Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

Periods and donating blood

18 replies

EauRouge · 04/08/2014 10:30

I'm supposed to be giving blood today but my period's appeared early and I feel rough. I get really heavy, painful periods and I was feeling faint yesterday but I might have been a bit dehydrated (been drinking loads today). Do you think I should give the blood donation a miss? Maybe pop along and chat to the nurses and see what they think?

Every time I book an appointment I manage to get a stinking cold or something I've only managed to donate once and I felt fine afterwards.

While I think of it, will my GP take it seriously if I ask about painful, heavy periods or will they just tell me to take some paracetomol and piss off?

Thanks.

OP posts:

Original poster

EauRouge · 04/08/2014 12:22

well, I've answered my own question, I'm not even well enough to leave the house now. Maybe I should go and see my GP.

OP posts:

IScreamForIceCream · 04/08/2014 12:30

Oh you poor thing.
And yes, if you can't leave the house, you shoud def see the GP.

I did and my (excellent) GP was lovely, but I know others get brushed off, so be prepared to demand action.

It is ridiculous isn't it - if men had heavy, painful, debilitating periods, they would surely be considered a real issue, whereas some people seem to think that women should put up and shut up.

Original poster

EauRouge · 04/08/2014 13:37

Thank you. DH has said he will come with me to the GP because I'm worried they will just shrug and say it's wimmins problems. I've lost jobs in the past due to taking time off because of my periods, there's no way I can put up with it for another 20 years.

OP posts:

tak1ngchances · 04/08/2014 13:52

You need to be properly assessed for fibroids and endometriosis. Do not be fobbed off!
Am rooting for you

Original poster

EauRouge · 04/08/2014 14:27

Thank you. Don't think it can be endo, I didn't have any trouble falling pregnant with either of the DDs. Bit worried about going to a gynae, last time I saw one she did a smear so roughly that I bled for days, and I was assaulted by a MW during labour with DD2 so not really very good with this sort of thing.

OP posts:

honeybeeridiculous · 04/08/2014 14:41

You have my sympathy OP
I had really heavy periods and was found to be anaemic, my GP was fab (she is a lady so don't know if that makes a difference)
I had a hysteroscopy which found a couple of tiny fibroids and a cervical polyp which was removed, fibroids were left as only tiny.
I had transexemic acid tablets which cut the bleeding by about half, but then had a mirena coil fitted which is fab,no more periods
You don't say your age OP so I guess that may influence your decisions, I am late 40's and feel so much better now,

Original poster

EauRouge · 04/08/2014 14:54

I'm 33. I've tried hormonal contraception; I was on the mini pill and it did not agree with me, the side effects were awful- the nurse said that for this reason she wouldn't recommend the coil or injection. DH has had the snip so we're not having any more children. Tempted to ask if they will just take everything out but I doubt they would do it because of my age.

OP posts:

honeybeeridiculous · 04/08/2014 15:26

That's interesting, I tried the mini pill and was like a possessed animal whilst taking it I actually became pregnant with DC3 on it, but that's a whole different story!
I was told the mirena wasn't the same because the hormones are fewer and are localised in your womb, whereas with the pill the hormones are in your whole system, and Iv certainly had a much better outcome. I would not have had the mirena if I was told it was the same as the mini pill

Dippyeggsrock · 04/08/2014 16:22

I've just had a hysterectomy because of heavy periods-my GP was fab-talk to them. Good luck

specialsubject · 04/08/2014 16:22

yes, go see the GP. A period should be a minor inconvenience, if it is ruling your life something is wrong. It is 2014 and there is no need for that.

don't worry about other people's experiences on hormones, irrelevant for you as we are all different people. You won't know until you try. If GP no good, see another!

BTW giving blood with a heavy period is usually a non-starter, you'll fail the anaemia test.

Original poster

EauRouge · 04/08/2014 16:29

Thanks. I do drink gallons of spatone because of the heavy periods so I don't think I'm anaemic. I've given blood once with no problems other than a bit of a headache and felt tired for a couple of days, but I don't think that's cause for concern is it?

I will get to the GP Thurs or Fri and let you all know what happens. Thanks for the support :)

OP posts:

Eastpoint · 04/08/2014 17:16

Have ibuprofen instead of paracetamol if you can take it. It reduces bleeding. That together with tranexamic acid, which your dr can prescribe, could really make a difference - the combination of the two drugs has literally changed my life when I have my period.

Original poster

EauRouge · 05/08/2014 08:48

Thanks, I might give that a go first and then ask about that endometrial ablation thing if the tranexamic acid doesn't work.

OP posts:

IScreamForIceCream · 05/08/2014 10:08

And if you are in lots of pain, you can mix paracetamol and ibuprofen for more pain killing. So I might do 2x paracetamol, then 2 hrs later, 2 x ibuprofen...

Though as I ranted above, my GP has actually been excellent wrt nightmare periods and I now have a range of prescription painkillers also. As well as tranexamic acid to lessen the bleeding.

Original poster

EauRouge · 05/08/2014 10:14

I don't generally bother with OTC painkillers, they don't seem to have much effect and I get really bad nausea (and sometimes vomiting) when I get my period, so swallowing all the pills makes it worse. But I might ask the GP for something else.

I've got really bad pelvic pain the last few periods I've had and today and yesterday it hurts to sit because my coccyx is so sore. I'm sure this can't be right. All those lying adverts with women in white going rollerblading, grrr. I'm shuffling around like I've shat myself.

OP posts:

IScreamForIceCream · 05/08/2014 10:16

Is it your coccyx, or is it - ahem - javelin arse ?
I get the latter. Yay, endometriosis!

You really need to get a check over by a doc to find out the cause of the crazy bleeding and pain...

Original poster

EauRouge · 05/08/2014 11:09

It's my coccyx, as well as the rest of my pelvis- if you ever had any pelvic pain during pregnancy, it's like that. I've heard about javelin arse but only experienced it once or twice. I need to go to the surgery on Friday anyway as DD2 has her pre-school jab. So that'll be a fun trip for both of us

OP posts:

Mabelface · 06/08/2014 11:52

I've got endometriosis. I also have 4 children! My endo has been kept away for 9 years now. I had a laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, helica laser to zap off the endo spots, a D&C and then a Mirena coil fitted. Not had a period or pain since. I used to get terrible pain and feel like my uterus and bowel were about to fall out.

Flip