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Original poster

Does anyone get heavy, painful periods and worry what the future holds for their dd?

38 replies

foxinsocks · 14/07/2007 09:51

My mother had a life long struggle with period problems culminating in a hysterectomy when she was in her mid 30s.

I have suffered from the same thing - can honestly say that in 23/24 years of menstruation, not ONE GP has ever taken my complaints seriously - almost all have been of the 'just get on with it' brigade. Only now, when I have finally paid to see a private gynaecologist, have I had any of my concerns taken seriously and even then, the GP is not supportive of the consultant's treatment (sigh).

It struck me today that poor dd could suffer from the same plight - I know she might not but I DESPAIR of that fact that so many GPs seem completely dismissive of period problems as if they are just a cross that women have to bear.

OP posts:
bobsmum · 14/07/2007 09:57

I'm in totally the same situation foxs. ALthough I'm only bedridden for one or two days a month since having children, it used to be closer to 4/5 days from 13 onwards.

Like you I was (am still) told to get on with it and given Ponstan which gave an hour of relief and then I had to wait 5 hours until the next dose

My mum was the same, but ironically has not been incredibly sypathetic - I guess because she was told ti get on with it too. She missed all her O levels as a result of her period so it did have a life changing affect for her

When dd starts I will be marching her down to the GP myself (I don't care how embarrassed she might be). I'm not having her teen years trashed by this too.

cece · 14/07/2007 09:59

Have you tried taking tranexamic acid? I t has transformed my periods.

bobsmum · 14/07/2007 10:02

Ponstan is tranexamic acid I think, which is what the GP prescibed me when I was 16 - dented the pain for a while, but didn't last long like I said.

Boredveryverybored · 14/07/2007 10:06

Yes, I worry too. My mum suffered terribly also culminating in a hysterectomy in her late 20's.
I suffer every month and pray that dd doesn't inherit it.
All too familiar with the Gp's being dismissive

cece · 14/07/2007 10:06

I had Ponstan when I was younger and it was a different sort of pill. Yello iirc. These are white and I have to take 2 three times a day. It doesn't say Ponstan on the label, it says Cyklikapron Tablets. Maybe it is the same, but I thought Ponstan was for the pain and these have been prescribed for excessive bleeding.

TinyGang · 14/07/2007 10:08

I had an 'ablation' procedure in May.
(Not suitable if you still wish to have more babies though.)

I was hoping it would stop periods altogether - it hasn't but they are a little easier to cope with. I'm wondering if it can be done again actually.

I have heard that tranexamic acid is very good too though as cece says.

Yes, I do worry about my dd's . It can all be so miserable and exhausting too.

bobsmum · 14/07/2007 10:11

I thought Ponstan looked more like a suppository - it was sooooo massive!

Interested if there is something else out there. I don't have excessive bleeding though, just pain for 10 days before and crippling pain for the duration of my perdod.

MaccaMacca · 14/07/2007 10:15

My mum was the same fIS.

I am also the same. Mt dad used to get all stressed when it was my TOM, running to chemist for feminax and bodyform, I cannot take codiene so this made me worse...

I am back on the Depo injection as it takes them away but its not natural/correct is it?

MaccaMacca · 14/07/2007 10:16

I have 2 boys btw...

bobsmum · 14/07/2007 10:17

Feminax was a laugh wasn't it!?! Might as well have had a cup of tea for all the good it did me!

My mum bought me a travel kettle when I was 14 so I could fill up my hot water bottles in the middle of the night

MaccaMacca · 14/07/2007 10:20

To thing I was actually looking forward to them starting

Then there are other people who feel nothing no pain just a little trickle for a few days

MaccaMacca · 14/07/2007 10:23

FIS I am listening to Worried about Ray.....

tipty toes my tipty toes...rae rae rae rae.

Gosh he signs high!

MaccaMacca · 14/07/2007 10:24

and sings

Original poster
foxinsocks · 14/07/2007 10:35

sorry, just quickly nipped to the shops!

I've tried tranxaemic acid and although it seemed to marginally reduce the bleeding, it didn't do anything for the pain unfortunately.

I am on something which takes my periods away altogether (hooray) but I thought about this today because the bloody GP raised a query on my treatment (it's not a standard treatment and does have risks), so they were late in prescribing the medicine so I have the start of a period today (i.e. agonising pains ).

I still can't get that song out of my head Macca!

OP posts:
Original poster
foxinsocks · 14/07/2007 10:39

how sad that lots of us have suffered so.

Have any of you looked at endometriosis?

OP posts:
FoeGlassSlipper · 14/07/2007 10:42

I worry about this too. I had Ponstan as a kid. had forgotten all about them. The number of times I bled all over my clothes when out and about was terrible and not good for a self-conscious teen.

The only thing that worked for me was the combined pill so I was on it from 17 to 27.

I am breastfeeding at the moment so 'on a break' and I dread when they return.

I hope against hope that my 2 DDs dont suffer the way I did.

Original poster
foxinsocks · 14/07/2007 10:59

yes, for me, it was the one plus point of being pregnant! - I know it sounds mad, but we (dh and I) don't particularly want any more children but I was tempted to try and get pregnant again just to get another 9 month break from the bleeding.

OP posts:
bobsmum · 14/07/2007 11:03

I'm thinking that way too FIS (and b/f on top of that could mean another 12 months plus period free Bliss) Obviously another baby would be great too

bobsmum · 14/07/2007 11:04

What are the symptoms of endemetriosis?

I don't think I have enough IYSWIM? i've just got near constant pain, but not massive bleeding etc.

Original poster
foxinsocks · 14/07/2007 11:20

here's the bupa factsheet

the heavy bleeding doesn't necessarily come hand in hand with it I think - the main symptom is the pain.

OP posts:
cece · 14/07/2007 11:29

When I was prescibed T acid my GP also sent me for a scan of my uterus to check it out. Luckily all clear - hasn't your GP done this?

Original poster
foxinsocks · 14/07/2007 11:32

The GP didn't, the gynae did.

You can't see endometriosis in a scan though unfortunately.

OP posts:
cece · 14/07/2007 11:37

Oh I didn't know that - I was told that she was looking for fibroids I think.

Original poster
foxinsocks · 14/07/2007 11:38

yes, I'm sure that's what they should check for (fibroids) with heavy bleeding. Glad you didn't have any!

OP posts:
FlameDelacour · 14/07/2007 12:08

Our situation has been the other way round - my sister has suffered from crippling period pains from day one, and yet my mum has always floated along with a mild backache at most.

I'm hoping that the difference in how they both have been (I'm somewhere in between) will give you hope for your DD

(and I am now humming worried about Ray too )

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