Hi girls, here's what's happening to me. I'm 46, had my pouch for 3 1/2 years. Last summer I developed an abscess which has since opened a recto-vag. fistula. I currently have a seton thread drain, going for a fistula plug on May 6. I have had my period for the past 15 days straight. The cycle previous to this, I bled for 11 days. My Dr. has done a test to see if I'm perimenopausal and it came back negative. I've had a biopsy that came back clear. The fistula is bad enough to deal with, never mind this menstrual nonsense on top of it. I'm wondering if the fistula is having some kind of effect on my cycle, as now everything "down there" is connected. Anyone?

Hi Eliane,

I just got back from a great week in Cuba. My fistula enjoyed the trip very much!

I just wanted to comment on the blood thing. My fistula bleeds off and on, on a semi-regular basis. It is very light and it is definitely not my period. Is it this kind of blood you are having? Or is it definitely your period? I am 43 and have been noticing lately that my periods are getting lighter and lighter. I suppose that could be pre-menopause.

So my answer is perhaps not very helpful, but I hope you and your fistula are doing okay

Corie-jay

I don't think there really is a definitive test for being perimenopausal. If they catch it at the right time, I suppose they might find low estrogen levels, but they mainly just rule out thyroid problem. However, the whole thing about being perimenopausal is that you are not menopausal yet. Often, symptoms occur for a decade or more before menopause. Mine began when I was 40. I had longer periods with shorter cycles for years before they became more spread out and shorter periods. You are not considered post menopausal until your periods have ceased for a year.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/perimenopause/DS00554/DSECTION=6

Jan

I was just going to suggest getting your thyroid ruled out as the cause..Jan beat me to it. When my thyroid was out of whack, I bled for over 30 days at a time...then could go several months without a period. It was horrible. Besides the period issues, I was always cold, and I was losing hair by the handfuls. Now that they have the right dose of synthroid, my periods have finally regulated, I've warmed up and my hairloss has slowed down...more or less for a 41yr old!

Thanks ladies, it's finally stopped, so I have a few days grace before they try the fistula plug next Tuesday. I'm sure my period will return then as it usually does after they have poked around down there. Oh woe is me........
Corie-Jay, we're hoping to be able to head to Cuba in early June, but we're waiting to see how this fistula plug holds before we book anything. I'm sure my fistula would enjoy another week in Cuba too!

well, they called this am to delay the plug surgery until 05 June. There are no beds available at the hospital...........