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Menopause

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Original poster

Am I going to bleed to death?

125 replies

Seema1234 · 08/03/2022 22:15

Warning - before I get numpties telling me to call 999 the title is tongue in cheek, but an accurate description of how I feel.

Age 48, apart from a bit of insomnia I've been ok with perimenopause. Cycle reduced from 28 to 21 days which I considered annoying. But what I didn't know was what my uterus had planned next. I've been on my period for a whole month. 28 days of bleeding. What fresh hell is this and why did I know this was a thing ?

I have a GP appointment tomorrow. What should I be expecting ? Ask for?

Everytime I think the thing has gone , it comes back again. How is it possible to bleed this much and not be dead?

And if DH tells me one more time how tired he is I will scream..

OP posts:
LondonQueen · 08/03/2022 22:18

Little bump for you, make sure you get something to top up your iron, I can't imagine how horribly deficient you will be from 28 days of bleeding.

Original poster
Seema1234 · 08/03/2022 22:18

Obviously I meant how did I not know this was a thing?

Ffs. I can't even get that right.

OP posts:
iPaddy · 08/03/2022 22:23

Definitely take iron. And don't be fobbed off by the gp. Don't leave until you have been thoroughly checked over.

My DH overheard me talking to my GP (telephone appt) about similar issues. He joked that I was exaggerating to get referred to a gynae consultant earlier. He got the Death Stare from me.

Good luck Thanks

Gingerkittykat · 08/03/2022 22:23

I was given provera (progesterone) to stop the bleeding, a blood test for anaemia (I was anaemic), an urgent gynae appointment for a biopsy to check for endometrial cancer (negative), an ultrasound (normal) and currently looking into longer term ways to curb the bleeding. My GP has mentioned both a mirena coil and endometrial ablation as options.

Good luck with your GP tomorrow, this type of extreme bleeding is horrible. I'm currently on day 23 of the bleed after the first one which is thankfully light with the provera in my system but still draining.

frostedfruit · 08/03/2022 22:24

I had this. 47. Dr referred me to gynae to get checked out. Small cervical polyp removed (v common apparently) then mirena coil put in, all a couple of weeks ago. The bleeding has stopped and a blood test showed anemia - no wonder really! Just getting back on track now.

BearFacedCheekGrylls · 08/03/2022 22:24

When I had this it was caused by a polyp

JayAlfredPrufrock · 08/03/2022 22:24

You are doomed my dear.

Lurking9to5 · 08/03/2022 22:26

Have you had tranexemic acid?
I was prescribed that to 'dry it up' and then two progesterone only pills (morning and night) for about 3 days to stop the period altogehter.

I'm on the mini pill back to back now and I never get periods anymore.
I'd be scared to stop taking it. I might wait til 53 and then try stopping it. But I'd be ready to go right back on it if I got a period again.

Original poster
Seema1234 · 08/03/2022 22:27

What a pile of shite. Why do women have to put up with this crap ? Glad I'm not the only one though as I had wondered if it was cancer or something., But then why would that make you bleed for a month..I just don't get how there can be more blood. Where does it come from? Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
Seema1234 · 08/03/2022 22:29

I've never been near a gynecologist in my life. Neither do I want to..Hmm

OP posts:
Lurking9to5 · 08/03/2022 22:29

I know. I was traumatised after I ''flooded''
Luckily I had got home, I'd put the key in the door and then whoosh. Sorry if that's tmi but I figure anybody reading this has been there.

I was so lucky that didn't happen at work. I felt bad enough that my teenager daughter saw it. I had to tell her oh it's not such a big deal really! When i was crying my eyes out on the INSIDE

Original poster
Seema1234 · 08/03/2022 22:30

I am pretty sure I won't be able to have the Morena coil or mini pill as I get migraines..

OP posts:
Lurking9to5 · 08/03/2022 22:31

@Seema1234

I've never been near a gynecologist in my life. Neither do I want to..Hmm
Get the GP to prescribe tranexemic acid. That stops the flow that is like a TAP Then as a pp said ''provera'' to stop your current period.

And then Azalea, back to back mini pill.

They tried to push the coil on me too but I just couldn't handle it so she said this works the same (the mini pill back to back) has been such a relief to know I'm not about to get a period.

Original poster
Seema1234 · 08/03/2022 22:32

@Lurking9to5. Was that a one off thing? I haven't had flooding Is that a thing as well? Oh heck.

OP posts:
Lurking9to5 · 08/03/2022 22:32

oh no :-/

sorry x post

Gladioli23 · 08/03/2022 22:32

I wouldn't assume you won't bleed to the point of at least needing blood transfusions. I had this when my periods started - they didn't stop and didn't stop. I bled constantly for six months until eventually it suddenly got so heavy I couldn't leave the house - I calculated my blood loss and spoke to the GP and they reckoned I would have died of blood loss within days at the rate it carried on. They had to take some pretty rapid action, advising an immediate and massive (but obviously under their direction) dose of ibuprofen for that night then prescription meds the next day (I think tranexamic acid and straight onto the pill if I remember correctly) to stop things in their tracks.

SparklingLime · 08/03/2022 22:33

I bled for 8 weeks once during peri, flooded through onto a chair at work. Like you, had never heard of it being a thing. GP never even mentioned menopause. I worked it out a year or so later. I was only 43 though.

Original poster
Seema1234 · 08/03/2022 22:33

Why would I need a biopsy? Just seen that upthread. Why would can we cause a never ending period? Surely it's hormones. I hate this.

OP posts:
Lurking9to5 · 08/03/2022 22:33

It was a one off thing but the gp at the women's health clinic wasn't surprised and I have read similar horror stories on here. For about a year I'd been struggling with periods getting heavier and heavier. And then one day I flooded.

If you can't go on the pill, get stocked up with tranexemic acid. That stops your period from being too heavy.

SparklingLime · 08/03/2022 22:35

Tranxemic acid didn’t do much for me.

Lurking9to5 · 08/03/2022 22:35

Sadly, I think it's normal...

But they did do a scan on me before prescribing the mini pill to make sure I didn't have a fibroid(s) and I didn't.

So you don't have to have a fibroid to have these really heavy periods. I don't know what was causing mine. Sadly I think being 49 was causing them. YKWIM.

AnnaMagnani · 08/03/2022 22:35

Migraines do not stop you having minipill or mirena - they swap you to the mini pill if you have migraines.

I've been on it for years and it's been a blessing to stop my hormonal migraines with every period.

Imsittinginthekitchensink · 08/03/2022 22:36

I had this, I ended up with a 26 month period altogether with a brief 2 month respite before the coil also failed to stop it. I ended up having a total hysterectomy last summer.

Original poster
Seema1234 · 08/03/2022 22:36

I spoke to my sister who is 10 years older and she never had this. Is this how it will be from now on?

OP posts:
Lurking9to5 · 08/03/2022 22:36

@SparklingLime

Tranxemic acid didn’t do much for me.
Does your body get used to it? Did it work to begin with? It worked amazingly well and quickly when I used it but I only ever had dire need of it for a day. Then the progesterone had kicked in.