Daughter AF help.

[fairyfrog]

Sorry to post this here but I have a few questions that some of you might have answers to. My daughter started her period at 10. Her first period lasted 3 months then a break for a month and then lasted a month, then a month break then lasted another 2 months. I took her to the doctors and they put her on Birth control which was a really bad idea took her off only after a month due to cramping, hemorrhaging, and vomiting. Found out later that you shouldn't start birth control till after you stop growing. I told the doctor I that she would not be taking anymore birth control and that I wanted an ultra sound to see what was going on. It turns out that she might have a double uterus or a heart shaped uterus testing at that time would have been to traumatic. She is now sixteen and continues to have 1-3 month long periods but with 3-6 month breaks. I think it is possible she might have pcos. She now uses a large lady cup and has been doing so for 3 years tampons weren't cutting it. Her periods are really heavy sometimes I give her wombstringe hemostatic herbs for times that she starts hemorrhaging. At night she has to use depends in addition to her lady cup. She has always been a large boned girl and puts on weight very fast. She is active and our house is void of sugar and junk. Does anyone have any advice on what tests to request or things to ask the doctor that would send them in the right direction or possible supplements that might help. She does tend to grow facial hair and muscle fast. She is not sexually active nor has been.

I am trying to get her to chart, but if you have teenagers you know how that goes! We are a proactive family and I know someday she will want children.

Thanks in advance for your opinions and advice.

[nuthinbutpink]

I'm sorry you ate going through this. 10 is really young. Was her BMI extreme at 10? Did you start your period that early?

Weight can ruin you. I have a DD with a genetic condition that makes her put on weight without doing anything. I know from speaking with so many specialists that keeping her weight under control through puberty is critical for her long-term prognosis.

There is no such thing as big-boned. We all have the sane skeletal structure.

I'm not how sure they can identify PCOS but if she is really overweight, that can affect everything.

[Violet_]

Just wanted to say, you should KEEP PUSHING FOR ANSWERS for you DD! Don't give up until you know exactly what she has and how to help her.

Editing to say, you are doing a great job as a Mum and obviously care about her very much. Doctors can be stupid at times. Just keep getting different opinions if you need to, whatever it takes.

[fairyfrog]

She has never been overweight. She started developing at 8.5. She is 5'4" 140lbs. She reminds me of Xena Warrior Princess, big boned and well muscled. We have always been a healthy family...I just know she puts on weight fast, because when she goes to visit family for a month she can put on 20 lbs like nothing. The funny thing is we have always been organic, low meat, low dairy, raw food diet type family so I am glad 'cause who knows what all those hormones would have done. I was a late bloomer...age 15. I am small boned, petite. She follows more after my sister. In fact people always mistake her for my sister's daughter. No one on my side has really had these kind of problems. I think I will just take her in again and see what her options are now, because she is now more mature and I think she might be okay with tests at this stage of the game. We are thinking of trying Vitex.

[Violet_]

I do understand what you mean by big boned. My DS3 is quite a big boy. He wears size 3 and 4 clothes and isn't even 17 months yet. He has very wide shoulders (and got stuck on the way out), as does his father (my partner has the broadest shoulders and is a big man by stature). My baby son was wearing size 2 clothes at 3 months old. He was straight out of his baby clothes. He has always been a big boy and while he is a little chubby, he is a healthy weight. He will just be a big man like his day. He was born wearing size 6 month mittens and his feet are huge. So I do get that some kids are just bigger in general. I see other little babies who are in size 000 clothes at 10 months old and he was out of those within weeks of birth. I feel I missed out on him being a baby. Just my experience with a bigger child.

[Rainbow baby]

I have no advise but I started my lady's very early 10, also they were very heavy and painful and was put on birth control and ended up getting a fibroid so they took them off me. I suffered for years with heavy painful periods. Altough very embarasing for her medically she is bleeding quiet heavy for some time I would worry about iron levels and want a blood test. If she was my little girl I would insist they did a full lady check up hormones and all and talk maybe about a low dose pill to help with hormones or something? with a lady doctor of course. Just so you know nothing is wrong with me my heavy painful periods have gotten better since I had my fist baby for whatever reason that may be.

[LacePrincess]

I'm so sorry your daughter is struggling.

Ok so my kneejerk reaction was to want to kick your original doctor! Omg, who puts a 10 year old on hormonal bc?!? Ack!! It's perfectly normal to have wonky cycles when starting your period, as the body is still growing, adjusting, adapting, and hormones are still getting regulated. It's possible that bcp so early could have thrown off her hormones as she was still growing, and that her current difficulties might be related to that as her body was confused right when it was trying to figure things out in adolescence.

Her current cycles sound like they're really messed up though. I would see if you can get her to an OBGYN for sure and go from there. She's only 16 so she might even be able to go see a specialist at a children's hospital, if you have a good one where you are. I would for sure insist on getting to a gynecological specialist who sees children/teenagers, as your daughter's issues started at 10.

I really wouldn't jump to conclusions about PCOS or anything so soon. It could be any manner of causes, endometriosis, fibroids, etc. So hard to tell without more tests. And she's still currently growing too, so it's not weird to have messed up periods in your teen years, but that sounds like really heavy bleeding that needs to be addressed.

GL, keep us updated!

[LacePrincess]

Oh, and please don't start her on Vitex!! Vitex messes with hormones too. Right now I *really* think you need to not do anything until you find a specialist you trust. You don't want to make things worse!

If you feel comfortable going down the naturopathic path then you need to find a naturopathic doctor to guide your daughter. I really feel strongly that with a growing and developing body, you just don't play the guessing game as you can do so much more harm than good.

Rainbow, excellent point about checking iron levels! Great suggestion. And it's not odd at all to have painful periods/endometriosis get better after childbirth. Actually, lol, it's a recommendation to relieve endo, to have a baby! Additionally, women will tend to have lighter and less painful periods as they get older too. I had much more painful and long periods as a teen than I do now.

[fairyfrog]

Thanks for all the advice. My daughter was only on birth control for 2 weeks. She reacted very quickly and that is when I stopped and demanded an ultrasound. I found a new doctor who agreed that you should not start BC until you are done growing which by the way I was told for females it is 2 years after you start your period. My daughter hasn't grown an inch since she turned 14. I have an appointment for her this Friday with a specialist.

[LacePrincess]

GL fairy! I hope the specialist is the right one to help your daughter!