Excessive menstrual bleeding - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

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Excessive menstrual bleeding

LucyBoo21 profile image
13 Replies

Hi,

I'm new here after discovering I had a tight stenosis of my LAD artery last month. A big shock at 46. I had a stent inserted on 26/10/21 and am now on aspirin for life and Clopidogrel for 6 months.

My last period was awful - on day 2, I leaked through super plus tampons and a sanitary towel plus my clothes every 25/30 minutes. I also passed clots the size of ping pong balls. This went on for 5 solid hours then stopped. I am also on tranexamic acid which was working great until this heart issue.

Has anyone else had this? Do I have this to look forward to every month? :(

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LucyBoo21
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13 Replies
Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star

Hello LucyBoo21

Welcome to the forum.

Heavy menstrual bleeding is one of those unspoken side effects of clopidogrel.

Have you spoken to your GP or Cardiologist ? You could become anaemic which won't help.

One recommended treatment for heavy periods is to have a mirena Coil. The progesterone released by the coil helps prevent heavy bleeding and some women even stop having periods.

hey.nhs.uk/patient-leaflet/...

Purpletara profile image
Purpletara

Hello LucyBoo21 go to your doctors.My daughter had exactly the same problem as you.

She is on clopidogrel as well because she had a stroke last December.

Doctor put her on some sort of contraceptive pill - sorry I don’t know the name of it and she now has no periods and therefore no problems.

It’s just occurred to me that you may want children- my daughter has 2 sons and doesn’t want anymore so this might not be an option for you.

Hope this helps.

Take care and stay safe.

Heather1957 profile image
Heather1957

An interesting topic. Luckily I started on blood thinners later in life so didn't need to worry about those kind of things.

It must be a real nightmare and I hope you find some kind of coping strategy soon, maybe take the pill?

Blackberrybush profile image
Blackberrybush

This should’ve been addressed by the prescribing doctor. I found the same slapdash attitude when I had similar treatment. Drugs routinely signed off with no thought to the age, gender or medical history of the patient. I had contra indicated medications I was already taking ! Thank goodness I’m switched on.Do something, you can’t go on like that.

I hope you get a follow up, I haven’t for over two years

LucyBoo21 profile image
LucyBoo21 in reply toBlackberrybush

Thank you for your reply, I too discovered I shouldn't be on ompeprazole and clopidogrel at the same time so had to contact my GP to highlight it and was then changed onto lansoprazole. I'm glad I spent a lot of time looking up my new medications too.I'm have a review with my cardiologist in a couple of weeks (6 weeks post angioplasty) but will talk to GP about it next week.

I've become very anxious about any heart related pains etc and wouldn't want to come off any heart meds just because of this, hopefully we can manage the bleeding instead.

LucyBoo21 profile image
LucyBoo21

Thanks for your replies. I have an appointment with my GP next week. I can't take the pill as all types gave me high blood pressure. I will probably reluctantly have to have the coil if this is what will happen every month (it's just a personal preference that I really didn't want one before!)

Rycon profile image
Rycon

Hi I was 49 when I had my stent fitted and then was on blood thinners for a year after my op. Unfortunately for me personally my periods during that time were awful with terrible blood loss and clots so I feel your pain x just be careful as you might end up needing iron tablets from your gp if you continue with the bad blood loss.

PecanSandie profile image
PecanSandie

I have had the same thing happen to me a few times for as I approached menopause - I was in my late forties. I was not on any drugs at the time.

Crochetwoman profile image
Crochetwoman

Hi, I know exactly how you are feeling but I was just slightly older than you when it all happened to me. Please read my post on heavy periods( 3 years ago) . I think if you click on my profile my post should pop up? I continued updating the outcomes as well. Please ask your gp about your transansamic(?) pill.

There is help out there for you. Definitely see a gynaecologist and get gp to point out you’re on Clopidogrel. All the best. X

LucyBoo21 profile image
LucyBoo21 in reply toCrochetwoman

Thank you so much for your reply. I've read your posts and found it very helpful. I'll ask my GP for a referral to a gynaecologist to discuss what's best for me. Thanks again, I'm relieved it's a common thing and I'm not alone.

Diddyd profile image
Diddyd

I had the same problems with Edoxaban. They thought that as it was taken once in 24 hours the peaks and troughs of concentration in the blood was not helping. I was swapped to Apixaban which you take 12 hours apart which means the peaks and troughs are different. This completely solved the problem.

My understanding is that the blood is released very quickly and cannot get out of the cervix at the same speed. It collects/pools at cervix and then forms large clots. The clots can then become too big to pass easily and the cervix has to open like in the early stages of labour to release the clot. The pain I had was just like labour pains and this would continue for 14 days. I was so fed up that I only got 14 day break before it all started again. ☹️

Also I was advised never to take tranxemic acid or any NSAID with blood thinners so rely on paracetamol ( which is generally rubbish for the pain levels!!) and non pharmaceutical pain management. They can thin the blood further and possibly compound the clotting and pain for the same reason a blood thinner on its own does. You could check this with a pharmacist or GP.

The swap of tablet for me means no clots, shortened bleeding time and reduced pain levels. So much improved on that front.

Hope this is not TMI and helps you ask questions of the professionals to get a satisfactory change in your care.

LucyBoo21 profile image
LucyBoo21

HiI had a review with my GP today. He was very understanding and has referred me to a gynaecologist to discuss my options.

He has given me norethisterone to take this week as my period is due when I'm going away and I said how anxious about bleeding so heavy and not being at home.

I've read the leaflet with the tablets and am concerned about taking them with my heart condition. He said they were ok with it so am I just worrying unnecessarily?

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star

Good news to hear that you have been referred to a gynaecologist for a discussion of your options.

I suggest you talk to a pharmacist, they are also very knowledgeable about medications.

Another option contact your Cardiologist and check with them.

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