Periods are literally draining the life out of me

[BumDNC]

Yesterday's period experience was beyond awful. Mine have always been heavy and I got the mirena a year ago to try to help. It initially did help them become what I would say is normal flow - no flooding, less period pains, normal use of sanitary products etc.

I was away from home yesterday and stuck in a situation where I had limited access to supplies etc which added to my stress. I was sick because I got so hot and bothered trying to sort myself out and cried in a public toilet that I ran to that had no loo roll. I was a bit of an emotional mess and started to panic at how much was flooding was going on - it was like Post birth loss. I got home last night and had to throw some of my clothes away and I just sat ans thought about how this will be my life for another 20 years perhaps. I'm mid 30's. I feel so drained and tired and exhausted. I've been anaemic through period related blood loss previously and I became quite depressed.

I have a GP appointment this afternoon. I just know with a heavy heart that I won't come out of there with any solution. As a woman I think we are just expected to make the most of our lot and periods are just a natural part of life. I've been made to feel this way over and over. Believe me I will try my best to get some kind of help but will I really?

I am not one for googling medical info because it makes me anxious also it is confusing. I'm wondering about trying something more natural but no idea where to start with vitamins or supplements either? Anyone tried any of these things? What could I be asking for from my GP?

It is harder to lose weight with pcos- not impossible but tougher. You might want to try a low carb plan for a bit - nothing extreme, just low GI. You're working against insulin resistance so low sugar is good.
If you're unable to take the combined pill due to risk factors it's likely you can't have tranexamic acid either - it aids clotting so any thromboembolic risk factors are a no no.
Have they checked for adenomyosis? I know you said they'd scanned but that may have been for fibroids. Fibroids can grow quite fast so push for another scan if it was a while back.

Definitely book a double appointment- and if there's any way you can see someone privately then do.

Thanks all for listening to my hormonal ranting and your advice!

I will make sure it's a double.
Will consider the private appointment but after the bloods because if they show nothing again, then that might be pointless? Not sure.

I just had one ultrasound of ovaries/womb about 3 years ago. No issues with pregnancy or conception etc.

Low carbs and low dairy is what I need to try, actually is easy to cut out dairy but not the carbs so much!

hink what it is is that I don't feel very positive so it's hard to stick to diets and exercise when you just feel miserable

Understandable- don't see it as a diet and don't deprive yourself - slimming world low fat stuff isnot your friend here. Go for something like a nice big bowl of porridge or scrambled eggs on wholewheat toast for breakfast, protein and low GI carb for lunch (whokemeal pitta stuffed with chicken and salad) and your basic meat/fish and a big pile of veg for tea. Don't starve yourself, lower the sugar content. I guess you could go full ketohenic but honestly that's a bit extreme- just healthy low gi is best.

I second the poster above who says you shouldn't have to put up with this.

And get a printout of the results - especially the thyroid!! Reference ranges for thyroid in the uk are too broad. Get the actual numbers

It's just FSH and testosterone they are testing on the form

No thyroid

I don't know if this would be useful, but I have very heavy periods (and PCOS, incidentally), and use a femme cycle menstrual cup. It is much bigger than a mooncup (holds more blood without overflow) but also much softer and (I think) more comfortable. That might be worth a try. I find that as long as I am organised (emptying it right before leaving house) I don't need to change it while I'm out except sometimes at work. It's not a solution but could be an additional tool for you to use sometimes while you wait for the doctor to find a way to control this.

I found upping my exercise, losing weight and taking as much ibuprofen as I was allowed just before and in the first few days of a period made a big difference. The first two are obviously a bit harder than the third, but I can't tell you how much of a difference it has made.

I feel so sad for you and so angry on your behalf that you've been left to suffer

If you have finished your family, please demand ablation. It's disgusting that they are not resolving the hormone issues. Look up your rights to be referred and have a 2nd opinion.

I'm asthmatic and exercise and ibuprofen aren't my finest moments!

If you take Tranexamic Acid you shouldn't take ibuprofen at the same time!!! OP there is no reason why your GP can't let you try it (Unless not ok for asthmatics). If you are like me the heavy long flooding periods are part of the reason I couldn't exercise - 1 week of flooding, 2 weeks off only one of them I had horrific sore boobs for .

Exercise isn't easy with erratic heavy or long periods, before the mirena I didn't have a sex life as was single, didn't like to exercise because that's not fun on almost 2 week long periods - TMI but got sores from sanitary towels where they rubbed on my inner thighs so much where I was doubling up with super tampax. Since the mirena I have have been dry and sore inside and tampax makes it worse, so I avoid them now. Yesterday I just wasn't prepared. I had 10 large sanitary towels which lasted me from 12pm to 7pm when I decided to just stuff as much folded bog roll into my (skinny) jeans that they could take and tie my coat around my waist. I was out at a very large public place and spent most of it in the loo. Every time I moved an inch or spoke I felt it pouring out of me it was vile. I think I am traumatised! Might get a femme cup thing for future use.

