Relentless heavy bleeding and options

[NC500]

Would love some opinion on this as i am feeling totally miserable about my ongoing symptoms!

Have had regular periods (28-35 day cycles) lasting 5-6 days since teenager.

Had 18 months on microgynon, Then 3 years on Cerazette

Stopped pill in October 2015. Regular periods started straight away (I'm 33 now and Ttc)

Since December 16: irregular length cycles (varying from 33-49 days) with bleeding lasting up to 2.5-3 weeks. I only get cramps occasionally which are relieved by doing a No2 randomly.

Since March the bleeding has sometimes been heavily clotted, and a number of times there’s been a feeling of urgency to go to the loo when I’m passing lots of clots.

Doctor did full blood count in March – all fine. Vaginal swabs – bacterial infection diagnosed and prescribed antibiotics

As bleeding still ongoing in May – prescribed tranexamic acid and referred for an urgent ultrasound – no visible sign of cysts, polyps, fibroids. Dr then offered to refer me to Gynaecology for a hysteroscopy,

July - Saw a gynaecologist who was quite dismissive and said I have pcos and being overweight could be a cause , so I don't need a hysterscope, so now I'm back with the GP who is going to still push for the hysterscope. This current round of bleeding/heavy clotting is currently at 3 weeks *sigh*. Doctor has done a smear (1 year early as not due to 2018 and I'm waiting for results). Second load of swabs done indicated I *may* have bacterial infection again so took another load of antibiotics

In the meantime I am managing as best I can with the TA to reduce the bleeding but you can only take it for 4 days at a time (risk of blood clots if you take it for longer), so I am having to have 3 day breaks before going back on the TA, and I feel almost confined to being at home with the sudden bleeding that comes back within 12 hours of my last dose.

Doctor suggested options that I will think about and go back in a couple of weeks.

1/ manage symptoms with TA (but I have read on NHS site that i shouldn't take this for more than 3 months?)

2/return to cerazette... but will this definitely stop the bleeding? i think this is my preferred option as i'm a keen swimmer and this will help me to lose some weight/retain good mental health.

3/ Mirena coil (heard horror stories about moods, pain etc) or ablation - not keen on this as we would like a family.

4/ refer to the fertility clinic - but what can they do if I am overweight? (BMI very high so IVF out of question until i've lost a ton of weight. (which i am trying to do, i have lost 4kg in about 2.5 weeks - I know that this will slow up eventually)

Questions:

Could I have still have fibroids even if they weren't detected by ultrasound?

Has anyone been diagnosed with pelvic inflammation disease? some similar symptoms to what I've had, plus some links to repeat instances of vaginal bacteria infection.

Does anyone have experience of any herbal solutions which reduce heavy bleeding/clotting - I have been told about red raspberry leaf tea?

[coaching]

Hi there,

I have had heavy bleeding as you described lasted for up to 3 wks and it wasn't my normal period, had to have blood transfusions daily as my haemoglobin was at 4. bled with massive clots the size of a fist. First time it happened i was in my early 20s went to see a gynaecologist and they found nothing wrong my me and the bleeding eventually stopped. the second time i was in my 30s went to see a gynaecologist and she did an internal examination, smear test etc. she thought it was endometriosis, she put me on cerazette anyway although when i researched i did have any symptoms apart from the heavy bleeding. the bleeding stopped and stayed on cerazette for a year or so. I have never been diagnosed with anything. the bleeding just made me very weak, thus the blood Do research on endometriosis and see. have you had an internal examination?

Hope that helps

[NC500 in reply to coaching]

Thanks for taking the time to reply coaching !

I haven't had a hysterscope - only the GP has seen as far as my cervix, (and got my smear results back yesterday which were normal :-)) so i'm going to push for this procedure.

Even yesterday when I have been on the tranexamic acid i have passed huge clots which is very distressing. just about to go on holiday and i will be in fear the whole time about having a loo nearby/flooding.

[coaching in reply to NC500]

I know how you feel. It's very depressing. How is your haemoglobin so far?

[NC500 in reply to coaching]

I haven't had a test since March so when i see the dr after holidays I am going to ask for new blood tests. I generally feel ok but occasionally feel exhausted after a big bleed. Roll on Friday when I will restart the TA again (i'm having three day breaks between the 4 day doses as it's not recommended to take continously).

[lucy561]

amsk - I can't give you any success stories because I haven't been down this road just yet but just want you to know that I am thinking of you. Have you done any immune testing? I know that immune issues can cause recurrent miscarraiges and implanation problems. You may have already done this but just thought I would ask. Sending strength to you my friend.

[Dyna321]

But I can definitely denote twins somehow. I think right now only one person is having twins, I'll have to go back through the thread to be sure.

[rose500]

This is actually NC500 replying on a new account (the system has locked me out so I created a new account).

After seeing the gynaecologist in July, he didn't think there was any point in doing a hysterscope procedure as my Ultrasound in May didn't show anything abnormal (cysts, polyps, fibroids) and wanted me to get a blood test to check for prolactin (an indicator of PCOS) on the 1st day of my cycle, and then straight after, start back on the mini pill which would stop the long periods.

After a long cycle (51 days - 24 bleeding)I had the blood test two weeks ago, and started on the mini pill. However, the heavy/clotting bleeding as I described in my original post has continued and the cramps that I've had in this time have definitely increased, so it appears that the mini-pill is having no effect to stop the bleeding. My GP was surprised but it's the gynae who needs to determine the next course of action. The GPs secretary rang to tell me that I will be "actively monitored" which was a message from the gynae, but I have not heard anything from the gynae clinic directly. It's all so frustrating and demoralising.

I feel so far from being able to conceive and sometimes I think that maybe I should just have a hysterectomy to be relieved from these symptoms.

Has anyone else experienced something similar (mini-pill not stopping bleeding?)