Unbearable periods-can anything REALLY help?

[Ohdobakeoffdear]

I’m desperate. My periods have become absolutely unbearable since I had my son 6 years ago. I’m in agony for at least 2 days and bleeding so heavily that I can’t lead a normal life. My commute to work takes an hour and sometimes that’s too long.
I’ve been to the doctors countless times, had all the blood tests done, had a scan on different days of my cycle, nothing out of order showing at all.
I have been given tranexamic acid too, didn’t make much difference.
I can’t cope with it any more. Does anyone have similar experiences, any recommendations or ideas? I’m 35, so I don’t think it’s peri menopause yet.

[rosie39forever]

Only thing that worked for me was the mirena coil, from hideous debilitating periods to absolute none, for me it has been a life saver.

[Jappydooda]

You have my sympathy.

Go back and insist on an appointment with a gynaecologist. Get them to ultrasound and if necessary hysteroscopy to see what is going on - I would recommend the hysteroscopy done under GA, not in the consultant's office - it can be an extremely painful procedure on some women.

Did they give you mefanamic acid with the tranaxamic? Using the two together does reduce the bleeding and pain. Something like northisterone will also help if you need a break - this can stop you having periods for a while, but its not recommended for long term use.

Mirena is also good - I didn't tolerate one and they came out almost as soon as they were put in! But some women do find they work really well.

Hope you get some help soon.

[NietzscheQuiche]

take buscopan for the cramps

it works a treat

[Whatwaswrongwiththatusername]

I'd also agree with trying the mirena coil. I too had to take tranexamic acid, which occasionally worked, but it was VERY hit and miss, especially if you were even slightly late in starting it/taking a dose. I had the same problems - the flooding, being unable to leave the house at least 2-3 days each month as I would just bleed through everything, sometimes within half an hour (eg tampons + towels, and clothes). There's the obvious adjustments your body makes in the first few months after having the mirena, but I'm currently on my third (although this one hasn't been working as well as the others re hormones/cycle, but that is possibly now my age), and the difference it made to my life once my periods started settling down and becoming less was absolutely life changing. Especially after 20+ yrs of absolutely horrendous periods! Obviously not everyone is the same, but if you are suitable then I would absolutely recommend at least giving it a go, bearing in mind that it can take up to 6 months (for the first one) for your periods to settle, but in the best case scenario it can stop them almost completely for a majority of women.

[Partridgeamongstthepigeons]

Mireya for me too. Hideous periods to virtually none.

[Partridgeamongstthepigeons]

Sorry, mirena

[Karid1496]

I feel your pain, my periods were so painful and heavy that I was reduced to tears every month. The only thing that has worked for me was getting the merina coil. Xx

[armsandtheman]

Mirena for me too, but worth getting it checked out as they found a cyst on an ultrasound that needed to be removed.
My periods were awful before I had the coil and are fine now.

[Ohdobakeoffdear]

Thank you all. I’ve never even considered mirena. I had a copper coil many years ago but ended up removing it because it was making my bleeding worse. But thay may all be irrelevant now because 1.it was a copper coil, not a mirena and 2.it was my young pre baby body.
And no, I haven’t been given mefanamic acid, I’ll maybe ask for it.
As for the ultrasound, I’ve had 3 at different stages of the cycle and they couldn’t see anything unusual. Typical...

[Waddsup12]

Mirena here too. Best thing ever for me, wished I had got one years earlier. No periods, calmer, all good.

Very experienced clinic doctor said it was totally individual to each person tho when I enquired, no telling how it would affect someone. YMMV.

[Babdoc]

OP, if you’ve completed your family, you can have an endometrial ablation, which will solve your problem permanently. It reduces the uterine lining to almost nothing.
Ask your GP for a gynae referral to discuss the options with a consultant.

[allthatmalarkey]

Cerelle/cerazette for me - different progesterone from Mirena, implant and combined pill. Haven't tried Mirena but the other two made me feel like I had permanent PMS.

[Ohdobakeoffdear]

Mirena seems to get a lot of votes here! I’ll enquire with my GP, thank you so much.
I’m not sure about the family being complete yet but equally we’re unlikely to conceive naturally, so I probably could go for some permanent solution. You’ve given me a lot to think about here.

[Adarajames]

I was crippled by head to toe period pains for days every month, and lesser but ongoing pain for another 3 weeks or so each month. The Mirena has practically saved my life!

[madvixen]

Depo Provera has worked wonders for me. My pain was so bad that I was frequently hospitalised so they could administer morphine. Depo has been a lifesaver!

[pennydrew]

Do you have endometriosis? Taking bladderwhrack helps a lot with pain, if you google it you should find the studies on it, I saw a video thing on it and found it helps my pain a lot.

[sansouci]

It could be uterine fibroids.

[Ohdobakeoffdear]

Supposedly no fibroids or endometriosis. Supposedly I’m completely healthy

[Fatted]

I am the same after having kids. Very heavy but thankfully not too painful periods. So heavy I became very seriously anemic. I had ultrasounds which showed nothing. I eventually went back onto the contraceptive injection to stop my periods completely.

I was reluctant to have to use hormonal contraception. But the side effects from it are better than the side effects of being anemic!

I'm 38 and it could be the menopause for me as I started my periods early at 10.

[pennydrew]

Oh I hate when they do this to women. It’s not completely healthy to have horrible pain and heavy periods. Women put up with it because nobody helps us, but it is absolutely not normal to experience what you are. What exactly have they done to rule out endometriosis? A laparoscopy?

[pennydrew]

Do you get pain at ovulation as well? I do. Bloody horrible.

[SmartyPants0]

I read your post and I could have written it. I came on here to suggest the Mirena coil as well... I no longer have periods
Good luck

[HappyHedgehog247]

I went in contraceptive pill for mine. Was amazing.

[Jent13c]

On a practical level til you get the medication sorted have you tried a menstrual cup? You can get larger capacity ones and I do have to empty it every hour or so first two days but a large capacity cup and night pad could keep you going for a wee while? Or I have heard of some girls using incontinence pads + a cup or tampons.
After my first two days I can sometimes get away with having the cup in all day without emptying which is bliss!

[pennydrew]

Yes agree with Jent13c! I switched to a cup and I swear to god I have slightly lighter periods! I have a heavy first 2 days but after that I don’t need to empty till the end of the day. Way easier than anything else.