Heavy periods

[watervole]

I am completely wiped and I've had enough of it.

For the last five or six years, my periods have been getting heavier and heavier. I've been taking tablets to help, but they're getting less and less effective. It's got to the stage where I'm effectively losing several days from my life each month because I'm so tired.

I'm not even looking at the Redemption draft programme, because I know I'm too tired too look at it intelligently for at least another day or two.

I've decided this has to change. The doctor has recommended an IUD (inter-uterine device) that releases hormones. Although their main use is as contraceptives, apparantly a lot of women my age use them for menorrhagia (heavy periods). I used to have reservations about taking anything hormonal, but anything has to be better than sitting here feeling so tired that I've already spent two hours asleep today. And that's before you take the period pains into account.

I'm seeing the doctor later this month for her to do whatever tests are necessary before fitting one, and then fingers crossed - for the majority of women using this particular device, periods are reduced to a trickle within a few months and many end up with no period at all.

I can hardly wait!

Comments

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

dougs sent me over.

I've had a Mirina for about three years now, and I've had no bleeding on it ever (although I was on Depo before that, which had the same effect). I think it's brilliant and wouldnt' change it for the world.

The only words of warning I would give are these:
1) it's big. It's bigger than a normal IUD. It *hurts* when it's being put in - a friend with two kids thought it did, too; and
2) it puts you at an increased risk (I'm not sure *how* increased, check with a GP?) of ovarian cysts. Which are astonishingly painful and not really treatable unless it's worth operating.

I would still recommend an IUS, though.

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking of Mirena as well, for much the same reason... roll on the menopause, I say. Hope it helps, darling.

[frandowdsofa.livejournal.com]

I had endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome, which is why we don't have children, and about 12 years ago I had my ovaries removed. I carried on having periods for a while, on a hormone tablet regime, but some of the problems started coming back and now I'm on a different HRT and don't have them any more. It's wonderful, I don't have to stop for one week out of four, I don't have to plan holidays to match, or worry about how an event's dates fit in with it all. There are still problems, my temper sometimes flares, and my hair is falling out, but they would have been worse without the Magic Tablets.

A lot of the people I work with are a similar age to me, mid-forties, and there is a definite revolving door of women off having hysterectomies. Which is a bit drastic, but they all seem to have benefitted, especially with the modern replacement drugs.

[kerravonsen]

Oh, my sympathies. I've been lucky that way myself; I just get a bit more volatile and feel just "uncomfortable" in the first few days of my period.

The only thing I can say regarding the IUD is, beware of a one-size-fits-all approach; hormones can be very tricky, and individuals vary greatly. My mother used to work in a practice which specialized in hormone-related things so she saw a lot of variations in this.

But you could be one of the people for which it works swimmingly, so good luck!

[lexin.livejournal.com]

Ouch, that sounds like a complete pain.

Mine are very heavy as well - shorter than they were when I was bigger, but I flood instead. I'm not sure which I prefer!

Sympathies my dear

[quarryquest.livejournal.com]

I've got the polycystic ovary thingy too - periods all over the place (usually aat least a month overdue) and from my workings out I think only ovulated about three times this year ... I get about six weeks PMS on average.

Then when it does turn up its an absolute flood and I'm doubled up in pain and the only thing that works is strong pain killers and a fifteen mile hike.

Wonderful eh?

Re: Sympathies my dear

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Sounds horrible. Would a Mirena IUD or deepo-provera help at all?

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Thanks - that's reassuring. I can survive pain on insertion if it's solves the problem long-term. No periods at all is a wonderful aim.

I don't think the cyst risk is large, I've read the information leaflet right through and it's low down on the list of possible side effects.

Re: Sympathies my dear

[quarryquest.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately I don't seem to be able to get on with anything - the PMS etc is the lesser evil.

When I was a student they gave me primolet (name may be off - progesterone pills anyway) but then they stopped those as they said something about heart problems that might occur later. Pity, they were about the only thing I got on with.

Herbalists seem to do me good though, and reflexologists. Then I move out of London and am solvent again I shall probably treat myself.