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Original poster

Talk to me about very heavy periods

30 replies

BettyOBarley · 25/11/2020 16:33

I've always had fairly heavy periods since being a teenager but over the past year (Im now 40!) they've been horrendous. I'm bleeding heavily for 40-50 days at a time with a 2 week break, huge clots, couple of days of seriously heavy bleeding each cycle.
I've had scans which show nothing other than pcos, which I've known about for years.
I'm very anaemic unsurprisingly.
I've started taking the mini pill again about 3 weeks ago but so far that's doing nothing, possibly even making things worse. ( currently been bleeding since 13th Oct).

My GP called today to say my iron levels 3 months ago were 75. Been taking iron tablets for 3 months and my level is now ...74. She's going to refer me to a gynaecologist.

Just wondered if anyone has come out the other side of something similar and what the issue / solution was? Feel really fed up / concerned! Thanks

OP posts:
anotherdoghere · 25/11/2020 16:50

Has anyone mentioned the possibility of fibroids. I had very heavy long periods for a long time. I was also anaemic. I am 56 and thought they would never end. I ended up having a hysterectomy in February and gave not looked back since xx

Original poster
BettyOBarley · 25/11/2020 17:22

Hi, yes they checked for fibroids at my scan and said I didn't have them. Also been checked for blood clotting disorders as my mum has one, but that came back clear. The GP said she is a bit stumped. I'd love for them to whip everything out and be done with it too, I'm so so fed up.

OP posts:
DrDetriment · 25/11/2020 17:24

Has your GP recommended tranxemic acid? It can really help heavy periods apparently.

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HardlyEver · 25/11/2020 17:32

I'm slightly older than you, and always had heavy-ish periods, but about two years ago they went mad. Prescribed tranexamic acid (which is a clotter) to use on heaviest days. Scans eventually showed a fibroid -- a hysterectomy is being talked of, but first I'm having an exploratory camera and possibly a Mirena coil, which has worked well for a friend with similar issues. Has no one suggested it?

Molehillfromamountain · 25/11/2020 17:42

I have very heavy painful periods but they don't last as long as yours. I recently had a scan to investigate an ovarian cyst, turns out it had dissolved before the scan date came around but they discovered thickened uterine lining.
Waiting on a biopsy result now. The gynaecologist suggested there could be polyps that were missed on the scan due to the lining thickness or it could be 'normal' for me.
I've never been offered tranexamic acid or a blood test for iron levels.

RandomMess · 25/11/2020 17:45

40-50 days Shock

That's not a period is it??

I hope you get suitable treatment! Unfortunately you can only take tranexamic acid for a max 3 days at a time.

I ended up with womb ablation, absolutely marvellous though doesn't work for everyone.

Original poster
BettyOBarley · 25/11/2020 17:48

Yes I have got tranexamic acid which I tried for the first time this month but because they are lasting so long, all that happened was it stopped the bleeding for a day and then it just started again and has carried on for weeks.

The coil was mentioned a few months ago but I was a bit reluctant (don't know why really, probably as it's the same hormone as the mini pill which has given me very low moods / acne in the past) so I said I would try the mini pill again first to see if it had the same effect as before. Anyway it hasn't given me any side effects but hasnt stopped the bleeding either. So maybe the coil will be next , although the GP did say due to my iron levels not improving whatsoever that something more "drastic" may be needed , whatever that may be!

OP posts:
user1494050295 · 25/11/2020 17:51

Similar but not as extreme. Get them to recheck for fibroids. I had a golf ball size one removed. Massively improved quality of life. Had the pill mentioned earlier too. Good luck

Dmtush · 25/11/2020 17:52

I had endometrial ablation recently after suffering with crap periods for my entire fertile life. It’s been life changing, no bleeding at all.

user1494050295 · 25/11/2020 17:53

I also had two iron injections which helped they take an hour to drip in you. Felt sooooi much better

Original poster
BettyOBarley · 25/11/2020 17:54

Yes ablation has been mentioned, maybe that's what gynae will suggest. I'd take anything they offer now tbh!

The GP thought that maybe due to the length of my cycles due to pcos (70 days +) that my lining was very thick hence the huge (egg sized) clots which go for weeks. When I had the scan she said the lining was thin and then my period started the next day (the current 40 day one) so that doesn't make sense either!

