So fed up with bleeding...

[AwkwardPaws27]

My periods have been increasingly painful & unpleasant (pain spreads right down my legs, very loose stools, sore bum) for the last 15 months. I've also had painful cramps on orgasm. Ive had an ultrasound (normal), seen a consultant gynaecologist, and had an MRI a few weeks ago that I'm awaiting the results of.
The gynaecologist advised to go on the combined pill & run three packs together, to have a break from the periods and see if it "reset" things.
I started that at the end of July, and I've now been bleeding for nearly four weeks despite taking the pill on time each day. Varying between heavy, big tissuey clots and light bleeding, completely unpredictable.
I don't know why I'm posting; I'm just so fed up. I got married at the beginning of August and we've barely been able to have sex (I would if it was predictable but the chance of clots really put me off). I'm also scared whatever is wrong could cause fertility issues.
I saw my GP last week who advised I should get a letter from the consultant about the MRI results and to wait for those. I've also been asked to have my iron levels checked in case I'm becoming anaemic from the ongoing bleeding.
I'm so tired of it.

I don't have any advice but just to let you know you're not alone. I've been bleeding for 21 days on and off, it's so frustrating (I'm also a newlywed). Hope you get it sorted soon

Depending upon how old you are I would either advise getting pregnant or getting a mirena coil

Thanks Ziggzagg, it's so frustrating isn't it?

Growingboys I'm 29, I've just started a new job and have to be here two years before I can get enhanced maternity leave. Our house really needs some essential work, and that's not going to happen if we have a baby now. The plan was to wait a couple of years, enjoy being married and get the building work done before bringing a baby into the mix.
That said, I admit I'm also scared to start trying in case there are problems and we can't conceive.

No specific advice. But. I always got bleeding when I started on the pill after a long break, like after a pregnancy. After I took the first 7 day break it would stop. I could then take packet after packet with no break for 6 or more months, with no bleeding at all. If I took that first packet, then went into a 2nd without a break, the bleeding would ramp up and continue. If I were you, I’d take a 7 day break at the end of the current packet and then start again.

Bonzo77 the three packs run together was the prescribed course from the consultant gynaecologist so I'm a bit reluctant to deviate in case I get branded as "non-compliant"

I've always had quite heavy periods but nothing like this (just had DS 9 months ago). Usually, the implant works for me, I had no period for9 years!! But since I've been on it since DS was born I've had irregular bleeding, heavy and painful so having a baby won't necessarily sort it out, just try different contraception xx

Returning to this thread for a bit of a moan!
I finally stopped bleeding after 5 weeks.
I had my consultant gynaecologist appointment yesterday to get my MRI results.
He asked me what type of IUD I have - I said I don't have one. He was surprised by this as the MRI report said there is an IUD present.
I had to go for an x-ray to prove there was nothing there (by the time I had the x-ray I was completely questioning my own sanity as I did have a period of mental illness some years ago and I was wondering if I'd had an IUD fitted then and somehow blanked it out).
I definitely don't have an IUD so "my" MRI report appears to be someone else's. I have to wait another few months now for a repeat scan, go through it again (I still struggle with anxiety and found the MRI stressful as I couldn't stop thinking about what they might find) and then wait 4-6 weeks for an appointment to get results.
Obviously there is nothing anyone can do, I just need to wait, but it is so frustrating!
Consultant said he may suggest a Mirena coil in future but he doesn't want to do that until I've had an MRI with my results in case there is something else going on. Going to try Yasmin pill in the meantime.

Did no-one ever mention the possibility of endometriosis to you?.
Deep pain during sex is also one possible indicator of this and its usually associated with painful periods too along with heavy bleeding. I also can relate to the pains down the legs, that was due to endo as well.

I would look into seeing another gynae now and preferably one who has a specialist interest in endometriosis.

Unfortunately such scans would not detect this if it is there; its usually diagnosed through a keyhole surgery op called a laparoscopy. I have also had more internal ultrasound scans than I care to mention and none of those detected the endometriosis that was present.

