Norethisterone and heavy flooding periods

[terriblenannyterry]

My gp wants me to try norethisterone as I am 48 have fibroids and awful heavy painful periods. Tranexamic acid does help but still get the horrible flooding. Have read lots of negative stuff on norethisterone and was scared to give it a go. Meant to take it days 14 - 27, so if anyone else uses it like this every month please let me know.

Don't be scared TNT, the worst that can happen really is that it won't help much. It is still used by GPs (I used to be one) though the evidence for it working is pretty weak. The side-effects aren't usually hugely troublesome for most women - they just look awful in the small print on the leaflet, I know! What is likely to be much more helpful is either a Mirena coil or endometrial ablation or something similar (racks brain to remember Gynae - I am now a hospice doctor!!) Good luck!

Thank you meerkate. I think I will give it and see what happens. GP and gynae at hospital don't recommend coil as my uterus tips backwards quite a bit and cervix is very hard to find!!

I've used it every now and again (when flooding) and have fibroids also, it really does help. Very oddly, so does cutting out wheat, milk, sugar, non organic foods and wine {sobs} Eat lots of oily fish and mixed beans instead.

Is that the one they prescribe when you want to skip a period? If so then I've used it and it was as good as its word. I don't know about using it continuously though, I didn't know you could. I have very heavy flooding periods too, in fact I've just come off the pill (causes depression) and was looking into using something else to lighten my periods just to manageable levels. I knew that GPs often prescribe anti-inflammatories and you are supposed to take these a few days before the start of your period so I did do and my period was just as bad. I was staying with the in-laws for a week and I messed up the bed on the first night. I have a pretty heavy duty job and if my periods don't calm down, I'll find it difficult to manage as everytime I stand up/lift something/walk about I usually flood a little and need to rush to the loo.

Mirena coil is no good as that too uses hormones and hormones don't agree with me. Yet I would worry about taking something regularly that has side-effects so I shall be watching this thread with interest.

Will certainly try changing the diet a bit, I have also read that taking vitamin b6 might help so have been taking that for a few weeks along with an iron supplement. I will try the norethisterone and see what happens.

I recon the hormones they put inside the food doesn't help. I have noticed a huge difference since cutting out milk though, they are rarely painful now.

I really don't think that a retroverted uterus is reason not to have a coil

I had a very invasive exploration of my uterus- hysteroscopy- whilst fully awake and no local anaethesia- and have a retorverted uterus. Sounds like you need a more confident gynae- and the Mirena could be brilliant for you. Ask for a 2nd opinion.

Maybe I will try cutting out or at least down on the milk.
If the norethisterone doesn't seem to help or I don't get on with it I will go back to my gp and mention Mirena coil again to him.
I do take tranexamic acid which does help (mostly) but do still get one or two flooding episodes a month. I also tried mefenamic acid which didn't really work any better than ibuprofen.

My GP's given me a prescription for tranexamic acid, Aunty Flo is due on Thursday so I'll have to see how it goes. Mefanamic acid didn't really help, I did notice that it thickened it slightly though. I can't have a coil as my uterus is mostly fibroids, I'm also hesitant about putting more hormones into my body.

Cutting out the milk really does help. My stomach is far less bloated then it used to be, and the only time I'm getting pain is when I'm ovulating. It's hard to keep away from wheat though, the times when I can avoid it I can notice the difference. I've done a lot of research, and I'm fairly sure that they are caused by excess oestrogen (as are heavy periods). They pump the animals with all sorts to make them larger or become more fertile (more meat/milk = more profit), so we consume all of these when we eat them. There's a genetic link as well, my sister has them also. Try organic milk if you're not able to cut it out, there's less hormones and chemicals in it.

Think you are right about the animals getting pumped full of hormones, I don't eat meat but will certainly try the cutting out milk, don't really have much anyway so probably won't miss it! I cut down on wheat a while ago and did notice a difference, can't resist the odd muffin, though!
The tranexamic does help quite a bit but if I lift something heavy or go up and down stairs too much it seems to set off flooding, although it is a good excuse to just sit on sofa with feet up watching tv for a couple of hours!

You still need the calcium, but spinach and broccoli contain it. Soya milk isn't too bad, trick is to put some cold water in your coffee before you add it though or else it curdles. Dr Google says to eat more mixed beans and fish (salmon/mackerel/tuna etc). These are supposed to be really good for you anyway so it's not a biggie.
Don't forget to get your GP to test you for anaemia, it's not good to flood like this. Some people do say that you can't become anaemic from a heavy period, my last blood test threw this out of the window.

My gp did a blood test and I am anaemic (10.5) so not too bad but still on iron tabs (yuk)! Heavy periods do mean anaemia! Must have been a man who said they don't!
Never tried soya milk so might buy some and try it.
Have come across a good website for women it is
www.cemcor.ubc.ca
its The Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research - they are based in Canada but still very informative.

Mine went down to 6.8, it was 11.something the last time I had a test. You can buy different types of soya milk, the almond one is lovely but more expensive than the others.

I'll have a look at the site. The gynaecologist recommended a hysterectomy. I'm only 35 and seemed a little drastic considering there are other options. My old GP said that they shrink/stop growing after the menopause.

Erm, having a dh who was a dairy farmer I can tell you that growth hormones have been banned in cattle for more than 20 years now. When studies talk of hormones in milk and dairy most of them, you will notice, use US data. This is because the use of any kind of hormone treatment or anti-biotics is highly regulated in the UK and certain treatments are banned here. The UK has one of the best records for producing healthy milk and dairy so simply buy British and avoid US dairy.

Thank you, Rhubarb.

Hi, I've just started on this regime. I took them from day 15 to day 26 of period and bled most days with some days of horredous flooding. Now it's day 28, when my period should come, things seem to be stopping. I'm really worried it means something serious but hoping it just means my body is taking time to get used to the new regime.....