My life is being ruined by heavy periods

[ImFree2doasiwant]

Sounds dramatic I know. But I am t the end of my tether with it. I have lived with it for well over 2 years now. Saw the GP when my maternity leave was finishing as wasn't sure how I would cope at work.

There have been times when it's not quite as bad. And indeed in general it's improved. But, I am bleeding for weeks at a time. Months in fact. Heavily. Losing large clots. Having to waddle to the loo. Have to use the accessible toilet at work so I can properly clean up. Been to the loo 3 times in the last 10 minutes to change a fucking massive pad that was full.

I'm severely anaemic. Exhausted. I do have underactive thyroid which I think may be the cause but who on earth knows? I know the bleeding us even worse if I run out of thyroxine for a few days.

I've had a scan, showing nothing small ovarian cysts and thickened womb lining, GP seemed unconcerned but has referred me to a Gynaecologist. I've had a letter back saying "No appointments available ".

I've had tranexamic acid. Which doesn't work (as predicted by the GP)
My sleep is disturbed as the feeling of losing the blood wakes me. I've done 3 extra loads of washing today - bedding, pjs and bath mat and washable pads.

Has anyone had this and what did you do? I'm desperate. I even said receny that at least I had no real pain and bingo, now I'm getting pains. I have no idea how I can go on like it.

Hi

I'm really sorry you're having to go through this. It sounds terribly draining. Did you notice this change in heavy periods right after giving birth when you had your first period?

My period has been weird since giving birth 22 months ago as well except I get a period for 2 days exactly and it stops completely =/ I know our bodies go through weird changes after childbirth but what you are going through sounds pretty abnormal and if I were you, I'd probably go to emergency if you're losing blood in clots and changing 3 pads within a span of 10 minutes. It could be all okay or it could be life threatening as the amount of blood you're losing sounds like A LOT!

Have you finished having babies ? Endometrial ablation, if so.

Oh blimey, I wish I could help and offer advice but I’m in a similarish boat.
I have PCOS and so rarely have periods (3 times a year, sometimes only once) but when I do, I’m the same, running to the toilet multiple times in 15 minutes and have spent entire nights just asleep on the toilet as there didn’t seem any point moving. Have lost count of the amount of bedding I’ve had to rebuy, underwear and clothes I’ve had to throw away at work (having to pack spare clothes for work and making my excuses to ditch my class to run and get cleaned up and changed which can take 10 minutes in stupidly small cubicles...) sigh.
Just gets me down.
Gp doesn’t ever seem interested, have had a scan which diagnosed PCOS and just sent home with no further clue how to deal with it, no advice, no mention of what I could do to help.
Tranexamic or mefanamic (so?!) don’t change a thing for me.
So while I can’t offer any advice, I hear you and offer

Sounds like it's the thickened womb lining that's the problem as this is what sheds every month hence the heavy periods.
I really feel for you as I went through the same, though I was older. I had an endometrial ablation but it's probably not an answer for you if you want more children in the future.
Why are no appointments available with the Gynaecologist ? Can you phone the hospital dept and ask to go on the waiting list. It really needs to be checked out.

@BubbasMumma it's not life threatening, I'd have been dead a while by now if it was. Most people would be horrified by it though.

@Anyfucker that is one of the options suggested by the GP but I need to see the gynae first, and they have no appointments.

@Thechosentwo its awful isnt it? I had a most horrific flood at work in an open plan office.

@hello1290 im 43 and almost divorced so no more babies for me. Id have a hysterectomy tomorrow if it was offered.

In the meantime would you consider a coil? I have endometriosis and it's changed my life. I take the mini pill too - "coil and a half" my gynae calls it. No periods at all for a few years now and it's incredible.

I'll be on the coil as long as I can tolerate it then it's off under the knife I go for a hysterectomy. I'm only young though so don't really want to have HRT for decades with all the risks involved.

@AnyFucker

Have you finished having babies ? Endometrial ablation, if so.

This. My periods were horrific, so so heavy and I suffered terribly. I had my ablation 3 years ago and my periods are so light now, it's a dream.

@ImFree2doasiwant yes it’s really miserable.
Fortunately (ha!) for me it doesn’t happen very often also fortunately i tend to come on my period mainly during the holidays.
So at least I can usually be very close to the toilet for the week. But it’s thoroughly dreadful and makes me feel so down.
I hope you manage to seek help and that someone takes you seriously, i have felt properly fobbed off in the past when I went to talk to my gp about it.

I don't know if you've tried these (reusable) but they might help in the meantime
They're big, and not the slimmest but hold a lot
https://www.honouryourflow.co.uk/extremely-heavy-flow-66-c.asp

Been there op. It’s brutal. I too had an ablation. Nothing else worked - and I tried everything. Changed my life.

Mirena?

I had to have a Mirena or I couldn’t leave the house. It was really life-changing for me and such a relief.

I've just had a total hysterectomy. The bleeding and the severe pain for half the month. Fuck that for a laugh. Insist on a Gynae referral

I went on progesterone only pill back to back to stop periods. I had a flooding experience in jan of this year. Awful.

Hope you get it sorted.

Contraceptive pill?

Also please take iron if you’re not already.

It sounds as if you need to push again for a gynaecologist appointment. Ask if it can be another hospital or even trust. Can you afford to go private if not?

@QueenPaws i have those! They are a life saver, I couldn't be without them over night.

I should have said, I am on the mini pill, tried the depo jab (had no periods on that pre children, did nothing this time) I do take iron.

OP do you have confidence that your hypothyroidism is being treated optimally? If your meds are correct you shouldn't be so symptomatic. If you haven't been already, have a look at the Thyroid UK group on Healthunlocked, I found it very helpful.

An ablation solved my stupidly heavy periods. But that's no use if gynae won't see you. Has the GP checked your ferritin level as well as your iron level?

I echo the Mirena. This was me last year, excessive bleeding, periods lasting for weeks, flooding and anaemia, I'm also on thyroxine for an under active thyroid. I was in despair, found being too far from a bathroom traumatic. My GP referred me to a gynaecologist who suggested a Mirena, which I got in January and it's been a life changer, my periods completely stopped after two much more normal periods, and I've been free since then. Definitely worth exploring with your GP if you can, you don't have to suffer like you have been, I know it's terrible. I hope it gets better soon.

@veraismyspiritanimal how was it? Honestly, I'd happily have one.

RE. the coil. The idea fills me with horror to be honest, although at this stage I would consider it. There are concerns though over the suitability after the birth of my second massive child.

I need to see the gynae to discuss the options, including coil and ablation. Personally I'd rather just have the ablation.

I second looking into endometrial ablation. Until then, have you tried a moon cup? I use one along with a pad when my period is heavy and they do buy me time - especially if I'm working and can't get to a toilet quickly.

Completely understand, so awful for you.

I don't know if its possible for you, but I would consider going private if its having such a detrimental impact.

I recently went private for another issue, this was during the first stage of lockdown and services were still operating. Private specialist was then able to refer me within the NHS, with the consent of my GP. I was seen within a couple of weeks.

It was expensive, but not as much as I'd thought and frankly I would have remortgaged to get the issue resolved I was so fed up.