What to do with horrible periods? don't want Mirena.......

[jollymary]

Having increasing problems with very painful, heavy, clotty periods. Have been worsening over last 3 years, GP now fed up of giving me more and more mefenamic acid, pushing me to have a mirena. Had a scan, which surprisingly diagnosed polycystic ovaries. Am trying to persevere with mef. acid, but can't seem to take it at the right time, as still in (alot of, and am no wimp) pain, do you have to take it at set times?
Don't want mirena as is diff. to quickly remove if not suitable. Have history of anxiety, also skin problems and have to watch weight, also severe migraines when on hormones, so don't think mirena a good plan. GP says is no other option.
Really struggling now..... anyone have any pearls of wisdom? Is tranexamic acid any good, or are there any herbal remedies you have found useful?
Very grateful for any replies or experiences.

No advice to offer, in a similar position, but watching to see if anyone comes up with anything

Honestly, I wouldnt bother with the mefenamic acid - I found it completely useless!
I also had horrendous periods, awful cramping, ridiculously heavy - same as you really. Was put onto pill and was good but it didn't really help with heaviness or cramping.
I went to my GP a while later with horrendous migraines, and she said that it could be the pill - so put me on the mini-pill Cerazette.
Was a bit sceptical at first, but is truly amazing! Have been on it for around 10 months now, and haven't had 1 period - not even spotting - or any cramps.

I would recommend it to absolutely anyone - I haven't really had any side effects that I've noticed.. I'm finding it slightly hard to lose weight at the moment, but that could just be me, not the pill. I would rather carry some extra lb's, than have the horrendous periods that I did before.

I don't know if the mini-pill is something that you would consider, but I urge you to try it as its brilliant!

Thankyou for that, sounds intriguing.

Don't think mine were as bad as yours but had very heavy periods too. Have been on Cerazette for 7 months. First 3 months had light to medium spotting almost constantly with a couple of mini-periods, but in the last 4 months - nothing! Can't believe it! So glad I persisted as almost stopped taking it in after 2 months of constant bleeding. Now I don't have any periods, hoping it lasts!

Tranexamic acid works for me, I only take it on my heaviest days

I am on 5mg of Progesterone atm for half my cycle to try and even things up a bit.

Arrggghh!!! looks like Cerazette poss. not suitable either. Would endometrial ablation be overkill? Or even helpful?!

Try Tranexamic acid as cybbo mentions, it is good at reducing the flow.
I had awful periods, very heavy, and was anaemic as a result.
Now I take tranexamic acid they are much lighter.
I also take Floradix, as, bizarrely being anaemic cam make your periods heavier.

I also take tranexamic acid, 8 tablets a day for the first 4 days of my period. It really does make a difference, I still have v heavy periods but they are generally much more manageable now and less flooding etc.

thankyou! will try tranex. acid.

jollymary

My initial thought on reading your post is that endometriosis could well be the root cause of your painful and heavy periods. Endo can cause both these symptoms to arise.

GP should refer you to a gynae specialist now rather than ply you with yet more mefenamic acid.

You need to determine the CAUSE of all this now, the GP is just trying unsuccessfully to treat the symptoms (transexamic acid is very similar to the other stuff you've been taking and it is a short term solution to a long term problem). BTW many endo patients have ended up taking one or other of those particular tablets as well prior to diagnosis. Many GPs as well are not up to speed on gynae problems such as this either. DO not let the GP continue to mess around in ignorance. Do not either be fobbed off, insist on a referral to a gynae. Herbal remedies will have no effect at all if endo is indeed present.

PCO would be the cause of the skin problems and issues with having to watch weight; excess pounds can certainly exacerbate PCO symptoms. Also endo would not appear on any ultrasound scan; it is usually only diagnosed through a laparoscopy (keyhole surgery).

Would also suggest that you keep a pain and symptom diary daily; this will help give the gynae clues.

I have no advice but am marking my place as my periods have been getting heavier and more painful over the past few years. I have now started flooding regularly and my pms symptoms are off the scale...

I struggle to lose weight, suffer from anxiety and depression and don't know if the pill would be an option?

Will watch this thread with interest if that's ok?

Atilla how is Endo diagnosed?

Have to say I have managed to improve my periods hugely with the tran. acid, floradix and also agnus castus, though I still get very bad PMS.

Had a scan and no fibroids but not sure re Endo. My GP wanted me to try the mirena but I have been put off by the threads on here and the side effects many women have - I dont get on with hormonal contraceptives so am keen to avoid the mirena.

Am also wondering about ablation, perhaps someone who has had it will see this and report back...

