Periods have become horrific

[secondtimelucky87]

Hi, I can't pinpoint exactly when it started but I'd say for at least 3 months my periods have become absolutely horrendous. In desperation last month I just bought some tranexemic acid as I have a very physical job and it's been debilitating. I'm in absolute agony from a week before I'm due. I'm flooding a whole pad within minutes of putting one on. Passing lots of clots. Cycles are all over the place too. Last month was 31 days. This month only 24. I've been for another pelvic scan today and now waiting for results but suffice it to say, I'm pretty concerned about what the hell is going on with me. I'm 38 so I guess this could be normal hormonal changes but it feels a bit young for peri? I checked all my hormones again last month (results normal) but it was on cycle day 1 and I seem to recall it's meant to be say 2-5 so not sure if I need to repeat. Has anyone experienced this at a similar age and what did it turn out to be? I know that no one but a medical professional can confirm but while I await those scan results would love to hear others' experiences! I do think that if I'm fobbed off by the GP I'd go and see a gynaecologist privately as this just doesn't feel right. Thank you.

I am 43 now but have been having similar symptoms (and more) since late thirties. Sometimes the pain was so excruciating I couldn’t get out of my car in the morning and had to drive home. The bleeding - I remember being on a car park and literally bleeding onto the floor and people being startled. Most my periods since late thirties have been that way but that was a memory that stood out. Have also been hospitalised with palpitations (which is peri related I believe). Awful breast pain. That happens most months. Awful pain generally. Obviously get it checked out but I do think for of us peri menopause is really severe. Sending hugs and wishing you all the best xx

Definitely see what the scan says. Was it both pelvic and transvaginal? It is likely something like fibroids.

Go to your GP and ask them to prescribe tranexamic acid (they can give you more and at a higher dose). Make sure you take it consistently 2 every 12 hours normally, for days as it takes a few days to work. If that doesn't work after a while, try northisterone as that can also work.

Also ask the GP for a higher mefenamic acid and/or naproxen for the pain (NSAIDs, which help a lot as they are anti-inflammatories and give pain relief).

Try using a pad and period pants, you can get some from M&S, Tesco I think etc. Also incontinence pads are often thicker in my experience so use those. Take pictures of the clots as well when you can to show gyne? When you get the results give us an update, and see your GP depending on what they say? There are some different treatments for fibroids if you have them, I'd be happy to say more on.

Also look into the mirena coil or the pill, sometimes the mini-pill is better. It uses progesterone to thin your uterus lining so there's less bleeding, cramps, pain as well. The mirena often works better as it is localised. Insertion can be made way easier with the right tools. Paracetamol, ibuprofen 1h before, licodaine injection, numbing gel etc. I'd bring it up to your GP if you'd be willing, but you may want to wait to have fibroids removed (if you have them).

Oh my goodness you poor thing. That sounds horrific! I remember being in a restaurant once and standing up from the loo to change my pad but just gushing all over my trousers as I wasn't quick enough. 😢 It's so awful isn't it. If it is peri I dread to think what else is in store soon! I hope you are as ok as you can be. Sending you lots of solidarity! Xx

My periods became like this in my late 30s/early 40s and then 6 months ago, I started a period that simply hasn't stopped. Flooding, clots, not able to teach an entire hour without soaking through my clothes. Nothing is working to stop it.

I have multiple large fibroids.

Thanks so much for sharing such detailed advice. Really appreciate your time! Yes it was internal as well. I've had lots of them this last year as sadly have had two failed rounds of fertility treatment to try for a second. (Pretty much given up now but really grieving). None of the scans have ever shown anything but yes, absolutely possible I could have developed something like fibroids more recently. Even if my scan is normal I think I'd still push for a referral. The tranexemic acid has been a god-send, even if the relief can be short-lived. I'm a teacher and have been lucky to be at home this week for half term as being like this while teaching has been horrific. There have been days I thought I'd stopped bleeding and then started again mid-lesson. Just grim. Yes, big fan of the period knickers. I need to invest in some more as they're a good option for when at home particularly. I'm not sure how I feel about the coil yet to be honest but will certainly discuss with GP what all my options are once I have those scan results. Thanks so much again.

I'm so sorry about your fertility treatment, it can be such a ohyscially and mentally hard process. On the bleeding, I too have had lots of experience with flooding, leaking etc, and it is so horrible.

I would push for the tranexamic acid if that does not work norethisterone can help as well, but still try the TXA first, be consistent with taking it and see if it helps whilst you wait for further scans, investigations etc. Push for the scan as well, depending on those results then you can plan a route of care and see about seeing gyne as well, because it is not sustainable to live like this. Especially as a teacher, make sure you get accomodations if you need them at school as well.

Anaemia can make bleeding worse….have you had your iron levels checked? I started with peri at 38.

