Bloody periods!

[Rhubarb]

Just wanted to rant off about periods! Does anyone else feel so dehabilitated by them? For the first three days I have to plan my life around my period. I try not to go anywhere, as just moving, or even coughing, opens up a little floodgate inside me! But if I do go out, I have to make sure I have enough pads with me and that I know where the toilets are, and I take loo roll with me too just in case they have run out. If I'm in someone's house I have a moral dilemma - do I flush the pad down the loo or put it in their bin? If I put it in their bin, it might be seen, whereas if I flush it down the loo, it won't, but then it might block the system! Or, they could have no bin, as happened today, in which case I have no choice but to flush it.

At night I have to wear what amounts to a nappy, and I daren't move an inch in case I leak, but despite this I usually leak anyway! So most of the night is spent awake, uncomfortable but daren't moving, and anxious in case I've spoiled the sheets again. This nightmare lasts three whole days before it eases off a bit.

Then I worked out, that because I was a late starter (16), I'm not even halfway through my periods, I have at least another 17/18 years of periods to get through! How will I manage it? I dread every monthly period coming, I have to cancel appointments made during those three days as all I want to do is curl up on the sofa with a duvet, a portable toilet, lots of loo roll and some hot chocolate!

I just want comforting that everyone else feels the same way!

Here is the previous Mirena thread (no periods = good for me !)

Ariel - I've heard loads of sterilised women complain about their bleeding, so don't worry too much. I thought it would take all of that away, obviously not!

I went on the pill at 16 too as I was getting very heavy periods and intolerable stomach cramps! They did settle them down, but I can't take any form of pill now as they upset my hormones and turn me into "PMS MONSTER"!!!! With the coil, I agree with Chiccadum, I get worked up when I go for my smear, let alone to have that fitted! And the thought of a little string hanging down, even though I know it will only be tiny, I would just get extremely paranoid about it! Whenever I used to wear a tampon I would end up walking like John Wayne - I couldn't feel it but it was psychological!

It really is such a pain isn't it? Mine lasts for 7 days too, so no nookie during then for me. I feel dirty and smelly, but no point having a bath or shower or it would look like a scene from Psycho! I think we should all get a week off every month, and our partners should also take that time off to look after us. Chocolate should be on prescription and the men should have to change the sheets every night for us - and buy our sanitary towels for us! Dh has only done this twice, once when I first had dd, and once in a dire emergency when I threatened to bleed all over his clothes if he didn't buy me some on his way home from work! But guess who buys the condoms? Me!

Men never have to go through anything like this! Can you imagine if they did! The GP surgeries would be full - they'd be a waiting list to go into casualty, they'd be bragging about how much blood they lost. And we'd still have to clean the sheets for them!

I started to get really bad periods after having my second child. Eventually they were so bad that I went to the doctor who gave me various options eg coil, pill or tablets that you take when the bleeding is heaviest, so I chose the last option. I have to say the tablets are excellent and really seem to have done the trick.

I really want this mirena coil thing now but know you are meant to be committed to no children for at least 3 (?) years or something and couldn't really lie about that to my GP.

Tinker My GP did ask me about this, and it wasnt a problem as I am committed to no more kids at all, ever! But she did say, that its because it is relatively expensive and they want people to be reasonably sure that they will keep it for a good length of time and not just decide to stop using it a week later. I suppose it depends on the GP practice, how they would react if you changed your mind. But I wd have thought that if you only wanted it for a year or 2 that wd be perfectly reasonable?

soyabean, that's the problem really, if I had my way, I think I would start thinking about having another baby towards the end of this year. Just don't feel I could be dishonest about it. Wanting the coil, I mean.

Tinker, my GP promoted the Mirena coil to me as being so good that if I wanted to concieve I could do so basically within minutes of it being removed!
I had it put in under a light G.A. but that is b/c my OB/GYN says it works better (ie in stopping heavy periods) if you have a D&C at the same time.
It has been fantastic. I am addicted! For 2 years I have only used the odd panty liner. Before that i was anaemic and my bathroom cabinet looked like a chemist shelf!
I would be very assertive with the GP. Stuff her budget!

But Tinker altho' I wouldnt want to deliberately waste NHS resources either, surely it isn't a waste if it might be just right for you, even for a year. Think how much stuff people use from the NHS, we all need different things at different times but some drugs and treatments are incredibly expensive. Its funny, actually, that GPs all seem to mention the cost of the Mirena. I cant remember exactly what it is, but wonder how it does compare, say for a year, to the pill, or other non-birth control prescriptions? Any doctors or pharmacists out there who can elucidate?

