am i stuck having heavy periods for ever now?

[canella]

have 3 dc but since dc3 was born (he's nearly 3) my periods have been shockingly heavy! they were never like this before he was conceived! and the pain - thought i was going to give birth the other day the pain was so bad!

been sterlised so not on or needing any contraception to control them!

i'm only 35 so just wonder whether they'll be like this till i have the menopause!

has anyone else's periods changed since their children have been born? any chance it'll get better?

[KnickKnack]

Mine went from very light, to probably about "average" after second baby.

About 2 years later (-ish, I think), they went back to being light.

[canella]

oh knick knack i'm very grateful for your glimmer!!!

just think i'm frightening dd(8) into thinking that periods are the worst things ever!!!

well they are to me at the mo!!!!

[Vigilanteawarenessraiser]

Hi canella,
if they're that painful, that's not normal - you need to get them checked out. There's a couple of possible causes, including fibroids (prob. statistically the most likely, gets more likely the closer you are to the menopause I think)or endometriosis (not true that you can't get it if you have children). Am I right in thinking you're in Germany? Have you got a Frauenarzt/aerztin? Can you go and discuss it with him/her?

[bodiddly]

mine have been stupidly heavy since having ds. Went back to dr last week for repeat prescription of transexamic acid and he said it isn't right so is sending me for an ultrasound. Fingers crossed it is nothing major and they will be able to sort me out!

[canella]

never thought to get it checked out! just was putting up with it in a "woe me and my terrible periods" kind of way! havent got a gynae doc but might need to go if they carry on like this! i've also suffered with terrible nausea that was thought to be period related when it was investigated before i left the UK - its also only started since the birth of dc3 - think he was just too much for my body!!!

bodiddly - hope you get your ultrasound soon and the results are nothing too serious!

[bodiddly]

thanks canella ... get it checked out. I had to go as couldnt cope with them being so heavy - I was housebound for a few days a month! Have been having colposcopies but now they are asking for the ultrasound so hopefully they will get to the bottom of it!

[purepurple]

please don't put up with heavy periods
it can make you aneamic and that makes you really exhausted and unable to cope with life
I started to get really heavy periods a couple of years ago, in my late 30's and I just put up with it
I ended up on iron tablets and felt really poorly for several months
I had a scan and a biopsy and nothing was found had tablets to stop the bleeding being so heavy
in the end I had a mirena coil fitted and have never looked back and I don't have periods anymore
I chose the mirena for the health benefits, as DH has had the snip so don't need it for the contraception

[canella]

now i feel like i shouldnt moan - i'm not housebound with them! but i've taken up running recently and there is no way i could run the first 2 days - just wouldnt be sure how much would leak!!! and the stomach cramps are just too bad that first day - on monday i was lying in bed in the foetal position just waiting for the painkillers to work!

purepurple - thats interesting about the coil! think if i have my periods investigated and its all ok then i would think about having one fitted - is that the one that releases some hormones?

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

canella

Please do not put up with this; both fibroids and endometriosis can cause the problems you describe. Infact endo is the second most common gynae problem seen in women after fibroids. As you have a lot of menstrual pain as well I would think there is some endometrical deposits as well. It can also play havoc with your bowels (some women who actually have endo have been misdiagnosed with IBS) and make you feel nauseous.

I would seek out a gynae doc (GPs are mainly useless in these situations) and ensure you are investigated properly.

Endometriosis though is usually only detected through laparoscopy (keyhole surgery op). No other test will detect it though a internal ultrasound scan should show up fibroids.

[WinkyGirl]

I had no idea I had fibroids a few years ago. I thought my longer and heavier periods were because I was taking a breather from the pill. I was also feeling unfit so kept on increasing the exercise but it made no difference.
The first thing that alerted me to having a problem was being refused at a blood donation session because my iron levels were so low.
I second what AttilaTheMeerkat says - my GP was useless but the Gynae team were brilliant. Dont delay though. I wish I had been more in tune with my body and gone sooner.
On the plus side once it was sorted out...bliss! Good luck

[purepurple]

canella
yes, the mirena coil releases hormones
it works for me
and btw, my GP has been very good, maybe I am lucky to have such a good one