To think Im too damn old to be suffering with periods this bad?

[LumpenproletariatAndProud]

In my teens my periods were horrendous, painful, heavy and every 2 weeks.

In my early 20's they calmed to light 3-4 day long periods. I went on the mini pill and it stopped them altogether, bliss.

I had a child, I stayed off the pill and they were still light, short and painless.

I have another child and they returned 8 months post birth. They were horrendous, went to doctors, had a polyp and got it removed.

That was 4 years ago, today they are still horrendous, a second scan last month showed no return of any polyps, smear and STD test is clear and periods are every 30 days like clock work.

Yet they are so heavy. In an hour I got through 4 super plus size tampons. 10 minutes after changing one I was flooding right through it, the clots are the size of half the palm of my hand, and Ive had to just sit on the toilet before to let it run out because there was simply no point using a tampon as minutes later I would flood.

I have a prolapse uterus and bladder, thats the only thing thats 'different' I can no longer use a moon cup et al because of this.

I went back on the mini pill thinking it would stop my periods again, but has it bollocks. The combined pill makes me insane and menefenamic acid does precisely fuck all.

Im sick of bleeding, Im sick of spending a fortune on Spatone because I get really ill otherwise. Im sick of periods.

[ICanSeeTheSun]

There has to be a reason for this.

Are you planning to have anymore children, if you are then perhaps a Endometrial ablation may be an option.

[mkmjimmy]

Peri-menopause? There's a whole thread on menopause and peri-menopause in health. I'm not sure how old you are...but if there's a history of menopause early in your family that could be it.

[LumpenproletariatAndProud]

Im 31 and there's no history of early menopause in the family.

I don't want any more children but Im not 100%

[GnomeDePlume]

I feel your pain. I ended up extremely aneamic.

Have you tried tranexamic acid? Worth asking your doctor for this if you havent. It isnt a total cure but can help the shear flooding.

What seems to have solved it for me is an endometrial ablation. Basically this is having the lining of the uterous removed. There are different methods. The method used for me was Novasure (microwave method). It was done under GA as a day case. Out the same day, very mild cramping and no periods since.

It is only if your family is complete.

Do push with your doctor on this. I hadnt realised how aneamic I was as I had got used to feeling like death warmed through.

[ICanSeeTheSun]

NOT planning.

Is the clots a new thing this month.

[awsomer]

Do you have any other symptoms; painful sex, bowel issues?

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

Have they tried you on tranexamic acid? I know NSAID like mefanamic acid are also a treatment and I think the two can be used together.

Have you been referred to a gynae?

[GnomeDePlume]

Have you been investigated for fibroids? These are benign lumps in the uterous wall. If they protrude into the uterous then they can cause the very heavy periods as the uterous cant clamp down on itself to stop the bleeding.

[thedrummerswife]

Have you tried the Mirena coil? I ve read a lot of different things about them, but I had one years ago (dh had the snip after ydd, so don't need anything now) and I had no periods at all, it was heaven. It might be worth a try.

Also have you tried a different brand on mini pill?

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

Endometriosis can also be a cause of heavy periods (not just painful ones) and that won't show up on a scan. My periods were also a lot heavier with clots when I had an ovarian cyst but I would have expected that to have shown up on your most recent scan.

[BeachyKeen]

I had crazy periods too, tranexamic acid didn't help,and my anaemia was so bad I couldn't function. I had to have an endometrial ablation, I had the Novasure procedure.
I was put under for it, it was only a quick thing, I was back home that afternoon.
I had it done last October, no period since.
And for the first time in almost 25 years, I am not anaemic!

[awsomer]

Chaz Endometriosis is actually very very difficult to diagnose via a scan unless there are cysts (and even then lots of cases are misdiagnosed). Most patients will need a diagnostic laparoscopy to confirm diagnosis and start treatment (hormonal or surgery).

OP it sounds like you need to request a referral to gyne. Ask to see a consultant, not a reg.

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

awsomer
I know- i have had endo removed by laparoscopy. That is why I raised it because it won't show on a scan. It didn't show up at all when I had an ovarian cyst (not a chocolate cyst) but they found it dotted all over the place when they got in and had a look.

