What are my options? Period related.

[Pokeroot]

My periods make me very sick, and they are getting heavier each month. I am also spotting for 5 days before a period.

I had some investigations a few years ago, everything was fine and I was told to take the pill. I didn't as I shouldn't take the pill due to my mums breast cancer.

Last year my periods got so bad I went on the combined pill for 6 months, but the side effects were horrid. Then I tried the mini pill but stopped taking it before finishing the first pack as it has badly affected my mood.

I am seeing my gp on wednesday as my periods are ruining my life, but don't know what to ask for. Any advice?
TIA

Hi Poker - I'm in similar situation as you.
The pain & heaviness of my periods is horrendous. But I generally feel very unwell for the entire time. I have been advised to try the Mirena Coil (slightly hesitant from all the bad press it gets on MN)

I've just had a loop biopsy last week for some CIN2 cells and the consultant told me that my periods could become more painful now. I actually broke down in front of him.

He has suggested that I try the Mirena Coil and the surgery have promised if it doesn't suit me they will remove it straight away. My main concern is my mental health (I am v anxious) and I've tried Cerazette before and it sent me to a very dark place

My next stop after trying the Mirena Coil is Ablation as Lunatic mentions above, I'm already sterilized.

NL

Pokeroot

I would be asking the GP for a referral to a gynae; this type of problem is well outside a GPs remit.

You also need up to date test results; any test done over six months ago should be discounted.

Something is causing this to arise and it is certainly in your interests to find out what it is. The cause needs to be determined properly as well as treating the symptoms.

I would keep a daily pain and symptom diary as this can also give the gynae clues.

I'm 29, no dc and no plans for any.

I'm not willing to try the coil as cerazette took less than 2 weeks to make me suicidal (I have bipolar) and I can't just stop taking the coil as I can a pill.

While an ablation will stop the bleeding it wont help with the vomiting my guts up, will it?

Attila I've kept a diary for years but no one ever seems interested in it. I will get another referral. I had a load of swabs done in December and they all came back clear.

My new GP is taking it very seriously which is nice and a complete change. I just want it to be over. I dread every period.

LunaticFringe I'm fairly sure my age is the reason doctors keep just saying my only option is the pill. It's deeply annoying. The combined pill may give me breast cancer, makes me mildly depressed, causes my hair to fall out and steals my libido, but does stop me been sick. Cerazette seems, in the 3 weeks I have taken it, to fix all my problems except if I take it any more I'll be dead.

Can they really leave me to suffer every month for the next decade or so until I am deemed old enough?

If the root cause of all your symptoms is for instance endometriosis (and this can cause both heavy bleeding and pain) swabs and internal ultrasounds for instance will not detect it. Endo is usually only diagnosed through a keyhole surgery op called a laparoscopy.

Do not be fobbed off; seek specialist advice from a gynae. As said before all this is outside a GPs remit.

There are tablets you can try, which reduce the blood flow in a lot of women - tranexamic acid and mefenamic acid. They won't deal with the being sick etc., but worth a try to deal with the heaviness of your periods? I would speak to the GP - who may want to refer you to a gynae for more tests, if it's been a couple of years and things are getting worse, to rule out things like fibroids and endometriosis.

Thanks. I'll ask about tranexamic acid. I used to take mefenamic acid as a kid (I've been sick with my periods since I was 13), I had to stop taking it because taking it would make me feel sick by association.

I'll ask about endo, it was ruled out by one doctor but I'm not sure why, I have never had a laparoscopy. Fibroids were ruled out by ultrasound in dec 2011 so I'll ask about those too.

The gynae I saw last time was a bit rubbish, she was confused because of the 2 issues. The being sick and the bleeding. She shugged when I said I shouldn't take the pill and I only ever saw her once. No follow up after the tests.

So sorry you are feeling so awful. I've been in your shoes, and my heavy bleeding and blood clots started at your age too.

I agree you sound like you need to see a gynocologist as soon as possible.

For me the result was uterine fibroids. I have a large fibroid in the uterine wall and I had a smaller one that was attached and in the womb. Iykwim.

The gynocologist gave me transexamic and mefenamic as suggested below. They do give some relief in the short term, so I would definitely ask. But you need a long term solution, and it's important for you to get a diagnosis.

I have had the Mirena inserted, and the first time it expelled in a large blood clot. However I didn't want to to do the road of ablation or hysterectomy at that point. I had 3 months of instant relief with the Mirena and I wanted to give it one more try.

I had a D&C (removed lining of womb), the fibroid that was external was cut and cauterized and the Mirena put back in under GA.

So far so good. I suffer from depression, but I've had no effects so far in 9 months. As the coil contains a hormone it's very likely that you won't be feeling sick and vomiting. I don't bleed at all, I get (tmi) a pink discharge after some twinges for a week.

But nothing like a week of migraine, nausea and tenderness (crying when I had to take my bra off, pushing down on my stomach and losing a clot instantly) and then 14 days of uncontrollable bleeding, crying, not sleeping etc.

Please make sure your iron levels are okay too, and get a supplement. I had to go on an iron infusion as my levels were so low.

I hope you get some answers and relief from this soon. I know how exhausting it can be.

Thanks Wally, I am glad you are feeling better. It's not just the depression that is stopping me having the mirena coil, it's the fact that my mum had a very aggressive oestrogen based breast cancer and I was told not to take oestrogen as I am at risk. Plus I have no control over a coil whereas I do with a pill.

I actually told my gp last month that if she offered me a hysterectomy I would have it done!

I'll get my iron levels checked too.

Mirena is progestogen not oestrogen (although yes, you can't just stop it like a pill, it can however be removed but just how quickly would depend on your GP)

You certainly need up to date results; any test result over 6 months old should be discounted.

Transexamic acid tabs may or may not help; the problem with this is that it is really a short term solution to what has and is a long term problem. It will not address the underlying cause.

Have no idea why a doctor ruled endo out considering too that you had not had a lap op done. Madness.

I would certainly talk to a gynae about the possibility of you having either endo or fibroids. You need to find a gynae who has a specialist interest in endometriosis - ask them outright!. Both fibroids and endo can cause the problems you describe (and endo used to make me feel sick on occasion as well). In view of the pain I would think that endo cannot be ruled out.

Do not be fobbed off, you will need to be persistent in order to get answers.

4nomore in that case I definitely wont have the mirena. Cerazette has made me very unwell very quickly and I wont risk my mental health. Bad periods are horrid but they are not going to kill me but depression might.

Attila I should have said I don't really get any pain, just mild cramping.

I'm not sure why endo was ruled out, I will make certain to ask about it. Can I ask how the endo makes you feel sick? When I am sick it starts with very mild cramping (the only time this happens), I then feel too hot which makes me feel faint, then I puke lots, then I get freezing cold and shake, and then I sleep for a few hours. This happens on the first or second day of my period and has done since my second ever period at just turned 13.