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

1 2

Original poster

Hell on earth periods? Carrie vs Texas Chainsaw Massacre

45 replies

ThreeBecameFour · 01/10/2014 19:22

I am at the end of my tether after a really embarassing incident at work where I leaked onto my work chair. Through my skirt. In a new job. It is absolutely mortifying. Leaked through a super plus tampon and night time pad. Which I had been wearing an hour. My periods last about 12 days the middle 6 being like this on a 31 day cycle - ish. Without being too gross it is a bloodbath with some chopped liver thrown in. I have 2 kids last born in August last year. I was fobbed off at my GP recently but had a blood test which was apparently normal. I can't go on like this. It is draining and this episode has tipped me over the edge. I am so embarrassed . It isn't normal is it? I have been wondering if I am peri menopausal. I am 39. I get terrible mood swings. Rage Tears. Is it PCOS which I had signs of when trying to conceive. Or fibroids? I am clutching a straws as my GP doesn't take it seriously. How can I make them see this is actually now debilitating!? The cramps are bad too. It has been like this since having my last baby. Someone help me! I am going crazy trying to deal with it!

OP posts:

2fedup · 01/10/2014 19:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

iwantgin · 01/10/2014 19:28

That sounds awful OP.

I suggest you go back to the GP - there must be something that can get this under control.

MonoNoAware · 01/10/2014 19:30

How awful have you already been offered tranexamic acid? It reduces blood loss for some women (quite dramatically for me, I love it!)

Do you generally bleed a lot or bruise very easily? Might also be worth googling blood clotting disorders such as von willebrand which, in their milder forms, often show up as heavy periods.

lavendersun · 01/10/2014 19:35

This happened to me more a few times - truly horrible and sort of takes over your life. Worst one was when I stood up at the end of a meeting with 12 men I worked with and ended up stood in a puddle of blood - one of my shoes was full to my toes. Absolutely mortifying, I took to wearing short leggings under my dresses to hold everything in place but it was the height of summer and I hadn't put them on.

Turns out I have a huge fibroid, I tried a Mirena which did not suit me so now just get on with it - wear two night time pads and suspect I will end up having a hysterectomy.

You can take two different drugs called 'something' acid (both names different but acid at the end). I can't remember what, they reduce blood loss - however, they gave me a really upset stomach so I couldn't carry on taking them.

Definitely go to see a GP again, my bloods were normal too.

lavendersun · 01/10/2014 19:38

Yes, that is the acid above and the other one is here www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Periods-heavy/Pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?condition=Menorrhagia&medicine=Mefenamic

fieldfare · 01/10/2014 19:41

Go back to your GP. You shouldn't have to suffer like that. 12 days is horrific.
What Lavendersun talks about is mefanamic and transexamic acid. I've taken both, mefanamic was effective to begin with, they then gave me transexamic which was fine on the lower dose but increased it after a while and I had an allergic reaction so now, unfortunately, can't take either of them!
Don't be embarrassed about work, it's one of those things. Horrible, but not the end of the world.

TheSpottedZebra · 01/10/2014 19:48

No, OP, it isn't normal. And it makes me furious reading tale after tale of how people have been fobbed off by their GP and are left to cope wih ridiculous bleeding that impacts on life. Do go back and demand better treatment. Consider changing GP if needed.

It's always a new job isn't it? I got stuck behind a motorway accident in my 1st week at a new job. Then I totally flooded. The car looked like a murder scene, and there was nowhere around to buy new clothes. I got there when tk the loo, cried a bit and then went home.

StairsInTheNight · 01/10/2014 19:48

I have been through this. Standing in a puddle of blood is not something to be ignored, you need to be referred to a gynecological consultant who can investigate what's causing it.

Short term try taking ibuprofen with food during your period, you can Google this as its a legitimate way to reduce your period. And tena lady are much better than any other pads.

Medium term see your doctor for tranexamic acid or hormonal contraceptives which can work well. Don't downplay how bad it is, I found many doctors were quite unwilling to take my 'heavy periods' seriously until I could explain how many pads I was using. I ended up severely anemic and had to have transfusion as blood pressure was dangerously low- they need to help you here. Are you sure they checked your blood iron levels? Request another test, it's cheap enough and you have a right to ask for this!

Long term- there are lots of options, but nhs can be extremely slow. You could speak to your manager to explain the problem and perhaps negotiate working from home on certain days that you know will be bad? That helped me a lot.

Good luck! It's an awful thing- I was so bloody grateful for my hysterectomy in the end!

seagull70 · 01/10/2014 20:00

Hi OP,

I'm going through similar. I just about obliterated the bed in a hotel room last weekend. Both myself and DH had to strip and shower as he was covered too. Blood all over floor and in bathroom.

