messed up menstrual cycle?

i have had my period for 2 weeks now, with very heavy flow. has this happened to anyone else on Atkins?. could it be the diet? I'm 43 years old and have never had this happen before.

Well, I'm 43 as well and mine has been all over the place the past two years whether missed all together or heavy and it never goes away (it seems). See a doctor first and foremost, just to make sure nothing is going on on a hormone level! I found out that I had hyperthyroidism - Grave's Disease(don't know if that caused it or not, I didn't ask), but who knows.. it could be signs of early menopause (hate to say that).. could be a number of things. See doc then go from there. Hope that helps!!

Go to doc. Mine has lightened up on the diet. Good luck!

go to the dr, I don't see how any diet would cause it to be heavier and for 2 weeks. it sounds like something else is going on. btw, mine is lighter too.

Happened to me. I had an ultrasound and biopsy just to be safe. Seems maybe at my age 49 1/2 (HA! on the 1/2) I may be pre-menopausal. More of nuisance than a worry. Go to the doctor!!!!!!!!!

Doctor!!! That's the only person who can diagnose it correctly.
My cycle got screwed up when I was still a teenager - but in the opposite way, so I take extra hormones now.
They also found a nodule in my thyroid, which is being checked every year now to make sure it doesn't grow.

Go to the actual Atkins website and do a forum search on that and you will see that it IS very common. There are so many young girls on there with the same problem since eating this way. I am not trying to put the diet down as it has greatly helped me but I am just telling the truth. Just check it out for yourself on the site. I just hated to pass by your post and not tell you. Good luck to you

could be perimenopause. See your doctor.

I *am perimenopausal and have been for years. I haven't had a period in months and lo and behold - I'm bleeding like a stuck pig. Today is day 5 of the little monster. A little more than a coincidence, I would say. If your bleeding doesn't stop or slow down, I would definitely call your doctor.

Thanks for the info Shellbaby - I did what you suggested and it sounds like a lot of women - of all ages and not just of perimenopausal age - experience heavy periods and longer bleed times in the beginning of Atkins. From what I understand, when we burn the fat, the estrogen that is stored in it is released - hence periods starting for women who haven't had one in months, such as myself, and heavy periods that last a few weeks or more for younger women. Makes sense to me.