I had exactly the same at that age, GP told me perimenopause and prescribed the mini pill, which has been brilliant. I’ve just come off it at 54 and think my periods have now stopped.

Goodness I'm so sorry. I completely empathise as I'm a teacher too. Constant paranoia about flooding when at work and utterly wiped out. Are you going to have the fibroids removed?

I have, yes. Due to several (sadly failed) rounds of fertility treatment to try for a second child, I've been on a very good supplement regime and had many blood tests. Not anaemic. I don't eat meat but plenty of fish, seafood, eggs, pulses, tofu etc. Also on daily liquid iron. Sorry you experienced the same at this age. I'm a bit devastated it's so early to be honest.

Thank you for sharing. How did they confirm that though? Was it confirmed by blood tests too? I guess some of us just start much earlier 😢

@secondtimelucky87 I saw 4 different GP's over the course of a year. I was about 38 so thought it was far too early for anything menopause-y. I had blood tests and an internal scan which showed a small ovarian cyst which was gone when they did a second scan. It was never any cause for concern.

The last GP I saw asked me why I was so worried about the irregular periods and flooding (sometimes I had 4 night time pads in, it was so heavy). I had lost both parents to cancer in their early 60's so had convinced myself that it was cancer or something serious. She assured me that my symptoms were typical of peri-menopause and to try the mini pill first to regulate them (the pill did exactly that and it eventually stopped my periods). If that hadn't worked, she said that some acid would then be tried.

I am 54 now and the mini pill has glided me beautifully over the whole menopause process. No symptoms at all.

I was surprised to have experienced these symptoms so young because my mum was apparently in her mid-50's but strangely 2 cousins on my father's side have had the same symptoms as me. My periods were absolutely all over the place in the end.

I hope this helps and good luck.

EDIT: as I didn't actually answer your question! The last GP I said could see that the blood tests and scan were all normal and that my symptoms were absolutely typical of peri-menopause. She assured me there were no 'red flags' whatsoever.

I have saw anaemia mentioned. I am too and take an iron supplement every day.

I am stuck on the NHS treadmill. They originally told me it would take a year even to see a gynaecologist but I haemorrhaged and ended up in A&E so they expedited it and I was seen a couple of weeks ago. I need a hysterectomy due to the location, size and number of the fibroids but they won't agree it until I've had biopsy results and an MRI (minimum 6 months wait).

Meanwhile, I am really not coping. Teaching is a nightmare to cope with whilst flooding. You have my every sympathy.

So I just got my ultrasound report and it indicates possible adenomyosis (a new development for me but explains these symptoms). I've been referred to gynaecology but think I'm better off going private or I'll be waiting forever. In the meantime I've asked for a prescription of tranexemic acid.

Another minimum six months wait will have you on your knees show of hands. It also sounds like they’re putting a further delay up re you needing a MRI scan and biopsy results beforehand. Have you contacted PALS re this?.

Is there any opportunity at all for you to go private if you get a referral letter from your GP?. If finances permit I’d be looking at this option.

I recommend still going through the NHS as you'll likely need long-term treatment so don't completely reject it, still allow the referral to go through even if you do get some sort of private opinion. As your NHS GP will still manage the majority of it, prescriptions etc.

Adenomyosis where the lining of the womb grows into the muscle of the uterus, but localised to the uterus only. Thus, symptoms are mainly a before a period and during your period.

There are two types of adenomyosis: focal which is more like a few small/medium blobs across the uterine muscles in different places, so there is normal tissue but then blobs (more bigger so small-medium) across t
and in-between the normal tissue, in the uterine muscle wall. Then there's diffuse, which is a very small sort of dots and spots of the adenomyosis (uterine lining in the uterine muscular wall) but across the majority of the muscle wall.

Main symptoms:
• Irregular or heavy periods
• Pelvic pain
• Pelvic pain on passing urine (dysuria) and bladder symptoms sometimes
• Referred pain to the tops of the legs or back

Treatment can be a ranbe of (opioids - often only temporarily, NSAIDs) and contraception and hormonal treatments (gonadotrophin releasing hormones).

Also ask your GP to prescribe you NSAIDs (reduce pain and inflammation) such mefenamic acid and naproxen. You need to start taking NSAIDs 2-4 days before your period starts so that it can work at best capacity.

The link below has much more detailed and useful information.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/adenomyosis/

Had the same and have adenomyosis and severe endo (with chocolate cysts, bowel adhesions). Used to get floods through my clothes etc then it lessened and started getting severe pain, worse than childbirth. one month i fainted and pain was so bad in right lower quadrant i thought my appendix had burst. labs showed my tumor markers extremely high so got mri scan/cancer mdt but turns out adeno and endo. in chemical menopause until surgery and thank fuck no more cycles

oops sorry to create a zombie