heavy periods - any advice/experience?

[newgirl]

Hi there

Im now early 40s and my periods have become heavier in last few months. Ive looked it up on nhs site and ive made a doc appt (two weeks time) but I would appreciate any shared experience from mumsnetters.

Im regular, but am getting through a box of super in two days. I think I might be perimenopausal.

This week I have taken ibuprofen as that was the advice from nhs site. I am concerned about taking a pill or using a coil as I am prone to acne and just before I am due on i get 3-4 spots so i think this is related to hormones.

Anyone have any experience?

i was 42 when my periods became very heavy

the doctor gave me some tablets to help with the bleeding and even suggested

going back on the pill

they did some blood tests as well

welcome to perimenopausal club

i have yet to start wearing american tan tights or tweed skirts [bugrin]

Mirena coil. Sorted. Totally changed my life.

Second the mirena. Is amazing.

I wanted the mirena but my womb shape is not compatible! So it doesnt suit everyone

So now I'm on low dose progesterone to space my periods out more (they were every 17 days) and tranexamic acid to lessen the hideousness

I tried mirena, had limite success with tranexamic acid (mine were 7-9 days long as well as heavy).

Ended up having novasure womb ablation when I was 37/38 - fabulous a bit of scant spotting for a week, I have my life back

I am thinking of having endometrial ablation but I am really worried about it as I don't know much about it and don't know anyone who has had it done. Has anyone else here had it or know anyone who has?

Random mess, what was it like having the ablation, and did you have any side affects? Do you still get period pains at all?

I had the ablation and was sterilised at the same time (tubes clipped) was supposed to be discharged after 4 hours.

I woke up in a lot of pain and was given a morphine drip which made me sick so I ended up staying in a couple of nights. I think GA just does not agree with me, as was really sick last time I had it too.

I got an infection in the keyhole for the sterilisation so had to have strong ABs for that.

So over all it was all a bit more of a to do than I expected and needed 2 weeks off work BUT it was so worth it. I never really suffered period pains but I did used have that awful stinging, heavy, dull pain which has disappeared completely. I have started exercising again and it no longer interferes with our sex life.

Thanks very much for replies x

Hi newgirl

I too had very heavy periods, they made me severely anaemic.

I have never got on with the pill so hormones like the pill or mirena coil weren't the solution.

Tranexamic acid worked really well for me. They cut the bleeding dramatically and I wouldn't be without them.

Good luck at the Drs

The ablation method is news to me so just looked that up. I guess that is a longer term solution? The acid sounds effective too I'm glad there are options out there. I feel worn out so off to get some iron tablets x

Ablation rocks you can only take the tablets for 3 days at a time which if you have long periods may not really be enough. Also if you keep getting anaemic I would be asking for a more permanent solution.

Spa tone or floradix work quicker than iron tablets btw and usually with fewer side affects.

I had heavy periods and it turned out that I had an under active thyroid - might be worth asking for a blood test to rule out this and aneamia.

Random could I ask have you had any side effects like weight gain at all and if you had painful periods before this? I'm booked later this month for this but googled and now worried it might not make the ov pain go.

Also did they check for edo's before doing this?

No I've not suffered with painful periods, no they didn't check for edo's beforehand I don't think. About 18 months previous I had a scan to check for any reasons to cause the heavy bleeding and aneamia it was causing.

My mum had a hysterectomy around the same age and my eldest dd is also suffering with very heavy periods - I guess it's in the genes

I have gained weight but that is purely down to now having an office job rather than running around after 3 young children and having constant access to the office cakes/biscuits/sweets and actually remember to eat 3 meals a day so def not as a result of the op!

I had a novasure endometrial ablation just before Xmas. Went in to hosp early morning and discharged by 2 pm. I was given paracetamol, ibuprofen and a stronger pain killer to take if nec. I used the paracetamol for the next 2-3 days and was then fine. I had some light spotting for about a week, and have had 3 light periods since.
Before the op, I had seen the gynae and had an internal scan so she was confident this would be a suitable procedure for me. I think it has about an 80% success rate, but is only recommended if you are definitely finished having babies.
I am happy to share my experience if you have any questions.

Endometrial ablation changed my life! I had it done almost a year ago and have gone from someone who passed out with pain regularly, had to change super plus tampon and pad every hour or so etc to now being like some irritating bitch of a Tampax advert! I came on on Wednesday this week - used 3 regular tampons during the course of the day at work (and probably could have just changed once but I hate having a wee without changing tampon as the strings get wet - eewww) and I've pretty much finished today!

The op was fine, done under GA which wiped me out for about 5 days but basically all I did was slug about on the sofa reading books so perfectly pleasant. I had quite bad pain immediately afterwards BUT I'd come on the day before the op so I'm not sure how much of that was actually just my last ever bout of the crippling pains if you see what I mean... The only regret I have was not having had it done earlier...

Thanks for the responses i think I'm going to go for it - no more babies this end.

Funny you should say about being In the genes my mum had a hysto at 36 so a year younger than me and I've only really recently spoke to her about how bad mine are and she said that I'm just the same as her.

I'm on depo jabs - I'm lucky I know it doesn't suit everyone but for me it is no periods and no PMT.

A box of super in two days? As a kid (started aged 10) a box would last me the day, and I had more for night - think I should have been treated a bit more seriously when I was taken to the Dr. They did put me on the pill eventually, that reduced periods to 5/6 days and less heavy - but not much. But it did stop me vomiting.

Ok I saw doc and I'm trying the taxonomic acid and having blood test for Anemia, fibroids and under active thyroid. Will see what tests show. Thanks for advice (and will do best to avoid the tan tights)

I'm sure the tranexamic acid will help it's just a case of how much it helps - I found it a bit of a faff trying to start them soon enough but not too soon or else it all just started up again!

ok back again! I took the tranexamic acid for 4 days when my period started and it was a revelation! MUCH lighter periods - rough guess at least half as heavy. I slept better as not having to change tampon in night, so all good. Sorry if too much detail but I wanted to be encouraging for anyone else in same situation.