Is there a solution for flooding periods other than coil (which was awful for me)?

[WhatNextImScared]

I am 44. Periods got progressively heavier since I had my second baby at 38. Over 40 they started to go wild. At 42 saw a gyn, had fibroids removed and had the Mirena fitted.

i persisted for over 18 months but it didn’t suit me. I didn’t bleed heavily any more but I barely had a full week off bleeding ligjtly that whole time. On the days I didn’t bleed I had thin, flooding yellow discharge. Loads of cramps. Had scans, all looked correct. They told me to stick with it.

After a week of awful pain mid cycle I got fed up and asked for it removed. Instantly felt physically a lot better and also my mental health massively improved too BUT… big but

My periods are immediately back to before, perhaps even worse. I’m on day 2 today and it’s been brutal. Taken tranexemic acid and it’s starting to kick in but I’m exhausted now and feeling mildly dizzy (not worried I need immediate help, ive had days like this before and it usually improves on day 3).

I had forgotten how draining it is and how exhausted and anemic I was before. I know I need to go back to the doc and ask for another referral. But if I don’t get on with progesterone, is there anything I can do?

i can’t imagine doing another decade like this tbh.

I should say the heavy days for me are literally the definition of a very heavy period - going through our paid in 1-2 hours for some of the day

Endometrial ablation. If you are done having children, which I assume you are. I had one. Still had periods, but much much lighter and gradually tailed off.

I’ve heard about this. Definitely done having children. Did you have your tubes removed at the same time? I’ve heard it’s important to have really good contraception on it. DH refuses a vasectomy so far (i know!) so I’m considering it. It also reduces the risk of ovarian cancer so I can see the point.

endometrial ablation.

Had mine 8 years ago and haven’t had any bleeding since

I've been taking transxemic acid for 6 months now and periods are just bearable, but definitely better. Being anaemic wont help the bleeding either. We use spatone liquid supplements for the anaemia, things are improving. I dont tolerate the pill well and I dont the coil either.

What did/do you do for contraception? At the moment we only use condoms and apparently that’s not sufficient as a post ablation unexpected pregnancy is so dangerous

Would ablation work? Speak to a doctor to see what surgery would suit you, unless you want more kids.

Options for other progesterones - eg double dose POP (different progesterones affect you differently)
do you still have fibroids? Really that’s the biggest factor to treat if you do?
more permanent would be an ablation - might have a bit of a wait so could try POP and tranexaemic acid together whislt waiting.
no they don’t usually sterilise at the same time. Different procedure techniques.

I was given transanemic acid tablets. They reduced flooding a bit but second and third day nothing much helped. I had this for about 3 years. Then periods stopped. I was so grateful for menopause. I could tolerate hot sweats and flushes much easier than flooding and becoming anemic too.

My best friend was just like you. She in the end after trying everything and nothing worked, she used to faint as so anaemic, went in for a hysterectomy. She says it was the best choice for her.

I am using a combination of transexemic acid and a
series of iron infusions at the moment.

We know mine is caused by fibroids, but removing mine would be complicated. I’ve had too many previous uterine surgeries. I can’t do hormones of any kind.

My anaemia got really, frighteningly bad before I finally got the doctor’s to intervene. The iron infusions are helping, but I just got scheduled for 2 more.

The transexemic acid is also helping. My periods are still textbook heavy, but not as bad as they were.

I’m over the average age of menopause so I’m just trying to wait it out at this point. That strategy isn’t working so well. It’s looking like I may have end up being at the far end of that bell curve.

I’m sorry you’re going through this - what a total pain in the arse.

It’s the not knowing how long this will go on for that’s sort of the issue for me. If it was another two years of periods then maybe I’ll just power through. But a decade of this seems unsustainable. Hysterectomy is such huge surgery.

Ugh, i know it’s trite to say but if this was male health there would be more options by now!

I had an endometrial ablation which was life changing. My experience of it was overwhelmingly positive. GA, no post op complications, back at work within a couple of days. Never had another period.

Contraception had already been dealt with because I had been sterilised during my third CS.

I’ve just realised that this is my first “true” period since Mirena removal so maybe this will be the nadir and next month won’t be so bad. Either way I’m definitely going to discuss with the GP. Luckily the tranexemic acid kicked in overnight so it’s paused/radically slowed down for now.

Thank you for sharing. I’m going ask about the potential for it being done + tube removal at the same time.

I went through exactly the same thought process and honestly, had I known from the start how much worse it would get and how long it would go on for, I'd have gone for a hysterectomy at the start. Periods didn't stop until I was 51.

(ETA and I've had issues with post meno bleeding since - god I wish the whole lot had been whipped out!)

Are your periods regular? If so the first thing I would suggest is proactively taking your tranexamic acid from the day/2days before your period is due.

I had an ablation as well. Best thing I ever did!

I still have periods but they are so light and not painful at all.

as for contraception we use condoms and no issues. While pregnancy can be dangerous the chances of getting pregnant are very low.

Coming back to add that the pain with it yesterday and this morning was so bad that even though irs now passed with painkillers and rest (and the worst of this cycle being behind me), it’s left my whole lower abdomen feeling really tender.

Definitely motivated to ask about ablation

I could have written this post my self! Had the mirena for 12 months but couldn’t take the constant light bleeding and took it out. The first bleed lasted 17 days and clots were coming out. So scary. Having my second one and it is very heavy. Have a gyno appointment in 2 weeks time shall see what he says