Spotting Question (with waaaay TMI involved)

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

First things first, I'm not TTC. I have a cycle question and thought you lovely ladies may be able to answer.

Now my question. I?ve never had spotting at the start of my period before, only on the last day sometimes. Last period I had no pre-menstrual signs at all, just woke up at 4-5am and needed painkillers? then saw the blood pouring down my thigh. (Sorry if this is TMI, I did warn you in the title!) Normally I get more notice, but the big gush thing is normal for me. I lose most of my blood on the first 2-3 days, the rest is just really light (but heavier than spotting IYKWIM).

This cycle, I got some spotting on the Saturday. I realised what it was when I was going to bed. Then I got a bit more on Sunday. I thought AF was well and truly due so got all prepared. Had the screaming backache this morning at work. Still nothing, just tiny, tiny bits of spotting, less than 1mL a day I would think.

Is this normal? 3 days of spotting? Should it be brown with a tiny bit of red in once? Is AF due or am I in for a really long and light one this time? I've had no PMS either, even DH commented on the fact I was being normal and rational (PMSL, I did later sulk because he didn't say I looked pretty when I asked him) although I did eat over a quarter of a batch of chocolate fudge yesterday and only stopped because I'd finished it all.

I am due... now if not before. Think this has been about a 5w cycle; I've had 28-31 day cycles since February. (January/February was a 3w cycle, before that nothing since having DS, before DS I was about 6w which I liked a lot more than these "blink and you're on again" cycles.) So am I going back to "normal"? The 6w (5-8w) cycles were only for about 8m before I fell pg, before that it was the Pill (for about 8 years, latterly I'd take 2 packs then have a week off so 7w cycles not 4w cycles), before that 3-7w was normal, but I was still at school then.

So is it normal to just change so suddenly and all of a sudden get cycles longer and spottier? And what exactly is spotting? Am I having it? I have just a tiny smear of brown blood, only just covers the floor of my mooncup, with a tiny tiny bit of red in there once. How long does it usually last? Is 3 days normal? Or is this short or long?

Pre-DS I would get ALL the period signs and no AF for another couple of weeks (OK, once). But I didn't get spotting then. I've never, ever had spotting before. So that's why I'm wondering why now and can anyone share a similar story?

I promise I'll share about the green mucus again if you all share with me PMSL!

[Cricket]

Ryn, I'm sorry, I can't really answer any of your questions. I've had my cycle do some screwy things lately too, but I still have "normal" bleeding. It could be that you are still adjusting hormonally, since weaning your DS, and your body is going back to it's previous normal length cycle (6-8wk), but with the cramping and the spotting, that sounds a little odd. Should you maybe POAS? Hope you get things figured out soon!

[Jennifer13]

RHF - have you taken a pg test just to be sure?

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I should add that I had a bad neurological episode last month - I'm thinking this may have done something to me too. I'm not pg; I'd have some sort of pg symptom by now (please do not comment on that).

I'm just curious as to if pre-AF spotting is normal and how long it lasts.

Thanks to me being really ill last month, I may just have a late period, or a light one, then be back to "normal" (whatever that means) next cycle.

Need to get in touch with my neurologist again and get a firm diagnosis; one of the ones we're playing with has cycle implications too.

[Cricket]

Well, the more I hear from other women, and the more I experience myself, I'm finding that "normal" is a very hard thing to determine, especially during the pregnancy/nursing/weaning years. The way that your own body may react to the hormonl changes, combined with whatever stresses and issues you may have in your life may be completely different from the way someone else's body may react. I hope you get some conclusive answers soom! All the best!