Unusual bleeding

[Battytwatty]

Hello. I’m 48 and showing symptoms of being peri menopausal. My periods are usually on time , give or take a day or two. Heavy fir first 3 days then light for two. The last year or so I’ve missed a couple all together. My latest period however has been going on 11 days. It’s heavy and clotty and I’m feeling throughly drained with it.
Should I go and speak to a dr or is this normal?

I think yes and yes is probably the answer. It's probably completely normal (all sorts of inexplicable things can happen but googling any of it will lead you to all sorts of unpleasantness, so there's little reassurance to be found that way) but it won't do any harm to have checked out - even just to give peace of mind.

Thank you for responding.
I’ve no idea what’s normal or not when it comes to the menopause. I imagine every women’s experience is completely different and unfortunately my mum isn’t around to ask how hers was.
No appointments available at the Drs until the 14th ....but receptionist told me to phone at 8am tomorrow and try and get an urgent same day one.

There are lots of good websites (and books) on menopause (don't go for ones that are basically selling products) written by doctors (again, go to UK sites as the USA ones are often very different.)

Look at Menopause Matters and My Menopause Doctor (Dr Louise Newson.)

The long heavy period is very normal. If you are missing periods then the blood doesn't come out and when it is does there is more of it!
Also, there can be an imbalance of estrogen/ progesterone so you get more blood loss.

You can treat this at home with ibuprofen taken 3 x a day or OTC tablets from Boots etc- Tranexamic acid.

As a one-off I'd not rush to the GP- they will only give you the same advice and tablets. if it keeps on being heavy then seek treatment which can be if it gets really bad the Mirena coil or other tablets taken before your period starts (hard if they are not regular.)
You'd also need to be tested for anaemia.

NHS advice on heavy periods

www.nhs.uk/conditions/heavy-periods/treatment/

JinglingHellsBells

Thank you. That puts my mind at rest. I expected my periods to just slowly over time to disappear, this mega one took me completely by surprise. I’ll hold fire on the Dr then, as apart from feeling exhausted, I feel ok. I’ve got a couple of days off work so can rest up. I’ll check out those books you have suggested too. Thanks for your help

If it happens again, take ibuprofen straight off and keep taking it, but also see your dr to check your iron levels. I was lucky and my periods just got lighter and dwindled, but had friends who would get flooding and so on when they missed maybe 6 cycles in a row then had a massive period.

Will do , thank you again
Tge joys of being a women hey.....NOT!

Personally I would get checked out if you are still bleeding after 2 weeks. I'm 44 and my periods have been irregular for 2 years. Then at the end of August I had my last period (or I thought) I then started bleeding with cramps on 12th Jan which was heavy at times and clots so a build up of the periods I missed. I went to the doctors to be sure there was nothing other than the menopause going on they took swabs which came back that I had an infection (thrush). I took the cream the other night and now I have stopped bleeding, not sure if it's a coincidence or whether the bleeding was an infection but it's stopped. It's worth getting checked out for your peace of mind. I've had scans and tests and examined but nothing apart from thrush has shown. Good luck, menopause sucks!!

Peach- I think an infection that caused that amount of blood loss (the OP) would be very serious, you'd have a high temp and would be an infection in the uterus. Thrush doesn't cause bleeding .

Yes I thought this, I do think I had a long period as it was a build up but very strange that the bleeding has now stopped since I had the cream. Just a coincidence. But all I'm saying that if after 2 weeks OP is still bleeding heavy then it's worth a check up

Well it eventually stopped after 12 days ...... then started again 3 days later FFS! Nowhere near as bad or clotty though. Looks like it’s tailing off now. I’ve a well women check up booked in for next week so will see what the practice nurse says about it. Never used as many sanitary towels in my life!

I'm the same, thank god they are cheap in Aldi. It does sound like perimenopause, I've stopped heavy bleeding but I feel cramps again so it could start again. It's just rubbish and tbh in my experience doctors and nurses aren't particularly helpful, but then again there isn't much they can do. It's worth getting checked over though like I said to be sure there's nothing else going on. I've had blood tests that show I'm most definitely in the throes of peri and the scans shown there is nothing more sinister going on. Let us know how you get on and feel free to pm me xx

I'm 47 and at the end of last year missed 2 periods then new years eve had a small (4 day period, normally anything 7 to 9 days heavy) then on 26th January I started spotting, and I am still losing after a heavy 4 days last week. I'm not losing loads now just more like spotting, but I'm now on day 17!!! No cramps now though. Also does anyone else notice that they have a stronger sweat smell underarm? (Gross I know, sorry)
I'm at the nurse on Valentine's day for a health check so I'm going to speak to her about it.

