Blood clots during period: Hello, I am just... - Women's Health

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Blood clots during period

Daisy_130 profile image
23 Replies

Hello, I am just after some advice if possible and would rather hear from real people as opposed to googling for answers. Obviously passing blood during a period is normal. But, is it normal to pass large blood clots? Sorry if TMI but I say large but my partner was assuming large was a size of a pea. It was more the size of a large portion of peas. It was very thick. This was in my pad and as I sat on the toilet, another one went into the toilet so all together, its quite concerning in my opinion.

I am on day 3 of my cycle and the last 48 hours have been hard. I get painful and heavy periods usually but this month has been something else! I have been unable to eat properly due to the pain, move about and get decent sleep. When I woke up this morning, I had a different kind of pain. It was like a period pain but also sharp and strange, almost like I had a metal pole rammed inside me. I struggled to stand up properly and my partner was really concerned and suggested to go and get checked. I wanted to wait it out and see how I was throughout the day... but I just passed a very large blood clot! A lot of the pain subsided since.

I just want to know how normal this is. Has anyone else experienced intense pain which got better after passing a blood clot? This has happened before a few months back. My periods are not normal in my opinion. No one I know of personally experience what I do every month. I am just totally fed up and now concerned.

Any help, advise and guidance will be very much appreciated. Thank you.

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23 Replies
abitwobbly profile image
abitwobbly

Hi Daisy, sorry to hear you're having such painful periods. I used to have heavy periods, very short lived but really painful, and also had large clots like you describe every few months. I was told it was because not every period clears you out fully & you can get a build up. But as everyone is different, I would try to make an appointment with a GP that specialises in women's health (most GP's have a specialism), take a diary of your recent cycles & the types of periods you are having so that they can put your mind at rest & also they will have a record to compare against going forward. I was prescribed Ponstan Forte for my periods, otherwise I wouldn't have held down my job at my time of the month. It sounds like you have a supportive partner, which always helps. I hope you find a reassuring GP soon. Take care x

Daisy_130 profile image
Daisy_130 in reply to abitwobbly

Ah, thank you for your reply. I have a record of heavy and painful periods on my notes and the previous time I was referred to gynae, they suspected endometriosis and I underwent a laparoscopy and they discovered I have a twisted ovary and severe scarring. So all of that was removed.

The medication I was prescribed before made me really anxious because taking it long term can cause heart problems and I was getting heart palpitations and my resting heart rate is constantly over 100. Also, you are meant to take it 1-2 days before you come on for a maximum of 4 days, but mine change. Some cycles it could be 25 days and others it could be 30. So I never knew when to take them. They also really irritated my stomach. But I cannot go on like this any longer. Before lockdown, I could never go to work when I had my period. I often leak through pads and they need changing every 30-60 minutes at times.

I don't feel like I have had a weekend at all because it was wasted. 😥 such a shame.

I did one of those e-consult forms so will hopefully speak to a GP for reassurance and a plan going forward. I've been having periods like this for about 6 years now, its become 'normal' but it isn't normal. It isn't fair. 😔

abitwobbly profile image
abitwobbly in reply to Daisy_130

Aww, that's really tough, you have been through the mill. I had a work colleague who also had trouble with leakages and, like you, daren't go to work at her time. If it turns out that it is your normal, then you can only hope that they find you some medication that doesn't give you horrible side effects, or perhaps looking at diet and alternative remedies like Cooper27 mentions might be worth doing.