Anybody tried Tranexamic acid for heavy periods?I am anaemic, probably due to heavy periods and my GP has prescribed the above mentioned tablets which you take on the days you bleed. They work by reducing the amount of blood you lose. Anyone have any experience of them. I don't want a coil, mirena or not ( am sterilised) and I don't want to take hormones. Just interested. I will be taking a course of iron for a while as well obviously. Will be getting iron level checked in 2 months.

Yes mears, I'm supposed to take tranexamic acid along with kapake painkillers but personally I take them I feel as high as a kite. They are supposed to be very good though. I'm only able to take them when dh is home

HTH

mears, I am sterilsed too, I use TA or mefanemic acid, whichever I have around, as DD has them prescribed too. I find they are great, especially if I am due to have a period when I go skiing. I find they really cut the loss very quickly, ia take them for about 3 days.

There was a thread about these sometime back, when someone was going to a glitzy do and was due to have period, I'll see if I can find it.

DD1 takes mefanamic acid (Ponstan) which I think is similar and finds it very good. It works within a couple of hours and eases both pain and heaviness. She takes it tid for three days. HTH.

Thanks - will see how it goes next month.

Mears - only just seen your question, but just thought I'd add that I take tranexamic tablets, and would thoroughly recommend them, they really seem to have done the trick for me.

Well as i thought my doc recommended a smear test which im having next week, i must admit i am worried, but then again im such a drama queen, i keep reading medical books and so far i have self diagnosed my self with everything from a std(!!) to cancer, now ive chucked the darn books away, oh well i will soon know.

Good luck Ariel - I'm sure they're just being precautionery. I hate smears too, but at least it will put you out of your misery. Let us know how you get on.

A little update - I tried the Tranexamic Acid when my period started and it was fantastic. It dramatically reduced the amount of blood loss. Fair improved my mood

my periods have been really heavy since having DS2. They used to be so light I hardly knew I was having one. Serve me right for being so smug.

Excellent news, Mears! It's weird, you often don't realise just how much these things pull you down until they stop happening, iykwim.

I've just found MUMSNET! What a great resource. Has anyone had prolonged bleeding after birth due to 'hormonal' causes? I gave birth nearly nine weeks ago and have bled every day since - quite light till six weeks then heavier like a period (which I didn't think it could be because I'm bf). My consultant put me on a week's antibiotics in case of infection (though swab test clear) but still the bleeding continued. U/S scan showed no retained products either. He says it's 'hormonal' (though I've never heard of this happening)and has started me on progestogen (a week ago) which has reduced bleeding but I'm still spotting every day. Has anyone else had this? When will it go? It's really getting me down now.

Im not so bad on the bleeding,its the pain that gets me,I started my periods when i was nearly 12 and was on the pill at the age of 14,due to the painful periods.
At the age of 17 i had an ovian cyst,they had to remove my ovary and fallp tube,my periods started bk up again just 6 days after,i keep getting cysts,on my other ovary,but am told one of these things,i had an injection monthly to bring on the menopause and took h.r.t to cancel the affects,had to stay on for nearly 2 years and boy them 2 years were completly pain free..
but i wanted to try for a baby and thankfully it only took 3 months after hrt was out of my body.again while preg no pain,amazing sex drive,but after having Abi im bk to square 1..have been told until i have had all my children other than block taking the pill there is nothing i can do..i know its not just me being a wimp as i gave birth with no pain relief,and only went to hospital when i was ready to push..its been great to know i am not alone.thanks

Message withdrawn

Hi, Twinkie, don't worry, I thought we were here to help one another? No matter how nasty things sound..... Any kind of bleeding you are not expecting should be checked out. Thats why we have Doctors, and don't worry about seeming to be a hypercondriac, If you bleed after making love, could partner be a little rough with you, do you think? Our skin there is a little sensitive,,,,,. If you haven't had a smear done , that maybe another thing to get out of the way. I started my periods at 11years old, I have a cycle of 35days and bleed very heavily for about 9days, even after having 3boys, youngest is 15months, it hasn't got lighter or less painfull. Hang on in there! And use your Doctor, wishing you luck!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Twinkie, like survivor has mentioned I would make that appt with the docs ASAP, just to check everything is ok.
I suffered someting similar a while back and doc thought it might be fibroids, she put me on some medication and my periods went back to normal.
I am not saying this is your case as it might be the result of stress(you have had a lot lately) and dont feel like you are wasting docs time that is what they are there for.
Just get checked out.

Message withdrawn