Hello all
I have been reading these threads religiously over the past few days, trying to find some comfort!
I am 45 and perimenopausal I believe. Have seen GP a couple of times during last 18 months or so for discussions about whether HRT is right for me currently (decided against it in the summer when I last chatted with them). Periods have been extremely irregular for the past 2 years or so. I have been months without one and then all of a sudden can switch back into a 28 day cycle for 3-4 months.
Over the past 7-8 months or so, when I have had a period it has been much heavier than usual, with large clots. It would seem to follow a pattern though, light day 1, heavy days 2-4 then light day 5, really heavy day 6 with usually a large clot lost followed by a flood and then that would be it and finished.
I had a period like this start 27th October but instead of 6 days it lasted 9. I then had another period start 18th November. This was without clots but heavy bleeding for 4 days. I then started a period again on 15th December. This one is like nothing I have ever experienced before. Flooding every 40 minutes or so, huge clots all the time and no sign of stopping. It has become so debilitating as I cannot move without flooding. I have been changing clothes everywhere and scared to sit in the car or anywhere. My bed is being changed three times a night as cannot keep up.
I eventually called the out of hours GP on Sunday after reading here, but they would not accept me as said it was too urgent and they told me to call 111. 111 would not make me an appointment at the Urgent Treatment Centre as said it was too urgent and said I had to attend A&E. I really didn’t want to as it felt so silly to attend for a period but I was losing so much blood it was scary. My bathroom and bed looked like a murder scene constantly.
I went to A&E and they were very good. They treated it very seriously and despite it being packed in there, I jumped in front of everyone. Within an hour I had been triaged, bloods taken, bloods back, sent down to the gynae ward and seen a gynae consultant. He examined me and tried to do a womb swab but I couldn’t tolerate it. He has referred me for a scan and said there is lots of things it can be, gave me 5 days worth of tranexamic acid and I was sent home. They told me the tranexamic acid will take a couple of days to work.
After reading here I decided to call my GP yesterday to follow up as I am concerned once the tranexamic acid finishes the whole flooding situation will start again. The nurse prac called me back and was very sympathetic and prescribed 10 days of Medroxyprogesterone Acetate for after the TXA I believe. This is to try and give me a break whilst everywhere is closed
for Christmas and New Year.
The tranexamic acid has started to work a bit, I am still bleeding heavily but not flooding. I am changing my pad (doubled up night pads) 2-2.5 hours rather than every 40 minutes, but I am so worried. Taking the TXA concerns me due to the blood clot risk as I am overweight and vape - And take beta blockers, although no one at the hospital seemed to even ask any questions about this.
I know a scan is going to be a long way away and I am scared this is going to be my new normal for a long time now. To complicate things further I am under investigation with the cardio team due to irregular beats and random tachycardia which I have always believed is due to peri hormones. All of this started within the last 6 months - period issues and heart issues. I have gone years without seeing my GP or setting foot in a hospital and now I feel at their mercy all the time.
Not really sure what the point of this post is - just hoping for some solidarity as my husband tries but doesn’t understand and none of my friends have had this happen as they aren’t in peri yet.
My HB levels were low but they weren’t concerned so I’ve bought some floradix. I am tired and washed out but that could be the getting up multiple times a night to shower and change for the past week!
If you made reading this far - thank you!