Would also suggest you keep a pain and symptom diary if you do not already do so. This will give them clues as well.

Sounds like endermetriosis to me. Apologies if you’ve already looked into this -
www.nhs.uk/conditions/endometriosis/

One of my sisters had this, it went away once she had her baby, she had it badly to the point she could no longer work but got pregnant first try! X

@AttilaTheMeerkat I've been worried about endometriosis from my own Googling.
That's another thing that's bothering me a bit, that the MRI they thought was mine was clear (apart from a small fibroid) & the response was to recommend a Mirena coil, even though most resources suggest that endometriosis is usually diagnosed after laprascopic surgery. I'm not keen to go under the knife but equally don't want to get a coil and try to "cover up" the symptoms of something which could be damaging my fertility.
How do you request a consultant with a special interest? Is that only for private patients? It would have to be NHS, I can't afford to go private.
Thank you

Hi there, I think it sounds like endometriosis too, especially as you are having bowel issues when you have your period. Like a pp said, it is usually diagnosed through having a laparoscopy. This is how mine was detected and then I had it burned off while I was under the anaesthetic. I had a repeat laparoscopy five years later and it had come back though.

A general gynae consultant will know about endometriosis but you could ask for one who specialises in it. They all have different specialities in the NHS.

I can’t believe they made that cock up with the mri, that’s disgusting. How could that even happen in this day and age with all the cross checking they do with date of births etc. Unbelievable.

Keep a diary of your cycle: recording any cramps/bleeding. Then you can go armed to your appointment with all the facts. I was told that the pill or coil are best for controlling endometriosis symptoms, which isn’t helpful if you’re ttc. But if you have no plans for babies any time soon, then that might be an option, once you’ve found which pill suits you best.

Good luck.

A bit crap that they mixed up the scans. Had it not been for the other woman's IUD you would have had her diagnosis too!

Oh I hear you!!!

I’m 33 about to get married and on day 24 of bleeding yet again!
It is so hard not to worry about what might be causing this and to not feel anxious about how this could affect fertility

Did you always have difficult periods when you were younger or were they normal till recently?

I’ve had to chart for a year (even though I’ve also had post coital bleeding!) in order to finally be allowed a referral to gynae.

I was only recently offered tranexamic acid to aid clotting (to reduce the bleeding) and that barely touched it.

I too have had shaky periods of mental health in the past and I’m finding this is really pushing me to the edge.

Not much advice to give, just a shared perspective and hugs! Xx

I had northisteone tablets for a week to reset my cycle as i had been bleeding for a few weeks it stopped my period by the next day and no bleeding inbetween. A day of after i stopped them i had a 5/6 day period then touch wood for the past couple of months they’ve been getting back to a more normal set cycle.
So northisterone may be worth a try whilst you wait for your bext lot of results xx

@WhyAreWeddingsSoAwks

I've always had quite heavy periods (compared to friends I have discussed it with) but so did my mum so I just thought it was normal for me. In my early 20s I ended up coming off the pill after trying several different brands over about 18 months, as I had breakthrough bleeding and postcoital bleeding. No one ever suggested that the issue might be anything but the pill.
We just used condoms for about 6 years, I always thought we were just careful and lucky not to have an unplanned pregnancy, but now I'm wondering if I'm actually infertile and don't know it yet.

There are actually BSGE centres of excellence for endometriosis

www.bsge.org.uk/centre/

This is also a good website www.endometriosis-uk.org/

www.endometriosis-uk.org/seeing-endometriosis-specialist

In my case my symptoms re endometriosis started upon onset of menses at 14. I had many of its symptoms but it simply was not recognised by anybody at the time. None of my female friends had this issue and menstrual health was not talked about in schools.

It was only in my late 20s when I underwent fertility treatment for another problem (PCOS) that the endometriosis was diagnosed (and that was through lap type surgery). I had numerous scans and blood tests and none of those detected the endo that was there throughout my uterine cavity.