GP appt for heavy periods

[RidingMyBike]

I've finally got a GP appointment this week for heavy periods - it's taken over a month to get the appt so I want to make the most of it.

I'm early 40s. Periods getting increasingly heavy- flooding, soaking through clothing, combination of pads and period pants. V painful (just about coping alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen). Fibroids were seen on scans done 7+ years ago. I was basically coping with it whilst working part-time or WFH but I'm now full-time, sometimes working on site and using public transport. In May had an incident when flooded all over my chair during a meeting. Thankfully I was WFH that day but I'm so worried about this happening on site or on the train! I've asked a pharmacist whilst waiting for the GP appt but they just told me to see my GP.

What's GP likely to ask me? Will they suggest a scan or drugs or something else? I don't think I'm menopausal yet - periods extremely regular which they never were before I was pregnant. I used to have massive gaps between them (probable PCOS).

They may suggest tranexamic acid which helps slow blood loss..or mirena.
I had a uterine fibroid embolization after trying these ..amazing!

They'll probably recommend a coil, they do for anything hormonal, although in fairness it might actually help here. Alternatively any hormonal contraception, possibly the pill which you could run together. That's assuming you're not already using one of those. And suggest exercise to help the pain (because that's obviously feasible).

Or you might get a good gp. Good luck.

Blood tests, as you may be deficient in something.

Thank you for replying! It was tranexamic acid I saw on the NHS website and went to ask pharmacist about but they are no longer allowed to provide it, has to be GP. Did it make any difference @Yucca78?

I don't want the coil but would consider the pill (took it for ten years between 21 and 31).

Is a scan referral likely? I've got private healthcare through work but have to go to GP first.

I am a bit annoyed that I don't even know which GP I'm seeing. I'm in a new area, first appt here. I got a txt on Friday telling me I suddenly had an in person appt on Monday. Followed by another txt 3 hours later changing the appt time! But no idea which GP so I can't even look them up to see if they have a special interest in women's health!

I had fibroids & terrible flooding for years.

After a scan revealed the fibroids as the reasons for the increased heaviness & flooding, I was initially prescribed tranexamic acid and Mefanemic acid by the GP. This reduce the bleeding & pain & worked for me for a few years.

when these stopped working & I went back I was advised to have the Mirena coil —which made me bleed every day!

In my experience they try to push the mirena coil on you which like @Isgooglebroken made me bleed every day. If fibroids are the problem they need removing - either by embolisation or surgical removal (I went the whole hog and had a hysterectomy). Tranexamic acid did nothing for me. The only thing that worked was norethisterone but it pushed my blood pressure sky high and made me pack on the pounds hence I ended up going the surgical route.

A scan is really what you need and in your position I’d push for this so they can ascertain the cause of the flooding. Once you have that you will be able to make informed choices. You have my sympathy though. Flooding sucks and seems to always happen at the least opportune moments (in my case on a skiing holiday at the furthest point from the chalet we could possibly be. A wonderful woman in the loo gave me her tena pad to get me home. Not all superheroes wear capes).

It didn't work for me but it does for some women. I think your gp will want to try the least invasive options first.

When this happened to me I was prescribed Tranexamic acid and referred for a scan. The scan showed nothing and the Tranexamic acid really works for me so I've kept it at that. I reckon the alternative would be the coil but I am not ready for that.

The Mirena coil changed my life. I went from having to set an alarm at night to change my sanitary protection to no periods at all. However, I don't have fibroids.

If you have private I'd deffo just get a referral to a gynaecologist. I also had an embolisation and it's been great.

I'm taking Tranexamic acid for heavy periods and found it to be really helpful.

Ok thank you everyone! This is really useful!

My Mum had a hysterectomy at the same age I am now for heavy periods but I wasn't sure if they even did that now (hers would have been in 1980s).

I had the same and got very ill because my GP thought it was funny I was flooding at work. I tried Tranexamic Acid and it did nothing for me at all. My cause was fibroids and like you I didn't want the Mirena coil, but it stopped my periods for ages and then I had very light bleeding for 3 days a month. As soon as the coil wore off, I was back to flooding so I replaced immediately.

You need up to date internal ultrasound scans along with a referral to a gynaecologist. However, wait lists for gynaecology are currently very long in many areas so if you have the means I would see a gynae as a private patient for an initial consultation.

I found that tranexamic acid tablets did not do anything for me either. Mirena is often offered because its also cheap and although it certainly helps many it is not suitable for all women to have.

Thanks everyone! I've also never had a job with private healthcare before so had no idea what I could and couldn't access, just that it's via GP initially!

Had same problem. My GP suggested a coil. It had to be taken out when I bled for 4 months straight. Then I had just to ride it: moon cup, 2x Always super towels on top of each other and not sitting anywhere, as was afraid to soak the seats. My periods were like clockwork also and I was in my mid-forties. I've just turned 50, and for the last few (not very regular) periods it's been no floods, thank goodness! I have suffered for over 5 years I would say.
Keep an eye on your iron, as it's very easy to go down when you are losing great amounts of blood every month.

I had this problem. Transaxemic acid did nothing. Nhs were insisting on doing more tests and scans which would have taken months, I knew there was nothing seriously wrong as Id had multiple ivfs. Paid privately to have the Mirena which took a few months to settle down (in those months I just had a bit of brownish discharge - no flooding - and skin was a bit spotty) but since then haven't had a single period, it is bliss. I'm 46 now and on my second Mirena.

Got prescription for tranexamic acid, blood test form and scan referral. GP was really helpful and talked me through the various possible causes and treatment options. It's all NHS so far. I mentioned I had private healthcare but she said the blood tests and scan would be just as quick via NHS.

You need a gynae referral too. May I ask what hormone levels they are going to test?. I ask only as my progesterone and estrogen levels were tested and pronounced "normal"; I further went onto learn they were still anything but (my progesterone levels have never been normal anyway). My GP practice then said there was nothing else they could do and that there were no appointments available for another three weeks!. I then phoned the local private hospital because I was that desperate to be seen, to be listened to and not fobbed off.

Constant rises and falls of these two particular hormones from peri menopause led to my constant heavy bleeding which made me feel very low both physically and mentally over time. The only measure that stopped the bleeding in my case was endometrial ablation surgery.

This article was recently released by the RCOG www.rcog.org.uk/news/more-than-half-a-million-women-face-prolonged-waits-for-gynaecology-care/ and it makes for sobering reading.