A couple of weeks ago the bleeding was so heavy I was soaking through a super tampon and night time pad every 20 mins all day long, it was hell. Ended up having to wear a towel like a nappy so I could sleep Confused

OP posts:
2020hello · 25/11/2020 17:55

I guess endometriosis, its cant be seen on scans only by an op.

gretagreengrapes · 25/11/2020 17:55

I'm in my twenties and was having bleeding for 6+ weeks at a time and my iron was so low I needed an iron infusion. I had a hysteroscopy and no cause was found. The mini pill did nothing on it's own! I had a mirena inserted and took the mini pill on top of it and that was very helpful. The bleeding was still irregular but much much less. I'm surprised you haven't been referred to gynae previously!
If after I have finished having children it is still a problem I am going to ask for an endometrial ablation.

RandomMess · 25/11/2020 17:57

If your bleeding gets that heavy again please go to A&E it could actually be a haemorrhage and should be checked out.

Thanks
Original poster
BettyOBarley · 25/11/2020 18:09

Endometriosis hasn't been mentioned so far, I've always associated that with bad pain and funnily enough I get no period pain whatsoever.

Tbh I've only been speaking to the GP about it for the past 3 months as I've tried to just get on with it previously but it's the last two cycles (if you can call them that!) that have been seriously bad.

I think I may push for the ablation as I'm not having any more children and I've heard good things about it and on this thread too.

Thank you yes I was very close to ringing NHS direct that day as I started feeling very odd and clammy and was panicking a bit but I fell asleep and it eased off by the next day. Told the GP about it.

OP posts:
Crumpledandcreased · 25/11/2020 18:16

I had endometrial ablation 2 years ago and it has been life changing. I went from regularly having to change trousers due to flooding, to having barely any bleeding.
The downsides include having to accept that I can't have more children and also, the recovery from the procedure was longer than I expected.
It was definitely the right decision for me.

RandomMess · 25/11/2020 18:19

Erm clammy! I'm surprised your still here Shock

I was sterilised when I had ablation as you can still get pregnant (very dangerous) and my recovery was a bit grim but it was so with it, got my life back!!!

Original poster
BettyOBarley · 25/11/2020 20:33

I honestly didn't realise it was that serious Blush it had happened the month before to a slightly lesser extent and I told the GP who didn't really comment on it..?! Heck.. well I'll be sure to phone 111 if that happens again, thank you.

I've heard about the recovery from ablation but tbh I need something to happen now, I can't carry on. Thank you for your comments anyway, it's helped me to see a way forward (and that I need to be more careful with the super heavy bleeding!).

OP posts:
RandomMess · 25/11/2020 20:37

I got an infection in my keyhole scar for the sterilisation. So I had 2 weeks off work then a week part time after that I was completely fine.

TBH It all went into spasm I was supposed to be a 6 hour discharge and I was still in recovery at that point!

I also did too much the first week on a pout day 5 Blush

imayhavelostmymarbles · 25/11/2020 20:52

I have also had an ablation and it has been amazing. What helped for me was having used a mooncup and being able to say to the gynecologist that "normal" periods are about 50mls in total for each period and mine were consistently 150ml. Also a calendar with periods shaded in and duration between. They should understand 50 days but quantifying may help.

Original poster
BettyOBarley · 25/11/2020 21:32

Yes I've been recording my cycle lengths and bleeding length on an app for years since TTC so that should help as something to show them. I've never used a mooncup, just never thought they would hold enough!

OP posts:
RandomMess · 25/11/2020 21:38

I loved my mooncup too.

Cakes4Teatime · 25/11/2020 22:12

I had an endometrial ablation- life changing and would do it again in a blink.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 25/11/2020 22:58

Another recommendation for an endometrial ablation I was 48 when I had mine I was flooding so badly I had to change the ultra tampons hourly and sleep on a towel I was badly anaemic too I can honestly say the ablation gave me my life back Please do ask for this, it's done as day surgery, with a couple of days rest

DaisyDreaming · 26/11/2020 01:15

Transemic acid and iron tablets (as anaemia can make them worse) have helped me a bit