I'm sick of my period

[Principessa2070]

I suffer with heavy painful periods. I can't take the pill because it makes me feel like a raging hormonal monster. Ive been given tranexcemic acid and this does reduce it a bit heaviness wise, but doesn't do anything about the painful cramps that often stop me in my tracks, and bring tears to my eyes. Painkillers seldom do much.

I have a telephone appointment on Wednesday to discuss the results of an ultrasound scan I had almost 2 weeks ago, at the point I was having it, the person doing the scan asked what the scan was for and mentioned that they couldnt see any fibroids or polyps that would be causing it.

Would I be allowed to ask the doctor if I can just have a hysterectomy?! I know it's extreme, I've had three children, I am 32 years old and I am sick of being in pain, and having to medicate myself in order to have a somewhat normal life! If I don't have the tranexcemic acid, my periods are heavy to the point that in the first few days of my period, I soak through a super plus tampon within around an hour. That's not acceptable is it?

I'm just so sick of feeling like this and just wish i could have my uterus removed. Sorry for the long post. If the formatting goes out the window it's cause I'm on mobile app.

Bump

There are lots of options besides hysterectomy. For example endometrial ablation. I would suggest a gynae referral if not had one already.

I had a mirena which completely stopped my horrific periods....maybe try something like this? The hormonal effects don't tend to be the same as the pill/implant etc as the effects are more locally applied.

But it's my body. If I don't want my uterus anymore I should have the right to have it out. I've looked into ablation and there's a chance however small that periods can return. I don't want any of it anymore.

If I were transitioning bet it would be no problem.

Mirena completely stopped my horrendously heavy periods. I am a different woman now!

I can't take the pill, due to the hormones making my mood unbearable. I've had the copper coil. That made them much worse it course.

I've even had the implant. That turned me into a raging psycho as well

I shouldn't have to put artificial hormones in my body to have a normal life. Please do not recommend that again. It makes it blindly clear you did not read my OP properly.

Please ask for a gynae referral and then talk to the consultant about options. Ablation may be the way forward. If it doesn't work then you could explore having a hysterectomy.

I used to have horrendous periods, caused by fibroid. I had the fibroid removed and, 7 years on, my periods are still very manageable. My consultant explained to me that sometimes the fibroid grown back and cause further issues, at which point I could have a hysterectomy. So far so good though.

It’s a major op that puts you into menopause, I’m sure I read it can also cause massive internal scarring and adhesions hence they use it as an operation of last resort now. It’s not the simple solution you think it is.

Have you researched ablation? It was a game changing operation for gynaecology medicine.

The NHS has a policy of working through options from the cheapest to the most expensive to find which one works best. You will not be given a hysterectomy on the NHS before all other options have been explored. I doubt this would happen even if you went private. A hysterectomy comes with it's own problems. If you suffer with hormonal mood swings on the pill, it will get worse when the menopause hits overnight. Surgery also carries risks of infection and complications.

Different hormonal contraceptives react differently, that is why people are suggesting some. I was fine on the combined pill, but haven't been able to get it since having DC due to my age. I do not react well to the progesterone only contraceptives (mini pill, implant, injection).

By all means ask for a hysterectomy, vent at the GP about your frustrations and demand a referral to a gynecologist.

I wasn't allowed one until I was past 40.

I had polyps removed twice.
Took 1000mg TA 4x a day during my period and the max doses of ibruprofen and paracetamol.
I too couldn't have any hormonal assistance in the form of contraceptive pills etc and the coil made me bleed continuously.
Hysterectomy- yes it solved the bleeding and most of the pain issue, they left my ovaries to give me a few more years before menopause.
But - my stomach muscles have never recovered despite exercise and I have back problems now.
Go see a gynaecologist. Really push for a viable solution but be open to options.

Okay thanks guys. I'm sorry for being bitchy I'm currently on at the moment. No excuse for being so grouchy at you guys though

I will push for a gynaecology referral.

People who are unwell get grouchy. This is normal human behaviour.

My periods are crippling for two days and I need to ring about it to my dr, I’ve been limping on but now when I get them I’m physically sick on waking now.

Can’t take either pill and never had kids so don’t fancy a copper IUD up there in case my uterus goes into a tantrum.

I had a scan a couple of weeks ago and waiting for results today too! My periods aren’t horrendously heavy but I’m two weeks on, two weeks off (sometimes less ) I pass clots the last few days.
I was on the pill for ten years. I gained weight and felt fine. Then they stopped producing my particular pill and after trying copious others, could only tolerate it when on a dose of fluoxetine as well. My husband had a vasectomy so I could come off contraception but didn’t see my natural cycles going this way at all.