Daisy_130 profile image
Daisy_130 in reply to abitwobbly

I never had periods like this before. I had a normal flow and period pains but after a couple of paracetamol, I was fine. I miss how they used to be. I am willing to try what Cooper27 said though, anything is worth a go! I could probably deal with the heavy periods if I didn't have the intense pain and vice versa. No one I personslly know experiences what I do so its hard to get advice and just talk about it so I do really appreciate you taking the time to reply etc... thank you. 🙂

Amoola83 profile image
Amoola83 in reply to Daisy_130

I don’t know the answer to your blood clot query, but I just wanted to reply to the comment about your cycle times you mentioned above. I’ve been using an app called P. Log for years, and although it’s nothing fancy it’s quite good at predicting your next period date (give or take a couple of days). My cycle also varies, some months it’s 28 days, some longer, shorter etc and the app works out the average length. Hope you sort out your painful clots! X

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27

It's difficult to say. Some blood clotting is normal, it varies for everyone. From the sounds of what you're saying, this is simply not normal for you though, and so you might want to speak to your doctor about it.

In terms of painful/heavy periods, I find that a combination of magnesium supplements (taken before bed) and eating ginger in the days before my period can make a huge difference to how painful/ill I'll be that month. Always recommend trying the two if you suffer.

Daisy_130 profile image
Daisy_130 in reply to Cooper27

I have never heard of that before, I am going to try it though. Not a huge fan of ginger but will give it a go if it will make a difference! Anything is worth a go. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Much appreciated.

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27 in reply to Daisy_130

There was a study that showed it's as effective as ibuprofen :)

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

I think you can take ginger capsules (do have a slight ginger flavour as you swallow them) but I always just plan in a stir fry with grated ginger, or a curry in the week before my period (I find any time in the week before is fine, it doesn't have to be on the day). If I also take ibuprofen, I can be really lucky and sometimes have a near pain free period!

Daisy_130 profile image
Daisy_130 in reply to Cooper27

Thank you! I'll have a look for sure. Unfortunately I cannot take ibuprofen 😭 so jealous of people that can haha!

Stir fry sounds good! I'm going to try it next time. I am very intrigued! Even if it helps a little... I hope it does. Fingers crossed.

Bleue profile image
Bleue

Hi Daisy - My daughter had incredibly painful periods like yours & the pain was in very bad & prevented her doing anything. 6 months ago we visited a doctor that specialised in Women’s health and she was prescribed a mini progesterone only pill that she takes continuously & she no longer has periods & so is finally pain free. Apparently there are no side effects of totally removing your periods & it is a new pill that is very low progesterone amounts.

The doctor said it was probably endometriosis- but as there is no definite cure for this , it was best to just get rid of the periods. It has changed her life.

Good luck with everything.

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27 in reply to Bleue

It's very common for doctors to prescribe the pill for painful periods, but the only problem is that it hasn't really cured the problem, mine came back worse after I stopped the pill, and they were then irregular to boot. Plus I had other nasty side effects that have taken years to fix. I'd tend to suggest trying other things before trying the pill, if possible.

Bleue profile image
Bleue in reply to Cooper27

This was a new ,very small dose progesterone only pill , with a dose just small enough to stop periods. They are bringing out new pills all the time & has changed my daughters life.

You can’t ‘fix’ endometriosis which apparently 10% of women have - but you can definitely remove a lot of the pain associated with it.

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27 in reply to Bleue

I'm glad it has changed her life for the timebeing, but it is just to caution others that this isn't always the answer. Progesterone pills wrecked me, and the pain was still there after, so it just wasn't worth it for me.

Daisy_130 profile image
Daisy_130 in reply to Cooper27

I agree, I'd rather explore other things also. I am not on any contraception as would like to conceive but my partner has fertility issues so it isn't looking likely for us but I'd rather not do/take anything to prevent the small chance we do have.

Definitely trying the ginger! I'm really fascinated by it.

Annabelle59 profile image
Annabelle59

I used to get loads of cloud and pain. I did not know at the time but I had a very large fibroid in the rear wall of the uterus. Also I had slightly low thyroid levels, that were corrected and many of the symptoms I had been putting up with disappeared. I wish this forum had been available then! Hope it is soon sorted for you, I had ultrasound to sort out the fibroid rather than a hysterectomy, got my life back.

