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Women's health

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Original poster

Just utterly fed up with it all now.

29 replies

rosesinmygarden · 06/02/2021 07:07

I've been suffering with heavy painful periods for years. It all came to a head last summer when I bled so much I became very anaemic. It was so bad I couldn't get out of bed.

The GP prescribed tranexamic acid and sent me for a scan which showed fibroids and a polyp.

I was told the waiting list for a gynae appt in my area was 2-3 years. So, we went down the private route and I had surgery about 3.5 months ago.

He removed the fibroids and did an ablation. He could not see a polyp. He inserted a mirena coil.

3.5 months later I'm still having heavy and painful periods. They are marginally shorter but it is not the result I had hoped for. He did say that the mirena may take 3-6 months to settle but I'm really so upset and fed up with it all at the moment. He's written to my GP to say the next step is hysterectomy.

The tranexamic acid doesn't help and painkillers don't give me very much relief as the pain is so bad.

It doesn't help that my cycle has shortened to around 24-26 days and I'm spotting all over the place so maybe getting a week of freedom each month.

Amazingly this week my NHS appt came through! It's a telephone one, so probably just a way of them saying I've been 'seen'.
I don't expect anything to happen any time soon and I'm so depressed by it all.

I'm also overweight and finding it very hard to lose weight while working from home. I probably need to shift at least 3 stone.

Does anyone have experience of their periods getting more bearable when losing weight? I'm seriously considering a VLCD for a couple of months and I think I might just gave the will power to do it if it was likely to help with the period side of things too.

OP posts:
Lovelydovey · 06/02/2021 07:15

That sounds awful.

Going sugar free made my periods slightly lighter. I can’t comment on pain as mine have always been relatively pain free, albeit very heavy and regular as clockwork.

Before something as radical as a hysterectomy, I’d be tempted to see what your body does without the mirena. Not all women tolerate them well.

Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 06/02/2021 07:19

Thanks @Lovelydovey I do regret having the mirena put in during the surgery. At the time I felt it was best to throw everything at the problem so to speak but now I'm left wondering if the mirena is causing more problems than not.

OP posts:
Lightsabre · 06/02/2021 07:30

Can you go get n Cerazette (pill). This stops periods altogether.

Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 06/02/2021 07:32

I've tried this and it made no difference.

I've also tried norethisterone and no difference.

OP posts:
JinglingHellsBells · 06/02/2021 07:39

You must feel very frustrated after having had that treatment, but give the Mirena a chance- it doesn't work overnight- give it 6 months.

The other thing is your weight. Not sure if you had it explained, but in women, fat cells increase the amount of estrogen circulating and that makes the womb lining thicker = more bleeding.

Being overweight is one of the biggest risk factors in endometrial cancer (which starts with a thickened lining) for that reason.

Maybe work on losing weight- loads of help and support on other parts of MN - maybe the 5:2 diet, or My Fitness Pal, or whatever works for you.

Good luck Flowers

Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 06/02/2021 07:47

Frustrated and £4000 worse off yes!

I think next step is to lose weight. Even if it doesnt help at least then I can say I've tried it if the doctors try to stall doing anything else!

OP posts:
Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 06/02/2021 07:47

We can't afford more private surgery, so I'll be relying on the NHS from now on...

OP posts:
HoneysuckIejasmine · 06/02/2021 07:52

Yes, jingling beat me to it but fat won't help.

I lost weight and had a coil fitted and take the pill too. I think it was the coil plus pill that helped the most but I feel much better for the weight loss. As I say, I have Mirena and I take the mini pill continuously. No bleeding, no cycle to speak of (no hormonal changes etc). I have my life back.

Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 06/02/2021 07:59

@HoneysuckIejasmine

Yes, jingling beat me to it but fat won't help.

I lost weight and had a coil fitted and take the pill too. I think it was the coil plus pill that helped the most but I feel much better for the weight loss. As I say, I have Mirena and I take the mini pill continuously. No bleeding, no cycle to speak of (no hormonal changes etc). I have my life back.

