Heavy Periods

[whathasthecatdonenow]

My periods have got progressively heavier over the last year, to the stage where I can feel myself flooding and regularly have to change pads every hour. I have to set an alarm and get up in the night to change even though I use a tampon and a pad. I feel completely drained for a week each month and look grey.

I know the answer is to go to see my GP, but I also suffer with PTSD and cannot tolerate an internal examination because of the traumatic event. So I guess I'm wondering if there is anything I can do myself to reduce the bleeding or if my GP will have to do a pelvic examination if I go to see him?

Any advice will be very welcome.

oh love, I was just about to post 'mirena coil', as I had exactly that problem, and terrible iron deficiency as a result, and it has as good as stopped my periods altogether.

But your GP may well refer you first to a gynae to check there's nothing else wrong, so that will involve a pelvic exam. Plus then if you went down the mirena route you'd need it put in...

Thanks for your reply. I thought I might be on a hiding to nothing. Nevermind, I'll just stock up on spatone and tampons - maybe buy some shares as I seem to be forking over a fortune every month.

My GP gave me diamond shaped blue pills to reduce the flow. We used to joke that this was Viagra. Eventually though, I had to have a hysterectomy as the bleeding would not stop. Is there a female GP you can see? My Mirena coil started to come out and got embedded, with resultant problems. Dont recommend Mirenas. Your GP may suggest medicine first and you dont always have a pelvic exam initially. Its really important to see your Doc.

Please do go to your docs. Mine prescribed me transexamic acid (sp?) to reduce the blood flow and it really has helped. No examination needed.

I know the pill makes my periods lighter and you don't need an examination for that.

Awful! I know exactly what you're going through, it's a (literal) bloody nightmare!!

Transexamic acid tablets have been a miracle cure for me! Definitely worth going to GP, my periods were just so awful, and now they're manageable again.

Thanks for the suggestions. So there might be a chance that he won't want to do a pelvic, might be worth making an appointment and using a lot of rescue remedy/diazapam to get there.

A pelvic really is out of the question, whoever does it I'm afraid. Even him suggesting it would leave me in a very bad place, so I'm trying to weigh up whether it is worth risking it or not to see the GP for the potential benefits.

Can you bring someone understanding with you who could mention that even the mention of an examination would distress you? They could speak to the doctor to tell them that even before you came into the room if that would help - or you could bring a note to pass across.

For what it is worth I have had similar and have self medicated with ibuprofen, 4 tablets a day starting 3 days before I am due on until day 5 and it has really helped.

Ooh, self-medication is my favourite type, I am not a fan of going to the doctors, although my GP is generally nice.

They do know that an exam would send me into full on flashback mode, but despite this it still took witnessing that to get my GP to stop asking about my overdue smear test.

Basically I have treatment resistant PTSD (or I've resisted the treatment, depending on who you speak to!) and accompanying depression, and I think primary health care is well out of its depth here, so I try to avoid seeing them about anything as lots of things trigger me and I always leave the surgery feeling much much worse.

I will try the ibuprofen next month, thanks for the suggestion.

I really don't think an examination will be needed, but definitely agree with suggestion that you take someone else with you for support. Please do go, it has made a world of difference taking the appropriate medication for me. Good luck OP.

Hi there from a fellow PTSD sufferer.
Find yourself a good gynaecologist who understands your issues.

Mine did a hysteroscopy, smear and fitted coil under general anaesthetic because I could not have it done awake, it was so great, and didnt even need to be intubated it was so quick.

Where in the UK are you?

I'm in Lancashire.

A general anaesthetic would not be an option as I can't be in a situation I can't control. There is no way I will ever have an internal examination, it just isn't happening. I've accepted that this means I can't have children or screening/treatment for certain cancers, but would like to feel a bit less shit each month if possible.

Ibruprofen definitely worth trying
That was recommended by gynacologist. It does something to lessen flow

Another one for tranexamic acid. My gp prescribed it for me based on what I told her, without doing any physical exam.

I heard somewhere that tranexamic acid is now available without prescription. You may be able to get it from the pharmacist and bypass the doctor entirely. Certainly worth asking the pharmacist about it.

I was given TA without any examination - just a quick chat about symptoms - could be done over the phone I'd imagine?

You can by it OTC now too, but only from big Boots I think

Thank you all so much for the suggestions. I'll try ibuprofen next month and if that doesn't work I'll see a pharmacist for tranexamic acid.