Menstrual issues TMI trigger @

[booky]

So, I’m 40.5 years old. I’ve had 4 live births and 7 miscarriages. Last one was 3 years ago with ex partner. I was on Depo for 3 years (2015-2018ish) which resulted in massive (80lbs) weight gains I am at no risk of being pregnant due to...well...not being at risk. No new medication.

Yesterday I left work early with extreme cramps in my legs and back. I came home and passed the largest blood clots I have ever seen. I was on day 3 of period which have always been pretty easy. Maybe once a year it has hurt and been an imposition. Yesterday was horrible. No tampon or pad helped me. Everything eased up about midnight but this morning at 9amish a slight cramping started again with the huge blood clots. Large enough to fill the palm of my hand. I would have gone to the hospital but had no one to watch my children (exbh said he was “busy”) and I managed a shower and went back to bed leaving my 17year old daughter in charge.

Now I feel really tired and like I’ve been kicked or punched all over my lower abdomen which is not something I ever experience with a period.

I called the public health 811 line who said to follow up with my GP which I will. All the clinics (I think USA calls them Urgent Care) were full.

Has anyone else experienced this?

[mcsangel2]

I believe we have a couple of ladies here who are doctors or OBGYNs.

[joenali]

Yep! I have adenomyosis which causes incredibly painful periods, heavy periods and large blood clots. It’s awful. I take 100mg of tramadol for pain. Aleve doesn’t touch my pain. I was severely anemic last year and needed two iron infusions and I’m still taking iron supplements to increase my ferritin levels. I was so sick last year I nearly passed out on an airplane and needed to have the paramedics meet me at the gate. That was before I knew I was severely anemic. Right now I’m on lupron depo which has suppressed my periods at least for another couple of weeks. But it has also put me in kind of a pseudo menopause. Which pretty much sucks.

I can commiserate with you 100%

ETA: I get a horrible, horrible stabbing pain in my uterus. It feels literally like I’m being stabbed by 1000 knives.

[booky]

Jan 26, 2020 0:06:00 GMT -5 joenali said:

Yep! I have adenomyosis which causes incredibly painful periods, heavy periods and large blood clots. It’s awful. I take 100mg of tramadol for pain. Aleve doesn’t touch my pain. I was severely anemic last year and needed two iron infusions and I’m still taking iron supplements to increase my ferritin levels. I was so sick last year I nearly passed out on an airplane and needed to have the paramedics meet me at the gate. That was before I knew I was severely anemic. Right now I’m on lupron depo which has suppressed my periods at least for another couple of weeks. But it has also put me in kind of a pseudo menopause. Which pretty much sucks.

I can commiserate with you 100%

ETA: I get a horrible, horrible stabbing pain in my uterus. It feels literally like I’m being stabbed by 1000 knives.

I’m so sorry for the issues you are describing. Has this always been the way for you or did it come on suddenly?

I did the “eye lid” test for anemia and I am almost at pale pink/white. My hair has been falling out rapidly which my Dr. said was attributed to stress despite my multi vitamin.

[joenali]

Jan 26, 2020 0:34:37 GMT -5 booky said:

Jan 26, 2020 0:06:00 GMT -5 joenali said:

Yep! I have adenomyosis which causes incredibly painful periods, heavy periods and large blood clots. It’s awful. I take 100mg of tramadol for pain. Aleve doesn’t touch my pain. I was severely anemic last year and needed two iron infusions and I’m still taking iron supplements to increase my ferritin levels. I was so sick last year I nearly passed out on an airplane and needed to have the paramedics meet me at the gate. That was before I knew I was severely anemic. Right now I’m on lupron depo which has suppressed my periods at least for another couple of weeks. But it has also put me in kind of a pseudo menopause. Which pretty much sucks.

I can commiserate with you 100%

ETA: I get a horrible, horrible stabbing pain in my uterus. It feels literally like I’m being stabbed by 1000 knives.

I’m so sorry for the issues you are describing. Has this always been the way for you or did it come on suddenly?

I did the “eye lid” test for anemia and I am almost at pale pink/white. My hair has been falling out rapidly which my Dr. said was attributed to stress despite my multi vitamin.

It’s become worse over the past 5 or so years.

