Prednisone and period question

I have now been on Prednisone 2 1/2 weeks (20 mg now). I noticed blood when wiping on Monday night, and since. However, my period won't seem to come on. I am not bleeding enough for it to come out on a pad. Sorry, I don't know how else to say it. Would Prednisone be stopping my period from coming?

it can cause irregular periods

Is your period due?
What is your platelet?
I dont think that the pred would stop it but I guess it is possible.

LOL. Ok. Yes, my period is due. I am perimenopausal and have had fluctuating periods, but nothing like this were it is like the blood doesn't want to come out! Last check on Friday 2/11, platelets were 58,000. I'll see how it goes. I am now due to see both regular MD and hem on Friday.

Yes, Prednisone can cause irregular periods. It's one of the listed side effects and happened to me.

Thank you, Sandi. I wonder how long this can go on. I am still not getting anything coming out, just see the light pink blood when I wipe. I am sure hoping I can start tapering down the Prednisone, and hoping this light bleeding isn't going to affect my platelet count.

Nah - don't worry about it. It took me a few months after being off of it to get back to normal.

Great, something else to look forward too! :lol:

In the scheme of things, this is small potatoes.

Very true!

Well, I told my hem about this Friday, and he didn't seem concerned. However, it is still going on, so I called today. They had dropped me to 10mg Prednisone starting Saturday, but now I have to go back up to 20 mg. When I asked if this was a side effect of Prednisone, the nurse told me it was my platelets? I am so upset now.

Why are you upset? Honestly, it could be either, but is more likely caused by Prednisone. Some people have prolonged periods or heavier periods because of low platelet counts, but irregular ones are more likely caused by steroids. In my experience, nurses do not know everything and have given me incorrect info many times.

You'll be regular again. It's okay.

Thanks, Sandi. I guess I am upset because the nurse scared me! But, I am also upset because I mentioned this to my hem (and regular doc) on Friday, and the hem dropped me to 10 mg anyway. So, he wasn't concerned about it then? I have got to quit stressing about this stuff, as it is driving me crazy! I did some light yoga tonight just to get my mind off of this, and it did help. Thank you again, Sandi, for the support.

I don't mean to make light of things, but an irregular period is nothing to worry about. I think I am peri-menopausal too...no rhyme or reason to when it comes. I also constantly go up and down on my Prednisone doses and get steroid shots in my neck, so that can be contributing. I wear mini pads and don't give it a thought. This is nothing to stress about.

Your counts, on the other hand, are what you should focus on. How are they, by the way?

My count on Friday was 44,000. Fine in my book, actually good for me! I guess I up to 20 mg of Prednisone for the next 3 days and recheck on Friday. I agree that I should not be stressing about this. I am driving myself and my family crazy! Time for some yoga!

Wanted to get back on and ask how often you all have your platelets checked? I was going every 6 months until 1/28 when I was discovered to be at 21,000. Since then I have been to see the hematologist every week. So, I am curious how often everyone who does the "watch and wait" goes to check the platelet level?

Okay, I am waving my magic wand over you and saying "you will not stress anymore"! Poof!

What were your counts before this recent 21,000 episode?

LOL. Your magic wand is working like a charm! My counts are normally around 32-34,000.

11 months into taking Prednisone, I had the worst episode of irregular periods and I think it is the prednisone. I was bleeding like every other day and it got to a point where huge clumps of blood were part of the bleeds. This was very unusual for me as my counts prior to that had ranged from different numbers. Also at this time, the side effects on my skin from the prednisone were also getting worse. A month later, I was off the prednisone. It took about 5 weeks after stopping the prednisone for my period to come again and it was a normal period. So, for my case, I blame the prednisone because I have heard it messes up with our hormones, thats why we gain weight and other things happen.

