REALLY heavy period!

HI Louise,

I haven't read all the replies to your period post BUT...I went through a temporary manopause and then got my period back ...I can't remember how long after all the treatment. I had what I thought were heavy periods previously. Periods past my temporary menopause though have been RIDICULOUS. I know no-one else like this so it's refreshing to hear about you...and nice to be able to be here for you. My periods wre lasting for 15, 16 days, and were as regular as clockwork after some time had past. So, I was lucky to get 2 weeks free of bleeding each month! . I had dreadful clottting and cramps and would find it difficult to drive to school to do the 30 minute round trip to pick up my children! I'd have the biggest possible tampax AND a super-sizes pad and sometimes put on an extra pair of knickers!  I was also tired all the time and had ridiculously low feritin levels. My GP sent me to a haemotologist who put me on Cyklocapron tablets to try and slow the blood flow. 6 horse tablets a day(from day 1 till the period stopped)...on top of an anti-depressant and an iron tablet.. Apart from hating to rattle as I walked I didn't think the Cyklocapron tablets were all that effective. I tried them again after stopping them at one stage just to make sure I'd been doing the right thing but to no avail. So...last week I had an ENDOMETRIAL ABLATION. I'm not sure if you have had children or are still planning them. Obviously, if you still plan to have more then you can't have this procedure. It was day surgery, and was a routine, 20-25 minute procedure, including a D and C. I read that the actual EA only takes 90 seconds! A wand is inserted that pretty much microwaves the lining of the uterus. The outcome should be light to NO periods. I'm HOPING for the latter...I"VE DONE MY TIME!!!!! When I went in to surgery I was on DAY 16 of my period and it had only lightened up a few days earlier. As expected, I have bled lightly since then and today, 1 and a half weeks since the op I no longer even need a panty-liner. It was hardly even bleeding really. It will take a year or so to normalise but I'm looking forward to living life a bit more!!

I've been writing without even looking up half the time so I hope you make sense of all of this...gotta get down what I can before my boys badger me!!

Oh, just want to add...I remember a male Dr saying to me that "you women are all the same and forget what periods were like before you had children." He continued, saying," you know, you only bleed a tablespoon (can't remember if that was per cycle or day)...what a narrow minded man...I left his office thinking something was so wrong with me or maybe it is all in my mind...HAH...till the next period!

Really Leonie,you have gone too far now! Louise won't be able to keep a straight face when she has that ultrasound now.

                                             Tonya xx

I thought I would leave some surprises for  Louise!    I thought the condom was hilarious but makes sense  = wonder if  it is possible to ask for colours?  Really Louise it doesn't hurt just a little uncomfortable. XLeonie

I thought I would leave some surprises for  Louise!    I thought the condom was hilarious but makes sense  = wonder if  it is possible to ask for colours?  Really Louise it doesn't hurt just a little uncomfortable. XLeonie

Hi Ladies

I got through to my oncologist who sent me to my GP.  I had a talk with him and he said that it is probably so heavy because I haven't had one for a few months (and it's been building up).  Neither the GP nor my oncologist were too concerned but I am getting a pelvic ultrasound next Tuesday to make sure that there is nothing nasty happening:)

I am now on my 3rd day of really heavy bleeding but it does seem to reduce in the afternoons - who knows why??  Hopefully it will ease off soon....

Will let you know how I go with the pelvic ultrasound.  I have to have an MRI on Thursday this week because of a shadow on my liver that was found before I started my chemo.  They couldn't do the MRI before because of my tissue expander (it has a magnet in it) and couldn't find anything under ultrasound.  Back to being a lab rat for a while from the looks of things!!

See ya,

Louise x

What a bugger.  I had the same happen to me.  On my honeymoon!!  I started Tamoxifn in February 2007 and Wedding was in October.  Whilst I was on Tamoxifen (changed over to Arimidex last December when I was rediagnosed) I was in close contact with my wonderful gynecologist.  Whenever I had a bleed he would investigate it as Tamoxifen has a high risk of uterine cancer associated with it.  Now don't panic but get it checked out.  I had many D&c and hystoscopies whilst on it.  Other than that I had no other side effects on this drug.  XLeonie  PS  I never had huge bleeds but of course I was nearly 51 when I started Tamoxifen.

Just wondering how you are going and if you got hold of your oncologist for some answers. That would be really scary. I'm sorry I dont have any answers for you. My periods prior to chemo was 3 months on and 3 months off. But since starting chemo I havent had any touch wood. I hope you get some answers to put your mind at easy. Let us know how you get on.

Chrissy D :) xox

I hope that you get an answer soon - you must be a bit worried.  I remember getting horrible periods when they started again after the birth of each of my children - I thought it was to do with the change in hormones - maybe your body is sorting itself out but you will hear soon from your Dr's office and she will be able to help. 

Thanks for answering, Amanda

I wish I had some feedback for you - sounds awful.  :-(  I'm sure someone here will have something to help.  I am about to start Chemo and have been told it will likely cause me to go through menopause so I was surprised to see your post. Can I ask if you experienced menopause with the chemo and your periods have now come back?  I am 38 - I won't be having tamoxifen - I'm doing Fec100 and Doxetal and Herceptin for my chemo.  I hope it is a bit lighter today.