Period woes

[longlivetheking]

Had a gynae referral appointment today due to irregular/sometimes very heavy/very painful periods with the added bonus of leg pain.

Have had ultrasound scan Back in October which showed all fine (although I had just finished a period, told him I’d just stopped bleeding and he said that tallied with what he saw, only to start bleeding again the next day!)

Consultant was very nice.
Had a smear type exam to rule out any cancerous happenings (almost fainted, such a wuss!). Got another scan appointment coming, I guess internal? And another appointment to see consultant in 3 months.

She seems keen for me to try the Merina Coil but I’m really not keen (understatement). I am very squeamish/almost phobic about the idea, I can’t/won’t even use tampons!

She said other options were a laparoscopy and then potentially burning some womb lining off. But not sure this would help with the pains I get?

I’m 40 and have 3 kids, but she said not much chance of a hysterectomy until I’ve tried other stuff first. I have tried the pill previously but continue to spot and have pain so not very effective. My main issue is the pain rather than flow as periods aren’t always heavy. I always get some degree of pain though, even if I miss a period! No other peri-menopause symptoms.

Not really sure what I’m asking for, but if anyone has any thoughts/experience to share, I’m all ears!

I have a mirena and it has helped with the cramps though the bleeding has only reduced 10%. I use to have labour pain like cramps before. Though I am not sure if the Mirena helped me or the cyst removal surgery or the adhesion surgery. But since I had all done at the same it is difficult to say. But my heavy periods are caused by Adenomyosis and that causes cramps too and since the surgery did nothing to Adenomyosis itself I am guessing my no cramp period is because of Mirena. For bleeding itself mirena is next to useless at my age(perimenopause). I have heard ablation is good so if you doctor is offering then go for it. They basically burn the uterine lining and you don't get periods or pain for a long time.

The root cause of these pains needs to be determined and you will need to be persistent in order to get answers.

I did wonder if endometriosis is actually the root cause of your painful periods (and leg pain for that matter as it can irritate the sciatic nerve). Has anyone actually mentioned this to you?. It may well be why the laparoscopy has been suggested; it is usually the operation performed when endometriosis is suspected and I would consider this initially. This all certainly warrants further investigation.

Thanks Attila. Endo hasn’t yet been mentioned but from my reading seems most likely.

I’m going to decline the coil and push for more investigations I think. Easier said than done though. I’m not great in medical settings but having come this far, would like answers. It is quite wearing!

This sounds very much like endo to me.

The diagnosis for this is done via laparoscopy and then often they burn off or cut out the endo deposits (which is basically womb lining growing in the wrong place).

The endometriosisUK.org website is a good place for info.

How about you ask your gynaecologist to do laparoscopy and ablation ( if they don't find endo) at the same time. I was given the option and you can have it too. That way you can have relief no matter what you have sooner rather than later. In my case , I had an ovarian cyst, ultrasound also pointed Adenomyosis , I had severe pain and heavy periods. So my doctor suggested laparoscopy for cyst and if any endo found they would remove it at the same time. They also did hysteroscopy to do uterine biopsy and inserted mirena at the same time. The surgeon did not find endometriosis but found lots and lots of adhesions because of my previous c section so removed them along with the cyst. I had one surgery that sorted a lot of issues at the same time and now I have a cramp free period. Ask your gynaecologist if they can do the same for you but instead of Mirena ask for ablation.

I had worse period pains after having a mirena than I ever had before!! Mine was put in to try and reduce heavy bleeding (fibroids) but it didn’t work.

Thanks so much everyone, all really helpful.

Ablation seems the way to go then.

I have a scan booked in for Monday, though not entirely clear what that is looking for or will show up.

Internal scan Monday.
Please tell me it’s not as bad as the sample they took for cancerous cells?!

Do you mean a trans vaginal ultrasound scan? Doesn't hurt , though a bit uncomfortable but a lot better than cervical scan.

Yes, I believe so anyway, got to go to the maternity ward, and the woman I spoke to on the phone booking it said I’d probably need to empty my bladder directly before hand.
Happy to hear that ahran, thanks!

Well, that was much better than the biopsy/smear thing last week!

Sonographer very nice and said nothing out of the ordinary so I don’t know where this will leave me 🤷🏼‍♀️

Internal ultrasound scans do not detect endometriosis if it is there because the endo deposits are so very small.

Endometriosis as well is usually diagnosed via a laparoscopy, a keyhole surgery op.

You will need to be persistent in order to get answers. GP should refer you to a gynaecologist

I’ve been through all this because of pain and heavy bleeding. I decided to go cerelle after a conversation with my GP. It was horrendous at first; I bled (lightly) for two months but now it has stopped ALTOGETHER. Gamechanger! No pain either.

Thanks Atilla, was reading about the difficulty in diagnosing endo today. They seem to be focusing on the heavy periods, whereas the pain is the major problem for me.

What is Cerelle? I’m trying to avoid hormonal options if and where possible due to family history of breast cancer.