Before we start there is a TMI/Trigger Warning (Menstruation/urine/pain)*** Proceed with caution.

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These last few weeks have honestly been stressful, and I cannot explain what has been going on. I really don’t know. My body is reacting and fighting something, and I don’t have many answers, but I have noticed something.

In April, I went to my family doctor and told her I was not getting my period. I’d had only two periods between Christmas 2023 and my appointment in April 2024. That was not normal for me. I used to get it every month, right on time, and now it’s like I cannot predict when it is going to happen.

From May to June, it was normal—a bit short, but it came pretty much on time, and everything was good.

Then in August, I got nothing at all, and I was retaining so much water and feeling gross the entire month.

Here’s where it gets a little weird. From September 2024 to November 2024 (today’s November 2), so basically two months, I’ve had 5 periods. So in 8 weeks, I’ve had 5 periods. I know it’s not normal, but I’m still on the waiting list to be seen by a gynecologist. I’m not sure if I can get seen sooner because I live in Quebec, and some departments have a 1-2 year waitlist. My last ultrasound didn’t show anything abnormal either.

On October 18, I had a period that lasted about 48 hours, and the worst part about that one was the amount of water I was retaining. I was so bloated and felt like garbage. The retention made me look pregnant, and I only managed to get rid of the water overnight, when I had to pee every hour on the dot.

Now I’ve gotten another one on November 1. The night before, on Halloween, it looked like there was a bit of blood on the toilet paper. I tried to ignore it because it felt like my bladder was swelling. Not sure how to explain it, but that’s basically how it feels at times—when it starts to fill, it causes so much pain (which is why I’m glad to have a consult to go back to the urologist). The following day (November 1), I was at work, and I had to pee very early into my shift. I drank absolutely nothing in the morning, but by 10:30, I couldn’t take it anymore and went. But when I went to pee, it looked pink, like there was a little blood in the urine. I freaked out because, for the last few days, the middle of my back had been hurting a lot, so I worried it might be a kidney infection. In the last few weeks, I’ve had 2 UTIs and was on two types of antibiotics, but the cultures were still showing there was an infection, so I thought it was related.

When I told my mom about it, she suggested I take the night to rest and go to the hospital in the morning if it was still painful. By the time I got home, there was no more blood, so I thought it had something to do with the bladder pain I’d had earlier in the morning, so I let it go.

This morning, I woke up covered in blood, and it seems I’ve officially started my period for the 5th time in 8 weeks. I’ll keep you posted if I get any new appointments or find out why this is happening.