Apparently, my bloods are fine so if scan results are fine, I’m going to push to be tested for VWD, which my mum also has.
In the meantime I’ve been offered nothing even though I’m weak, faint and trying to tolerate my cycle weighing just under 8st.

Like you, I dread the thought of going back onto any hormonal contraceptive being my only option. I’ve been off fluoxetine and the pill for a year and a half and my mood and mental health is so much better.

I wish you the best of luck. I hope the eventual outcome is the one you want but ultimately the one that works!

The mirena coil brought my periods to a halt. It's not the same as the copper coil, and it's also not the same as being on the pill hormone wise. I was on the pill and it didn't agree with me at all but I've been fine with the mirena, which releases a low dose of hormone directly into your uterus. I'm not saying you shouldn't have a hysterectomy if you want one, but I doubt they'll give you one on the nhs.

@prettyvisitor

The mirena coil brought my periods to a halt. It's not the same as the copper coil, and it's also not the same as being on the pill hormone wise. I was on the pill and it didn't agree with me at all but I've been fine with the mirena, which releases a low dose of hormone directly into your uterus. I'm not saying you shouldn't have a hysterectomy if you want one, but I doubt they'll give you one on the nhs.

This reflects my situation too OP. I have read your post, you didn't mention the coil, just that the pill didn't agree with you. I also hated the pill, I feel much better with the mirena coil, it really was a dramatic change that I wasn't expecting at all. My consultant suggested it (after referral for heavy periods and fibroids) and I accepted it but thought it would come with the same issues as other hormonal contraceptives. For me it's been absolutely perfect, and such an easy way to transform my life. I know that sounds dramatic but that's honesty how it feels. I've gone from 2 weeks of misery every month to not having periods. Still get a bit of PMT on my monthly cycle but it's nothing like it was. Just don't dismiss it, I don't think the NHS will sterilise your before you've exhausted the other options anyway.

I get you, OP. I'm older than you (54) and have had very heavy flooding periods for years. Tranexamic acid did help, but only limited.

People keep mentioning the mirena coil. It's a bit of a marmite thing. Works for some people and not for others and I guess there is only one way to find out which category you fall into.

It didn't work for me and I was relieved to get rid of it after 13 long months of hell. I bled for much of the time it was in. In fact, bleeding got worse if anything and my fibroids grew rather than shrank. An ultrasound scan showed that, and also found more of them. I hadn't particularly wanted a mirena or any other sort of coil in the first place and had held out against for years. This confirmed to me that agreeing to it had been a big mistake.

I'm currently on Zoladex injections for the next few months to try and finally tip me into medical menopause but I am currently finding myself very tearful all the time. I may well push much harder for a hysterectomy at my next gynaecology appointment in July.

I agree with you that all options should be available to all women, with the pros and cons fully explained. It isn't the case though, sadly. I've often thought that I can choose better treatment for my dog than for myself because I could just book her in to be spayed at the vet. Yet I can't book myself in to be spayed when I need to!!

I suppose I should just warn you. I will virtually guarantee that doctors will try to relentlessly flog the mirena coil. It can feel like being boxed into a corner and bombarded. It is still your choice whether to have it or not, so just keep that in mind and go with your gut feelings.

Good luck.

I understand where you're coming from. Years ago I had heavy, painful periods, I'd tried everything and even having two children didn't make any difference.

I wanted a hysterectomy and yes, I did go to the doctor and ask for one. It took time to get it on the NHS, although I could have had one and paid privately....at the time the cost was too much for us to afford.

I was sterilised first (keyhole) and then was able to argue that I wasn't ever going to have any more children in any case; also I had a long medical record of trying every sort of tablet to help with the pain, and also a good relationship with my doctor.

He wasn't impressed with my initial request, but did discuss it with me, he wanted me to be fully aware of the seriousness of the operation and the consequences of a hysterectomy. I'd done plenty of research and could discuss it intelligently, so they realised I was serious.

Eventually, they agreed after much sending to specialists and extra people examining me. I was married at the time so they insisted my husband was present at the discussions, even though it was my body, and he even had to sign to forms too....I felt it was wrong of them to expect that, but I didn't kick up a fuss as I wanted the operation.

