Constant bleeding - perimenopause? Hysteroscopy needed?

Hi there all, I've experienced the heavy gushing periods with clots and all since I was 37, now this past June and july my period came closer together, then august came and it was a normal cycle, then sept, and no period. Then in October , on my 44th birthday, the night mare period began with gushing clots every time I'd sneeze or cough and it hasn't stopped. I found some herbal supplements online called slow flow, which seem to help. But I'm not sure if I should be taking these. Any one have any advice on the subject of herbal remedies?

Hi Polly, as with others I am so relieved to find this thread.  I thought I was fully aware and in control of my periods/perimenopause symptoms etc until now.  Over the past 18 months my periods have been erratic missing periods for months at a time.  Then I had a period in November and again just in December where it started at day 28 and seemed ok ish for 5/7 days then stopped, Then spotting, then 2 weeks after initial start of period began again only with a vengeance and have been bleeding constantly for 2 weeks.  Extremely heavy, so heavy that I need tampons and a pad. I feel tired, jittery, anxious and have paplitations.  I am extremely fearful that a have cancer as my mothers sister died of cancer at the age of 65.  I am 51 and sadly lost my Mum in September and I think probably the sadness and stress has not helped with the perimeopausal symptoms.  I have an appointment with my GP next week and will hopefully start on the road to resolving this but do not want to go down the route of surgery if at all possible.  My Mum breezed through the menopause although my sister had a hysterectomy due to large fibroids at 48.  If it is fibroids, this thread seems to indicate that they can get smaller and disappear with the menopause - is this right?  Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to share your experiences - it has been so helpful. x

Hi, everyone. I started having severe, heavy bleeding about five years ago (I was around 37). At the time, my doctor suggested birth control and sent me for a scan. They found one small cyst but nothing major. Also had thyroid tested and that showed normal. After that, the doctor really had no more suggestions for me and as a person who does not put a lot of faith in doctors, I just tried to handle it naturally and didn't go back to the doctor again. The bleeding was so intense that on one day, I walked into work, felt a gush, looked down to see my jeans soaked in blood and had to leave work immediately with a sweatshirt tied around my waist. Like many of you, I had to double up with the super plus plus extra absorbant sports tampons and giant nighttime pads that were being soaked through sometimes in a matter of minutes. A co-worker suggested I try 800mg of Ibuprofen to help slow the bleeding. That seemed to help and make things somewhat managable. After a while, the periods started to go back to a less heavier flow and things had calmed down. This past year, my periods have began coming closer and closer together. Where I used to have 26 days between periods, it was down to 24, then 21, 20...They were lighter and lasted 3 days instead of 5. I noticed more PMS symptoms and felt like a teenager again with the cramps and horribly tender breasts. I could barely stand to have a bra on because the feeling of anything touching my nipples was unbearable. This past autumn, I had just two weeks between my periods and then the next one came late and lasted only one day. I was actually excited thinking maybe that's it! Maybe I'm done with periods altogether! Around the same time, I had been fighting off a bad cold that had been lasting for several weeks. After six weeks, I went to a doctor who gave me a strong antibiotic. Two days after taking the antibiotic, I started spot bleeding. The bleeding has never stopped (this was back in early December so I've been bleeding for over a month now). The bleeding has been strange, not like a period, but with more mucus. But on Thursday this past week, I started a heavier bleeding that was definitely a period. I have been bleeding heavily all weekend long and those old symptoms are back- the gushing blood, huge clots, bleeding through everything. And that's how I found myself here, reading your experiences. I need support. I am 42 now (will be 43 this year). My sister has just recently gone through menopause at the age of 45. Our grandmother also went through it at 45. Our mother didn't go through it naturally because she had a hysterectomy at an earlier age. I am fairly certain I am experiencing perimenopause symptoms, but when I've tried to discuss this with close friends, family or my husband, they freak out and start talking about cancer and all sorts or they just are not supportive and can't relate. I just needed to share my story with someone who understands. I need a hug. This is just awful. I plan to go to the doctor as soon as I can be seen this week and hope to find some sort of help. My feeling is she will just suggest birth control again. I haven't taken it in years because it makes me act crazy, but I have to try something. Any thoughts, helps, suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you for reading. <3>

Hello. I am almsot 47 had a thermal ablation done around 4 years ago. Last year I started going a few months at a time without having a period. I started spotting in late October after not having a period for three months...have been bleeding non stop ever since...most times it's light. Other times it's heavy with large clots...these two variations may go back & fourth over a few days. I really don't want to have another ablation done, but not sure how I feel about having a hysterectomy & I cannot take birth control pills, anything that conatins hormones. 

I'm, too am going through the prolonged bleeding with flooding at times. All my online 'research' and talking with my gynocologist makes me think this is what someone experiencing this type of perimenopause should do: have a blood test for anemia, have an ultrasound and possibly endometrial biopsy to rule out cancer. (I have done these) Now gynocologist is wanting to do hysteroscopy with ablation or hysterectomy. I don't think it's needed. They seem to treat this as an illness rather than just a symptom of perimenopause. Clearly, there are a lot of women experiencing the same thing and it seems to be just something we need to get through, once cancer or other issues are ruled out. I don't want an ablation. Of course, I'm on my fourth day in a row of no bleeding, woo hoo! Once I start up again for weeks at a time maybe I'll want the ablation? What do you all think?

Hi everyone:

I am goin through the same thing! Thank you so much for all of you for sharing. I have been bleeding very heavy, with clots for 6 months now. I had an ultrasound, and a hysteroscopy, and a D & C. I am three weeks out, and still bleeding really heavy. The results were normal, but now they want to do a hysterectomy. I don't want to do a hysterectomy since they couldn't find anything wrong. This is so exhausting!!

Hi Polly,

Your symptoms are like mine; after having a second scan recently for bleeding on HRT (Livial - which I love)  I am also told I need a second Hysteroscopy as my lining has thickened again after only 6 months.

To stop the bleeding and subsequent growth of the uterus lining I am told I will also need, one of three things: (none of which I like the sound of)

- Mirena

- Uterine ablasion

OR

- Hysterectomy 

I feel these seem like drastic measures but Dr. has said the lining is growing too rapidly and something should be done.

Mirena reviews are not looking good to me, more negative than positive comments from ladies also going through tough times.

I notice there are many replies to your post so sorry if I am repeating what others have said, will read through and see what replies you have had?

Hope things are looking much better for you now, note this was originally posted a year or so ago.

Kindly,

Loui

I am 40 yes old and started my period right on schedule Jan 31,2016. I have been bleeding non stop every since. Yesterday I went to the er and was given inner and outer ultrasound, blood work cat scan with and without contrast, and everything came back normal so I was sent home. I don't know how much more of this I can take ! I have appointment again with my gynecologist Tues and I'm praying he can do something to help . He previously suggested the deppo shot but I don't trust birth control because of my age and I smoke cigarettes.

I am 40 yes old and started my period right on schedule Jan 31,2016. I have been bleeding non stop every since. Yesterday I went to the er and was given inner and outer ultrasound, blood work cat scan with and without contrast, and everything came back normal so I was sent home. I don't know how much more of this I can take ! I have appointment again with my gynecologist Tues and I'm praying he can do something to help . He previously suggested the deppo shot but I don't trust birth control because of my age and I smoke cigarettes.