Daisy_130 profile image
Daisy_130 in reply to Annabelle59

How very interesting. Would this be shown in a hysteroscopy as I had one when I had my fallopian tube removed last year and never got the results or feedback from it but I have requested my notes from the hospital as this is something I am now going to take seriously and get to the bottom of because I cannot live my life like this any longer. I am absolutely fine today, as if nothing was wrong. Crazy!

I am so pleased your symptoms disappeared. It is unfair that women suffer like this. At least we can support and help one another out. 💕

Annabelle59 profile image
Annabelle59

Yes, it is so easy to assume that everyone is dealing with the same problems and one is moaning about 'normal'. I would expect the internal exam to show something abnormal, although I had one and all they said was nothing was abnormal but the type of fibroid I had was buried in the muscle of the uterine wall and only expanded before menstruation. They said it was about 14cm diameter, I would get numbness down the legs where it pressurised the nerves.

Daisy_130 profile image
Daisy_130 in reply to Annabelle59

14cm oh my gosh! Did you have a ultrasound and it just happened to be at the right time?

When I had an ultrasound, they confirmed my left ovary had a cyst but I didn't have an ovary because my tube was twisted and cut off the blood supply and my ovary was a goner! I often wonder what they did see!

It's really interesting hearing about other peoples stories, issues and treatments because we are all very different.

Annabelle59 profile image
Annabelle59

I had a procedure called Magnetic resonance guided Focused Ultrasound, there were two sessions of around what felt like about an hour on two days about a month apart. It took place at St. Mary's Hospital Paddington in London. They developed the system originally for bone cancer treatment, I wanted it as I did not want a hysterectomy at that point in my life, I was in the middle of a degree course plus looking after husband, brother, mother and father. It uses the ultrasound beam to kill small areas of the fibroid until it is reduced in it's capacity to swell up, I remained conscious within the MRI machine lying on my tummy, using a paracetamol liquid for sedation, pain was very low, just warmth really. A hysterectomy is not always the solution, unfortunately the NICE organisation don't agree, so it remains a private procedure.

Schilds79 profile image
Schilds79

Hello Daisy I totally sympathise with you! I have been like this for the last year. I pass clots that are huge. Maybe my palm size. I get flooding and I cannot leave the house. Night time pads last half an hour the first 2 days and I have to put a lot of tissue there too or I will flood to my clothes. I feel I may be a little older than you, I am 41 so maybe mine is to do with reaching menopause. If this is something that is different than your normal then I would keep pestering your GP. The options open to us seem to be the mini pill, mirena coil, and endometrial ablation which is done under local anaesthetic. This is literally a surgical procedure which they burn the lining. This will make your periods a lot lighter. Hope this helps. Good luck xxx

Daisy_130 profile image
Daisy_130 in reply to Schilds79

Oh bless you. It is horrible. Before covid, I couldn't go into work on my heavy days. I always had spare clothes and pants in case of a surprise period as my cycle is not always the same each month so I can never truly know which day it would come. Working from home full time makes it easier and slightly less stressful. I've has periods like this now for years and I've honestly has enough as I feel each month it just gets worse. I am 28, so hopefully not near menopause yet. The GP is calling me tomorrow, I am hoping they take me seriously. I really don't want any contraception which is frustrating because I know it is recommended to help but it is not ideal when trying to conceive. My partner has fertility issues and our chances are not great but never say never 🤞

It is strange because I feel fine now so feel really silly speaking with the GP tomorrow but I need to remember how I have felt and how anxious I am about my next one. I just wish they were like they used to be. Minor pain and light flows. 😩

SraB profile image
SraB in reply to Daisy_130

Many of us who have heavy periods (whatever the reason) also have iron deficiency anemia, I would ask for iron check, once you get symptoms of that is usually way too low. My reason is fibroids, they can grow and become problematic in months so its good to have an ultrasound...

Dkdfree profile image
Dkdfree

Sounds like possibly fibroids, i went through that when i still had my period.

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