Help for Painful Periods and Hemoraging

Same thing with me at your age, felt like I would bleed to death. Go see your OB immediately. I was done having children, had 5. They tried to stop the bleeding and pain. They did and I am now a happy camper. I had a vaginal hysterectomy, best thing I ever did.....

ok, been there (actually some months still there). I AM anemic, and can pretty much guarantee you that if you continue, you will be too. Although I was changing every 20 min (super tampon with super pad). I went through hysteoscopy (which is the scope evaluation of the uterus, tubes, etc...not bad procedure at all), uterine scrape and then b.c. pills. Could not take the pills because of side effects and everything came back "normal" or basically they do not know why. I then started taking some potent women's vitamins...OMG! I can't believe the difference. The cramps are not as bad, the bleeding (although still bad) has gotten less and less and hoping for a more normal one soon. I got them at Whole Foods and they have a very high amount of B vitamins with high percentages in Folic Acid, Iron, and Calcium. (The down side is you have to take 6 a day...but hell considering the alternative). The name of the ones I take is SuperNutritian Women's. I have no connection with this company, I just can tell you how they helped me.

Good Luck

I can't say that I have ever suffered from painful periods...but after our third was born I had them insert an IUD (not all insurance cos. cover this), but my periods have become absolutely non-existent. We also have three...but aren't sure if we want another one...so I did not want anything permanent...this seemed to be a great option! I would ask your Doc. Good luck!!!

K.,
I had a lot of trouble similarly but BEFORE having my 2 children (6 pregnancies). Ironically having children has somewhat helped me. I also found that Alesse (birth control) has helped a bit too. Although I have to admit the first 4 months were awful taking it ~ I was constantly sick to my stomache and felt ill until my system got used to it. Now things have stabilized after 6 months. I am hoping to conceive in 6 months from now, so we'll see what happens when I go off of the Alesse.

Often finding the right birth control pill to help manage the pain & bleeding is difficult and can be a long process. I dealt with that from the age of 14 till 22 and was on and off various types of birth control. I did end up severely anemic because my periods were a lot closer together. I would bleed for 3 mo straight before stopping, and then I'd have my period again 2 to 3 weeks later. It was sporadic but the longest I'd get to go without bleeding was usually 2 or 3 weeks.

Keep talking with your OB/GYN and maybe try a few other types of birth control (or try having another baby??) If you are finished having children maybe ask if having your tubes tied would help or worsen the situation?

I hope it gets resolved for you soon. It certainly can be a big hassle.

I would get a second opinion. My cousin has this same problem and the blood loss was so bad last year that it strained her heart to the point that she was hospitalized. To say you have to "just deal with it" is awful. Is it PCOS? There are ways to deal with this. Do you have fibroids? Please see another doctor you should not be in this much pain and suffering.

Hi K.,

I use Mirena IUD, which the first few months can give very heavy periods, but have the benefit of VERY light periods after that. I only had very light bleeding the first couple of months, but it was basically constant during that period. However, now I don't bleed at all and no crampls what so ever.

Good luck!
V.

Hi! K. G . . Have you been checked for Endometriosis . . this causes heavy bleeding
and very painful periods . . I used to have to stay home and take drugs for pain . . I hope
this is not the case . . I was told there was no cure & it was a cronic condition . . the Dr.'s
said the same thing " you just have to deal " . . bull - oni . . . If you
discover you have it . . let me know, I will let you know what worked for me. D. L.

I'm on Yaz, which is a 24-day pill. I find I have less bloating, cramps, bleeding and moodiness since I went on it. Plus, my periods are lighter and shorter. They say the first few months on it, you might have spotting between periods, but that didn't happen with me. It's worth a shot! Hope things get better soon.

Hi K.,
I too had EXTREMELY painful periods, I had endometrosis. I was lucky enough to have two children then a hysterectomy which totally cured me of my pain. For insomnia, ask you doctor for Ambien or some sort of sleep aid. Get pain medication to take when you have the pain, nothing else takes it away. Any questions let me know!
D.

Hi K.,
Wow....sounds like me! I had always had heavy periods but after my 2 children they got even worse. Like you, changing super-plus tampons every hour (sometimes having to wear 2 at a time to get some sleep at night....oh yes, that was comfortable!!). Long story short, I recently had a procedure called Novasure. It removes the lining of the uterus (which is what you shed monthly). It was day surgery under sedation with minimal pain afterwards (some cramping which motrin alone took care of). Anyway, my periods are SO light now it's amazing!! I use 2 slender tampons a day (you know the little pink ones you skip right over when you're buying your case of the orange ones!!). It still lasts about 6 days but it doesn't impact my life like it used to. You may want to talk to your GYN about it.....only catch....you have to be done having children. Good luck! L..

