AIBU to bother the doctor about heavy periods?

[madamedesevigne]

I’ve been having an increasingly hard time with my periods over the last couple of years. They’re not painful but they’ve lengthened to about 6-7 days.

I could deal with that, however, if it wasn’t for the sheer volume of blood for the first 3-4 days. Every time I go to the toilet it’s like the lift in The Shining.

I can’t do tampons or Mooncup (please don’t suggest these). I wear the thickest sanitary towels available to humanity. Just went to the shops for 20 mins and by the time I made it home I’d almost soaked right through. This means that for those days, I basically can’t do anything that involves leaving the house. Lockdown and working from home has been very useful and has masked the problem to some extent, but is there anything a doctor can do or is it One Of Those Things?

Book an appointment asap. You want tranexamic acid. It makes the bleeding much lighter. It’s a complete game changer.

Absolutely yes, especially since this has been getting worse.

Definitely make an appointment, I also lived with this for years before going to my GP when it got to the point where i was struggling to leave the house. They should at least refer you for an ultrasound to check for something like fibroids and as PP says Tranexamic acid can help the bleeding. They will probably also encourage you to get a mirena coil but that's another story, make the GP appointment first and stress how much it's impacting your daily life.

Cor, really? Amazing! I had no idea there was something like that they could give me that might help! Thanks!

Thank you @emmathedilemma, I was told years ago that I had fibroids after having an ultrasound when the damn things stopped altogether due to stress, so that may well be a factor. I don’t think I could ever get a Mirena though.

Also, to keep you going, (and go to the doctor !) even ibrufen slows your flow a fair bit

@madamedesevigne

Thank you *@emmathedilemma*, I was told years ago that I had fibroids after having an ultrasound when the damn things stopped altogether due to stress, so that may well be a factor. I don’t think I could ever get a Mirena though.

Mine were really heavy and very painful (they lasted 10 or 11 days in every 22 or 23!). Took me years to get a GP to take me seriously and it was a woman who did in the end.

I got a Mirena - it changed my life. I asked for and was given without a quibble a general anesthetic for it, too.

Ibuprofen? I’ve got tons of it in the house, only use it when I have a headache. Can’t believe that I’ve had something that might have helped in the house for AGES! My god this is a revelation.

That’s one thing, my current doctor is worth her weight in gold to me as she takes gynaecological stuff seriously. I’ll def try and get an appointment.

Please make an appointment. It’s impacting your quality of life in a bad way. It’s time we deal with women’s health issues in a more serious way and don’t accept serious impacting issues as normal or it can’t be helped. I can guarantee you that if men had periods they wouldn’t be putting up with this severe impact on their life during a few days every month.

@LaBellina

Please make an appointment. It’s impacting your quality of life in a bad way. It’s time we deal with women’s health issues in a more serious way and don’t accept serious impacting issues as normal or it can’t be helped. I can guarantee you that if men had periods they wouldn’t be putting up with this severe impact on their life during a few days every month.

Thank you very much @LaBellina, I totally agree. I’ve got an appointment booked now, hopefully in enough time that I won’t need to go through this rigmarole again next month!

I hope it goes well

How old are you, OP? They can get worse as you approach and during perimenopause. I have PCOS and rather than scarce or absent periods, had very regular, very heavy ones in my early to mid 40s, to the extent that I was bleeding even more than you, and for ten days a month. I was on the floor with anaemia and barely functioning. It was really affecting my ability to work.

My gynae was reluctant to do a hysterectomy (which I wanted) and told me her escalation was: Mirena first; ablation second; hysterectomy as a last resort). I couldn’t tolerate the Mirena I tried, so struggled on for a few more years, until I was able to convince her I wasn’t going to reconsider trying for children (had had a lot of failed fertility treatment in my thirties). I had an endometrial ablation about four years ago, and although I still have periods, they are like the normal, manageable ones I had in my twenties, which has literally given me my life back. If you’ve had your family it’s something to discuss with the gynae.

@MsAgnesDiPesto Thank you, I’m 39, don’t have any children. An ablation sounds like something to consider. I know I could never tolerate a Mirena though, so I’d never clear that hurdle if they presented that plan to me.

@LaBellina

I hope it goes well

Thank you very much, I really appreciate that.

Yep. My GP sent me for scan, nothing to see here just peri menopause. I did get prescription for tranexamic acid which helps, as does ibuprofen, and I bought some Modibodi heavy flow period pants which mean I can go to bed without sleeping on a bath towel.

I had a uterine fibroid embolization .....this was after some years of trying ibuprofen transaxemic acid, mirena ...not saying you should course but there are options!

Also get gp to check iron levels.....lack of which can be both a cause and consequence of heavy periods. Glad you have a good gp.....it may be a long road

Period pants ...I usu wuka.....really can help!

I am almost 47 and 4 years ago I was the same. I was passing clots & was worn out. My pyjamas would be destroyed sometimes. I got the implanon contraceptive implant & honestly it has changed my life. I haven’t had any periods in 4 years. Now it doesn’t work for everyone but worth investigating.

Yes yes yes go go the doctor!!
This screams fibroids to me, get some tranexamic acid and mefenamic acid.. It will change your life.

In the mean time I also suggest period pants. I've always had a heavy flow but no more leaking since I use period pants. I do change them more often than recommended but that's still better and less often than cups/tampons/pads.

See a DR and you are NOT bothering them.. Helping you is their job.

Echoing all PPs, please go to your GP. Boots sell tranexamic acid over the counter, if you wanted to try it. I think it's called heavy period relief.

GP. But be prepared for them to give you the hard sell on the Mirena coil- I had a huge battle with them. They were trying to get me to have it to try before referring me to gyne. I refused and insisted on investigations to find out a cause, not just deal blind with symptoms. They seem to be on commission for them.

I've got fibroids. Now under gyne and they are still trying to get me to have the coil. I'm still saying no..... I want them to treat the fibroids.

@madamedesevigne

That’s one thing, my current doctor is worth her weight in gold to me as she takes gynaecological stuff seriously. I’ll def try and get an appointment.

Definitely try and hope you get one of these. Unfortunately they aren’t standard though

@BatshitCrazyWoman

Echoing all PPs, please go to your GP. Boots sell tranexamic acid over the counter, if you wanted to try it. I think it's called heavy period relief.

It is no longer available over the counter ..it used to be