Hi, I wasn't sure which forum to post this in, but the Gynae forum had a charge for posting, so chose this as the next closest..
I've always had heavy and painful periods, since I started menstruating at 11 years old, I'm now 47. I used to take Duphaston tablets to control the symptoms, but then it was taken from the market and I was placed on Northisterone around 18months ago. I was told I could either take this from days 5-25, so that I would have a normal period, or I could take it every day to avoid having periods at all, I chose the 2nd option.
I haven't had any problems until this month. On 3rd February I started a very heavy, painful period again. I thought it would just last a few days, as this used to happen occasionally when taking Duphaston, however I'm still bleeding and having pelvic period pains every few days, the amount of bleeding varies between being very heavy, to almost non-existent, then it increases again..
I also take Warfarin daily, which in the past once affected my period, in that it was extremely heavy for 8 or 9 days, but my INR level was 6+, however my INR levels have been very normal for years now, around 2.5 being my optimum level.
I've also been having perimenopausal symptoms, night sweats, hot flashes, hair thinning/falling out, and a raised hormone level indicating that I may have an underactive thyroid, together with feeling tired/exhausted almost all of the time, in spite of just basically sleeping most days as I don't feel able to do much more.
Please could somebody advise me of whether the prolonged period is likely to be because I'm due to become menopausal soon, and whether or not I should continue to take the progesterone replacement-northisterone tablets throughout this time?
I had blood tests done today, for the underactive thyroid, to check my INR in view of the prolonged bleeding, and to check my oestrogen levels re the menopause, and I'm seeing my doctor on Tuesday for further advice and the results of the tests..but just wondered if anyone here had a similar problem to me and what they found was causing it, and the best way of treating it?
I've been told that a hysterectomy is unlikely to be performed on me because of heart trouble, and the fact that I have to take Warfarin for the rest of my life, and I'm also overweight, which makes having the major surgery more dangerous for me..I am taking steps to lose weight, going to the gym when I can, but I also have arthritis in my hips, diabetes and high blood pressure, for which I'm taking tons of medications, including Fentanyl and co-codamol for pain relief, so I do have a problem getting there sometimes..and I have depression too, which doesn't help my motivation.
Hope somebody can help, thanks in advance..Michele.