HELP I have been bleeding heavily now on and of for 3 months i swing between taking Tranexamic Acid and Norethisterone awaiting scan results

[bonjovi-chick]

My GP doesn't seem to be interested, its part of the natural process for women around my age. Don't think so iv'e never been this bad that i can't go into work, maybe i should ask to be referred to a specialist

[Impatient]

Have you tried birth control pills back to back or mirena coil to try and stop actually having periods to begin with?

Norethisterone can be taken continuously to delay the period happening.

Same as several other birth control drugs.

Transexamic is only taken for 3-4 days to try and clot the wounds once you are on a period so shouldn't be taken right away till most of the womb lining has had a chance to shed off, then take them around day 5 or 6 of a period to try and heal up the open wounds from continuing to bleed. It doesn't always work, and you must stop taking them after a few days till you have had a decent break from them.

What checks have you had on what's causing the bleeds?

Have you been scanned for fibroids or endometriomas?

Remember to keep up with your intake of foods with iron as you can quickly become anaemic if you are bleeding heavy over a long time. Iron tablet supplements can help too.

But most important is to try and get your GP to refer you to the local hosp to hve some checks carried out. It is NOT natural to have heavy prolonged bleeding at any age. Something will be causing it and something can be done about it.

whether that's having a D&C to clean out the uterus, or removing fibroids or endometriomas or endometriosis or taking hormones to stop the monthly bleeds

or having the lining of the uterus cooked by microwaves (if you have finished trying for a pregnancy) or even a hysterectomy.

Personally I had surgery on endo and endometriomas and an ovary removed and had GnRH zoladex for 4 months (which I certainly do not recommend) and also have had a mirena installed.

The mirena was the best thing I tried as it stopped my periods while it was working and was fabulous for me. I'd spent many years on tranexamic acid and norethisterone before the surgery.

so having the mirena in and not having to worry about taking tablets, not having periods and not having to carry round all the supplies and pain killers i used to have to have with me for heavy painful periods was liberating.

You definitely need to be assertive and pushy and get your GP to refer you to the hosp. Ask your GP to get you a CA125 blood test done too, if you have not been diagnosed with endo. it's cheap blood test and you can get it done privately too, but a rised result will indicate the likelyhood of you having endometriosis and should get you refered to see a gynaecologist too. Your GP can also request an ultrasound on your female plumbing to check for obvious signs of what may be causing the bleeds.

Best of Luck with the NHS. Waiting lists can be long so don't hang around suffering and staying off work when you don't have to be staying off. If you feel your GP is not sympthetic then book to see a colleague GP or move to a different practise.