[keh2oblue]

I’m 42 and just had this convo with my gyn. It’s gotten so bad, I go through so many hygiene products and the back cramps are out of control. 😩 She said that’s normal to start doing this as you get older. She did recommend mire a and mention a possibility of taking s pill during my heaviest days that they use in surgery to lessen the blood. I can’t do hormonal BC, so right now I do nothing but suffer.

[joenali]

Heavy periods, are not normal! When you are doubling up on a pad and ultra tampon that you have to change every hour for several hours is absolutely not normal. You do not have to suffer.

[foundmylazybum]

So I'm going to say these things:
1. OP you need to follow up with a gynecologist asap. It could be any host of issues and any host of solutions to help both the problem and then your quality of life.

2. Generally speaking. Please dont just discount period changes as "normal, due to aging."
If you had regular cycles your whole life, and they change (heavier, breakthrough bleeding, discharge, pain etc) then this is actually called an abnormal menstrual cycle and it's good health practice to get it checked out.

[TheSeaward]

Sounds like adenmyosis to me. I used to have periods just like what you describe

[arielroux]

I had horrible periods for years, but only had what you experienced with the giant clots about twice. Both times I went to the ER. They checked my hormone levels thinking it could have been miscarriage related, but it wasn’t. I tried a million different kinds of both control, nothing helped. Aside from the pain and insanely heavy bleeding, I also spotted for two weeks out of the month. So between the spotting and bleeding, I only had one week per month where I was free of issues.

A couple months ago, I finally opted for an endometrial ablation. It’s only been a short period of time, but so far it’s been amazing. No bleeding (once the post-surgery healing was done), no spotting, no nothing. It’s been life-changing (and I don’t really use that term lightly).

Please talk to your doctor. You do not have to live like this, and I’m so mad that it took so long for me to find a doctor who really wanted to help me. Also, I’ll be 40 in a few months, and my gyn said age was definitely starting to play a factor, but I also had a couple really large fibroids that’s we’re contributing to my situation as well.

[SusanBAnthony]

I feel like this is one of those things that doctors blow off. Be prepared to seriously advocate for yourself, refuse to accept "this is a normal part of aging". Tell them what your pain rating is at its worst. I

[TR]

Jan 26, 2020 10:13:26 GMT -5 keh2oblue said:

I’m 42 and just had this convo with my gyn. It’s gotten so bad, I go through so many hygiene products and the back cramps are out of control. 😩 She said that’s normal to start doing this as you get older. She did recommend mire a and mention a possibility of taking s pill during my heaviest days that they use in surgery to lessen the blood. I can’t do hormonal BC, so right now I do nothing but suffer.

Your doctor is not a good doctor. This is not normal and you deserve to be given real help and solutions.

[wanderingback]

Ugh sorry you’re going through this.
Yes definitely see your regular doctor.
There’s definitely a work up I do for patients with these complaints and then discuss treatment options. Even if the diagnosis is peri-menopause there are still options that can help with your symptoms.
I’m guessing you’re not in the US so not sure how the medical system works where you are, but don’t be afraid to also get a 2nd opinion if needed if you’re able.

[wanderingback]

Jan 26, 2020 10:13:26 GMT -5 keh2oblue said:

I’m 42 and just had this convo with my gyn. It’s gotten so bad, I go through so many hygiene products and the back cramps are out of control. 😩 She said that’s normal to start doing this as you get older. She did recommend mire a and mention a possibility of taking s pill during my heaviest days that they use in surgery to lessen the blood. I can’t do hormonal BC, so right now I do nothing but suffer.

Have you tried the mirena as she recommended?
It doesn’t work for everyone but I’ve seen it be helpful for some patients in your situation.
Definitely get a 2nd opinion if your treatment options aren’t working for you. I hope your symptoms improve!

[cleo29]

Definitely talk to your doctor and don't let them blow you off. What you just described does not sound normal and should be addressed.

[formerlyak]

I was like this. Not as large of clots as you describe, but pretty bad. I bled through tampons and pads doubled up on the first day every month.

I talked with my doc. She did blood work and an ultrasound to make sure there were not issues other than perimenopause (there were not). Al the pills we tried made me sick. They couldn’t get the Mirena in (I had two c-sections due to dilation issues so they was not surprising). I finally opted for an ablation. Best decision of my life. May will be two years and save for a little spotting every few months, I get no period. I had bloodwork with my physical this year and for the first time in my life I am not even borderline anemic.

