tricks and tips possibly?

[dviant.livejournal.com]

Hi! I feel really stupid asking, but I was hoping with all the teas and other little tricks people have for regulating different things...

Is there a way to help lighten the flow? I have extremely heavy periods sometimes. Not always, but every few months it happens that way, so that pads/tampons get soaked through in only an hour or two, and I can't use the diva cup at all because it fills just as quickly (with blood and whatever other fluids are going on, mucusy ick... sorry, I'm not the most body conscious... I'm one of those who was raised to be embarassed about discussing things like this, heh) and is too messy, defeats the purpose of trying to use the cup.

I've done a few times where I just completely dehydrate myself and that seems to help (though its likely that I just think it does, because I'm hoping so much for it to work, lol)

Anything that could help even a little would be much appreciated... It would be great to be able to go to work when I get these heavy flows (yes, sometimes it gets so bad that I have to call in, because I spend most of my day running to the bathroom because I can feel it soaking through (often during these heavy flows, I use tampons AND Pads, but both still soak through within 30-45 minutes) and when I'm unable to call in sick to work, my coworkers always tease me saying I must have diarreah or something because I have to run to the restroom so often... and its humiliating...

Didn't used to be this bad, used to happen only once every year or two... last few years its more and more often

Secondary question... Other than a complete historectomy (which I don't konw how to spell) are there ways of completely stopping the cycle? Preferably permeantly as I have no intention of ever having children, so don't really need it anyway... I'd rather deal with hot flashes and the rest, than always feel... sloppy.

help?

Comments

[goingdriftless.livejournal.com]

I read this here (http://www.healthsmartvitamins.com/vf/healthnotes/HN_live/Concern/Menorrhagia.htm):

In a study of women with menorrhagia who took 25,000 IU of vitamin A twice per day for 15 days, 93% showed significant improvement and 58% had a complete normalization of menstrual blood loss.3 However, women who are or could become pregnant should not supplement with more than 10,000 IU (3,000 mcg) per day of vitamin A.

In a study of women with menorrhagia associated with the use of an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control, supplementing with 100 IU of vitamin E every other day corrected the problem in all cases within ten weeks (63% responded within four weeks).4 The cause of IUD-induced menstrual blood loss is different from that of other types of menorrhagia; therefore, it’s possible that vitamin E supplements might not help with menorrhagia not associated with IUD use.

The original sources are cited at the bottom of that article. I've been trying the Vitamin E since my heavy bleeding is caused by my copper IUD. I'm only 3 weeks in so I don't know if it's working yet! (I checked with my dietician before starting on a new vitamin regimen -- you probably want to check with your doctor or other medical professional if you decide to try this.)

My doctor also told me to take Ibuprofen as soon as I started bleeding. She said that I should take 600mg 3x/day while I was bleeding and that that should decrease the flow.

Birth control pills often lighten periods and can be used to skip periods entirely (by skipping the week of placebo pills). The Mirena IUD can also lighten or even stop periods -- it's being used in some cases specifically for menorrhagia (heavy bleeding).

[dviant.livejournal.com]

Must... get... insurance. Or a new job, cause three times I've thought Iw as qualified for benefits, and each time they changed the requirements right as I'd have met the last set of requirements. Stupidity.

Will have to look into vitamin things though.
I've been told to take iron pills, but they make me dizzy and nauseus. I take ibuprofen sometimes, when I get cramps (luckily that doesn't happen often) will have to pick some of that up if nothing else

thanks!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_last_serenade_/]

second the ibuprofen. i bled for 7 months when i got my IUD (a mirena, not a paragard) and my doc told me to try 800mg 3x/day...worked like a charm AND helps cramps. :)

by doc basically told me that since it's an anti inflammatory, it helps suppress the growth and release of so much uterine lining.

[winifred.livejournal.com]

Have you considered hormonal birth control? That's one way of reducing your menstrual flow. Seasonale claims to reduce your period to just four times a year.

Since motherhood is not an issue, perhaps an endometrial ablation is an option. Here's a link: http://www.novasure.com/index.html

[morning-stand.livejournal.com]

I used to have really heavy periods and I started hormonal birth control and now it's hardly anything, and it's short. Love it.

[dviant.livejournal.com]

Jealous.

[dviant.livejournal.com]

Have no insurance, I'd like to be on birth control as soon as I can afford it or get insurance that'll cover me going to a doctor for it.

Will have to look into the ablation as well, I've heard of it before but mostly in reference to endo... thing that I can't spell but possibly might have... but don't have insurance to find out/do anythinga bout.

[lady-amorika.livejournal.com]

Have you thought about checking out a local Planned Parenthood, since a good number of them have sliding scales for payment and other good things like that?

[dviant.livejournal.com]

I've looked into it, but never had both the time and the money (even on a sliding scale) at the same time. I've been in a barely surviving from paycheck to paycheck type situation for the last... well, for far too long, actually. Only reason I have had groceries most of the time is the ex used to make sure I had 'em... and we've been broken up for about six months now eh /sobstory

Can barely survive and sadly enough... Because I have no kids, I don't qualify for any kind fo assistance program. Tried. The lady actually suggested that I get pregnant, because that would automatically qualify me. I wanted to punch her, why would I want to have a kid when I can barely survive on my own?

[winifred.livejournal.com]

Insurance is tricky. When I was living hand-to-mouth I ended up skewing the numbers on my PP application to get HBC because even $15/month was too much cash for me to part with. I'm not recommending it, though -- the guilt took over and I went back to condoms.

Where there's a will, there's a way, though. If you see any doctor at all it would be worth it to ask what your options are. They can usually refer you to low-cost insurance, coupon programs, or women's organizations that exist for people in your situation.

[dviant.livejournal.com]

Well, my new boy is several hundred miles away for the next six months, with no promise of a visit in between... so I'm not too worried... if I don't have a better job or insurance by then, we may be looking at moving in together in a different city, so i can look for a better job there (plus, be living with boy, so living less expensive with bills shared and all)

[xviragox.livejournal.com]

I second the HBC.

I used to have one day per period where I was afraid to leave the house. HBC shortened and lightened my entire period dramatically. I used it for three years and went off this past July -- my flow is still light and short and I am so happy.

[dviant.livejournal.com]

oooo

[cork118.livejournal.com]

Seasonale saves my life 8 months a year. I LOVE not having to deal with it every month. Four periods a year is sooo the way to go.

[dviant.livejournal.com]

IF I can't manage something more permenant, I want to look into something like that. Happiness is not having to deal with the ick every month.