Period wipeout once a month

[poostinkywink]

Ive always suffered with blergh periods. Not light, a week long migraine, tiredness, cramping and PMT. In my 20s I spoke to the doc about this and was prescribed mefenamic acid which had no effect. I then went on the pill (huzzah!) but after pregnancy didn’t work anymore (constant bleeding). I’m now 45 and still suffering. I dread them when working. Up until recently I was a FE teacher - dragged myself in, spent all day teaching with migraine, pain, feeling light headed and heavy flow. When I got home, good for nothing, I would just go to bed and wake up the next morning feeling like crap to do it all again. I’m looking for new jobs and I honestly can’t work full time now. I just don’t know how Id cope with it again. I’m in peri - 70 odd days since my last, but usually about 20-25 between each one. Hate planning holidays as I never know if it will coincide with my next period and I can’t exercise one week out of 4 - aqua would be like shark attack and that’s even if I could drag myself there. I just write off my period week which really sucks.
It doesn’t feel bad enough to be polyps or endometriosis- I think im just unlucky. It really gets me down though. Am I missing a magic cure?

Awful isn't it ? I'm in peri as well and can recognise most of that. Thankfully no migraines.

Propranolol works lovely for migraines though if you want to eliminate one of those.

You need to see a gynaecologist. I have terrible periods but do better with tranexamic acid (reduced the flow). Or if a coil would work for you it can cut the flow completely. Alternatively possibly ablation could help. Sounds like you're really suffering. Make an appointment privately if you need to, it's not worth the misery.

Yes, it sucks. I feel like one week out of 4 is just wasted. It really gets me down 🙁Thanks for the Propranolol suggestion which I will defo check out.

Go to a private Peri/menopause clinic as soon as you can. HRT may be the answer you're looking for.

I always think it’s just not bad enough to see a doctor again. I’ve heard so many horror stories about the coil that I just know I wouldn’t go through with it. But I think I’m building up to going to see someone again. It is miserable. It’s hit me tonight just how much it rules my life. I was just cancelling all of my exercise classes for next week - I lose one week of my gym membership to this red monster every month. Not just the bleed, but I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus and it will be for a good few days. And I’m in for another few nights of crap sleep.

Thank you. I’m going to search for one tomorrow. I think I have finally had enough. God I’m feeling sorry for myself tonight! 😭

Similar for me and went on propanol and had mirena fitted. Both life changing for me but know they don't suite everyone.
Propanol had sorted my migraines completely, it's been amazing, bit of light head/tiredness adjusting but it's been great.
Mirena has stopped my heavy painful periods, and no periods at all now. Fitting wasn't the nicest experience but was manageable, am aware it's not like that for everyone. Plus I'm likely in peri so it will stay in / get changed and cover me through menopause I think.

I wish I hadn’t have heard the things I have about mirena. I had one friend who was 5 months in after having it fitted and said it was the best thing she ever didn’t, then another who had it recently and said it was awful. I was all geared up after talking to my first friend and then totally spun after hearing the second’s experience. But that’s 2 votes for propanol which wasn’t on my radar and prods to see someone for hormones of some sort ✊

i had mirena twice, the first one was so worth it, stopped my periods completely so i got my life back for 5 years. The next one tried to come out on its own and became embedded. So painful and i was too scared to have another

You do not and actually should not have to put up with all this.

You need to find out what the cause is as well as treat the symptoms. I would urge you to see a gynae asap particularly if you can pay for an initial consultation as a private patient.

I had a fibroid and heavy painful periods as I went into perimenopause which involved 4 hourly cocodamol for pain - ibs - flooding - feeling crap. Mirena sorted it all out - its been great. I know people whove got on well with it - and only one that hasn't.
Fitting wasn't nice but the rest has been great.

I saw a gyne consultant and he recommended a novosure ablation. Had it done was in & Out in a day. Not had a period in 6 years it's heaven. I was previously on period every 3 weeks for 10 days. Now no More anemia & fatigue.

I had horrendous periods from adolescence and went on the pill continuously (without taking breaks except maybe every 4-6 months) to get through university exams, continued like that most of the time until I was trying to conceive in my 30s. I repeatedly went to doctors and was not offered any help.

