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?

Just for my own records - day 7, flooding is back.

Day 9... still going strong.
Aargh!

I just want to say that I feel your pain. For two days each month I basically don't leave the house, and am so exhausted and anaemic.

I'm a childminder, so can plan stay at home activities when I'm having a period. With a large mooncup and a night time towel, I can just about manage a half hour school run twice a day.

Tranexamic acid didn't work for me, and a coil is not an option because I have a backwards facing womb or something (can't remember what it's called). I did have one for a week once, but it was so painful!

I don't know what the solution is, but I'm sending you good thoughts. I know I'm lucky to be able to work and have a period at the same time. I don't know how I'd manage with a desk job and a commute. Also, I'm older than you, and am looking forward to the menopause.

You need to request a gynae referral. I have had heavy periods for years which got to the point of bei g horrendous, leaving me seriously anaemic and ending up in hospital as my body went into shock during a heavy period. (I stupidly put up with it thinking it was just perimenopause, in hindsight I really should have seen a gynae much sooner.)

That did mean that I got the gynae investigations done and dusted and a fibroid was discovered. I was given provera, mefenamic acid and codeine to take until my surgery.

Do push for a referral, it helps just knowing you are being sorted out.

Period still here. Day 11. Is tailing off mind you but still fresh red blood. FFs I will be obvulating soon,,,, how is my body able to produce AND shed this giant womb lining both at the same time?!?

Day 13 it's now dark and far less. At the same time parts of my face feel sore and slightly swollen where the new acne is forming. I've started lymecycline

That is horrendous Bum, I can't imagine being on my period for 2 weeks. It must be hard to keep pushing for help and coming up against a brick wall, particularly when you're exhausted from bleeding so much.

Hope you get the help you need. Endometriosis presented a bit like this for me but no acne. Tena lady helped catch everything and seems to be kinder re skin irritation. Also bodyform nighttime and cheap maternity or nighttime pads seem to be less plasticky. Are you taking iron - helps me function.

Bleeding stopped on 14th
Tonight I have dull pain in the lower left side - always seems to be on this side. Wonder if this is ovulation? Aches down my legs too.

Bum,

re your comment:-
"Tonight I have dull pain in the lower left side - always seems to be on this side. Wonder if this is ovulation? Aches down my legs too".

The aches down your legs reminds me of my own symptoms of endometriosis. Its the sciatic nerve that gets inflamed. The dull pain I associate with endometriosis as well more so than ovulation. I would think that your symptoms will also cause you to become anaemic if you are not already; endometriosis can also cause heavy bleeding to arise.

I sincerely hope you get to see a gynae soon because you've really been messed around with to date.

Thanks, I'm going back on Monday. I feel a bit more prepared this time!

I put up with very heavy periods for years due to a crap GP who kept fobbing me off. The bleeding hot worse and worse until I was bleeding for 18+ days per month, and having to use mega protection which needed changing every 30 minutes. I became anaemic and really quite ill. I tried the Mirena, Tranexamic Acid, the mini pill..... nothing worked. I used to be so sleep deprived because I had to get up several times each night to change my san pro.

Eventually dh forced me into seeing a different GP who immediately referred me to a consultant. Turns out i had a massive fibroid which got removed. Changed my life. I hadn't realised how bad it had got .in retrospect I should have insisted on a referral two years earlier.

Don't put up with it, go backto uour GP. i took a day-by-day diary account of how much i was bleeding and how often i was having to change my protection and that really helped when I saw the new GP.

Yes that's what I have been trying to do, I haven't got a very detailed blood loss diary but it's something. This thread also is my kind of diary! The way this period began this month was odd because it began in a flood not a drip with no prior warning (cramps).
Also TMI but I have bled after sex twice.
I think that on its own will get me a referral

Bum,

This is not something you should have to put up with at all and I think you are correct re your point on the referral. Bleeding after sex should certainly be investigated further (as should any deep pain felt during sex as that can be due to endometriosis as well).

Keeping a daily pain (note pain on a scale from 1-10) and symptom diary is an excellent idea and can also give the gynae clues.

Good luck on Monday.

I don't get a lot of pain but I am quite aware I have a high pain threshold. I have had 2 virtually drug free labours (one induction) and other ops without much pain relief such as dental, those ones I found hard going but I dislike the side effects of painkillers so avoid them. I find it hard to classify pain after a while and it isn't until the pain is gone that I realise how much it was affecting me. I have compressed discs in lower back and they are always awful during my periods, the sciatica comes back etc. Now I am pain and period free I can't believe how much energy I regain but overall I am constantly tired. I don't consume any caffeine anymore in a bid to try keep myself awake in a false state (chemically) and I try to get 9 hours sleep a night. Sometimes this still isn't enough. I'm not sure if I a man anaemic yet - the last time I was I felt much worse than this and had depression and tingling feelings all over but I will bear this in mind with the results

I'm trying to be more aware of my own body etc. I think there is a connection With bowels on my period too I suspect. Urgency and loose stools and pain

Blood tests 'fine' apparently but borderline low iron
Having a pelvic ultrasound. And I have an unexplained 'red' cervix
So still no answers or further forward...