Please help! I am bleeding for 21 days each month! (warning: TMI!)

[struggling100]

I am 36, no kids. Was TTC, but have given up due to this problem.

For the last 4 years, I have had extremely heavy periods. I use the biggest tampon and the most heavy duty pad, and I need to change both every hour. I find it difficult to go out, or to be away from a loo for any length of time - if I do brave it, I need to take a change of clothes with me. I bleed like this for 3-4 days a month, and then I have what I would describe as a 'normal' period for the next 18 days. That's 3 weeks almost solid of heavy bleeding every month. I take tranexamic and mefanamic acid each month to try to control it, but it is still really ruining my quality of life. I am constantly exhausted, and my iron is really low (though I'm not anaemic as I take tablets and eat pretty healthily).

I have been to my GP around a dozen times. I had the Mirena fitted twice for a total of 18 months - it didn't make a dent in it. I've tried oral contraceptives, and I just bled through those too. I've had an ultrasound, which came back showing a slight enlargement of one ovary, and a few small fibroids, but nothing, as the consultant said, 'that abnormal'. I've had more STD tests than you can shake a stick at, and every one is negative. All my cervical smears are also clear.

I realise that so many people have much worse to deal with, but I am getting desperate. I can't have sex for a large amount of time each month, and exercising is difficult for about a week and a half too. I have to carry protection everywhere with me, and am constantly paranoid about accidents. It's also expensive to keep buying so many sanitary products, and by the end of three weeks wearing them my skin actually hurts.

The problem started when I met DH. I was very underweight, having been through a very rough time with my ex, and I began to gain weight when I was happier. I'm now a healthy BMI, but I do wonder if the weight gain could a factor here? I would love to hear any help and advice you can give.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

I would return to the GP asap and insist politely that you are referred to a gynae asap. Not the gynae that you saw previously either, you need to go to another hospital gynae unit.

If the GP surgery is unhelpful then change GP practice.

Fibroids can grow in size and are likely to be the root cause of the heavy bleeding. The cause needs to be properly dealt with and you simply cannot be expected to go on as you are. The tablets you've been prescribed will not help with the underlying issue of fibroids,

Be persistent with them and demand proper answers.

[Lauren83]

Hello

God sounds terrible, you thought about endometriosis? Amy other symtoms even ones you wouldn't connect? X

[struggling100]

Thanks Attila - you're always such a great combination of fierce and lovely! I think I will go back and try to see a different GP.

Lauren - I think they ruled out endo when they did the ultrasound. The current diagnosis is that it's a 'bit of everything': fibroids, hormone imbalance, mild PCOS.

The trouble is, there's a horrible emotional chicken-and-egg situation. I don't think there is really any 'cure' other than D&C - or (the radical option) hysterectomy. But both of those would obviously wreck my fertility. But then there is no real way I can have kids as I am because I can't have sex during any time when I'm ovulating (not without Dexter-like preparation of the room beforehand, which would be just horrible). So I feel a bit stuck.