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Women's health

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Original poster

Painful, very heavy periods ruining my life!

18 replies

Bigkingdom · 15/02/2019 17:18

How can i get my GP to take me seriously and refer me to a gynaecologist?

My periods have always been heavy and painful since i started them at 12. Over the years they have got worse and worse and are now unbareable.

They last for 6 days, days 2 and 3 so bad that i can’t leave the house as i just gush as soon as i’m standing or walking, the pain is something else and ibuprofen doesn’t even touch it. On top of horrendous cramps i have a sharp constant pain in the lower left hand side of my stomach. Its just awful.

I’ve been to see my doctor before and was told that if i won’t try a coil they won’t refer me. I do not want a coil, i don’t like the idea of one. Is that not my right to refuse it? I have tried various pills, tablets to reduce bleeding, the injection, the patch and i bleed heavily through everything. I’m done. I feel dizzy and faint through my whole period.

Does anyone have any ideas why i suffer so bad? What could cause this?

OP posts:

Original poster

Bigkingdom · 15/02/2019 17:20

Oh and just to add, it also feels like my insides are falling out during a period which also causes discomfort.

OP posts:

Nothingoriginalhere · 15/02/2019 17:27

Unfortunately the mirena is seen as a "cure all".
In your situation I would see a different doctor. I have just been through the same and my very sympathetic GP referred me for a scan ( although was also flooding randomly and not just on mybperiod)
I also had had a coil for 3 years. Have now had a hysterectomy 4 weeks ago - worth it refused the coil and been referred earlier.
I had fibroids and a bulky uterus causing my problems.
Hope you get sorted.

Thesuzle · 15/02/2019 17:31

Hi
If you have finished making your family then ask for a Microwave Ablation. Fixed me in no time. It’s not as drastic as a hysterectomy
Keep asking don’t be fobbed off

TornTendon · 15/02/2019 17:31

Just be firm. My GP tried to get me to have a coil in the same circumstances. I just politely kept saying no, I did not need or want contraception. I didn't want the hormones of a mirena. I'd previously had a copper coil and it came out painfully so wasn't prepared for a repeat.

Going in my favour my childbearing days were over so I pushed for an ablation. If that's true for you then do the same. But otherwise I'm not sure what a gynae can do for you that a gp can't do?

GingerRogers84 · 15/02/2019 17:35

I swear GPs have shares in the Mirena coil. I eventually have into their pressure and had one but it really didn't agree with me and I had it out.
Every time I go for my pill they still keep trying to get me to have it again.
Stand your ground and maybe see a different GP in the practice.

hopeishere · 15/02/2019 17:38

Can you go privately? I see someone privately and he's really nice; took everything seriously and didn't try and fob me off with a mirena!

PottyPotterer · 15/02/2019 17:42

But otherwise I'm not sure what a gynae can do for you that a gp can't do?. Investigate the cause surely and offer a wider choice of treatment options. First thing my gynaecologist mentioned was ablation, GP only gave me the choice of drugs/hormones.

See a different GP OP. I went to my GP in December after years of suffering. I stressed how much of an impact it was having on my life and work and was referred there and then. Currently having investigations. Meanwhile GP prescribed me tranaxemic acid to reduce the bleeding and mefenamic acid for the pain. The difference has been unbelievable. Do not suffer in silence.

Original poster

Bigkingdom · 15/02/2019 17:45

Thanks.

Yes i have finished having children. If someone offered me a hysterectomy i would take it right now, i’m feeling so unwell this time. I’m seeing another GP in 25th feb (earliest appointment i could get).

I’m due to go back to work soon and i can’t imagine working 13 hour shifts like this!

OP posts:

Original poster

Bigkingdom · 15/02/2019 17:49

Thanks PottyPotterer. Thats what i want, to find if there is a cause. An offer of treatment if there is a cause and to live my life properly and not around my monthly cycle, which is also irregular.

I will speak to the doctor about the two medications, i have tried tranaxemic acid before and it did help a bit. The one for the pain sounds ideal as ibuprofen and paracetomol are not touching it anymore.

