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?

@DontWantTheRivalry

To all those who’ve had a hysterectomy….what was the recovery period like?

Mine was a full open procedure. Scar lower abdomen one hip to other, practically.

Had the procedure on the Tuesday about 4pm, surgeon said she would have discharged my on the Thursday but as it was a private hospital with BUPA paying I could stay another night if I wanted so I did. For the first three or four days I was very tired, needed a sit down after being in the shower for 5 minutes. But able to move around, make cups of tea etc. Was encouraged to start walking, gradually went a bit further every day. Back driving after 3 weeks. I work for myself, but if I'd been employed I would have needed 4 weeks off for an office job, probably more if it was a physical job.

People who have keyhole or vaginal hysterectomies have smaller wounds and recover more quickly.

Absolutely go to the GP, my mum had this and she was put on tranexemic acid and then eventually had a hysterectomy (but there were other problems too). Don't leave it!

Had this issue but drs only suggest Mirena which I don’t want 😣

I hear you about working from home, it has been great for me to help manage periods!
I was diagnosed with Adenomyosis after I went to the doctors. I just thought everyone struggled like me, and it wasn’t until I got a moon cup and could measure the blood loss that I realised how bad things were.
I went private and there are a number of different options, including burning the lining.

I had laparoscopic hysterectomy. Was in pain for first few days but easily managed by normal pain relief. Tired for about six weeks.

Am a lone parent and was back doing school run in a week, was all fine.
Not advocating pushing through by the way. Take all rest and relaxation you can get out of it, it's still major surgery.
Just for anyone who is worried about a long recovery, it's very doable.

Agree with seeing GP. I suffered for years with this until I realised that help was available. My GP didn't push the Mirena coil at all - there are other options that can be tried before this and they helped immensely.

Would ablation help this? I have coil. Agree not suited to all. I dont bleed at all now. Bliss

I’m late to this but glad you’ve decided to see your GP, you don’t need to live with this. I got a mirena for mine but there are other options as pp have said. Good luck OP.

Underactive thyroid can also cause this.

Menorrhagia is something to DEFINITELY go to the GP about! X

If you don't want the Mirena coil you can take a progestogen-only pill (so long as you don't have contraindications). They prefer you to have Mirena so they will push it, and there are lots of pros and cons either way that you should evaluate, but you don't have to have it or be alternatively fobbed off with nothing. I have argued my case on this point more than once because I have specific reasons I don't want to be on a long-term hormonal contraceptive that needs professional removal, at the moment, and they did give me desogestrel instead. (Note I'm not personally against IUS/IUD overall, I've had IUDs in the past and these worked well for me for a long time.)

When I've used desogestrel in the past my periods almost stopped (I have other reasons to not be on it right now though). I've also recently been prescribed TXA. Obviously your doctor will have to make sure that you don't have contraindications to this either, but they can work with you to decide what to do. I am going to be investigated for fibroids etc., too so if you haven't been, make sure that you get proper investigations for the very heavy bleeding.

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/desogestrel.html

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/contraception-ius-iud/management/levonorgestrel-intrauterine-system/

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/tranexamic-acid.html

Some brilliant suggestions here op (watching with interest), the only tiny thing I can suggest is doubling up on sanitary ware while you await treatment, so when I’m suffering I stick two of the heavy duty pads in. Maternity pads are good for this. Hope your gp helps you.

I have a close family member who suffered for years and it just got worse towards menopause. I CANNOT believe what she tolerated before seeking help, and actually what she was asked to try before eventually having an ablation and now on wait for hysterectomy.

Go to the GP and make yourself heard. You will not be fobbed off and do not have to live like this. 💪 Good luck.

An update: phone appointment with the doctor this morning and she was great, she’s referred me for an ultrasound at the surgery, blood tests and she’s prescribed me tranexamic acid. Said treatment options are coil, pill, possibly surgery depending on ultrasound results. I did say I wasn’t too keen on coil or pill and she seemed ok with that. Whole phone call took three minutes!

That's great news.

I know a lot of women do ok with the coil but (a) it can be really difficult to get an appointment to get it taken out and (b) it often makes the bleeding worse, not better. And I am too much of a wuss anyway.

I am also no stranger to sitting or sleeping on towels but it's preferable to the coil!

Yes definitely you should! You might have to keep bothering them for a bit as some may not take it seriously but there absolutely is things they can do to help!

@madamedesevigne

An update: phone appointment with the doctor this morning and she was great, she’s referred me for an ultrasound at the surgery, blood tests and she’s prescribed me tranexamic acid. Said treatment options are coil, pill, possibly surgery depending on ultrasound results. I did say I wasn’t too keen on coil or pill and she seemed ok with that. Whole phone call took three minutes!

Sorry missed this! That's great OP!

Good news OP

You should absolutely speak with your GP about this. I suffered for years before I found a sympathetic doctor and have tried tranexamic acid and mefenamic acid. It did alleviate some of the symptoms but what really changed my life was getting the mirena coil about 3 years ago. For info, I am now 52 and regret that I didn't get it sooner.
And the next time I saw that GP I got all emotional because I was so grateful!
I am aware that the mirena coil doesn't suit everyone, but for me it was a game-changer :-)
Whatever happens, don't give up and keep pushing for something that works.
All the best x

I also came on to suggest ibuprofen. Had now idea it could help until reading about it on MN. Now I take it it for the first few days of each month and it’s made a HUGE difference.

@madamedesevigne

An update: phone appointment with the doctor this morning and she was great, she’s referred me for an ultrasound at the surgery, blood tests and she’s prescribed me tranexamic acid. Said treatment options are coil, pill, possibly surgery depending on ultrasound results. I did say I wasn’t too keen on coil or pill and she seemed ok with that. Whole phone call took three minutes!

Sounds very positive x