TMI QUESTION ABOUT AF (long)

I apologize in advance if I gross anyone out but I'm a bit concerned and I wanted to know if any one else has ever experienced this:

Just a little background first: My periods have always been very regular as far as timing goes. I have always had pretty heavy periods and often severe cramping. A few years ago my cramps would get so bad (not every cycle but a good 3-4 out of the year) that I literally could not function. My gyn diagnosed me with dismenorrhea (just a fancy name for "very painful menstruation") and told me that my cervix tilts towards my back rather than the front which was probably contributing to the pain. I was prescribed Vioxx - until it was taken off th market.

So within the past few years I have not had too many cycles with the really painful cramps. I def get cramps but usually they are withstandable after popping a couple of motrin and they are usually only on day 2 and 3. However, the heavy bleeding is a constant. And it seems that every 3 or 4 months I have CRAZY bleeding to the point that I am changing my tampon less than every 2 hours. I have mentioned this several times to the different doctors I have seen and they all shrug it off and tell me it's normal and that I am just one of the unfortunate people who has very heavy periods. I was concerned about having endometreosis and was told not to worry about that because I would be in a lot more pain and it would be much more frequent.
Now here is the other thing - again, sorry for being graphic, but sometimes I notice pretty big "clots". I can sometimes actually feel them passing through when I go to the bathroom I mentioned this as well to my Dr once or twic e before and again, told it was normal and that I am just unfotunate. I'm worried though because I have read that clots larger than the size of a quarter could be a symptom of something worse. I don't want to be a hypochondriac but now that I am hoping to get preggo, I am reading into every little thing.

Can anyone offer any insight? Should I be more concerned or am I probably just worrying over nothing?

I really appreciate the time and advice.

Re: TMI QUESTION ABOUT AF (long)

I don't know that I cn really offer any advice, but I can tell you that this sounds very similar to my periods.
I have the same issue with heavy bleeding on days 2 and 3 and also have to change my tampon about every 2 hours (though, I got the heavy day ones and they are much better!).
I also get clotting like you described.

I brought these things up with my doc and he didn't seem concerned either.
I have always wondered if it is more normal than I know....this isn't exactly something people talk about with their girlfriends!

Anyway,maybe someone else has some good advice, but I just wanted to let you know that there is someone else out there who is experiencing something similar.

Good luck and let me know if you ever hear anything different from a doc!

Re: TMI QUESTION ABOUT AF (long)

Re: TMI QUESTION ABOUT AF (long)

I don't have much to offer in therms of info, but this reminds of of my friend who went through basically exactly what you are ... turned out that she had a few fibroids in her uterus (7 I believe) and she was going through tampons and pads every 1-2 hours, VERY heavy bleeding. She had surgery to remove them and it improved.

I would inquire to see if they could just check this for you and either get a new doctor or sit down with your current doctor and explain everything just as you typed it out.

I hope it's nothing!

Re: TMI QUESTION ABOUT AF (long)

Posted by LoveyQ

I don't have much to offer in therms of info, but this reminds of of my friend who went through basically exactly what you are ... turned out that she had a few fibroids in her uterus (7 I believe) and she was going through tampons and pads every 1-2 hours, VERY heavy bleeding. She had surgery to remove them and it improved.

I would inquire to see if they could just check this for you and either get a new doctor or sit down with your current doctor and explain everything just as you typed it out.

I hope it's nothing!

Re: TMI QUESTION ABOUT AF (long)

Thank you ladies. I really appreciate the feedback and well wishes. I think I am going to just call my Dr and schedule an appt and insist that they check it out.

Re: TMI QUESTION ABOUT AF (long)

I have the same symptoms during my period. I do have a fibroid and my gyn says it is quite small and should not interefere with getting PG, but it can cause the pain and clotting. It is worse on days 2-5 for me and I tend to pop 800 mg of motrin 3 x's a day. I know its not good, but its the only thing that takes the pain away. You should definitely speak to the doctor again. I hope you find relief from this; I defintely know how painful it is.
Good Luck.

Re: TMI QUESTION ABOUT AF (long)

My sister actually has this problem but it wasnt investigated until she had an adnormal pap (last month) so she went for further testing and the doctor told her that she had cysts that would either cure themselves or she could get them frozen and cut off. He wasnt concerned at all, but if she didnt insist on an ultrasound and additional pap it would have went unnoticed. I would request further testing, hopefully i didn't freak you out. Like i said he made it seem like it wasn't a big deal.
Good luck HTH