K., I've experienced pretty much the same thing although I had normal periods prior to children. My youngest is ow 4 1/2 and like you, very bad cramps and very heavy flow. You may want to talk to your OBGYN and see if there is something she can do. I know that my Dr. is going to be putting me on a medication that will not only shorten the periods but pretty much make them like they were when I was in my teens. Something to think about.

I don't know if you are done having children for the time being but I had a similar problem with a very heavy flow after the birth of my third (was never an issue before that) and I also was looking for a more permanent birth control solution so my OB inserted a five-year IUD. It only has progesterone and not estrogen (which is what they say causes most of the side effects in birth control pills) but one of the "side effects" is that it significantly reduces blood flow during your period to the point where many women simply don't bleed at all. It's supposed to be a gradual subsiding but I have had the IUD in for three months now and have yet to have any flow at all- at first I kept taking pregnancy tests because I didn't believe it but I have had my other normal PMS symptoms at the same time each month (for me it is 1-2 days of really bad headache/migraine and some bloating- that all still happens). My OB says this is very normal. It is really nice not to have to deal with the constant tampons and worrying about accidents while in public- it's been a huge relief! The IUD is completely temporary- it can be taken out at any time and you can conceive the next month. It had a 99.5% effectiveness rate. There is a 5 year version and a 10 year version- only the 5 year has the progesterone, which is what stops the periods. I did a ton of research into the safety of it- it is actually the way that the IUD functions- it doesn't allow a buildup of the uterine lining, which is what your body sheds during your period. If it isn't there to shed, no bleeding! For me it's been a great solution- I hope you find something that works for you!

J.. 34 year old mostly stay at home mom to 5 year old identical twin boys and an adorable toddler daughter.

i had terrible periods - i mean they were heavy and felt like labor cramps!!!! and then i was diagnosed with a fibroid as well as endometriosis and a cyst on an ovary. if i were you - i would go to a specialist to get a second opinon. get an ultrasound and find out what is going on. no one should live with that pain. i also agree with the other mama who suggested accupuncture - it can really help!!! feel free to ask me any questions about fibroids if indeed it turns out you have one - i can tell you exactly what i did for it.
feel better soon!!
J.

I would skip your PCP and go see your OB/GYN. I know they have treatments for heavy periods and I believe treatments for the pain as well. Good luck.

I agree with Wendie about the endometrial ablasion. I had that and it was the best thing I did. As long as you don't want to have anymore kids, this is a way that you can still have your hormones, but without any of the painful periods. Every month I used to have days that I literally couldn't leave the house because of the heaviness and this was still on the birth control pills, they just weren't working anymore and I hated taking them as my husband had a vasectomy because our family was complete. Please talk to your doctor about the procedure, it's outpatient and I recovered fairly quickly and now I don't have to plan my calendar around my periods. Hope this helps.

K.,

You may want to see your ob/gyn. I had very difficult periods too and found out that I actually had giant fibroids that were causing all kinds of grief. Not saying that you have fibroids, but it might pay off to go and get checked out.

ARe you taking calcium w/magnesium? Citrucel at Wal-Mart is a good choice for this. When your body is depleted of calcium you can have some pretty nasty periods.
Try it, it can only help you!

I would go see your OB, not just the PCP. My good friend had these issues and they found an ovarian cyst through an ultrasound. She is going to get it removed, which should stop her heavy periods. I'm not saying that's your diagnosis, or that you even have a diagnosis, but it's always good to check anyway and rule things out. The good news is that these types of problems are very treatable and common. Good luck!

Hi K.,

Consider yourself lucky that heavy periods did not begin for you until you were 35! I had heavy periods since the age of 16. Am now 38. And using one "SuperPlus" every hour for a week was the norm. for me!!!! I U D ~That is the solution. It has made my cycle nearly disappear. It's been 2 years now. The first 6 months I was still pretty regular & somewhat heavy.... but, now it is barely evident that I have a cycle at all. I tried YEARS of switching from one birth control pill to another to alleviate the pain & NOTHING else worked. I love my IUD! Good luck to you!

~D.

Check out www.naprotechnology.com. This is a website that focuses on fertility awareness and may have some alternative, more natural approaches for you. Since you mentioned that you had a hormone imbalance before you had kids, it could be related to that. If you don't find anything there, google the Pope Paul VI Institute. You don't have to be Catholic. They specialize in fertility issues, and may be able to help you pinpoint the problem and offer a solution. I really believe for the most part that the birth control pills usually end up doing more harm than good, and there are so many more natural options out there for things now. Good luck.

Hey K.
Have you tried Cloth pads or a Diva Cup?
They help reduce flow and painful cramping. I rebelled against the idea, however, 2 years of pain and heavyheavy flow led me to give it a shot. Its working.