Definitely talk to your doctor.

[booky]

Thanks everyone for the responses. My GP used to be an OBGYN so I’m in good hands with him when I get in.

It’s only been 3 days like this and I’ve not really left my house since Friday morning. I can’t imagine this happening every month...I honestly feel like I’ve been been hit by a car.

[keh2oblue]

Jan 26, 2020 12:39:18 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Jan 26, 2020 10:13:26 GMT -5 keh2oblue said:

I’m 42 and just had this convo with my gyn. It’s gotten so bad, I go through so many hygiene products and the back cramps are out of control. 😩 She said that’s normal to start doing this as you get older. She did recommend mire a and mention a possibility of taking s pill during my heaviest days that they use in surgery to lessen the blood. I can’t do hormonal BC, so right now I do nothing but suffer.

Have you tried the mirena as she recommended?
It doesn’t work for everyone but I’ve seen it be helpful for some patients in your situation.
Definitely get a 2nd opinion if your treatment options aren’t working for you. I hope your symptoms improve!

I had the mirena before and I had horrible side-effects (which is why I didn't want it again).  Mostly, I think my husband was ready to divorce me, it was like having mood swings for years.  My co-worker did recently have an ablation, so it's definitely on my radar.

[wanderingback]

Jan 26, 2020 16:27:47 GMT -5 keh2oblue said:

Jan 26, 2020 12:39:18 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Have you tried the mirena as she recommended?
It doesn’t work for everyone but I’ve seen it be helpful for some patients in your situation.
Definitely get a 2nd opinion if your treatment options aren’t working for you. I hope your symptoms improve!

I had the mirena before and I had horrible side-effects (which is why I didn't want it again).  Mostly, I think my husband was ready to divorce me, it was like having mood swings for years.  My co-worker did recently have an ablation, so it's definitely on my radar.

Oh no, that really sucks!
Well I hope your doctor gives you some other options so you can get some relief. 

[litskispeciality]

I had a lot of this with a fibroid, which lead to bleeding for 3 weeks at a time with nasty clots. Def see your GYN, see if they can do an ultrasound, although I believe adne whatever doesn't show up on an ultrasound? to see what's going on. Hopefully you can get relief. I started taking iron during that time, and am back on it as I'm starting to get really heavy, cloty periods that are lasting more than 3 days again.

[ouiserboudreaux]

I started having similar issues as approached 40.  After talking to my GYN, he attributed it to fibroids (several, some as large as golfballs) and that the veins were incredibly close to the surface in my uterus.  

As I had no intention of having children, he recommended either hysterectomy or ablation.  I went ablation, that was in 2009? I think? and have been happy every since.  no periods, no more cramps, very few menstrual migraines.  Every 3-6 months I get a little bit of lower back pain and a few times a year I have a small amount of discharge.  I am still on the pill as I still don't want kids and my GYN felt it worked as good hormone therapy as I approach 50.  

[mortomo]

Jan 26, 2020 12:39:18 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Jan 26, 2020 10:13:26 GMT -5 keh2oblue said:

I’m 42 and just had this convo with my gyn. It’s gotten so bad, I go through so many hygiene products and the back cramps are out of control. 😩 She said that’s normal to start doing this as you get older. She did recommend mire a and mention a possibility of taking s pill during my heaviest days that they use in surgery to lessen the blood. I can’t do hormonal BC, so right now I do nothing but suffer.

Have you tried the mirena as she recommended?
It doesn’t work for everyone but I’ve seen it be helpful for some patients in your situation.
Definitely get a 2nd opinion if your treatment options aren’t working for you. I hope your symptoms improve!

I got the Mirena in my late 30's due to really heavy periods and it greatly reduced my periods, both in how heavy they were and how often I got them.  

I'm going through perimenopause right now (have been for the last 6 yrs) and my Dr has been great about helping me get a better handle on it (I'm really struggling with a few things that are normal, but interrupting my day to day life).  If your Dr is just blowing off what you're experiencing as 'that's life' and not taking your quality of life seriously, then it's time to find a new Dr.