What can I do to get this period to stop?

[mumwithallthebooks]

I went into hospital on 10th Nov for a serious flare up of another issue and came on my period a couple of days later by 12th. Whilst I was in hospital, a CT scan for the separate issue happened to show that my lining had got really thick. This was not too much of a surprise to me. I have PCOS. By Saturday 16th I was home and discharged for the other issue but started bleeding really heavily, passing thick and MASSIVE clots one after the other and - sorry for the image - it was like a freeflowing river of blood. I rung 111 but couldn't bear the thought of going back into hospitla so saw the doctor a couple of days later on Mon 18th and was prescribed Tranexamic Acid. To be fair, it put a halt to the massive clots but I was still needing both a tampon and a pad and having to change both every 20-30m. Here we are over a week later and still bleeding almost as heavily. I still need a tampon and a pad and have to change every 45m- hourly on average. The GP's given me Norethisterone. It's slowed the bleeding slightly but only slightly. I have a lot of what I assume are cramps in my bum and vagina. They're pretty painful today. I'm feeling pretty whacked but am taking iron supplements. Until I have a scan they don't want me to to take any contraception. But how can I get the bleeding to stop? I have a pretty busy life and it's really hard to manage needing to change so often around everything else.
Sorry as I know a lot of women have this every month and I don't mean to moan but I haven't had it for a few years and I'm just remembering how debilitating it is!

I don’t have answers, but I didn’t want to read and run. My mum had a similar thing when she was about 37 and she ended up having an emergency hysterectomy (just uterus, not cervix or ovaries). Fortunately she was finished having children, so that wasn’t an issue.

I assume from our username you already have at least one child. Are you planning on more? Is a hysterectomy an option for you?

I don't have PCOS, but had very heavy periods towards the end of perimenopause. I was wearing a night time pad and still bleeding through within an hour. (I know because I was working in a school with 50 minutes lessons and was just making it to the loo - opposite my room, luckily.) The HRT eventually helped, but it took a few months.

A colleague had similar and was eventually given an ablation. I don't know whether that would be deemed suitable for you.

Now in my 60s. Was recently seen for thickening of the lining of the womb. I only had spotting, however. Apparently, if there's atypia, they'll offer a hysterectomy. In my case, there was no atypia, so they've given me a Mirena Coil.

Try mirena coil

Thanks guys for the suggestions. Once I have the scan results, I'll request a gynaecology appt and try to get some answers.

I have had such heaviness of bleeding and the cause was the continuous rise and falls of progesterone and estrogen from perimenopause. PCOS was a cause of the progesterone issue while endometriosis was being fed by estrogen. Scans and such like do not detect endometriosis if present and this may well be the root cause if the pain and heavy bleeding.

you will need to be persistent in order to get answers.

If the lining is thick then you really should have a biopsy to make sure it's not pre-cancerous. A Mirena coil will help but you may well spot with it as it will take time to resolve the lining

I’m so sorry, that sounds quite outside the norm tbh. Have you been checked for fibroids?

I had similar due to fibroids and a mirena actually made it worse!! Ibuprofen can apparently help but i never found it had much effect.

Unfortunately I'm allergic to ibuprofen so can't take that but been prescribed Tramadol today for the pain. I was keen to have the coil inserted but have been warned it may come out with the very large clots I pass. Really I have to just wait now for the scan and to find out what's going on I guess.

If you are bleeding through a pad and a tampon every half hour you need to go to A and E.

How old are you? If over 45 I'd be pushing pretty hard for a hysterectomy. That is an insane inconvenience for someone trying to live a normal life.

No, I'm under 45. I've had my children so a hysterectomy might not be a bad idea! Despite being on Norethisterone, I passed more giant clots today.

I’m having the same issue and also have PCOS. I’m 53 and also have small fibroids and recently diagnosed with adenomyosis.
I’m due at the consultant next week for further discussion but in the meantime my GP prescribed 10 days worth of Provera (progesterone) as I needed to go on a two day duty trip with work and couldn’t leave the house.
I’m on day 4 of the tablets and it’s stopped it almost stone dead. Not sure what will happen on day 11 though but it’s some respite from the constant flooding. Also suspect I’m anemic - breathless when climbing upstairs, cold hands and toes and I have a massive craving/pica for ice and ice lollies, so have requested a blood test.

Bloody hell - I’m 52 not 53! Stupid perimenopause…

That's a drug I've not heard of but glad it's helping! The constant flooding is so debilitating and annoying

I had Provera a few years ago due to constant on and off bleeding that went on forever for no apparent reason. My GP at the time advised me that it would help to ‘kick start’ my normal cycle and get it back into a rhythm and it definitely worked for me. So may be worth getting a GP consultation to discuss this as an option.

I’ve had terribly painful and heavy periods since having my LB in 2023, which resulted in me ending up in A&E 3 months after he was born as I just couldn’t move without it pouring out (sorry for TMI). I was prescribed Tranexamic Acid then and now take it each month for the first 3 days of my periods, and it works brilliantly for me. The periods are now back manageable again, and by day 4, I’m just spotting for days 4 and 5. I take mine 3 x a day - I’m not sure if yours is the same?

I had a gynaecologist appointment and scans and they couldn’t see anything wrong at all, so just been left with the medication and no further explanation as to why this has occurred, although admittedly, I don’t have PCOS. This was my 4th baby so not sure if that’s connected, but I've been discharged by gynaecology 🤷🏼‍♀️

Hope you get sorted OP… I definitely recommend a GP appointment and A&E if it continues. Sending hugs x

It's been 2.5 weeks and still bleeding. The norethisterone has slowed the bleeding down but not stopped it and there are still big clots. Most concerning is the pain level. The GP prescribed me Tramadol which is helping. I just want to get on with life. grr

So sorry to hear that. Ask for progesterone on an e-consult. They can only say no, but it stopped mine the same day last week. No idea what will happen when I finish the 10 days but this week I’ve actually been able to leave the house.
Also keep an eye on your diet - I’m just setting off for blood tests to check my iron levels as I’m so tired and breathless. If you feel similar then mention that.