Hi K.,
Have you tried acupuncture? I have known several women with extremely painful periods who've tried all the options with western medicine and found that acupuncture really helped change their cycles more permanently. If you're open to it, it might be worth a try. It certainly won't do any harm, and could really help.
Good luck!

I to have very painful periods.Went to Ob and was told I needed to go on birth control (mind you I have had my tubes tied for almost 15 yrs!) I said ok...but it has been a few months and the only thing that is different is the flow which seems lighter but the cramps, backache and headache are still awful...I am waiting a few more months on this new pill and that is it, I will be heading back there to tell him that something else needs to be done.
Forget having a low sex drive I am at a non existing one at this point. I have also had the weight can which I could certainly do without at this point...LOL

If anyone has any other options that we could try I am certainly up for listening to them.

I am a 35 year old married mom, with an 18yr old daughter and a 16 yr old daughter.

I'm sorry to hear of your trouble. I would recommend acupuncture with someone who specializes in women's health. The cost is prohibiting in some folks case, so ask about sliding scale or "free" clinics if needed...
best of luck!

It really sounds like something is out of whack with your body - Have you looked into Reliv products? They are sold by distributors - many of them women - who provide outstanding support, education, case studies, and empirical evidence by connecting you with others who have had great success. You can go to the website (www.reliv.com) and click on nutrition - but the best way to get stories specific to your needs is through a distributor. There are one-on-one calls, nationwide conference calls you can listen in on, and printed materials. The basic nutrition might be enough for you to fix your body from the inside out - you give the body the right fuel, and it knows what to do with it, but there is also a specific women's product which is helpful from menstruation/PMS through menopause & night sweats. I can give you more info, or you can call Reliv and ask for a distributor. Definitely check on this - these products are changing people's lives! It's a product that was developed and THEN sold, rather than someone looking to make a quick buck and figuring out a product to sell. Reliv is a food science, research-based company with 20 years of outstanding experience, high quality ingredients with a top notch scientific team, and 6 patented products of the only 11 patented foods out there! My health has improved tremendously, and I will be on these products for the rest of my life, and will never buy another vitamin, mineral, herb or anything else - I don't need to, because everything is in Reliv in the proper balance and quantity. I'm happy to tell you more and share the success. You do NOT need to feel this awful, and if you can avoid drugs with side effects and limited effectiveness, why not?

talk to your gyn about an endometrium ablasion.. www.novasure.com if you want more info.. I had it done and it changed everything.. I have 3 week cycles, 1-2 days really heavy , now I have one day of panty liner stuff and that's it. some people never get a period ever again (yes, it's permanant) so if you want more kids this isn't for you. Recovery takes time though.. you can't do anything too strenuous for a couple months, but overall, I'd do it again. good luck

Hi K.!
I feel your pain, I also experience painful, heavy, and just about uunbearable periods.I am 37 and stay at home with my 2 girls and with each baby and (miscarrige)my periods have become impossible.I have had several visits with my OB about this and we have agreed to have laproscopic-he seems to think it may be due to some endomitriosis because of the labor like pain.I also want to say that my hormones were also up and down
and that I also went on fertility treatment.Motrin has been the only teatment as of now and never let the four hours go by without taking another dose.Best of luck K.!

I think you should be talking with a ob/gyn MD PCP are fine for your year physical and small problems. Ob/gyn go to school extra and train extra in womens health issues! you have a womans health issue they may have a better solution for you.

You should talk to your ob/gyn because it sounds like your PCP is incapable of managing the problem. Just living with it really isn't a practical option and certainly isn't necessary. Are you done having children or do you want to keep your options open? The answer to that affects your options but you certainly do have more options.

Is there an herbalist in your area that you can talk to? A tea made with red raspberry leaf may do wonders for you. It is a very safe and mild uterine tonic which will help to regulate you as well as lessen the flow.

I ran into the same problem after my third child. I had to cross my legs to sneeze!! and lets just say it did not always work. I opted for a merina iud. The first few months you have spotting (every day, but panty liner quantity; apologize for the details). Then after a few months (4 for me, less for some others I know), your periods get REALLY light. You need a tampon for like one day and that is it. Barely any cramps and eventually the periods are almost nonexistent. You can really wear a liner for them. They put it in in the office, over pretty quickly (5 mins) with a little uncomfortableness for a day or two (body adjusting, crampy). This is a 5 year iud.

Good luck and good ridens to the heavy flow!!

Mom to Joseph (5), Sarah (3) and Timothy (8 mo)

Hi K.,

Have you been checked for polyps or fibroids? I had very painful periods with heavy bleeding until a plum-sized polyp was removed. The dr. couldn't see it on an ultrasound, but it was clearly identified with a Hysterosalpingogram (SP?) - also known as an HSG.

