postnatal periods: So heavy feel anaemic. Anyone else?

[alibobble]

maybe TMI but looking to see if there's anyone else out there who's experienced really heavy periods post having baby? Mine have returned after 9mth exBF and thought maybe last months was bad because it was the first one but this month was mental. Superplus tampax only lasting 40 mins till leaking and now am massively tired presumably due to anaemia.

Anyone else experiece this? Might it be long term or might it improve? Am having tubes tied in few weeks which "can make periods heavier" I beg to see how they can be any worse!

er, just posted about this! v headachey and had to have a long nap wuith dd today as I thought I might cry otherwise! Trying to drink more water but am thinking I need to speak to a doctor about this.

am hating the heaviness too, I can't/won't use tampax as they make my periods more painful, so I practically have to wear nappies. Grim.

Me too. My first one after finishing BF has just ended. I had a few narrow escapes when I just flooded. Awful. I've been to the docs today to get the pill, so hopefully my next one will be lighter and I won't feel so rubbish.

bump

Hi Ali, thought I would quickly post here. I have the same problem, it has go worse with each baby. I only have 2 days of really heavy like you describe and then I can cope again. I take ferrous sulphate as I have a tendancy to get v anaemic. I take 1 per day and it does not have any of the adverse effects! Talk to your gp when you get back and they will be able to help you. xx

Patchybob & Ali, I also have the same problem since having 2DC's. But same as Patchy it is only really heavy for 2 days then it's bearable. Not aneamic though.

Oh only just seen this! Have posted about monster period returning 3 weeks ago, still going on heavy now!

Fed up with constant hormental state!

I posted the same thing last week. I have just had 1st period after having dd 4 months ago, it was horrendous!!! One night i had to change my pjs 3 times cos just flooded everywhere and that was wearing maternity pads! It lasted for the full 7 days till i started taking the pill again, i also passed massive clots, i am hoping it is not like that next month

Mine have been hellishly heavy periods since my third a year ago and I dropped severely in the iron levels so I am on at least 2 a day - will take three with period - tried the implant to lessen the bleeding but it turned me into a crazy woman. Am seeing GP on monday morn to discuss a different contraception to lessen the flow....

Mine are heavier since having dd and MUCH heavier since getting the coil.

If you can tolerate hormones, the Mirena is supposed to help. There are tablets available too.

It's bloody awful sitting on the loo with clots falling out of you. I'm eating a lot of steak and greens, plus orange juice. I'm always borderline anaemic but was v anaemic post em cs, about recovered to lower normal levels and my periods came back.

thanks for all your posts everyone. GOod to know your not alone!

you should ask for a gynae referral

Jajas

Has anyone mentioned endometriosis to you?.

The underlying cause needs to be determined.

Would second the suggestion re gynae referral and do not take no for an answer. Gp may well be useless and this type of problem anyway is outside their remit. Endometriosis is a very common cause of severe period pain. I also note this has been a long standing problem as well, another possible sign of endo being present.

The usual way endo is diagnosed is through a keyhole surgery op called a laparoscopy. No blood test or ultrasound scan will detect it as the endometrical deposits are very small.

don't tolerate it
demand a referral

and that goes for those incl the OP who are suffering from excessive bleeding

Jajas

Would second EldonAve here - do not tolerate this!.

Mefanemic and transexamic acid tabs are but a short term solution and your GP is only treating the symptoms. Many GPs are completely ignorant re endometriosis, I reckon yours hasn't even mentioned this as a possible cause of all your health problems to you.

I would ask your GP for a gynae referral and do not take no for an answer. It is appalling to me that you're suffering in such a manner and I write that as someone else who had very similar problems from the time I started menstruation at 14. The diagnosis on reaching 31 - endometriosis.

Some endo deposits are very small - they look like paint splats (these were all over my uterine cavity and I also had problems conceiving). As mentioned before endo is usually only detected through a lap op - no other test will detect them.

Endo can also get onto the intestines - this is called intestinal endo. It is certainly not unknown to have either bloating or constipation problems with this disease and endo can sometimes get misdiagnosed as IBS.

To you all - you will need to be persistant in order to get answers. It is all too easy to get fobbed off.

You are describing my periods!

Currently pregnant with 2nd and loving not having periods. Really want to get some sort of contraception after baby to stop them for about 10 years as I too have endo - mine is in my rectal area, somewhere called pouch of douglas. I get dreadful backache with periods. And yes, only diagnosed with an operation - and then removed with same operation of which I have had three.

However, as a suggestion for the heavy periods and flooding, have you considered a moon cup? Forget the mother earth types, I got one free and gave it a go and it is much better than tampax for the flooding. It does leak sometimes, but I just wear a panty liner for those episodes and a thin normal pad at night.

It is a bit weird putting it in and out at first, you need to be 'Friendly with your fanny' !

But it is a million times better than tampons and you have that freedom feeling away from pads.

They cost about £20 in boots, (bottom shelf tucked away from all tampax and big brands) there are two brands, one is called moon cup and one is called something else and comes in two sizes ! One for those who haven't had children and one for those who have.

Give it a whirl, the amount you are probably spending already on taxmpax it won't make too much of a dent.

Jajas

My counsel for what it is worth is to find a gyane with a specialist, up to date and detailed knowledge of endo; they are out there. I would look at dr foster's website and ask the gynae lots of questions.

Endometriosis is very much misunderstood and underdiagnosed in my opinion. I had one GP tell me that this disease was not common - I informed him that endo is the second most common gynae condition seen in women after fibroids (this is what I mean about some GPs being ignorant).

That happened to me as well, being put on the pill to deal with the painful periods. However, it still does not address the underlying cause.

Laparoscopy is sometimes done as a purely diagnostic procedure but it can be used to treat endo as well; you do not want more surgery than you really need (increased risk of adhesions). Problem is too that a lap is usually the only way endometriosis is diagnosed clinically.