Question:
Really heavy menstruation and big clots
Last May I got a really long period with huge clots. It lasted about a month long. I didn't get another one until October, and it lasted on and off light and heavy until February of this year. My obgyn gave me a strong birth control that helped. If I missed a pill or two I would get a period but it was always light and short. About a week ago, I missed a pill and took it along with my next scheduled pill. I got my period. But now it's really heavy and I'm having really really big blood clots. I've been taking my birth control still, but it's not stopping. It's just gotten even heavier. Actually, it not the flow really, it's the blood clots, they're just slipping past my tampon, and so I'm having to go to the bathroom every 45 minutes to an hour to change. I've called my obgyn and he said to keep taking the pills. I called him again this morning and left a message because it's just getting rediculous! It's a good thing I don't work or I'd have lost my job by now. Has anyone had this problem? If so, what have you done that's stopped the bleeding? I have my surgery scheduled for August 5th, and I'm worried that something going to come up and I'm not going to be able to have it. On top of it all, I'm supposed to stop taking the birth control in July because of the surgery. Help! -Lorraine — Lorraine Wentz (posted on May 21, 2005)
May 21, 2005
Hi, I had that problem after my 2nd child. My OB also tried Birth Control
Pills and they did not work. Finally when enough time had passed he gave me
a pap and it came out abnormal. He gave me a biopsy (it came out fine) but,
you need to call your OB everyday if needs be. If he still does nothing go
to a new DR. mine did not stop until the third try of Birth control pills.
Maybe you need to talk to him about a different kind. Maybe your body has
become amune to it. I hope this helps you. Good luck.
— Amanda A.
May 21, 2005
I did have this problem about a year ago. It got to the point that I became
anemic and my blood count was not coming back up with supplementation
because of the heavy blood loss. My Dr, gave me 3 choices, hormonal
treatment, IE BC pills, depoprovera, etc (tried the depo, it lightened but
I bled continuously for 3 months) so that was out. 2. a hysterectomy-I was
not ready for that at this point. 3. an endometrial ablation- they
basically cauterize the interior of your uterus, it does make you unable to
ever become pregnant tho. I chose the ablation because it was the least
invasive between that and the hysterctomy. It worked like a dream, no more
periods ever sicne. My dr said 95% will have very good improvement, 50%
will have no periods, and a few will still require a hyst.
Also, Your GYN should do a pelvic ultrasound to determine if you have a
fibroid or something else causing the bleeding.
— **willow**
May 22, 2005
Hi, I too suffer from this problem as we speak, but I was diagnosed with
adenoidmyosis (I think I spelled that right). I have really really heavy
clots that last for about a month at a time. My condition was detected
through an MRI. They thought I had a huge fybroid but I didn't. The only
cure I'm told is hysterectomy which I do not want to have yet because I
don't have any children. So, I have been seeing a reproductive endo to see
about having a child. My bleeding was so bad that my hemoglobin dropped to
8 and they thought I was going to have to have a blood tranfusion.
— Sonya B.
May 22, 2005
I had this problem also. i had a to have a D&C to see if there was an
underlying cause for this. my biopsy was fine. i dint want the BC pills Or
the unerine oblation(blow torching of my uterus..as my doctor put it) and
no you cant have children after that procedure anyway. you can get
pregnant..however the fetus will spontanous abort if you do. you need to
find the reason before you get any treatment.
— traceybubbles
May 22, 2005
Hi Lorraine!
I suffer with the same exact symptoms as you do. The running to the
bathroom, the tampon practically flying out because of the large blood
clots. I've gone through so many tampons, I should take stock in the OB
company! I had ultrasounds done, both abdominally and vaginally and was
diagnosed with uterine fibroids. My gynocologist gave me a medication
called Aygestin, I believe it is a progesterone medication, used to stop
the bleeding when it got really bad. My gyno told me not to allow myself to
bleed for more then a few days very heavily. The medication worked,
however, when I started on the medication to stop the bleeding, the doc put
me on heavy doses of it. That caused me heart palpatations and water
retention. This was several years ago. I still suffer with the heavy
bleeding and large clots. It scares me sometimes when it's happening
because there's just so much bleeding. I let myself bleed for so long and
so often, that back in August 2004, I had a cbc and found out my hemoglobin
level was a low 7.5! I had to have two blood infusions. Now after I bleed
for a while, I have a cbc done to make sure my hemoglobin isn't too low.