I'm surprised your Dr. would immediately prescribe drugs without doing more tests!

Good luck!

About Me: I am 38 and have a 6 month old *much loved* son.

I have found Dr. John Lee's book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Perimenopause" to be a great help in understanding so many of the hormonal ups and downs that come with being female. He thoroughly explains how all the hormones work. One of the things that he recommends is natural progesterone, but you should really look at his book to see if that would be helpful to you. Another Doctor that is really helpful in this area is Chris Northrup. She has written a book called "The Wisdom of Menopause". I have not personally read this book, but have friends who have. You need an OB/GYN that is familiar with natural hormones and natural hormonal balance. Birth control pills, etc, all are based on synthetic hormones which do not act in the body as natural hormones do. Dr. Lee had a website, I don't know if he still does. You used to be able to locate a physician close to you through his site. I know that natural progesterone can be very helpful for the weight gain issue and especially the sex drive issue. I have found Dr. Lee's book to be very helpful to me. If you do decide to try progesterone, I have found vitaminexpress.com to be a great source. They are far more reasonable than my local health food store. I wish you the best.

L. S.

I have the same problems. I am now on a low dose pill called Aviane and it help s alot. My periods last about 3 days and the flow is prety low, I just use a regular size tampon and its fine. Lowering the dose also helped my sex drive and the stomach problems I had been having.

Hi K.,

I just turned 50 in December, but had the same symptoms as what you're describing. I finally went to a specialist who said I could have an ablation. That is when they cauterize the lining of the uterus (no pain, they put you under). That was June of 2006 and from that day forward, I am pain free and period free! I had four children by age 26, so I had already had my tubes tied. If you are sure you aren't having any more (why would you anyway with three!!), that is the way to go. Ask your doctor about NovaSure. Hope this helps.

LizD

I had the same thing for years. There is a new procedure that is called novasure. But you have to have low Iron. It is the removal of the lining of the uterus. It's a very simple procedure but you can not have children after. If you opt for this then make sure you have your blood tested when at the same time that you have your period. By the amount of blood you seem to be losing you might have anemia during this time of the month

K.,

I have been where you are....it ain't fun. First of all, you do not have to just deal with it! There is help out there.
Forget the PCP, you need to be seen by an Endocrinologist or what they refer to as an RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist) who essentially will be an OB/GYN. Something is going on with you and you need a complete hormone workup. Email me at ____@____.com if you want to chat.

L.

Hi K.,

Oh, I am so sorry to hear about your ordeal! Your symptoms sound somewhat similar to what I used to deal with, but I'm not a doctor so I certainly would not begin to try to diagnose you. There are two MD's that you might be interested in talking to. First, go to your OBGYN. I usually discuss these types of issues with mine in the beginning. If that person can offer no other help, then I would strongly suggest that you try to get in to see a reputable endocrinologist. That is the dr who finally diagnosed me and my problems. That dr specializes in the endocrine functions of the body which include HORMONES!!! My completely uneducated (at least officially) opinion on this is that it really sounds like something hormonal. Be prepared to discuss in depth what your periods were like prior to pregnancy--even as far back as the first one, between each, after your third, on the pill, and ultimately what is going on presently. Hope this helps. You certainly don't want all of this while chasing 3 kids around. :-)

Hi K.-
I can sympathize. I went through the same thing. I'm a little older than you and did become anemic. Anyway, I heard about a procedure called endometrial ablation. If you go to www.novasure.com, you can find out more about it. In my case I was in and out same day, some discomfort for 24 hours after, lingering tiredness for a few days(due to being anemic?),then fine after that. It's been about a year now since having the procedure done and I feel great. Some women are very fortunate - they no longer have periods. It wasn't like that for me but I can live with 4/5 days VERY light flow. Good luck.
M.

My periods were not infrequent, but they weren't regular either. I've always had heavy and painful periods full of clots. I also was to the point where I couldn't walk. I was working with a holistic practitioner who had my hormones tested via a saliva assay (Western medicine disagrees with this approach and uses blood tests instead). She used Sabre Sciences. They designed a custom cream for me. I would retest periodically and they would adjust my cream accordingly. After 4 years, my fertility returned and after this last pregnancy, I no longer have painful clotty periods. However, though my periods have returned, I am still nursing my 15 month old, so I'm not sure how much the nursing hormones are contributing. I suspect the pregnancy hormones got rid of any endo lesions. Another footnote, Western medicine often uses synthetic and oral hormones, whereas holistic practitioners use natural hormones that more closely resemble human ones, and they typically use creams so high doses are not necessary. I used Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo. You can google her by name if you are interested. Good luck.