Heavy periods?

[Brodicea]

Hello all,

DH and I have been TTC for almost a year now, and for the last eight months or so I have had really bad periods. I don't know though if what's happening is normal, and I'm just going through some cycle changes (I'm 32) I mentioned it to the Dr back in March but she didn't seem too concerned.

• On two days I have to change my pad every hour (and last night, had to change it twice in the night)
• Since it got worse I have at least one 'accident' where I flood a medium amount (ie a stain of three - four inches) of blood, through clothes or onto the bed. Luckily I'm studying part time so I don't have to go out on the worst two days of the month.
• the pain is really bad on one half-day of the period, so I can't stand up straight.
• But the period only lasts maximum seven days, so it's not that bad, and I only have two really bad days.

I don't wear tampons as I'm following Zita West's advice, and I am prone to thrush so they irritate me. My mum confirmed it runs in the family, and she used to get terrible, long periods going on for up to two weeks! But she did have fibroids.

I was on the pill from age 16 - 29, so maybe this is the reality of my periods and it's only just kicked in?
Should i go back to the Drs? Could it have anything to do with the lack of pregnancy?

You should definitely go back to the doctor, they tend to be quite cavalier about periods but the level of pain and bleeding you describe is not normal.

I found my periods got much lighter once I started using organic sanitary pads (eg natracare, available online). Apparently - and I learned this from mumsnet - the standard pads have chemicals in which irritate your system and make your bleeding worse.

Mention to the doctor that your mum had fibroids. Get iron and thyroid checked with blood tests.

I agree, another trip to docs is in order, that's not right at your age. Make sure dr knows you are ttc too. Hope you get this sorted. I have had similar problems but am late 40's.

Definitely go back. I have endometriosis and fibroids and have many of the symptoms you describe, although I'm not saying this is what you have. Hope it gets sorted.

If you have regularly having pain so bad that you can't stand up straight, and are restricting your activities so you can stay home and change your pads, that is something that needs sorting. There are medical treatments that can help you. Don't be fobbed off.

i had similar. Once I was given medicine that controls it, I wished I had asked for help sooner. Whether it is 'normal' or not, there is no reason you have to put up with this.

Thanks all - I'll definitely go back to the Drs and try not to get fobbed off. Last time I booked an appointment with a female Dr thinking she might be more sympathetic, but learned that that's not necessarily so!
Also will try the organic pads - I used to use them, but my local store stopped stocking them.

I went to the Drs and she (different one from before) prescribed Mefenamic Acid, to be taken on each really bad day.
I mentioned the fibroids but she reckoned it probably wasn't that as my periods aren't especially long or irregular and I have no bleeding inbetween. Feel a smidge fobbed off as I would have liked a more thorough poke around (she didn't have a feel), but hopeful things will be better!

Great news, fingers crossed the medicine works for you.

Brodicea

The first thing I thought of when I read your post was endometriosis. This can cause both pain and heaviness of periods to arise. The pill can mask symptoms of underlying problems.

Also I note that you have been prescribed Mefanamic acid now, often given to such people as well.

I would start keeping a daily pain and symptom diary for the gynae to see.

I would return to the GP and ask for a referral to a gynae for further evaluation. I would not take no for an answer. You need to find the exact cause of all this as well as the GP trying to treat the symptoms.

Some GPs are not great at all when it comes to such issues so you will need to be persistent in order to get answers. Its all too easy to be fobbed off.