Thank you PEACH ROSE. That’s very kind of you.
It’s such a minefield isn’t it? There doesn’t seem to be any ‘normal’ if you know what I mean... I’ve started to feel anxious a lot these days. Worrying about the really small stuff that a couple of years ago I wouldn’t have given a second thought. Calms tablets seem to have helped with that. Then there is the weight I’ve gained! I’m now a member of the gym to try and get that under control. Just need this bleeding to Fuck Off.

LADYP222
Not gross at all. Thats not a symptom I’ve noticed myself.......yet!
It would be really helpful if you could let us know what nurse says about it. My appointment is the 21st. I’m supposed to be having a smear that day too so really hope the bleeding stops

Yes LadyP had to change deodorant to Mitchums, nothing else worked!

I thought I’d update.
After a dreadful day yesterday where I flooding through clothes and had bad abdominal cramps I Spoke to Dr today. She thinks I might have fibroids. The symptoms seem to all point towards it. I am being referred for a scan and will have a blood test next Monday. She has put me on Norethisterone to get the bleeding under control.
My sister confirmed last night that both herself and my mum both suffered with fibroids too so perhaps it’s hereditary.
I’ve taken the day off work today to rest- plus I want to be near my own toilet!

Oops sorry for that shocking grammar

Poor you, it's so tiring and draining and you feel shit. I just stopped periods but had hot flushes, itching, moods, anxiety, couldn't sleep. I hope they get you sorted out quickly.

wigglypiggly Thank you. I feel completely drained. God knows how much blood I’ve lost in the last month. Hope these tablets kick in soon. I’m sure a day on the sofa will do me good

I have a very similar experience with you, including noticing a stronger smell from my armpits (that appears just after 2-3 hours after taking a shower)...
And my period bleeding was 2 weeks late but once it started on the 23 Jan it just does not want to stop... it sort of dwindled after 18 days, but then spotting and light bleeding returned. And it is the 17th of Feb now.
I panicked and still panicking... I went to two different GPs... had 3 appointments with them. Had blood tested, with results they insisted being normal - hemiglobin normal, hormones normal (albeit something related to hormon binding proteins possible showing something related to menopause). The GPs think I am too young for menopause (I am 42)... I asked them to refer me to a specialist or if NHS cannot afford to refer me to at least tell me honestly if there might be something urgent and I need to spend £450 on just going private. They do not think anything is urgent. Do not think I need any pills as it will disturb the natural balance. I feel completely abandoned and sacred, since my period just is not stopping. The GP said just to o serve what will happen in the next few months, since my periods until this one have always been like a clock....

Natashik
You do need a referral because it sounds like peri menopause and early.
If your dr won't help you, you can self-refer to many specialists for menopause issues. There is a list here which covers the UK- and I don't think it will cost you £450. Most have a consultation fee for the 1st appt of around £200-£250 or less.

thebms.org.uk/find-a-menopause-specialist/

If you do go down this route, do your homework and check out the doctors-not all are as experienced as others, and their fees do vary.

JinglingHellsBells,
Thank you so much for sharing the information. I will check this out and hope will find a specialist.
It is a bit early and unexpected for me, if indeed this is perimenopause. And looking back at the last two years, my eyesight deteriorated and I am now wearing glasses and my memory is completely bonkers (I sometimes forget what was said to me an hour ago or if I do remember then it is like remembering unconnected bits and pieces but not the whole picture). I spoke with my mum the other day and she said the her menopause started when she was just 45...
I am just completely unprepared for this and my daughter is still wanting a ‘little sister’ (providing I find her a new step dad!)

@Natashik
I really don't understand why some GPs say a woman is 'too young' for menopause- except their own ignorance!

Although the average age is 51, quite a number of women have an early menopause ( definition- periods stopping by 45) and the run=up to this can start a few years before.

Early menopause usually needs treatment with HRT because without it, there is a far higher risk of osteoporosis and heart disease later on . (Because estrogen would nose-dive 10 years earlier than average.)

It's time GPs got their act together on menopause.

Hi OP I experienced the save as you and the scan has confirmed fibroids. I also needed iron tablets as iron count was low due to the blood loss and clotting.

I'm waiting to see a Gynaecologist, the recommendation is ablation and then fit the Mireana coil.