Help needed.... period problem!

[Louise82]

I have very irregular periods and cannot take the pill. For the last three months I have been coming on nearly regularaly though. I am going on holiday on Sunday and have got a bad stomach ache so i think i will be on for my holiday. My periods are very heavy and painful and i know it will ruin the holiday.

 

Does anyone know of a tablet i can get from the doctors to prevent me from coming on. A couple of people said there is but my doctor said there was no such thing. I asked him a few weeks ago and he said the only thing i could do would be to take the mini pill. Do you think i could still do this or is it too late?

[Morrisonker]

It's too late for the mini pill, you need to take it the period before the one you want to stop.  I don't think there's much you can do I'm afraid, you've only got 3 days.  I'd try and stock up on things which help your comfort.  If you're going abroad somewhere hot you might be surprised, I get quite painful periods but being in the heat on holiday seemed to lessen them a bit. 

[Robinia]

Yes I think it's too late to stop your period now.
The thing which has helped a friend of mine enormously is to start taking anti-inflammatories 2 or 3 days before her periods start (they used to be very heavy).  I think she has something prescibed but maybe over the counter Ibuprofen would work if you can take it.  It might be worth another word with your doctor or pharmacist to see if this is an option for you.

Hope you manage to get sorted & have a lovely holiday.

[Louise82]

Thank you both for your help. I thought it would be too late. I am just going to have to put up with it! I am definately going to try taking Ibroprofen though, anything is worth a try. I usally take it to stop my period pain anyway but never thought to take it before them.

[ratbag66]

The tablet you are talking about is a drug called Norethisterone.  Your doctor should have been aware of this.

However,  I believe that it is too late for this treatment to work now - I think you take it for several days before your period is due and then continue for as long as you want to delay your period.

May be useful to have this info for next time though : )

The mini-pill wouldn't necessarily stop your periods - I take it and still have a regular bleed every four weeks.

[Iadagor]

Try popping a few multi vitamains, which is supposed to help.

[jean88]

If you go on the mini-pill you will still get your period but its lighter and less painful.

[Litchick]

Louise, if you've never tried Ibuprofen before, just be aware that it could cause some stomach upset and heartburn.

[gem_mother]

I know that this won't help with your holiday problem but perhaps on your return you could see a doctor again.  A couple of years ago I had very heavy irregular periods - it got so bad I didn't like to leave the house on the second and third day of my period!  After a year or so of this I went to donate blood and was turned down as I was anaemic and I was told to see my own GP.  I saw him and explained that I thought the heavy periods were to blame - he gave me iron tablets and told me I'd have to live with the heavy periods because it was down to my age!!  I went to see another doctor in the practice who prescribed the Norethisterone somebody else mentioned - this gave me some control for holidays, etc - and also Tranexamic acid tablets which lighten the flow.  Things improved greatly and I was able to stop taking both eventually.