After having a reaction to the medication, I only took it in very small
doses occasionally and it worked very quickly to stop the bleeding,
sometimes the bleeding would return after I took a few doses of the
Aygestin. But I gotta say, the stuff really worked. I no longer take the
medicine because of my high blood pressure and my heavy weight. I want to
have my uterus removed at some point, but my obesity keeps me from having
it taken care of surgically. Hopefully after my wls I'll be able to have my
uterus permanently taken care of. (I am 46 and am done having babies now,
so for me I don't need my uterus!) I hope you can get this taken care of,
but please be sure and have a cbc, I found out the hard way how sick you
can get by letting your hemoglobin level unchecked. My doctor was surprised
at the time, that I hadn't passed out on the floor with such a low
hemoglobin level. So do have that checked. If I can be of any help to you
at all, feel free to email me. Good Luck to you, Sincerely, Tracy
— tracyinnj
May 22, 2005
Hi. I had serious, MAJOR issues too! The blood clots are happening
because there is so much bleeding that the blood is clotting before it can
come out. I bled heavily for months and was incredibly close to becoming
anemic... they had to put me on an iron program... that's how bad it was!
So, my personal experience was that they checked everything, including a
cervical biopsy and all was well. Turned out that I have subclinical
hypothyroidism. So my thyroid was the main one to blame. I started taking
Synthroid daily, but my period was still acting up a bit (NOTHING like
before, though!!) so the Dr. said I wasn't ovulating, which meant it was a
hormonal thang :-)and put me on the pill to regulate my periods. HOWEVER,
after surgery I no longer require the pill. I get my period every month,
no issues. I am LOVING it. I don't believe I have EVER been this regular!
It's amazing what the extra weight affects... whew! This is just what was
wrong with me. I have a friend who's had issues before AND after surgery
and they're talking hysterectomy for her. So... Keep bugging your doctor,
because the constant bleeding is NOT normal and he needs to figure it
out!!!
— [Deactivated Member]
May 22, 2005
Hi Lorraine!
I really suggest that you go to another obgyn as soon as you can and have a
second opinion! I used to have your same problem a few years ago and
resulted that there is a condition called something like
"displacia" or something like that, due to a hormonal dissorder.
The thing is that the utherus became "vicious" and performs like
the dominoes effect, once you start bleeding you cannot stop! It's like
your utherus walls are falling of your body. My blood clots were like some
kind of tissue. I was bleeding for almost three consecutive months between
mild and heavy. My hemoglobyn level went from 12 to 8 and I was so scared!
So, after being in contraceptive treatment and some hormones injections
called "depoprovera" (with no luck at all since the bleeding
deminished but returns soon) my obgyn opted for an ambulatory quirurgic
intervention, cleaning my utherus walls. And that functions great! The
bleeding stops thanks God and my doctor. So I possitively suggest that you
ask for another obgyn opinion. Maybe the solution for your problem is
relatively simple with the right treatment.
I hope it can be of a little bit of help. I wish you good health!
(Sorry for my English, I'm hispanic!)
Madeline
— Madeline T.
May 23, 2005
Well, Lorraine, I definitely agree with Madeline. Seek another opinion. Go
to you local urgent care if nothing else and get yourself checked out. you
need to check your blood count to make sure you aren't getting anemic. They
cannot do your wls if you are anemic. So if your doc won't help you, find
someone who will. Losing too much blood is not conducive to good health!!!
Good luck. JO
— Jo Marie M.
May 23, 2005
Hi hon, yes I had the same problem and worse. I was having such painful and
heavy periods that I dared not leave the house because I would bleed
through my clothes in public. I have a disabled daughter who wears
"depends" and I had to use to put one of those on during my
periods. Finally, I went to a female obgyn and she recommended a
hysterectomy and I had a full one and I have felt so much better. I
couldn't do the pill thing because I smoked, but I don't feel the pill
would have worked. I was passing huge painful clots and bleeding real bad.
I would definately get a second opinion.
I hope this helps.
Hugs
— Angelfirewithwings
May 24, 2005
I agree that a second opinion is necessary. A solution will depend on many
factors, including your age and desire to have children in the future. If
you are old enough to be done with having babies, you might not want to
exclude a uterine ablation. I am 49, and had one done in March. The
endometrium is basically destroyed, and I also had a fibriod tumor removed
from the inside of my uterus at the same time. There are newer methods of
doing the ablation. I was in and out of the hospital in four hours when I
had it done (had conscious sedation) . I had some cramping the rest of the
day (no worse than one of my crampy, messy periods!) and went back to work
the next day!. I have been able to use regular tampons, have no cramps
since I had that done. If you are still in your childbearing years and
desire more babies, then seek another opinion - fast. and if you are told
the only option is a hysterectomy, get another opinion. There are
medications that can help and it sounds like your doc is not being very
helpful.It sounds like breakthrough bleeding, but you need some help with
surgery coming up!