Thank you. I think I have to give the mirena a few more months and lose some weight asap. I'd like to keep the mirena for contraception rather than taking a pill, so if losing weight helps that would be excellent.
OP posts:
Omgnamechange · 06/02/2021 08:00

I found Marina to be awful, so took it out after 6 months. The pill was no help either. I need to lose 3 stone too.

toomanyspiderplants · 06/02/2021 08:07

www.amazon.co.uk/Period-Repair-Manual-Treatment-Hormones/dp/1975926773?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
you may find this useful. .I did!

I had mirena for heavy periods and the result was immediate. .However you have had surgery and your body will need time to settle. sadly it came out due to heavy clots. ,twice. since then I have had uterine fibroid embolisation. back in June. .,The results were not immediate but I am noticing a difference over time.
Please look at the book.,There are many things you can try before major surgery.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 06/02/2021 10:12

Did they not ever mention endometriosis also as a possible cause for your ongoing heavy painful periods?. It sounds like that was never mentioned but its a very common cause of heavy painful periods.

I would seek a second opinion from another gynae asap.

Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 06/02/2021 10:15

The soonest I can be 'seen' is the NHS telephone appt at the end of this month.

I have no money left for more private treatment.

The gynae who did my ablation and fibroid removal said the womb was healthy otherwise and no sign of endometriosis.

OP posts:
JinglingHellsBells · 06/02/2021 13:10

I honestly think you ought to give the Mirena a bit longer. It reduces the lining by releasing the progesterone in it and this can take a while. You might be told to try it for longer anyway by the NHS.

Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 06/02/2021 13:19

@JinglingHellsBells

I honestly think you ought to give the Mirena a bit longer. It reduces the lining by releasing the progesterone in it and this can take a while. You might be told to try it for longer anyway by the NHS.
Well yes, I have no choice as my GP won't remove it, I can't afford a private appointment and my hospital appointment is a telephone one. I'm really hoping it might still improve. I'm in the middle of my 3rd proper period since having it done and it's awful. Horrendous pain, lots of bleeding and my cervix is swollen and huge and my stomach and abdomen are in spasm and hard to touch. I wonder if my body might even be trying to expel the mirena. The cords feel lower than normal.
OP posts:
Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 06/02/2021 13:21

This has happened each month since having it put in. It lasts 24-48 hours in the middle of the period. Pain relief does nothing.

OP posts:
HoneysuckIejasmine · 06/02/2021 13:24

I take the pill too as the hormone impact of mirena alone wasn't enough to be effective. As my gynae says, different amount of alcohol make different people drunk, hormones vary too. Unfortunately you can only fit one coil I top up the hormones with the mini pill.

LadyGAgain · 06/02/2021 13:47

If you don't have endometriosis it sounds like the ablation wasn't done properly? Which type of ablation did you have?

Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 06/02/2021 14:10

@LadyGAgain

If you don't have endometriosis it sounds like the ablation wasn't done properly? Which type of ablation did you have?
The surgeon removed the lining of my womb with instruments after he removed the fibroids. So a physical removal rather than the microwave type. He's the head of gynaecology of our local NHS trust with over 40 years experience so I would really hope it was done properly! As with all ablation type surgery there is the risk that the womb lining grows back.
OP posts:
Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 06/02/2021 14:12

@HoneysuckIejasmine

I take the pill too as the hormone impact of mirena alone wasn't enough to be effective. As my gynae says, different amount of alcohol make different people drunk, hormones vary too. Unfortunately you can only fit one coil I top up the hormones with the mini pill.
I'm going to ask about this wjen I have my telephone appointment. May be they will be willing to put some thing else in place!
OP posts:
LunaHeather · 06/02/2021 14:13

Apologies if stupid question but did the pill not help?

Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 06/02/2021 14:15

I stopped taking the pill years ago after problems with spotting.

OP posts:
Original poster
rosesinmygarden · 06/02/2021 14:17

But maybe a combination would be good!

OP posts:
Graciebobcat · 06/02/2021 14:18

I do sympathise, OP. The thing is losing weight will help but things like endometrosis and any hormonal problems makes it bloody hard to lose weight! A vicious circle.

LunaHeather · 06/02/2021 14:21

@rosesinmygarden

I stopped taking the pill years ago after problems with spotting.
Might be worth trying again if it's been years

Pills have changed, your body has changed

Good luck, hope you get it sorted.

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