Heavy Bleeding

Does anyone out there have any suggestions for what I can do during my heaviest bleeding times (large clots, flooding). I currently use the overnight pads with the super plus tampons and sometimes they only last 10 minutes! I have a job where I can not get to a restroom at my convenience and wonder if anyone out there has any suggestions.

I had hoped to have my hyst done by now but unfortunately a nurse lost my chart and I'm back to square one!

Thanks for any suggestions!

So sorry to hear of your delay to your long-awaited relief from bleeding. I can think of a few suggestions but they may not apply to U.S. but here goes anyway!

I used maternity pads for a while, then discovered that many diaper manufacturers make a insert pad for disposables, I found those really good at night!

Sounds a bit funny, but two super tampons inserted ( if you can) can extend your time out of the toilet but don't do it if it's too uncomfortable and remember to remove both of them! Mind you, if your clots are like mine, tampons tend to get removed by the flow!

Is there any possibility of you taking a short term bc pill to ease the bleeding till surgery?

Also get your iron levels checked regularly, you can't keep losing so much blood without it your fe dropping.

I think it incredibly unfair and unprofessional that you have lose your place in the queue due to lost records that were not your fault. Getting those records and tests repeated and replaced should be a top priority!

Wishing you a speedy surgery re schedule! Hugs, Linda

Wow, I haven't worked in months and just can't imagine what it would be like to have a job where you can't go to the bathroom at your convenience. If there is any way, you really should rest when you are having the flooding. Otherwise, try to find a way to make it possible to get those much needed breaks when you can.

Oh, I just read that you are a police officer. That must be tough with this kind of bleeding. Can you talk to a supervisor to see what can be done for you? Is your bleeding predictable enough that you might be able to schedule days off when you are bleeding?

I got to the point where I did use adult diapers. I used the full briefs, but I think they make the inserts that would fit better under a uniform. They are much more absorbent than pads. You may also try different tampons to see if others will work better for you. I don't even bother anymore unless I want to buy an extra ten minutes, but I tried to use them to make those angels at Christmas and I was shocked to see how different each one is in shape and material.

As for dealing with it physically, try to stay hydrated because it helps your body make up for lost blood a little better. And, there are a lot of tips on how to get iron nutritionally and through supplements if you are anemic. I'd be glad to e-mail you and tell you what I can since I have been battling severe anemia for about a year.

And, keep calling your doctors. Since it is their fault that your records were lost, you need to keep your case at the front of their minds. Let them know how miserable this is and maybe they can fit you in on a cancellation or something. I can not believe that you have to be delayed over this - perhaps you can call medical records and try to track your files down on your own.

Oh, and if you have to wait a very long time, it might be worth looking into buying a menstrual cup. I have heard a lot of good reports on them, but I don't know how well they work with flooding. I would imagine there would be a major flood when you remove the cup for cleaning.

What is your doctor doing to slow the flow? Hormones? Ibuprofen? Anything?

Ohmigosh, hugs your way! Your story sounds like mine but I am lucky enough to be ordered not to work until my blood counts are appropriate for surgery (soon, I hope).

God forbid that you should have to suffer much longer, but if you do, I saw a book on Amazon yesterday that was called Dr. Susan Lark's Heavy Menstrual Flow & Anemia Self Help Book: Effective Solutions for Premenopause, Bleeding Due to Fibroid Tumors, Hormonal Imbalance, Endometriosis, Endometrial Cancer, and Low Blood Count (long title, eh?)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books

You can even "look inside" the books on the Amazon site, so maybe a quick browse online would give you ideas.

When I am heavy bleeding, if I can manage a little extra sleep, it seemed to help tremendously. Didn't stop me from flooding things, but helped my wellbeing.

Hugs!

Hello There,
Gosh, that's a heavy flow. Mine wasn't quite that bad but I still felt that it affected me pretty badly for the first 36 hours of Aunt Flo. Quality of life definitely reduced and no light shorts/trousers possible!
The one thing that saved me and enabled me to have a relatively normal life during period time (or at least wait nearly an hour before visiting the bathroom) was an article called "Always". It's like a disposable, latex (I expect) contraceptive. Forgotten the names of those mini-dustbin lids (sorry, brain fog!). It covers the cervix, has a dip in it which collects the liquid. You pee when you need to which empties what's collected. You can wear for up to 12 hours. They were fantastic for me. Don't know of anyone else who uses them. I sent one to a friend who said "too messy". Yes, they took a few tries to get used to. But her periods can't have been nearly as bad as mine (despite her having fibroids) or she'd have been praising the powers that be that they'd been invented! I could buy from some branches of Safeways, but by no means all of them (no need for any of that sort of thing now though. Hurrah!).
All the best.
Nellie One

I have been tested for anemia and have been ok so far. I'm taking a low dose birth control pill but that doesn't seem to be doing anything...I still bleed each and every day but very heavily for about 8 days.

