Managing OTT heavy periods - advice pls??!!!

[AnyDream]

Thanks ladies for your replies. It settled a bit today but still in the upper reaches of heavy. I was lucky to be able to get in to see my lovely GP who has ordered some blood tests (thyroid apparently is implicated) and also prescribed the medication that BW mentioned. She said it's usually very effective so I'm hoping for some rapid improvement.

I also stocked up on maternity pads - the all-nighters I was using are actually the same as the maternity ones - but a different fabric on the cover - and stood in the shop and read all the tampon packets until I found the one that had the maximum absorbency in grams (carefree flexia super) so I feel appropriately armed now.

[Trillian]

MD, I was prescribed that medication and it didnt' agree with me so I had to stop taking it. Apparently using cloth pads can help with the flow - don't ask me how it works but it apparently does LOL. When I have had uber heavy periods, I just use maternity pads for the duration because tampons are useless. Alternatively you could try using a menstrual cup?

[butterfly_warrior]

Marydean, just want to mention with the dosage of the cyklokapron. First time I was given it I think I was told to take 1 or 2 tablets three times per day. Worked a little, but still had issues... When my FS prescribed he had me on two tablets four times a day. Worked a treat. Just wanted to drop that in there in case you were prescribed a lower dosage and perhaps needed a higher dosage like me.

Was thinking about this thread last night. And thinking back to post-partum bleeding. I lived in fear of post-partum bleeding because everyone told me it would be so much worse than a normal period. Ummm... Not for me. I'm guessing I have pretty bad periods as the only way it was worse is that it went on longer. I've had heavier periods... But that was in the days before cyklokapron and before the pill. So glad to have things under control now.

Oh, when it comes to tampons, I actually find tampax to be better than the flexia - I guess because they are longer so there's more chance for fluid to be absorbed rather than rushing through too quickly. But I don't know whether that's a me thing or something that other women find as well. I've also got things very well under control in terms of heaviness, but it may be something worth trying if you haven't already.

BW

[BellyBelly]

I'd definitely support your body with acupuncture. Also because of the heavy loss, which happened to me after I weaned my son, I struggled (and still do) with iron - my ferritin levels are 7 when they like it to be around 50, and its tough building it up. Get onto some iron supplements too, so you prevent that, being dead tired from seriously low iron sucks

Acu cleared up my cycle very quickly, 1-2 treatments after so many months of heavy loss!

Also see an osteo if you're worried about pelvic floor.

[AnyDream]

Trill, I agree that the clothies might be a good idea, but I'm just not up for the logistics of managing that at work right now.

BW, yep my GP prescribed 2 x 4 times a day. Thanks for mentioning that. I might give the tampax another shot, I see online they have a 'superplus' version. Bleh I hate having to even use tampons, but doubling up is really all I can do right now. Post-partum was nothing on this!!

Kelly, agree acupuncture might be of assistance - the specific issue for me is that the hormones that preceed the FSH/LH production are switched off (probably a result of the surgery I had last year) - so it really is a whole system imbalance.

[AnyDream]

BW, I just wanted to pop back on and say thankyou, thankyou, thankyou! I *cannot* believe how well the medication worked, so well in fact I have cut the dosage back (felt a bit weird on it the first day) and still had a mind-boggling reduction in the flow. I wouldn't have known to see my GP so promptly about it without your post. It has made all the difference to my peace of mind regarding being able to manage the bleeding at work.

[butterfly_warrior]

I am so glad, MD! It really is an amazing drug and I'd be lost with out it! It made a huge difference to my ability to cope with AF at work, too.

Now... if only I could fix the random break through bleeds I have on this current pill, we'd both be set!

BW

[MantaRay]

MD, this is something I'm interested in as due to my family and personal history I think this will be a real problem pretty soon. I believe that apart from drugs and the mirena, the next option is something called uterine ablation (I think), where they basically use a laser to kill the endo-metrial layer (ie the part the you lose when menstruating). I'm not sure that it's permanent but I have heard that it can keep periods non-existent or very light for several months at least. This might be an option if for some reason the medication stops being a good choice for you. And of course the last resort is an hysterectomy.

It is great to hear that the medication is helping already. I hope it continues to be helpful for you.