Finding it hard to carry on...

[healthkick1973]

Feel like I haven’t posted for ages but going through a really tough time in my personal life which lead to me inadvertently neglecting my health. I’m not sure when I last had my depo injection but I’ve been bleeding now for 29 days (full heavy flow all the way through).

The pain, bleeding through pads, fatigue, pale/anaemic, migraines & depression are in full swing and my gynae wants to put me on menopause inducing injections - unsure of the name (which I’ve heard are terrible for sweats, anxiety, depression: all things I already suffer with). Also taking gabapentin and amitriptyline which aren’t helping the pain 😓

Just finding it impossible to see a positive solution to this and struggling to carry on.

[Missy100]

I have declined the menopause inducing injections after going away and thinking and contemplating and discussing them with my GP. Because I already suffer with my mental health (depression, anxiety and OCD), which is a hard uphill battle, we are both in agreement that the possible benefits are outweighed by the risks to my mental health.

I take tranexamic acid, mefenamic acid and tramadol in relation to my bleeding and pain symptoms (as well as having a close relationship with microwave heat bags). I am waiting for my next appointment to arrive to discuss gynaecology okaying the depo needle to try and alleviate some symptoms as I was on it as a form of birth control when I was much younger and it stopped my periods and helped me enormously with symptoms in the PMS stages. However, many people have had bad experiences with it and my symptoms have changed a great deal in the last few years (increasing dramatically) so I am unsure of what degree of help it may provide, if any.

When I first started the tranexamic acid my first period after was horrendous. I felt it was not helping at all and my symptoms in respect of bleeding was just getting worse. To the point my GP wrote to gynaecology asking if surgery might be a better solution. I was bleeding in between (rare days not to bleed, even rarer not to spot) and I was at the point of using bath towels instead of pads and tampons as I was bleeding so heavily and passing such large and numerous clots. Then by the time my next period came around I saw a marked difference and after it, I did not bleed at all in between. That is not to say my symptoms went away - but the reduction in bleeding is certainly a big relief.

Anyhow, long story short, I completely understand your hesitancy about menopause enducing medications and I recommend talking to your doctor about adjusting your pain relief and the possibility of tranexamic acid, or something else, helping your bleeding in both frequency and flow.

I wish you luck and relief. Some days it is so hard to see the positive in the negative but I want you to know that you are not alone. I care, I believe you, and I believe that you will find a solution that will help make it all a bit more bearable. Don't give up.

[healthkick1973 in reply to Missy100]

Hey Missy x

After a long conversation with my specialist we’ve decided to go ahead with the Prostap (menopause) injections.

I like you suffer immensely with depression, anxiety & PTSD; but unfortunately for me the severity of the endo means that without these injections surgery would be a massively straining time on my physical health (long hospital stays, stoma, catheter, etc.)

Only a week in I feel completely drained. If I’m not crying, I’m about to, and if not that I’m sooo angry. These waves of emotions are making me cranky and snappy, causing all the progress that I had been making with my mental health to crumble from beneath me. I just feel like it’s one or the other now.

My physical health or my mental health; choose.

Hoping these feelings elevate over time as HRT kicks in but honestly very doubtful of any sort of consistency with my mental health.

So sorry to hear about your struggles, hope your symptoms get better and I would consider surgery if I were you darling xx

[healthkick1973 in reply to healthkick1973]

I was on depo-provera for 3 years and it only helps for so long. They took away my periods which was beneficial but it only caused further internal damage. I then had a laparoscopy which actually relieved me of pain for about 6 months - not entirely, but from what I was experiencing it was a definite relief! In terms of medication I was on codeine and tramadol which had more of a sedating affect than actual pain relief. I’ve now been switched to gabapentin X amitriptyline, a more neurotic pain relief which have made improvements I must say. I’d discuss options with your specialist my love as there are definitely different courses of treatment out there xxx