Periods/anaemia/this isn’t normal is it

[JohnsonandTrumpSittingInATree]

Last blood test I had …

Ferritin 12 / Heamoglobin 109

Diagnosed as anaemic. Dr said it was heavy periods causing it but I said I didn’t think they were that heavy but now on earth are you to know what’s normal when you only have your own experience to go on?

Anyway, started period yesterday. Got up this morning and could feel it gushing out, managed to get to bathroom where it literally poured out of me like a tap, splashed all over the tiles, all down my legs, toilet looked like a crime scene. If I didn’t know better I’d think I was haemorrhaging. So safe to say this isn’t normal is it???

im not asking for personal period stories, I’m not a troll, I’ve name changed for this. I just want to confirm that this isn’t normal in a period

No , it’s not normal.
Just like you, I became anaemic because I didn’t realise how heavy mine were, it just crept up on me. I had a Mirena coil to prevent getting anaemic again.

Unfortunately it's surprisingly common, mainly because Dr don't do anything about it. There was an article in the mail the other day I'll try and find it for you

However much iron supplements etx you take you can not balance loosing that much blood.
The gp will need to stop the heavy period.

Here you go @JohnsonandTrumpSittingInATree

My period lasted almost a YEAR: I was just told to 'put up with it' https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12532487/Period-lasted-YEAR-up.html?ito=native_share_article-nativemenubutton

No that's not normal. As you had bloods done I presume doctor ruled out any other likely causes for the anaemia. They need to find the cause of your heavy periods now and stop it. Have your periods always been the same or could you be perimenopausal? What are your thyroid levels?

Go and see the GP as they will prescribe medication to reduce the bleeding or put you on the mini pill. My daughter ended up with a blood transfusion age 12 when she had her first period. Normal for 5 days nearly stopped then it started gushing out of her. It was terrible, 28 days she bled, numerous doc visits and calls (during covid), one A&E trip when she couldn’t even walk from car to the blood test clinic and finally took her back to A&E where her iron was dangerously low. Dropped from normal to dangerous in 7 days.

She’s 15.5 now, on the mini pill and she’s not been normal since. Hadn’t done PE since, have to take and collect from school or she’s just exhausted. She only has a period every 4 months (pill break) and that’s settled now. Her ferritin was 8 at one point. I also have low ferritin now (15 I think) and no periods. It’s a stress. Once she’s 16 I can pay for a private iron transfusion if I think that’s going to help. It’s really ruined her adolescence

How much iron does she take daily and when and how does she take it? Are her periods still heavy or are they normal now?

Heavy periods are "normal" in that lots of women have them. But that doesn't mean you have to put up with them - there are loads of medications (not all hormonal) and treatments to help make things easier.

Not normal. This is very similar to my post a few wks ago! Go to gp and they can prescribe medication to stop it. I have tranexamic acid and norethisterone. They should refer for ultrasound to check the cause. PP mentioned thyroid, ask for this to be checked as could be the cause. Hopefully with iron tablets and something to manage the bleeding you will start feeling better while it gets looked at

I was given mefanamic acid and then tranexic acid to stop the heavy bleeding. As it got to the point that iron pills couldn't counter the amount I was losing. I can't take hormones, but there are other options out there. Also ask to be referred to a gynaecologist to check for fibroids or anything else amiss.

My periods are horrendous!

However, I used to think it was normal and I just put with it……until one day out of what felt like sheer exhaustion I collapsed at work.

Blood tests revealed that my iron level was so low that I had to be admitted to hospital for transfusions.

I have been taking 3 iron tablets a day for the last four years which means thankfully my iron levels are now ok.

My periods remain horrendous but at least I can function on a day to basis now.

Weren't you able to find a doctor who'd sort out your periods?

Anaemia makes your periods worse, something to do with how your blood clots? So it’s a vicious cycle!

As PPs said tranexamic or mefanamic acid would be helpful, or going on birth control for a bit.

Not normal, no.

I finally went to the GP to ask for womb ablation and was referred to a gynaecologist who diagnosed adenomyosis.

Ended up getting a Mirena coil instead, which has improved things vastly

They want me to have the coil but I keep telling them I can’t take hormones! Nobody listens to me. I have a repeat blood test tomorrow and after the way this period is going it’s likely my iron levels will be even worse.

I have my thyroid results too, I’ll go find them and post in a minute

I saw one who sent me off for an USS but the report came back that my endometrium lining was within normal limits - whatever that I’d supposed to mean.

I can’t take TXA or use hormonal contraception due to a chronic health condition I have, and I won’t have a Mirena coil so they’ve just sent me on my way.

Thyroid 1.5

Tranexamic acid really really helped me, as I don't do well with hormones. Ask a female GP. I was anaemic for a decade and literally not one male GP did a single trial or anything exploration of why. I had one junior female who was like "What are they waiting for?!" Started tranexamic acid then my next period was SO much lighter and only 4 days instead of a full 7. Life changing.

Some people who can't take oral hormones can tolerate the Mirena fine. It's probably worth a try. If it does affect you, they almost certainly won't believe you, but you can just demand they take it back out anyway. Ideally you'd get it inserted by someone who's quite happy to take it out and quickly if you feel it's affecting you badly.

Have they or are they going to bother doing an ultrasound? You need one.

They need to check your FT4 as well next time. Just TSH is not enough for some people in the earlier stages when it can still be causing symptoms.

Ask if there is a doctor at your surgery that specialises in women's health (particularly reproductive). I hate how we are expected to put up and shut up with no idea what is normal (as you say how would we know?) That said what you have experienced is not normal.

Why won't you have the Mirena? Taking fairly high doses of iron supplement for years is not great for your health.

They should be doing a hysteroscopy next as you can't try most of the usual methods for controlling it.

I had years of investigations, taking iron supplements etc. without much success. Turned out I was coeliac and not absorbing iron properly. The anaemia resulted in heavier periods, which makes you more anaemic etc.

Prior to that diagnosis they'd not really offered any other options for addressing the heavy periods other than the pill. I'd taken the pill previously and preferred the heavy periods to the side effects (depression, loss of libido etc.)

I’ve had two very bad experiences with a Mirena in the past and I have always said I would never have another.

I’m fortunate that the horrendous bleeding/clots/leaking/flooding etc only last for two days and then the other 3-4 days are really, really light.

I always say it feels like I lose 7 days worth of blood in 48 hours and then it almost stops. I go from having to change my period pants every 2-3 hours during the first two days of my period, to then only needing to change them 8 hourly from Day 3 onwards.

If I had to cope with my first two days of my period for the full duration of a 5-7 day period I genuinely wouldn’t be able to cope. I think I would tell them to stick five Mirena’s inside me!!!

This is what my periods are like and I'm constantly anemic. Gyne said normal and they don't care. Also offered marina. I said no because I couldn't have it inserted (trauma) unless they were prepared to do it under general, which they said no to. So I was told I was denying treatment and there isn't anything they can do.