I have just been told that I'm pre menopausal though so this could be the cause. Also worth ruling out fibroids x

Beastofburden · 01/10/2014 20:05

I had this. Ended up anaemic and they found I had a fibroid cluster the size of a 7 month pregnancy. As I was 51 anyway and the menopause was about to happen we just hocked the entire thing out and life is utterly fabulous now I don't have this any more.

Get checked for fibroids. They can whizz them out without a hystereectomy if you are too young for the menopause and they haven't got too enormous. they can also shrink them with injections. By all means try mefanamic acid but I found it only worked a bit tbh.

Original poster

ThreeBecameFour · 01/10/2014 20:16

Thank you all. I am definitely going to go back to the GP and hopefully get referred. I can't go on like this. Glad to know I am not alone either.

In the short term I have to go to work tomorrow and face up to the embarrassment. Awful.

OP posts:

Beastofburden · 01/10/2014 20:20

They will feel worse than you. Many of the men will have sat wih their DP through childbirth and seen much worse come out of the arse of the person they love. All the women will think "thank fuck that wasn't me- this time". Ppl will be super nice to you.

seagull70 · 01/10/2014 20:26

I'm sure you'll be fine OP - do you think many people noticed?

Original poster

ThreeBecameFour · 01/10/2014 20:44

I don't know who saw. About 10 people were around me but at computers etc It was towards the end of the day. I put a long cardigan on to hide the worst of my skirt mess. I was calm and just went about my business. Then left for the day. Not sure anyone noticed or they probably all did who knows. But if they did there was probably chat after I left I will sort out my chair in the morning before everyone gets in...Nightmare. I left it tucked under my desk. So embarrassed I have shed a few tears. I really like this new job and this has really upset me. Tears over that and frustration at having coping with all this stupidness. I am so fed up with it. Feel like a teenager. Ridiculous.

OP posts:

seagull70 · 01/10/2014 20:51

Fingers crossed no one noticed but I can say with certainty that if my DH was a colleague and had noticed then he would do everything he could to either cover for you or reassure you.

Any women in the office would be very sympathetic and as someone said up thread, many men have had to support their own wives and girlfriends too.

Get to the GP as a priority and def consider brufen in the short term as it can reduce flow. Then maybe GP can prescribe something stronger.

On a practical note - what can be done about the chair? Is it dark in colour? Will it be obvious?

Could you swap it for another chair?

Beastofburden · 01/10/2014 20:52

Good, I expect nobody saw, I once flooded an entire pair of boots in a client meeting but nobody noticed.

Of course you are sick of it, it is one more thing sabotaging you. I hated, hated it. I'd be amazed if you don't have a fibroid, which means there is absolutely no point being brave one minute longer. Being brave does not make any difference, what you need is proper treatment by a gynae.

PoshPenny · 01/10/2014 20:56

I truly feel for you, been there done that got the t shirt . Google NICE guidelines Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. Read and digest, then (metaphorically) go beat your GP about the head with them. everything you need to know is there. let me guess, he's male?

Beastofburden · 01/10/2014 20:58

By the way, they missed mine for two years or so, and my GP is luffly. when I finally got to see my lovely gynae surgeon, still thinking maybe I was wasting her time, she said, "but, Beast, that is horrific!" And whipped me in for surgery right away, no messing about. Once a specialist sees you they will throw up their hands in horror, give your GP a proper telling off, and sort you out.

Insist on a gynaecologist referral. If your GP continues to be a pillock, pay for one private consultation and get a diagnosis. Then you can still use the NHs for the treatment but your GP will have no option.

Beastofburden · 01/10/2014 21:02

Sorry, I do have to laugh at seagulls idea of swapping the chair. Is there someone at work you already hate?

seagull70 · 01/10/2014 21:04

Sorry, I meant swapping it for an unused one but desperate times call for desperate measures i suppose

Hope all goes well tomorrow xx

Original poster

ThreeBecameFour · 01/10/2014 21:08

You are making me laugh about the chair swaping! I can't do that...too early on in my new job ! Thank you all for being so king and helpful. You have been lovely.

I will take appropriate cleaning stuff in tomorrow and hope for the best That and a LOT of sanitary protection!

OP posts:

Original poster

ThreeBecameFour · 01/10/2014 21:11

*swapping
*kind

stupid predictive text

OP posts:

TheSpottedZebra · 01/10/2014 21:13

'Spill coffee' on the chair? The it needs to be cleaned. That is, if you don't want to be honest.

I spilt coffee on a chair my work friend stood up from. She had flooded. Luckily I am very very clumsy so people could well believe I'd do that.

NB I know there are many who would say be open and upfront about chair, but I am not that brave alas.

averythinline · 01/10/2014 21:21

Tranxemanic acid helps me a bit....only had small fibroids so no op..but gp also suggested mirena coil ...and talking to family planning as has found it helpful for others...

seagull70 · 01/10/2014 21:21

Spiking coffee is an excellent idea actually. Are you allowed to take drinks in to your desk area?

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread