Can they do much for heavy periods?

[lesbihonest]

I’ve had problems with my periods for years, PCOS and endometriosis diagnosed . Usually don’t have much of an obvious period at all - not since my early twenties anyway . This month and last I’m flooding, passing blood clots, and very uncomfortable.

I’m guessing there’s little the NHS can do? I’ve had a mirena in the past and hated it .. also had northisterine, decapeptyl, and nexplanon.

Had mini pill before that which I always got on fine with and not sure why I stopped it , I seem to remember a GP saying the NHS didn’t like to provide it until you’d tried all forms of LARC instead .

[lesbihonest]

Fuck - posted too soon, sorry ! Is there much the NHS can or would do, or can you buy the mini pill or something? I’m having to double up and absolutely knackered , anything to get it sorted would be a blessing !

[pawpawpawpaw]

I've taken transexamic acid for mine, worked really well for heavy bleeding, but I think mine are down to being perimenopausal. If this is an ongoing problem there may be a more appropriate treatment.

[Fiddlemesticks]

Tranexamic acid helps me. It's not perfect, but better. I've had it for about a year. GP prescribes it on a rolling basis.

[pawpawpawpaw]

Tut, sorry for typo, 'tranexamic acid'.

[PicsInRed]

There are medications they can prescribe, but first you need a gp appointment and a referral as your symptoms need other more serious causes excluded first.

Make it a priority, this week. 💐

[FudgeBrownie2019]

I tried tanexamic acid, mefenamic acid and various pills plus the mirena coil. None of it touched the sides and after 7 years of crazy periods from having DS2 I saw a private gynaecologist. She suggested Endometrial Ablation and it is far and away the best thing I could have had.

It absolutely isn't right for everyone and there are some horror stories out there about it going wrong etc, but for me it revolutionised my life. I no longer need supplements for anaemia, don't get out of breath climbing the stairs, and don't have to worry about staying over at hotels/friends homes/holidays because the flooding would be so bad that I'd end up sleeping on puppy pads to try and ensure I didn't destroy people's sheets.

[screwthedoldrums]

Agree with @FudgeBrownie2019. I've not bled at all since my ablation. You have to be sure you don't want any/any more children though

[lesbihonest]

I’ve contacted the surgery; they have a system where you now have to email in whatever the problem is and someone will get back to you within 10 days with an answer or to book an appointment... So hopefully someone rings soon, won’t be much use for this period but might help with the next .

I remember tranexamic acid yes .

Not sure re children, that was suggested a few years ago when I was 21 to get an ablation but I’m not sure .

[uncomfortablydumb53]

I had an endometrial ablation at 46 as my flooding was hard to live with
Never had another period It was life changing for me
You could try tranexamic acid first

[LaszlosHat]

I had an ablation seven years ago and it was life changing. I've not had a bleed since.

[FudgeBrownie2019]

Wow - I was honestly expecting an absolute pasting for suggesting ablation - I joined a Facebook group about it when my gynaecologist suggested it and the whole place was flooded with people telling me it's never successful, it's never the right choice etc. Who'd have guessed so many women would have had successful ones?

[1fluffydoodle]

Ablation hasn't worked for me.... now waiting for a hysterectomy as a last resort

[thestringcheesemassacre]

I had a giant fibroid and had a hystectomy as the first treatment as I couldnt face any more traumatic weeks of bleeding. It literally changed my life.

[screwthedoldrums]

@lesbihonest I would try other things before ablation given your age. It may settle down. Mine were awful at your age then settled but it all kicked off again after I had a copper coil around 34.

@FudgeBrownie2019 I've read about women who only got temporary relief from ablation but it worked perfectly for me 👍🏻

[thestringcheesemassacre]

Oh sorry posted without seeing the children bit. I hope you can get something sorted. Definitely try the tran acid stuff, that helped me for abit

[CottonSock]

I take iron and contraceptive pill, mini pill didn't work

[dementedpixie]

If mini pill worked before then ask for it again.

[AddressLabel]

I tried tanexamic acid, mefenamic acid and various pills plus the mirena coil. None of it touched the sides and after 7 years of crazy periods from having DS2 I saw a private gynaecologist. She suggested Endometrial Ablation and it is far and away the best thing I could have had.

It absolutely isn't right for everyone and there are some horror stories out there about it going wrong etc, but for me it revolutionised my life. I no longer need supplements for anaemia, don't get out of breath climbing the stairs, and don't have to worry about staying over at hotels/friends homes/holidays because the flooding would be so bad that I'd end up sleeping on puppy pads to try and ensure I didn't destroy people's sheets.

OMG, I could have written most of this. I was prescribed both tranexamic acid and mefanamic acid and neither works very well for me. I don’t fancy a coil. I have a fibroid and cervical erosion. I might enquire about an ablation, this wasn’t an option I was given. I’m middle aged and have no intention of having any more children.

[lesbihonest]

I have known people who the coil worked wonders for, my friend got it the same week as me and she was/is delighted with it. She had horrendous bleeding from fibroids I remember and was facing a hysterectomy... but I found it a horrible nagging pain - like it was stabbing me in the cervix - and begged for two years for them to remove it . Pain lingered for about two further years . I wouldn’t have one again at all .

Still waiting on GP ringing but period has slowed a bit today thankfully, still bloody sore though .

[TreacherousPissFlap]

I also take tranexamic acid. My GP was telling me how it's not terribly effective but it works brilliantly for me, and will hopefully prevent surgery as I charge towards menopause.

[MissPiggee]

PCOS sufferer here. Horrible several months long heavy bleeding, huge clots, flooding. Tranexamic acid didn't work. Dianette jsut made me unwell, Yasmin made me unwell. Am on Cerazette/desogesterol pill now and it helps no end. I take it back to back, no periods at all. Also no migraines or PMS. Hoorah! Worth a try.

[LisaxMarie]

I've struggled with this since the age of 11 when my periods first started. Tried mefanamic acid (no longer available in UK), tranexamic acid, mini pill etc. The only thing that really worked was the depo injection for me as it stopped my periods completely. Had an ep last year when we first started ttc and whilst they were doing the surgery to remove they found I had endometriosis and offered surgery to remove it. Decided not to go ahead yet until we've had children but they did say pregnancy may get rid of the endo due to everything stretching.

[relievedlady]

Could have written this

Day two of really bad painful and very heavy period for me.
I spent yesterday in my pjs until late afternoon when I dragged myself into the shower.

I literally spend one week out of four dragging myself round and taking strong pain killers (codiene) aswel as paracetomol every four hours to be able to function properly.

Luckily the last three months I've been furloughed but I'm back to work next week in a physical job and dreading time of the month then because the heavy dragging feeling and pain is horrendous for a few days at a time.

I'm definitely peri. I've held off seeing gp but think I need to go now and look at options.

I've leaked through my pj bottoms at 4 am this morning after changing san pro at 1 am.

[tillytown]

I used to have ridiculously heavy periods, the only thing that worked for me was taking high dose D and combination B vitamins everyday. They also got rid of the weird joints made of water feeling and head aches.

[Rangoon]

I was booked for an ablation. During the operation the surgeon found a fibroid which had not been discovered in pre-operative scans. He removed the fibroid and did the ablation. It made a huge difference to my life - didn't have to sleep on a towel and my iron levels went back to normal.