To add into the trauma this began previously in the week whilst I was out Christmas shopping with my relatively new boyfriend. I had a massive sudden gush out of the blue and I threw all my bags at him and just left him there while I ran to the loo. I spoke to him after to clear things up as it seems he thought I had a dodgy tummy. No darling my womb was falling out, do you still fancy me?

I know you said you had constant bleeding on the POP but can I ask which one you tried?

Just that I had periods like you describe and was considering giving up work because I couldn't go more than half an hour on days 2 and 3 without a trip to the toilet.

I got prescribed Cerelle and never had a period again. It was like magic.

It was years ago but it wasn't one with that name.
Basically I tell them what I want they don't suggest anything to me. So I googled things and then asked for it. This isn't one GP this is the whole practice, all of them I have seen. In more than one practice over the years. This doesn't help as I have no rapport with anyone. I'm just words on a screen

When I got a Mirena I arranged it via family planning. Went to GP's to collect it myself and drove it to the clinic myself to be fitted. I googled it and decided on it because I was on no birth control and wanted to have some kind of sex life one day without worrying about pregnancy.

In your position OP I would push for what you want and keep repeating yourself like a broken record. If you want to try another POP just say, my quality of life for four days a month is awful so I'd like you to prescribe me [whatever it s you think might help].

I tried tranexamic acid first (I think it's a cheaper option) but it didn't work all the time. By the time I got to begging the GP for something else I was so desperate I think they had no choice but to put me on it.

"It's just FSH and testosterone they are testing on the form
No thyroid"

No, no and no. Some GPs are simply not at all up to speed when it comes to women's gynaecological issues.

They need to test your LH level as well as your thyroid levels. LH and FSH should be tested on day 3. If your periods are irregular then such tests can and should be done according to calendar days. They have probably missed something fundamental here due to these being tested on the wrong days.

You have been well fobbed off to date I am sorry to say. I would also think that some of your symptoms, particularly the adult onset cystic acne, are due to polycystic ovaries or PCOS itself.

You need an up to date internal ultrasound; any test like this done over 6 months ago should be discounted.

I would go back to the GP (see a different one within the practice) and insist that you are referred to a gynae to see if fibroids are causing the heavy bleeding. You cannot go on like this and its affecting your day to day quality of life.

The problem is that the cause /s have not yet been determined; they've only tried unsuccessfully to manage the symptoms. Its the causes that need to be found.

TBH BUM I would try and register now with another practice particularly if you feel you are but words on a screen to them.

I agree with what others have said above. You need a gynae referral. I spent 10 years being fobbed off by Doctors. Including one who said I just needed to lose weight. After losing 2 stone (so was on the low end of healthy BMI) collapsing and having my healthy appendix removed was eventual diagnosed with endometriosis. When I saw a gynae his first comment was that there's a problem if you are in pain, heavy bleeding or periods aftect your day to day life.

Attila thank you
I work in a health care setting and went to see a colleague (friend), this came up as asking how I an and the advice I got from her and you is more useful than GP! I had no idea about day 3!!! I'm on day 6 of period now, has restarted but no flooding. I'm hoping this isn't a 9 or 10 day period

That's why I got upset I think : managing symptoms not cause and not testing at the right times isn't giving accurate results

Do I need to wait for my next period to test on day 3 of bleeding?
Or day 3 after bleeding stops?
I have appointment 19th and none of these would be back

I had my last Mirena fitted at the local sexual health clinic as my GP couldn't do it..... I saw the consultant who did a full scan beforehand, and explained that not only was my uterus full of scar tissue from my 2 c sections but that it measured over 12cms instead of around 5cms, which is why my loss was always so bad. I also had a "boggy" overthick lining, which thankfully the Mirena works really well for. Do you have a local one that you can try, and ask for an appointment with a Doctor rather than a nurse? I found they were much more sympathetic and far more up to date with treatments available; at the very least I would demand a gynae referral from your GP. I'd also get your Mirena checked, they can move and if it was working before, it could indicate a problem.

Hi BumDNC,

Re your thanks to me you're most welcome.

(my gynae problems started upon onset of menses and no-one really knew what was wrong with me. PCOS and endometriosis were the two diagnoses I received from a gynaecologist many years later).

Re your comment:-
"Do I need to wait for my next period to test on day 3 of bleeding?
Or day 3 after bleeding stops?
I have appointment 19th and none of these would be back"

If your periods are irregular in nature then the test can also be done according to calendar days so the third day of the month. It can also be done on the third cycle day of your next period. These tests should ideally be done under a gynae's supervision and direction.

On the 19th I would be insisting to them most strongly that you are now referred to a gynaecologist. The causes of all this needs to be properly determined as well as treating the symptoms.

I had the test today. I will make it clear this was day 6 and ask for another form for day 3. I am quite regular but it's likely it could be the weekend or bank holiday!

I am going to keep this appointment for 19th and then get my results then if I am still unhappy with GP I am going to change surgery