice what is going on?
Jane Harrison Hohner, RN, RNP responded:
Dear steffie:You had an 84 day cycle followed by a 10 day cycle, then a 33 day cycle. The most common reason for a menstrual pattern like you have described is not having an ovulation every month. In a normal cycle, estrogen is produced all month. Estrogen is responsible for building up the lining of your uterus so you have something to shed each month.
In a normal cycle, progesterone production increases following ovulation and release of an egg.. Progesterone "stabilizes" the uterine lining in preparation for a possible implantation of a new pregnancy. If you are not pregnant that month the levels of estrogen and progesterone fall, triggering the release of the uterine lining—your period.
So, if you do not ovulate, the estrogen build up of the lining continues, but without the usual ovulation associated progesterone. Thus, the hormone levels don't decline, and the lining stays up inside the uterus—your missed/super late period. Alternatively, the built up lining can begin to shed on its own creating erratic bleeding patterns which are usually "too-light" or super heavy and prolonged.
There can be MANY causes for not ovulating: low thyroid, pituitary problems, ovarian cysts, physical stressors (eg sudden increases in exercise, crash dieting), emotional stressors (problems with partners, kids, money), increased body weight, anorexia, rotating shifts at work, etc. There is no specific linkage for pregnancy or C-section causing missed ovulations---unless one gained a lot of "baby weight".
steffie a new onset of pelvic pain can suggest a current ovarian cyst. Yet, if you have had this for 14 years, a cyst would not be the culprit. If you have not had your thyroid level checked that may be a good idea as hypothyroid can cause long term interference with ovulations. Cycles without preceding ovulations can produce much heavier flows which can lead to increased intensity of cramping. I would urge you to see your GYN or clinic about the increasingly severe cramping, they can also look for causes of irregular cycles.
Yours,
Jane
In a normal cycle, progesterone production increases following ovulation and release of an egg.. Progesterone "stabilizes" the uterine lining in preparation for a possible implantation of a new pregnancy. If you are not pregnant that month the levels of estrogen and progesterone fall, triggering the release of the uterine lining—your period.
So, if you do not ovulate, the estrogen build up of the lining continues, but without the usual ovulation associated progesterone. Thus, the hormone levels don't decline, and the lining stays up inside the uterus—your missed/super late period. Alternatively, the built up lining can begin to shed on its own creating erratic bleeding patterns which are usually "too-light" or super heavy and prolonged.
There can be MANY causes for not ovulating: low thyroid, pituitary problems, ovarian cysts, physical stressors (eg sudden increases in exercise, crash dieting), emotional stressors (problems with partners, kids, money), increased body weight, anorexia, rotating shifts at work, etc. There is no specific linkage for pregnancy or C-section causing missed ovulations---unless one gained a lot of "baby weight".
steffie a new onset of pelvic pain can suggest a current ovarian cyst. Yet, if you have had this for 14 years, a cyst would not be the culprit. If you have not had your thyroid level checked that may be a good idea as hypothyroid can cause long term interference with ovulations. Cycles without preceding ovulations can produce much heavier flows which can lead to increased intensity of cramping. I would urge you to see your GYN or clinic about the increasingly severe cramping, they can also look for causes of irregular cycles.
Yours,
Jane
Report This| Share this:charlie horse like cramp in lower left abdomenDear steffie:You had an 84 day cycle followed by a 10 day cycle, then a 33 day cycle. The most common reason for a menstrual pattern like you have described is not having an ovulation every month. In a normal cycle, estrogen is produced all month. Estrogen is responsible for building up the lining of your uterus so you have something to shed each month.<br /><br />In a normal cycle, progesterone production increases following ovulation and release of an egg.. Progesterone "stabilizes" the uterine lining in preparation for a possible implantation of a new pregnancy. If you are not pregnant that month the levels of estrogen and progesterone fall, triggering the release of the uterine lining—your period. <br /><br />So, if you do not ovulate, the estrogen build up of the lining continues, but without the usual ovulation associated progesterone. Thus, the hormone levels don't decline, and the lining stays up inside the uterus—your missed/super late period. <u>Alternatively, the built up lining can begin to shed on its own creating erratic bleeding patterns which are usually "too-light" or super heavy and prolonged</u>.<br /><br />There can be MANY causes for not ovulating: low thyroid, pituitary problems, ovarian cysts, physical stressors (eg sudden increases in exercise, crash dieting), emotional stressors (problems with partners, kids, money), increased body weight, anorexia, rotating shifts at work, etc. There is no specific linkage for pregnancy or C-section causing missed ovulations---unless one gained a lot of "baby weight". <br /><br />steffie a new onset of pelvic pain can suggest a current ovarian cyst. Yet, if you have had this for 14 years, a cyst would not be the culprit. If you have not had your thyroid level checked that may be a good idea as hypothyroid can cause long term interference with ovulations. Cycles without preceding ovulations can produce much heavier flows which can lead to increased intensity of cramping. I would urge you to see your GYN or clinic about the increasingly severe cramping, they can also look for causes of irregular cycles.<br /><br />Yours,<br />Jane
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