To think Im too damn old to be suffering with periods this bad?

[LumpenproletariatAndProud]

In my teens my periods were horrendous, painful, heavy and every 2 weeks.

In my early 20's they calmed to light 3-4 day long periods. I went on the mini pill and it stopped them altogether, bliss.

I had a child, I stayed off the pill and they were still light, short and painless.

I have another child and they returned 8 months post birth. They were horrendous, went to doctors, had a polyp and got it removed.

That was 4 years ago, today they are still horrendous, a second scan last month showed no return of any polyps, smear and STD test is clear and periods are every 30 days like clock work.

Yet they are so heavy. In an hour I got through 4 super plus size tampons. 10 minutes after changing one I was flooding right through it, the clots are the size of half the palm of my hand, and Ive had to just sit on the toilet before to let it run out because there was simply no point using a tampon as minutes later I would flood.

I have a prolapse uterus and bladder, thats the only thing thats 'different' I can no longer use a moon cup et al because of this.

I went back on the mini pill thinking it would stop my periods again, but has it bollocks. The combined pill makes me insane and menefenamic acid does precisely fuck all.

Im sick of bleeding, Im sick of spending a fortune on Spatone because I get really ill otherwise. Im sick of periods.

I feel your pain.

I can fill a moon cup in an hour and I have flooded within 10 minutes loads with a tampon and a pad on. My clots can be massive too. I once screamed and my husband rushed in and it sounds stupid now but at the time I had no idea what came out of me as it was so huge and felt like I passed a golf ball.

I take neurofen and it helps a little but not near enough. I can't take hormonal birth control.

Mine aren't as bad as yours and I know mine is horrible enough.

I hope something helps you and soon. I am 33, this started when I hit 30.

*However, Im feeling like absolute hell. Im shaking, so, so tired, and shaky.
I can't figure out if its the blood loss, an infection somewhere (doubtful?) or Ive picked up a virus.

If it is the bleeding that has caused it and the bleeding has slowed way way down (as in only needed to change ever 2 hours and no more actual flooding) then can I just fix this myself with food, water and rest?*

I'm no medical expert but you do sound severely anemic and the only thing that will make you feel better is a blood transfusion - I felt more alive very rapidly after mine.

TBH If you rock up to A&E at least you should get a GYNE referal as well as vital treatment for anemia - I'm sorry but if you've been loosing large amounts of blood like that No amount of diet/rest or iron tablets are going to cut it .

I was that anemic after only 5 days of bleeding that after they took my SATS in A&E I wasn't even allowed to walk from the trolly in the triage area to a cubical and despite it being a busy bank holiday monday I was on a drip and bloods sent off very rapidly.

Going by what you have posted and my experience it sounds as if you do need emergency treatment. TBH I wouldn't even suggest seeing a GP as blood results can take a few days to come through.

BTW I work for the NHS and wouldn't suggest going to A&E on a whim.

Thanks Fluffy I am actually going to go in. I've had anaemia a lot of times but this feels like the worst yet.

I asked my mum, who used to be an A and E nurse and she said Id get no sympathy in A and E and to see my GP tomorrow.

That's just made me want to go in more, the fact that she is so blasé about it.

If a man had blood pouring from him for days on end, he'd go to A and E surely.

I read today that we only lose 6-8 tsp TEASPOONS?! of blood each month.

I think Im closer to 6-8 ladles full, and thats at least.

PS I really am no expert - but the fact that you are shaking sounds a little worrying- like you said it could be a virus,but please see a doctor ASAP.

Cross posted - Hope you are feeling well enough to update soon.

Well blood pressure and heart rate normal. I really wish Id stayed at home now, I feel so shit. I just want to sleep.

The person in front of me is biting the the edge of her cup and gobbing it back into the cup.

I need to sleep. So badly I need to sleep.

I read today that we only lose 6-8 tsp TEASPOONS?! of blood each month.

Hmm.. I'm skeptical about that.

But also curious.

I'll be the judge of this.

Yeah, 8 TSPs of water doesn't even fill a light absorbency pad half way. It might only be 8 TSPs of actual blood, but we lose way more liquid and body fluids than that during a menstrual cycle, the amount you're losing is still dangerous for the same reason diarrhea is dangerous. Dehydration.

Top that with more blood than usual, and it's not good.

I hope you're drinking lots of liquids.

I totally stopped bleeding. Just like that. Totally stopped. So I told told the doctor that I hadn't bled in the two hours that I was there, obviously that definitely means Im no longer any kind of emergancy. She told me where the OOH doctor is in the building but I just went to tesco and bought 3 boxes of Spatone and a shed load of orange juice.

God I feel absolutely crap. But really hoping this is the end of it.

Thanks for the posts, and hope those who are suffering get better soon. It sucks, really really sucks.

Glad you've stopped bleeding .

Have they taken bloods to test your iron count ?

Anyone who's lost enough blood to make them feel physically ill will be anemic.

You may have stopped bleeding,but if your iron levels are really low spatone isn't going to do a great deal. You'll feel really crap for weeks if you don't get proper treatment.

Please go to your GP tomorrow get an emergency appointment and insist they get your hemoglobin levels checked .(IIRC anything lower than 8 needs a transfusion) At the very least you'll need a course of proper iron tablets.

Hope you start to feel better soon.

both my children are unwell tonight. Its a double up with calpol and neurofen situation as well, as extra meds for the youngest. They both have a virus and I believe as had the same yesterday.

I feel like quite a twonk for going to A and E yesterday but the mix between anaemia and virus floored me, big time.

external Im going to keep an eye on this thread just incase you post again, pleas update if you get anywhere, good luck. Xx