I did have a hysterectomy, I can tell you it was the best thing I ever did. I never looked back, never had any dreadful after effects (although it takes a few weeks to fully recover after the operation), it freed me to live life again and even get a job, knowing I wouldn't be in bed for several days a month with dreadful pain/cramps/intense bleeding etc. I never had an early menopause (and I had a full hysterectomy, not a partial one) and have never needed to use HRT.

If you are really serious, do plenty of research, do go and ask, go through all the endless appointments and discussions and more discussions they will put you through....and eventually you will get it.
I was 34 when I asked for mine, so I was very young really, I am now in my 60s and still don't regret it, and I have never had any problems even now I'm older and well past the menopause. Good luck!

Principessa2070

You need a diagnosis first and foremost and you will need to be persistent in order to get answers.

I would in any event request a referral to a gynae and do not take no for an answer. ANY pain that is cyclical in nature and or gets worse up to and including menses should be checked to see if endometriosis is present.

If you do not already do so I would keep a daily pain and symptom diary as this can give the gynae clues. Note everything including appearance of blood (brown/red stringey like clots can be one possible indicator of endometriosis) and note pain on a scale from 1-10.

What you are describing sounds awfully like endometriosis which is a very common and much under diagnosed gynae issue for women. It is the second most common cause of gynaecological problems after fibroids so it is not uncommon at all. Endometriosis, apart from causing heavy and or very painful periods, can also cause heavy bleeding to arise.

It would not surprise me at all if the scan shows nothing (you've already been told there are no fibroids or polyps) and that is because endometriosis is not readily detected on internal ultrasound scans. Its usually diagnosed through a keyhole surgery op called a laparoscopy. I've had tranexamic acid tablets as well for such bleeding and it did nothing at all.

As for a hysterectomy you can ask the gynae for this but there is no guarantee you will receive one (they may offer you a mirena coil first, the GP did this with me and I refused but I already had an endometriosis diagnosis).

If your health issues are caused by endometriosis a hysterectomy does not always bring full relief particularly if endometriosis is also cited on a part of the body like the intestines, bladder or pouch of douglas. If an operation is proposed I would undergo a laparoscopy initially and with a surgeon who has a specialised interest in endo (such people do exist).

Have a look at this website and

www.endometriosis-uk.org/

Apparently, the Mirena coil is unpredictable in whether it will suit. I had one 11 years ago, best thing ever for me. I'd been unable to tolerate the pill (tried several) so had been suffering for years. I'd asked about it but not having kids, they weren't keen but finally got one when I realised it might help my periods. It's been fantastic for me, no periods, moods much calmer and just great all round. The first month was a bit grim (iirc) but since then, all good. If it hadn't worked, they would happily have taken it out. About to get my 3rd, delayed due to C19.

I think the key thing here would be a correct diagnosis.

Trying the coil is fine if it's heavy periods, if it doesn't work that's because like all treatments, it only works for a proportion of people. But if it's actually endometriosis then that needs proper treatment.

I know you may not want to consider it, but I'd also suggest the contraceptive injection. I had a horrendous time on both the pill and the implant but the contraceptive injection worked marvellously. Stopped my periods completely with no other side effects, so I was period free for about 10 years.
Good luck, I hope you get it sorted, whatever happens it shouldn't be a battle to be taken seriously about issues like this.

I think more women would try Mirena if the drs had an attitude of try this and if you hate it we'll remove it for you straightaway. It’s the advice to give it 3 months that worries you because if your flooding for 3 months you’re going to feel terrible.

The implant gave me cystic acne so progesterone and I are not friends anymore.

I had an endemetrial ablation for heavy periods and it was a game changer for me. My periods carried on after it but so much lighter and more manageable, I wanted them to stop completely but no such luck! I had a referral to gynaecology and the consultant pushed mirena but listened when I put my case for the ablation.

To be fair I'm so glad I had it done, it really did change my life.

@Fluffycloudland77

I think more women would try Mirena if the drs had an attitude of try this and if you hate it we'll remove it for you straightaway. It’s the advice to give it 3 months that worries you because if your flooding for 3 months you’re going to feel terrible.

The implant gave me cystic acne so progesterone and I are not friends anymore.

Have to agree there.

The other big problem I found when I had finally (reluctantly) agreed to try the mirena was that doctors were reluctant to remove it when I wanted them to. Apparently I should "give it more time." Indefinitely.

I hated being beholden to someone else like that when I knew it wasn't suiting me. I had to be very assertive in the end. Never again.