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Women's health

13 year old struggling with periods

11 replies

Bigbaddebt · 13/10/2020 19:37

My 13 year old daughter started having periods around a 18 months ago and is really struggling with them. She bleeds heavily for around 8 days. The pain is so bad she is crying during the night and feels dizzy and sick constantly, sometimes she’s physically sick. She very active and has had many painful injuries but she never cries with them.
In general she has a high pain threshold so I know this must be bad.

The GP has just said the usual - ibuprofen, heat and rest/ gentle exercise. They can’t put her on the pill as she occasionally has migraines and that apparently increases the risk of a stroke. They did give her tranexamic acid to reduce the blood loss. They said hopefully it will settle down but I’m at a loss of how to help her. She’s having time off school every month and can’t stand up at times because she’s so dizzy or is sick when she stands up.

I’ve never encountered periods this bad or bleeding this heavy (even after child birth). I don’t want to keep pestering the GP but I wondered if there is any supplements or alternative therapy we could try.

Additionally her migraines used to be frequent (2 a week) and the GP prescribed beta blockers but the nurse practitioner recommend trying magnesium citrate and I have to say since starting the magnesium she’s only had around 1 a month. We are so grateful as I didn’t want to give her beta blockers.

Honestly I’m so worried about her. I don’t know what to do.

OP posts:
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TheGinGenie · 13/10/2020 19:43

Oh I so feel for her, I had really horrendous periods aged 11 to about 25. They have got better as I've been in my 20s and 30s but that's not much help to your daughter right now. I would push back and keep on at the doctor - they should be trying different things. I was prescribed mefanamic (sp?) acid and I'm sure there are things they could try.

Otherwise the only things that took the edge off were heat pads and hot baths.

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jellybe · 13/10/2020 19:44

No advice other then to keep bugging the GP. I'd think at that age with this level of bleeding, pain etc that she needs more help then just being told pain killers and rest.

So sorry your GP isn't taking this seriously- I'd want her to she a gynaecologist to see if she has anything causing such bad periods not being told to basically crack on. Actually a bit pissed off about this on your daughter's behalf.

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TheGinGenie · 13/10/2020 19:45

Ibuprofen didn't touch it and the idea of gentle exercise when I couldn't move off the bathroom floor is laughable. You could always try a different GP? Or maybe look into a Tens machine?

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Aquamarine1029 · 13/10/2020 19:46

I would stop wasting time with the gp and take her to a specialist.

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TheGinGenie · 13/10/2020 19:47

Agree with @jellybe - I'd push for a gynaecologist

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FTMF30 · 13/10/2020 19:52

I had awful period pains and vomiting and faintness when I was younger. As I got older, I noticed my diet really helped. I'd lay off the sugar/salt in the lead up to my period. I'd also eat more red meat - this seemed to help eliminate faintness. When I was actually on my period I would eat bland food. It seemed to help.

It may not be of any use to your DD, but just throwing it out there just in case💐

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mum2bin2021 · 13/10/2020 19:58

Your poor daughter, bless her. I was on the mini pill (cerazette if I remember rightly) and that was the only option for me as I'd also been diagnosed with migraines - it stopped my periods entirely. The mirena coil could also be an option as again, this stopped my periods entirely and is ok for migraine sufferers. Keep bugging your GP, there are options out there and your daughter deserves to feel better x

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MJMG2015 · 13/10/2020 20:11

Oh poor thing, that's miserable as an adult, never mind as a very young teenager

I don't know what would help, but I'd push forward a referral to a gyne or go private if at all possible.

Hopefully someone with much more knowledge will be able to give you some advice 🌷

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LulaLuna · 13/10/2020 20:28

Gp should do more to find out why they are so bad.
In the meantime maybw try her on evening primrose oil.

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GU24Mum · 13/10/2020 20:32

I was prescribed Buscopan (which I think is over the counter now) and something else to go with it. Huge sympathies to your daughter - I had dreadful periods in my teens and got told it was nothing - the only other time I felt pain like that was when I was in labour with the waves of pain then a bit of relief.

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Literallyfedup · 13/10/2020 22:06

Did you get her b12 and ferritin levels checked. She could be dizzy because either of her levels could be low and cause heavy periods. My dd was also quite dizzy and had low ferritin, since starting iron she is quite alright.
Also I was similar to your dd when young and thought period pain like hers was normal so never complained, it was only years later I was diagnosed with pcos and estrogen dominance. So please take your dd to a specialist, I wish I had a treatment plan long before.
Magnesium is good and if that is working then add some b6 too , it will get rid of hormonal migraine and pms.

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