OP posts:

lljkk · 15/02/2019 18:11

If you have had all the children you want then I would ask about hysterectomy.

hopeishere · 15/02/2019 19:27

I take esmya it's faintly new but stopped my periods totally.

Applecrumble79 · 15/02/2019 19:47

I would see another GP. This is clearly impacting on your life so the GP really needs to refer you to a gaenacologist. You need to have a scan to find out the cause of your issues.
I was in the same position. And still am but just not as bad pain. I have fibroids and prone to get large functional cysts. The heavy flow also made me anaemic so I have to take iron tablets. I have to plan activities so they do not interfere with my cycle. I had a fibroid removed last year but the only thing this has done is lessen the pain. I am still so heavy. Will be going back to the GP.

TornTendon · 15/02/2019 21:24

Investigate the cause surely and offer a wider choice of treatment options. First thing my gynaecologist mentioned was ablation, GP only gave me the choice of drugs/hormones.

That's why I asked if the OP had finished having kids because if she hadn't then she can't have the ablation and the only option is to offer drugs/hormones and like you say the GP can do that.

But as the OP has finished having kids then definetely push for an ablation. I had one and it's been life changing. If it works then you avoid a hysterectomy which has risks and side effects which if you can avoid then you should.

Mrbay · 15/02/2019 21:29

I know you say you don't want the coil but it helped my endo so much, if I wasn't trying to start a family, id still be on it.
In the mean time, try to get a prescription for mefenamic acid, this stuff is amazing! Start taking it the day before the pain normally starts and you won't know you are on your period! I get stop what you are doing and get in the fetal position pain and this has been my life saver

Pillowaddict · 15/02/2019 21:40

Honestly, demand a referral. Of course it's your choice to refuse coil, if you really don't want it, although there's a chance it may help if it's endometriosis or adenomyosis you're suffering so badly from.

I have just had a hysterectomy, a year after an investigative laparoscopic procedure which occurred 2 years post coil (which did not help me at all re pain, only heavy flow). My point is - everything takes a long time if they're trying solution after solution, and you've already spent years in pain. I really feel for you op, don't let them talk you out of an investigation/scan/laparoscopy, you're entitled to know what is causing you such pain.

Invisimamma · 15/02/2019 21:55

Look into endometrial ablation. I have very similar issues to what you describe and I'm on the waiting list. It looks like a good option, although it only lasts 5 years or so, I'm 30 so I might need it repeated again. You need to have permanent contraception in place as getting pregnant afterwards is very dangerous. They'll so some other scans and investigations first to be sure nothing more sinister is causing it.

I have tried a coil though and bled constantly for 6 months, same with the implant and the pill.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 16/02/2019 09:07

Mirena is indeed seen as a cure all, it is not and I think I am also correct in stating that this is still not properly licenced as a treatment for endometriosis. I have endometriosis (diagnosed from a gynae) and was not too long ago offered the coil; I refused it also for similar reasons. All the pills etc you have been offered to date are usually given to women who are eventually diagnosed with endometriosis. Endo can also cause heavy bleeding to arise too as well as severe pain.

If your GP remains unhelpful see another one within the practice or change GP practice altogether. Your symptoms to be seem highly indicative of endometriosis being present (the fact too that you've had such problems from onset of menses at 12 is also suggestive of endo, I had such problems from onset of menses at 14). Your symptoms absolutely need a gynae referral. In the meantime as well I would keep a daily pain and symptom diary if you do not already do this as it will give the gynae clues.

You will need to be persistent in order to get answers.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 16/02/2019 09:16

And yes there most definitely is a cause. Do not be further fobbed off with just pills and no referral. The cause needs to be determined as well as trying to treat the symptoms. To my mind many GPs are not up to speed at all when it comes to such issues. I had one such person tell me that endometriosis was uncommon; I replied it was the second most common gynae problem seen in women after fibroids.

If your periods are irregular in nature then this may well be due to a condition called polycystic ovaries. Blood tests can be done to see what your hormone levels are like.

I always found that tablets like ibuprofen never touched the sides of my period pains either.

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