Thanks, MDgal. I think it is the Prednisone and/or hormones, as well. I didn't listen and kept the Prednisone at 10 mg today because I did not see any blood at all prior to the time to take my Prednisone. However, when I got home I had just the tiniest amount. I guess I will bump up the Prednisone to 20 like was I supposed to and see where my platelets are on Friday!

MDgal, what type of skin issues are/were you having with Prednisone?

I am also on watch and wait. I have gradually convinced my GP that I am informed and prepared to take responsibility for my actions (ie. I won't be suing or blaming her if we get it wrong). She now orders a couple of blood tests for me when I see her and I decide when to have a blood test. This works well for me as I like to have my tests when I am ready to cope with whatever the results will be.

DCurtis - In ITP land, there isn't much difference between 32 and 21. They are pretty close in range. The recommended treatment level is below 20 or 30, so you were in that area the whole time anyway. I'd consider those to be about the same count and the difference is very close to the margin of error.

Sandi, I understand there isn't much difference in those 2 counts, and I feel the same as you. My hem is one who thinks if you go under 20 you are in a danger zone. This is why I have been so freaked by all of this. He made it sound like I would die if I went under 20 (internal bleeding, brain bleed??). I learned to live with my ITP years ago and have been happily plugging along at counts in the 30,000 with no issues. I do get easy bruising, some petechia at times, but I am not one to get nose bleeds, or gums bleeding, etc.

Don't let that freak you out. Going under 20 doesn't = death by any means. 20 is basically the protocol count to start treatment, not the number that will kill you. Many people have been under 10 for long periods of time and are still here. Dying is very rare. You had the right frame of mind, so don't let him take that away from you. You're going in the right direction anyway, so that's a good start.

Thank you, Sandi. That is exactly how I feel, that he took something from me. Silly, and I should not have let that happen, but I did. Your post definitely made me feel better!

Hey hope this helps a bit, but my hema waits untill im under 10 before treatment, I was sitting at about 4 and 9 for about 4 weeks on the pred, the only reason she gave me IvIG was because I was going to be going home for Christmas. She told me that under 20 that you are mainly at risk if you recieve trauma. that under 10 had a raised risk of spontaneous bleed. This panick changed though when my counts were not rising fast enough and they wanted the hospital bed back.

Hope you are well.

Shen08, Thank you! That helps a great deal. My hem seems to be of the mindset that if I get to 20 he wants to treat. I spotted for 9 days, stopped Tuesday, and today my platelets were at 40,000. He was find with that, so I go back to 10 mg Prednisone for another week and recheck next Friday. He gave me printed information on WhinRho? I can get that as I am rh positive. But, I want to see where my platelets land when I get off Prednisone completely, and that seems to be what he wants to do, as well. I have finally calmed down and am of the mindset now that I am taking my life back and I will control what we do!

I am new at this game, I have been on prednisone since June starting dose was 100mg and was tapered down to 30 mg and stayed on that dose for a while now I am being tapered down and am on 5mg since Friday. I was due to start my cycle on the 28th but have yet to have it. I did take a home pregnancy test which was negative, but I have all the signs of starting like tender breasts and slight cramping. Oh I almost forgot I did finish a 4 week round of Rituxin with 60 of decadron each week. i was wondering if anyone out there has had a late cycle with this regimen. Just a little worried I am never late!

Steroids can cause cycles to be off. Been there.

Can prednisone cause periods to be heavy?

My ITP count was healthy this week but when started periods tuesday, on the wednesday morning when getting up they were heavy and very glad I live on my own. It stabled once been up a while and not at their heaviest for this year but for the whole year they have been heavier for me. Regardless of what the count has been but also feels like I have been on pred for most of the year.

Various people say am too young to be pre menopausal (43). I can imagine pred being blamed though. Few month ago they were definately heavier and very nearly did ring the ward but thankfully settled down once properly 'up' but then my count was lower or it was by the time it was tested that month.

I don't want hormone treatment as messes up the cycle a little. How heavy is too heavy and yes I guess the docs or the GP Doc would blame pred though sheer something to blame....