Anyone coping with very heavy menstrual flow (TMI)?

[Anonymous]

Mirena helped a lot for me-- I used to use one box of tampons and one package of pads with every period, and they were coming every three weeks; now, the same amount of product lasts three or four periods. Though I can't swear there aren't side effect. I sometimes suspect it affects my moods. Also, the bleeding is light, but irregular. I'm never sure when it will start or stop. But it's always so light that there's never a catastrophe.

At your age, I'd be very tempted by the ablation. Another couple years for me to completely give up on the possibility of another child, and I might go the same route.

[Anonymous]

I'd try the ablation first. Hysterectomy is a pretty big deal, and I think the uterus does have something to do with hormone production and regulation, though not nearly to the extent that the ovaries do, obviously. Good luck - and get a second opinion! Nearly passing out from the blood loss is not normal!

[Anonymous]

I'm 42 and I was starting to have this problem with my periods. I tried Seasonique (have my period every 3 months). I like it. If it starts not work...I'll be going for the ablation next. I like not having a period.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to say that I can sympathize. On my heaviest day, I can go thru a S+ tampon in less than an hour. I'm having a heavy day today and bled all over my pajamas this morning as I was rushing to the bathroom. It makes leaving the house almost impossible. I have the paraguard/copper IUD (makes period heavier) but I'm also on Tamoxifen (makes period lighter) and btwn the two, they've made my period shorter but not really any lighter. Sigh!

[Anonymous]

UGH, i'm 34 and would love to have the ablation, however given my age, I think I sholdl hold off. I know this sounds morbid, but if something happened to one of my kids, then I would want to try to get pregnant again. When I hit 40, I'm headed straight for this procedure.

I'm like you OP, birth control does not agree with my body. It kills my sex drive, makes my face break out like a 13yr old, and causes weight gain.

Quite frankly, I think I might have endometriosis, because in addition to my HEAVY periods and big clots the size of egg McMuffins, I have sharp crippling pains that are horrible if I have to poop or have any sort of gas on my cycle. I'm taking pain that takes my breath away. Of course, as usual, doctors are dismissive of my concerns and tell me it is normal. I think I would have to have cancer eat my entire body away before someone would take my concerns seriously.

[Anonymous]

Before I had my ablation I had a polyp removed and a d&c whiched helped for a few years. I was still of child bearing years and the OB wanted to wait on the ablation.

[Anonymous]

Do you have fobroids? That can make your periods heavier. They have to be surgically removed though.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I've had polyps removed and do have a uterine fibroid, which makes matters worse. I've had two D &C's to address this, and after each one I had lighter periods for a month or two but then returned to heavy, cramp, clotty ones. I really envy women who just use a couple of tampons a day and then go about their business as usual. I sympathize with those of you who are suffering as I do. I certainly realize there are more serious medical issues than this one, but this is a constant drain and nuisance. If it weren't for my three wonderful children I don't think being female would be worth it!

[Anonymous]

Let me say LYSTEDA again, awesome!! No surgery required.

[Anonymous]

Lady Cup

[Anonymous]

OP--you're 51. Get an ablation. I had one done almost a year ago, right after my 45th birthday. Best.decision.ever.

My period was so heavy that I was ordering the super duper plus tampons on amazon.com because they didn't sell them in the store. These were bigger than the orange super plus size. I would go through one every hour for days.

I'm just mad that I waited a few years and suffered before doing the ablation.

[Anonymous]

I'd probably look at ablation. But isn't there a way to check hormone levels to see how close you really are to menopause?

[Anonymous]

I use a Diva Cup too. Once you get the hang of it - it is so much better than tampons for heavy flow.

[Anonymous]

I had the ablation done in December and I can't believe i waited as long as I did to have it. FINALLY I am off hormonal b/c (which was completely unnecessary since my husband had a vasectomy several years ago). Periods for the first few months were non-existent, now they're just really really light.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started using a menstural cup because it holds more than tampons. The directions of mine -- the Diva -- say that it can stay in for 12 hours so you only empty and re-insert it twice a day. For me, on my heavy days it fills up in about 6 hours. Still, that is way better than changing tampons every couple hours and constantly being worried about leaks.

I used the Divacup last month and had to take it out every two hours because it was full./overflowing It was awful. I was bleeding all over the place. I went to my dr just last week and she gave me a prescription for Lysteda. I am going to try it and if it doesn't work, ablation here I come.