I had a D&C done about three months ago as recommended by my previous doctor. Prior to the D&C I'd have one to two flooding episodes per period. After the D&C I have them all the time. This same doctor prescribed a pill to take that supposedly would slow or stop the bleeding within 20 minutes of it starting. I tried it three times and each time it made me cramp and bleed/clot worse than ever. I finally decided this doctor was too quick with a prescription pad that didn't work.

I then changed to the current one who initially thot I'd be a candidate for the NovaSure. He had to wait for my records to be sent over to him and after not hearing from him for two weeks I called there only to find out my records were never sent (no one could call and tell me?) I made the necessary calls and finally got the records sent but still no call from the doctors office. I called back and made an appt and discovered that due to the location of my cysts, the NovaSure wouldn't work. I'd also had a very very very bad period just prior to this appt and decided I'd had enough and wanted the hyst. I explained to my doctor I had two weeks off at Christmas and this would be the best time to get things started. He agreed. I waited another two weeks and called to talk to the girl who schedules surgeries-- I had to leave a message on her voice mail. I waited two days and called back. She said she hadn't called me back cuz she didn't have my chart. She then put me through to my doctors asst where I left what was probably a very hysterical message. I got off the phone and cried for twenty minutes. I am so frustrated I could just scream!!

Did I mention the doctor prior to the two of these told me that my pain and heavy bleeding were just a part of getting older????

Thanks for any suggestions you can/have offer(ed).

CactusRose...I feel for you. You must be miserable! And for the doctor's to loose the chart and not tell you, that is horrible.
I too bleed rather heavy, mostly because I would not have a cycle for 3-6 months at a time. But I use overnight maxis and change about every 45 min or so. But I have a job where the bathroom is 3 doors away. I could never use tampons, they would hurt way to much....supposedly it is because my uterus is tilted.
Have you tried progesterone? Sometimes that stops my periods...except it can restart them too. Always check with your doctor on hormones

I am on my last cycle....thank heavens! It is not so much heavy as just plan painful! I just pray it will be over soon.

Take care and stay safe...
SnookB

Sometimes, pharmacists can seem more sympathetic to our problems and have more time to spend talking with us. I know there is at least one Hyster Sister who is one. I think her username is rx02 (I know it's rx something).

For me, the lower dose pills only worked for a little while. During the last month, I have been on anything from 2 to 4 birth control pills PER DAY just to stop me from bleeding heavily so my anemia improves. I seem to be stable at 2 per day (and it's only a week or two longer now) - meaning no floods - but I did have side effects when I first started taking the higher doses. I think BCPs are just a cheap, easy alternative sometimes. I had enough around the house that I could double up for this last stretch.

Actually, I still have side effects, for instance extreme sun sensitivity, but for a temporary solution to manage bleeding just until surgery, this is acceptable. It was also recommended to me, because of the location, type, and trends of my fibroids, that I literally sit still if the hemorraghing began again.

And finally, quite honestly, I am very grateful to have a female GYN. Besides smaller hands for the regular exams I just feel she is more sympathetic. I have a friend who is an OR nurse and she has observed both genders operating. There's just more ownership or something with the women.

Keep us posted!

Cactus Rose,

I, too, have had problems with this HEAVY, constant bleeding lately and the ladies here have given me some wonderful advice.
It has been said before, but definitely watch that blood count. The last thing you need is to have your blood count go too low for them to be able to do the surgery.
It sounds like you need to go to the doctor's office and have a discussion with them. Haven't they ever heard of a fax machine. If they lost the records that were sent to them they just need to have the former office fax them a copy STAT. I would think that would take only a day or two and then your current doc can just update what he has done and go from there. Sometimes it's easy for them to put you on the "back burner" so to speak when you're just another voice on the phone. I would go to that office one morning, talk to them in person and then stay there until they get things straightened out. Just a thought...
Have you considered Lupron? Lupron basically puts you into artificial menopause and generally stops the bleeding. There are side effects (hot flashes, etc.) but if it's a choice between risking a severly low blood count or the Lupron side effects, it's worth it. Right now, I'm trying to decide whether or not to take the Lupron. I took it a few years ago prior to a myomectomy and it worked well. No bleeding, no pain, just a few hot flashes. We have decided to wait until next week and see if my bleeding will stop ( I just came off of a bunch of bcp' s and hormones). If the bleeding doesn't stop, I will then take the Lupron to hold me over until surgery.
Hope this helps.

Kellyn
Myomectomy 10/97, Laparotomy for bilateral endometriomas and clean up endo 10/00, awaiting hyst for more endo and rapidly growing fibroid.

p.s. My dh is a Pharmacist if you have any questions. Just email me.

Goodness,
That's what happens if you type to the hysters in your jammies, you get all of a muddle.
Those miraculous (for me) gadgets are called Instead. Forget the Always stuff. They're just pads and I expect you know them all to well already!
Back to the sofa for me. I'm clearly brain dead today so shouldn't inflict it on anyone else!
Happy NY!
Nellie One