[Latara]

I used to spend a fortune on Spatone but now get Ferrous Sulphate tablets from my GP which are much more effective for anaemia anyway; I recommend going to a different GP and getting those.

Sorry I can't help about the periods though.

[Pandora37]

I'm sorry, that sounds really awful. I'm not a doctor so may be talking out of my arse but I'd be concerned that you're bleeding so heavily and passing clots that big. I'd try and go to your GP today if you can and insist on a gynae referral. You really shouldn't have to suffer like this.

[GnomeDePlume]

another success for the Novasure procedure!

[LumpenproletariatAndProud]

Ferrous sulphate isnt as good in my experience. Plus its harsh on my stomach, Id rather not add to it.

I had a laparoscopy when I was 17 and it was fine so Im reluctant to go through that again. If they are going to go in again then Id rather they just blitzed the uterus and stop it altogether.

Every time they give me a blood test Im always anaemic, I was really ill with it after the polyp was removed.

I haven't tried trenaximic acid I must admit. I like the idea of being able to go to my GP with a suggestion as Ive been putting it off so far, with no idea what they could do to help.

I have no other problems with bowels etc. just this.

[60ftDoll]

I know exactly where you're coming from. I was bleeding so heavily I ended up in A&E a few months ago. Tranxemic acid was of limited use.
I went into hospital for endometrial ablation on fri but they ended up finding a polyp the size of a plum.
Ablation is only recommended if you don't want anymore children as it can cause miscarriage.
The mirena may be your best bet if they can't find a cause for the bleeding.

[LumpenproletariatAndProud]

The mirena is hormone based isnt it? Hormones drive me crazy, Id rather bleed, at least I get 3 weeks off.

I definitely don't have a polyp.

So my prolapsed uterus isnt the cause then?

[MrsDavidBowie]

Poor you.
I am in day 26 of an hrt bleed and that's bad enough... Tranxamic acid made little difference.
All those tampons too. .so expensive

[thedrummerswife]

The hormones in the Mirena are the same as in the mini pill, but are supposed to cause less problems due to not being taken orally.

[LumpenproletariatAndProud]

Oh wow, I had no idea. I assumed it was the same hormones as the combined pill.

That's become a very real option for me then, thank you.

Can you have a coil with a prolapsed uterus?

[waitingforwombat]

Lumpen - the mirena is the same hormone as the mini pill, so if you have been fine with the mini pill it should be ok! (and even if you haven't as the hormone is mainly acting just in the uterus, rather than being absorbed all over the body like the mini pill people tend to get on with the hormone aspect of the mirena better than other hormone methods).

On a mirena your periods will change - some women have irregular bleeding, some women have no bleeding and some have regular periods. However, the one guarantee is that your periods WILL be lighter, and most people on the mirena find that their bleeding pattern settles down after roughly 6 months.

Most GPs would be keen to try a mirena before referring you onto gynae (as that would be gynae's first recommendation for heavy periods!) I have to respectfully disagree with the post above about demanding to see a consultant - a GP with an interest in women's health/a gynae reg is more than qualified to help you sort out your heavy periods :)

Whatever you decide, definitely worth going to see your GP about it. There is plenty that can be done, and you shouldn't be suffering without getting help! Also - are you seeing anyone about your prolapse?!!

[ghostisonthecanvas]

The clots are probably caused by the fast blood loss. Go to your gp. You will get more and more tired. I was given mefanemic for pain and tranxamic for blood flow. Gynae wanted me to get the mirena. I am reluctant because of hormones. The combination of acids work very well for me now. Took me about 5 months to get right the timing of taking the tablets. However, at 31 I was being treated for endo. Get a gynae referral.

[LumpenproletariatAndProud]

Is tanmaxic acid in the form of very large white pills? Because I had huge white pills in my teens to help the flow and that didnt help. No idea what they were called though.

I will definitely go to my GP on Friday, thank you.

(I have seen a gynaecologist for the prolapse, I was supposed to make an appointment for physio but never got round to it).