to wish someone would come up with a really good solution to periods

[Debsbear]

Am I the only one who is fed up with having crap periods? I spend the first few days back and forth the loo every hour at best, end up totally knackered from no sleep and iron deficiency and just wish it would stop! Tampons last no longer than an hour or so and don't get me started on mooncaps!! I thught "Wow""Great idea", Bloody waste of money! In case you haven't guessed I came on today and am not in a good mood

Oh and I forgot to mention that hangover that lasts for 3 days (when I have not even drunk excessively) - I feel like I've had the living hell kicked out of me.

What joy!

Kate - what is cerazette? Is it a combined pill?

Had endo and fibroids and possibly alien life forms too in there. after my littlie (who is 5 today) the whole fucking shooting gallery had to go. Unbearable. Left the ovaries....ah bless them waving around in there, alone. unloved.

Down side is like Debsbear I also put LOADS of weight that I couldn't shift.

www.privatehealth.co.uk/hospitaltreatment/whatdoesitcost/hysterectomy/

www.mariestopes.org.uk/Fees/Womens_services/Female_sterilisation.aspx

When I had my Mirena fitted I bled for 6 weeks straight, then went back to periods as before. Not what I signed up for at all.

I'm with frenchfancy - Mirena Coil has been my salvation. My periods were hideous and dehabilitating but now I just have a day of light spotting once a month. I was on Depo for a while but after 4 years of it they told me it wasn't recommended to take it for more than 4 years - wish they'd told me earlier!

However, Jajas the hormone level in Mirena coil is absolutely miniscule compared to the levels in either the pill or Depo - that's because the non-Mirena hormones need to be large enough doses to pervade the whole body so that the required amount gets to the reproductive system, whereas Mirena releases a tiny dose into the exact place it is needed. There is therefore much much less risk of the pill-related probs that you are worried about.

Future

That's awful.

My first one took moooonths to settle down (spotting, stabby pain), and I was on the verge of having it out, but then it settled. I think the fact I had it in 3 months post-birth meant my uterus was very irritable. No probs at all with second one, except pain on insertion.

yadnbu.

i am in the throes of pmt, feel sick, bloated and just started having those delightful cramps that let you know it's on its way.

i had the mirena and bled for 3 months straight, felt awful and put on weight so had it removed, the mirena not the weight unfortunately.

lola, i am seriously tempted and i'm only 34....

I take Femulen every day and have had no periods for 4+ years.

Last time i went to the doctors for a repeat perscription they tried persuading me to have the Mirena coil instead as apparently 'it's better for women of your age' but i told them not to be so cheeky figured i'd stick with what i'm happy with for now.

I have suffered from heavy periods in the past leading to anaemia.

I can't have hormones as they don't suit me so the Dr gave me Tranexamic Acid.

It doesn't get rid of periods completely but cut the blood loss by about 50%. They are fantastic.

Bean I read on another thread that GPs get some kind of kickback for every Mirena they shift, that's why they push it so much. Cheeky indeed!

Ive got the copper coil, horrendous pain afterwards, I have always been heavy but this is getting silly.

A very TMI question, which has been .

Is clots normal, size of a 20p, but are constant. being a woman SUCKS, why did men get it easy

You know, in some parts of Africa, menstruating women are required to leave the family home and daily tasks and go off into a little women's hut, segregated from society while they are bleeding.

This is perceived by many in the West as misogynistic BS but personally I would LOVE to spend my entire period off in the women's hut chilling out.

Implanon implant.
No periods, except for an occasional light bleed, since 2006. Bliss.
It is low dose oestrogen so may not suit all.

Sorry should have added, you only take the tranexamic acid when you have your period, you don't have to take it all month.

My sympathies to you all, but thank you for enlightening me... I thought cerazette was something to help with smoking cessation (like a nicotiine replacement pill!)

it's horrid isn't it, the bloating, cramps and heavy bleeding. Plus i get an upset bowel and don't feel great going anywhere the first couple of days. Men would take a week off work every month, i really believe that.

Mirena hasn't stopped my periods either. They are lighter, but I still get clots thanks to a fibroid, and it's still impossible to guess when bleeding will start. I just wear liners throughout the month now.

laughlovelife I don't know if there is a 'normal' but I know copper coils can make periods heavier, is there a hormonal contraception which you could switch to instead?

If your DH has had the snip (ie you're not planning on more kids), ask about endometrial ablation - there are lots of threads in health if you search for them - I'll be on a lot of them saying how flippin amazing it is and how it's changed my life.

I got on ok with the Mirena for 2 of the 3 years I'd had it and then it stopped working as well and I was back to passing out with pain, changing pads/tampons every hour, rearranging work trips around when I was due...oh and a psycho bitch who spent 3 days a month filled with rage and self-loathing.

Last May a wonderful surgeon microwaved my womb lining away, I had a week off work eating jelly babies and getting over the GA and I've never looked back! No hormones, no pills, jabs, coils, chugging of tranexamic acid, mefanamic acid and solpadeine just to be able to function. No more having to change to my 'big handbag' so I could lug 10 tampons and pads to work each day - I came on on Wednesday last week, used maybe 4 tampons each day (and could have probably got away with 2) and by Saturday evening I'd pretty much finished. Oh and I didn't spend the preceding days sobbing my heart out at what a failure I am at life, work, parenting and interspersing that with wanting to kill anyone who dared to exist!

I could be you OP.

I went to the gp yesterday, she send me for a blood test today and I have to go back and see her on Monday to discuss options. I am nearly 47 though and she thinks I may be going through the change.

I feel more positive after yesterday. I was supposed to start my period at the weekend, but it hasn't turned up yet, but she has given me some tablets - Tranexamic Acid to take if it starts which should slow down the bleeding.

And I see QuickLook already takes them

Same as kateshmate
Cezarette saved me
I'm dreading being told I'm too old or overweight toncontinue having it!

Acekicker, I mentioned the ablation yesterday to my gp, she said a big fat no to me as it is too invasive.

BellaVita - really? Oh no...is there a specific reason why something that's invasive is a problem (sorry that's a horribly personal question)...yes it is invasive in that they stick the microwave thingy inside you but coils are also pretty invasive...

If it helps, my GP was also reluctant and I ended up going privately. I was all set for a battle with the consultant but I went through everything I'd tried: 'growing out of it', pill, mini-pill, dep, 'see what it's like after you've had a baby', mirena, so many pills I'm sure I used to rattle as I passed out and he said 'you're a perfect candidate'... I could have kissed him at that point

Those were her exact words and said there are lots of other things to try. I have had the mirena coil - fitted by her actually, had it taken out 3 years ago after having it in 5 (gave me moodswings but no periods). She had a huge problem putting it in as I have had csections.

We do have bupa, so maybe I will have to have a look and see if they do this kind of procedure under my insurance.