About two weeks of every month (when not on the pill) I was wiped out, suicidal, a wreck. I was on sickness benefits for "depression" for over ten years. (Again, little help from doctors, just SSRIs.)

Finally when post breastfeeding it all returned I went back, repeatedly, to my GP, I was referred to a gynaecologist and given hrt. I am pissed off that it was only taken seriously once I was half way through perimenopause.

The mirena coil plus Oestrogel has changed my life. I now feel like I did on the few days of the high of my cycle (confident, optimistic, relatively energetic, able to sleep more or less, happy about life) all the time.

Not saying teenagers should be given hrt...but I wish I'd been listened to many years earlier. I think it's got better now that more female doctors exist.

I was terrified of the mirena and have a phobia of things like injections plus vaginismus...but it's been brilliant. I was offered anaesthetic for the insertion, so that went fine. (Took valium too to make myself go.) I had some bloating, but it subsided. Periods stopped altogether!

I know it's different for everyone, but maybe worth a go.

This is what my husband say to me every month. It just always think it’s not bad enough, but I really will see someone now.

Have you tried artichoke extract. It really helped me with periods

If any member of your family was spending a week every month in misery, unable to fully function and enjoy life would you tell them "its not bad enough" to get a referral to the appropriate specialist?

Honestly women have such a number done on us to "accept our lot" and "get on with it because its normal". This is not normal and you need a referral and appropriate medical help.

Some of you have had horrendous experiences. I can see Mirena is featuring mainly positively though. Id never heard of that ablation treatment either. Getting rid of the bleed would be amazing. I miss my period free pill days so much. But it’s the washed out woozy, tired, migraine, crampyness that is the underlying saboteur. I never understood those period adverts with women playing sport on their periods. Regardless of the flow, the idea of doing anything active is just not on the table because I feel so rough each month with it. If they could fix that in itself I’d be very much happier.

You are absolutely right. I’ve already wasted too much of my life like this - scary to think how much. It’s really cost me financially too. I worked PT for a long time and I’d be lying if I said this played no part in that decision.

My experience is not nearly as bad as some of the posters on this thread which are really shocking. And so I have just presumed I’m the worst side of ‘normal’ and should suck it up. I just see women surfing on the tv ads. And I’m thinking I’m failing as a woman cos regardless of flow, I can’t scrape myself off the floor to do anything that week, let alone get myself into a wetsuit.

Although, thinking about it, a wetsuit might actually be a very good solution to some of the problems 🤔

Thank you for this. I am going to check it out. I love artichokes anyway. I grew my first in the garden last year (but couldn’t bring myself to cut it because it looked too pretty 😬).

Hey, I Suffer with the same.

Tranexamic Acid, iron tablets when on, and that def takes the edge off.

I tried the coil but I bled everyday but just spotting they kept saying stick it out which I did for a year but had to get rid of it, I do know everyone's different though so it's worth a try as it's easily removable

OP,
if you can afford go privately to gynae or push for referal to see one. And don't allow doctors to dismiss your suffereing every month.

olso the symptoms might sugest endometriosis.

Thanks so much everyone. Some really great advice here and you have spurred me to start with my GP on Monday so see if I can get a referral. Failing that, I’ll see if I can go private.

I became anaemic so had to do something about it. I had a Mirena and wish I’d done it years ago.

I had a mirena too and it was the best thing ever. My periods were really heavy for about 5 day each month and would last 10 days sometimes. I had to use pads and tampons and change every hour and I became anaemic. First of all they fitted a gynaflex coil which made things worse, but when I had a mirena fitted my periods almost stopped. I just used to have a light show for a couple of days. I’m sure it gave me a better menopause too as I didn’t suffer half as much as my friends. It’s worth a try but if it doesn’t work for you it can easily be removed

Sumatriptan for migraines
I get one most months and was dragging myself to the chemist to get them. Finally begged to get a few months worth on prescription
Might be worth getting the menfamic acid again to try and lessen the flow (ponstan it was called in my day)