Thankyou, Attila! Had not considered this, as assumed would show up on transvag scan. Am going to ask GP for gynae referral. V. grateful for your help :-)

I also have very bad pmt too. Don't fancy the mirena as I have heard it can increase depression. Is this the same for the mini pill too?

Will watch this thread with interest as just picked up prescription for tranexamic Acid today ready for next period but GP also arranging scan and hysteroscopy as well to be on safe side which reassures me.Always had fairly heavy periods but last 2/3 years have got worse and last year had other tests as found out my ferritin levels on the floor- down to 1!I really don't want the Mirena coil if at all possible- although some find it does the trick.Just feel so tired and run down at times and the heavy blood loss can't be helping despite good diet,iron supplements and making sure I get enough early nights etc.In my early 50's so keep hoping not long to go before done with whole period thing but could be ages yet? Will research the Angus caster also as mood swings also a pain!

Both me and my sister have had terrible periods for years, we have tried many things before being recommended acupuncture by my lecturer. It totally worked. took a few months but amazing after the second month we both had improved. and now I get no clots and only mild discommfort. My sister took three months.

Also my PMT irritability has pretty much gone (I was pretty bad). Had improved my insomnia!

Would recommend it to anyone. Life changing.

I have had all of the things mentioned and tried them all,from the pill,tranexamic acid,meferamic acid,and 2 minera coils :( internal and external scans,2 biopsys,couple of xrays to look for missing minera coils :(

i had years of very heavy periods and clots aswell but no pain as such,i got to the point where i was wearing the babys nappy over a pad in bed so i didnt leak,waking up at 3am feeling the blood pooling,i would slide down the bed,not wanting to stand up,as it was then a quick dash to the bathroom,befor i exploded all over the hallway :( not good at 3am half asleep,with one eye open scrubbing the floor,so the kids dont wake to think a mass murderer has been in the house,not good at all.

or day one of period,staying in the house for fear of leakage,wearing dark trousers,when you want to wear white in the summer.My final hospital visit i was on very heavy ,sitting waiting to be called,stood up and could feel the familar dripping,got in the doctors room and she said sit down and i knew...got up to be examined and it was all over the place,i was mortified,but the good thing was,she said,i needed to see this and this cannot carry on,she was lovely and gave me wipes and stuff to clean myself up,she was so lovely :)

I went in hospital to get the abaltion,the lining of the womb laser off,i stopped the tablets,which thicken the womb,so had one day on the toilet more or less just passing huge painless clots,and so when i went for the op,he was able to laser deeper,the weird thing was,i had no pain at all,maybe a slight ache but nothing more,and more suprsingly not one spot of blood.

I had a watery type period a couple of times,only needed a liner,and now had nothing at all for over 3 months :) I couldnt reccomend it more highly,or the lovely doctors and nurese at the womens hosp in liverpool,i was on a lovely ward with 6 other women and had a telly and free internet,and a night away from hubby and the kids haha...no seriously,dont suffer like me and ask about it,you have nothing to loose.

Lilmamma - do you still get cramping period pains at all?

And when you say you stopped the tablets which thicken the womb, what tablets were they?

no i dont get any pain at all,i never did really get bad pains,just so heavy and clots..The other tablets were cerazette,which is a type of pill,but you took it all the time,i wasnt on these for very long.

I tried all of the tablets on offer. Did nothing for me. Had to really fight my corner over the merina. Started a thread on here about it as my Dr basically said anyone who had any side effects was lying! Iknew very quickly on reading about the coil that it wasn't something I was willing to try.

Finally managed to have an ablation done last week. procedure was done under GA. Very quick although I spent a while in recovery due to my stats being a bit odd. I came round to a pretty severe period pain type pain but they gave me plenty of meds which helped.

Spent the day in hospital. Currently have a watery discharge which only needs a panty liner.

Fingers crossed that this works. Surgeon said if it didn't I'd be looking at a hysterectomy.

I also suffered with such heavy periods. I now have the nuvaring. Can't recommend it highly enough. 3 weeks in and 1 week out and periods very manageable.

Just wanted to add. I was having severe bleeding for months and months and ended up being referred to the gynaecologist. He sent me away with leaflets about ablation and I was seriously considering it, however my periods just calmed down over a period of 2 or 3 months and for the last 6 have been much more normal. I have to say that if they hadn't I'd have been going for ablation but am holding off just now - have kept the leaflets though. I'm not sure why it's not more widely offered to be honest - one op rather than constant tablets or a mirena etc.

Everyone I know who's had ablation has raved about it. You do need to be sure you've finished your family, though.

i had an ablation after trying all other options..various acids, mirena...Ablations been great and I have no regrets at all. I had slight cramps for a couple of days, plus a watery discharge for a month, since then, nothing - just an occassional pantyliner type day of slightly more discharge than normal.