— koogy
May 24, 2005
Lorraine,
I had a similiar problem a couple of years ago. I say get a second
opinion. Let me tell you a little of my story. My husband was deployed
overseas at the time and I did not know what was going on. LIke you my
period became longer than a month. My mother finally talked some sense
into my thick head and i went to the doctor about it. By this time my
period had last 2 months. Which had never happened to me before. They
tried the pills for about 4 weeks. I was at some point taking 3 pills a
day. It did not stop, it slowed but did not stop. Birth control pills
affected it some but when i would miss one it would start heavy all over
again. On Dec. 6 i had blood work done. I was still working and my blood
levels were low but not dangerously low. When i went back in the 17 of
January i had lost half of the blood volume in the body. I am not saying
this to scare anyone just the facts. It was found that i had grown some
fibroids in a couple of months. They went in and removed them and i am
fine now but it was very scary thing to go through so i feel for you. Ask
questions and keep asking until you find some answers. You are the
consumer and have that right. Never take anything for granted until you
have a reason for what is happening.
Just my story and my opinion. I wish you luck and hope everything works
out for you. If you would like you can email me privately. I remember the
worry like it was yesterday. Make sure that your surgeon knows all of this
history when you see them next or make a special appointment to talk this
over with them.
Berta
— nowahottie
May 25, 2005
Hi Lorraine, I read all the posts to your question and it sure seems
common. My understanding of this type of bleeding and clotting has to do
with fat cells and estrogen. The fat actually increases the estrogen in
your body. So if you are overweight or obese you gotta lot of those
estrogen makers kicking in. Something that has helped me is increased
activity. There is something about moving more that helps regulate the
estrogen and thus decreases the excess bleeding. I've had heavy bleeding
with golfball size clots also. Just pad up good, the ones with wings on the
bottom and a thick wingless pad on top of that and a tampon (super plus!)
and take regular walks. They don't have to be fast walks and you don't have
to run, just get active. Of course if you have anything that would
contraindicate walking then maybe a stationary bike. Increased activity to
battle those estrogen making fat cells helped me. Good luck!
— lovey063
May 27, 2005
Hi Lorraine,
If you have to change every 45 minutes then you should get in to see your
doctor right away. This is not normal when off birth control, so when on
birth control it is really abnormal and if your doctor is blowing you off
when you tell him about this then I'd suggest getting a new doctor. There
are plenty of doctors out there and we don't need to put up with one who
won't listen to us. Good luck, Cathy
— catleth
July 25, 2005
I stumbled across this site accidentally, but feel compelled to respond.
Having a hysterectomy strictly due to excessive bleeding (generally the
knee jerk medical response) when they haven't really done anything to stop
the bleeding is like throwing away a car because it has an oil leak. It's
treating the symptom without solving the problem. Despite prevailing
medical opinion, the uterus serves other purposes than popping out kids and
removing it creates a whole host of other problems, hormonally and
otherwise. Doctors in this country seem to think of it as a first line
answer to way too many problems. And any doctor who is told that A isn't
working who tells you to just continue doing A isn't giving you the
consideration you deserve.
I would recommend you try the following tincture:
Gaia Herbs Red Raspberry Leaf
Gaia Herbs Yarrow
Herbalist & Alchemist Shepherd's Purse
30 drops of each in hot water, as often as every 30 minutes to control
heavy bleeding. It's been known to work wonders stopping female
hemorrhaging. I would also strongly recommend Dr. Christiane Northrup, a
female ob/gyn who has a non-patriarchal view of medicine. She has several
books ("Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom" is where I'd start.), a
website (www.drnorthrup.com) and regularly does PBS broadcasts. She gives
wonderful advice on all aspects of women's health, including obesity,
menopause, nutrition, cancer, outlook and the relationship between all of
them. (She also has a section on preparing for surgery that will speed up
the recovery process.) And third, find a doctor who genuinely cares about
what and how you're feeling. You're worth it.
Also, have a complete hormone panel run. Great Smokies Diagnostic Labs
(www.gsdl.com) runs a fairly comprehensive one and will work with your
doctor, assuming you have one open minded enough. Even if one is going to
have a hysterectomy, having this done beforehand will give you a baseline,
crucial information for down the road healthwise. And sometimes the
underlying cause of bleeding and other hormone-based issues will hit you
right in the face.
— R G.
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