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[Justinfan20]

Hi all
Anyone had any experience with tranexamic acid.?
Was put on it for 5 days at beginning of August after bleeding for 7 weeks non stop. Was sent to A&E after urgent blood test showed anaemia.  Had 2 blood transfusions and was put on iron for a month and given tranexamic acid to stop the bleeding.  Bleeding stopped on the 11th August and stated again on the 16th. Went back to A&E and was given prescription for tranexamic acid again which I started taking on Saturday. I have 60 tablets (and more waiting at pharmacy as they were short on supply) but  there are no indications on box of how long to take them for. I have read on internet that you shouldn't take them for more than 5 days, but why did he give me so many?
Any help on this would be appreciated.  5 days ended yesterday and I'm still bleeding.
Xxx

[Focus]

Hi there!

Sorry to hear things have been so difficult.

I was on TA for pretty much the same reasons as yourself. But the side effects were utterly horrendous for me, so I only took it a couple of times. The slide effects the second time I took it were considerably worse than the first time.

Anyway, yes, you can only take it for a few days at a time. It won't stop the bleeding, but it will help with the heaviness of it and the clotting (if you're having any. I was getting golf ball sized clots every hour/45 minutes at worst).

I also got Norethisterone from out of hours. This is dose of progesterone only that you take 3 (I think) times a day, and it will stop the bleeding. You can't be on it all the time, and I initially got 10 days (from what I remember). It stopped the bleeding in 24 hours and it felt like such a huge relief for me. I also felt like myself again for the first time in goodness knows how long.

After I stopped taking it, my mood started to worsen gradually after a couple of days, and then the bleeding started again like before.

I ended up going down the pill route to try and help the pretty constant flooding and my state of mind as after a heck ton of personal research I'd come to understand that it was progesterone that I was feeling the lack of: first the progesterone only pill, but that did absolutely nothing for the flooding. Then Loestrin 20 (combined pill), which almost helped, and now Loestrin 30, which has totally sorted it for me - I can actually live a life now.

Feel free to ask any questions...very happy to try and help as much as I can.

[Justinfan20]

Hi
Thankyou for your reply.
I was diagnosed with diffuse heterogeneous thickened endometrium when first admitted which is why my bleeding has been so heavy. I'm waiting for a hysteroscopy and biopsy which I was told I would have within 2 weeks, which I am still waiting for. A huge backlog apparently, even for urgent cases, which mine is.
With the first 8 week bleed, I had no pain, but this last few days from when it started again I have been in terrible pain and the cramps have been rediculous. I felt like I was in labour on Sunday.  Hubby wanted to go A&E again but I refused as I know it's period pain and they would just tell me to take OTC painkillers. 
The bleeding has slowed down and the clots are lessening. I'm just worried that if it starts again,  will they just keep making me take TA. 
I mean, how much of the stuff can you take, I've already taken two courses since July 30th. 🤪

[Focus]

Ug, that sound horrendous.

I think I remember my GP saying that I could take as many courses of TA as necessary. I think, like you, I got loads of them with my prescription. From what I remember, she said to take them for four days, take a break, then start another four day course.

My side effects were so horrendous though, I really couldn't bear taking them (unbelievable fatigue, nausea, migraines, hallucinations) so had to stop.

[Justinfan20]

Thankyou for your help.
I had IV TA when I first went to A&E which made me sick , but the tablets have been ok, apart from making me a bit dizzy. Feel a bit drunk when I take them, but I can cope with that!!!
Hopefully i will get sorted soon and won't have to take them for much longer. 

[Sharon J]

Hi Justinfan20

I really feel for  you, I didn't take TA myself but was also anemic due to horrendous heavy periods and yes also huge golf ball size clots flooding through clothes, gushing out of me when I'm in the shower  :'(etc etc, endless amounts of iron tablets and falling asleep as soon as I sat in the chair, just generally feeling shit every month .
 
It took a good while of battling with GP for a referral to a gaenacologist but I got there in the end, at the initial meeting and the usual rummage around by the consultant he was trying to advise me about having the marina coil fitted , but I refused and said I wanted the couse investigated properly. I was told I could be waiting months also I wanted this particular consultant do do anything that needed to be done as I heard he was very good near retirement age but obviously years of experience.......... I also spoke to his secretary and cried down the phone explaining I couldn't go on like this at my wits end as it was interfering with everyone life I pleaded with her to put me on any list available at short notice at any time if a cancellation came up. Guess what within 4 weeks i got an appointment, Anyway...... I had a D&C, hysteroscapy and a endometrial ablation.  The best bloody thing ever, everything settled after 3 months with periods and I'm over the bloody moon    fir the first time ever I can use small pads and only need 1 packet each month its  amazing. I've emailed the secretary to thank her and consultant as I'm so pleased with the results. There are a few options, but it definitely needs to be investigated properly for you , not just dishing out pill like sweets  .

Be a bit forceful about what you want, I wish my younger self had been and I'd not had to suffer until age 47 always getting fobbed of by shit GP's

I'm going through a shitty perimenopausal time at the moment and only recently joined this forum which is a wonderful place with lovely supportive ladies with all sorts of experiences to help each other.
Good luck x

[Justinfan20]

So glad you are settled. Sounds like you have been through it in the past.
I am on urgent waiting list for hysteroscopy and biopsy but the waiting is torture. Google has a lot to answer for...Lol never Google your symptoms they say!
I'm praying for "a less sinister outcome" when i have the biopsy,  but it doesn't stop your mind working overtime and thinking the worst.
Feeling very alone too, so it's good to have you guys on here to turn to. None of my friends have suffered with their menopause so I have no one to reference really.
Xxx

[Sharon J]

Give it a few more days and chase the emergency appointment up lay it on with a trowel if you have to it's so draining and stressful waiting and not knowing the cause.
It could also be fibroids, which I have........ Oh no not the Google!  ....... You'll end up convinced that you've only got days to live if you're anything like I was.
Like lots of ladies will say on here your not alone you've got us to off load, get suggestions and have a giggle when needed x

[Justinfan20]

 ;)Thanks everyone. Every little bit of advice is appreciated x

[Dee46]

I was on TA last month for 7 days, I had the mirena fitted by GP in May bled everyday with severe cramps which felt like I was in labour, clotting & bleeding through my clothes for 9 weeks, I went to A&E to be told the mirena was not fitted properly & was trying to expel itself, it was removed there & then & I was put on 7 days TA & 5 days Norethisterone, I had cramping for a few days & the bleeding stopped for about 5 days & then I got another period, I had a vaginal scan & have fibroids or polys, had to chase the appointment up & not seeing hysteroscopy until October, I got my period this week & have had bad pelvic & back pain which I think is the fibroids, I have also been heavy & cramping

My GP prescribed me some mefenamic acid tablets back in June which didn't help, I was so desperate this morning that I took 2 & then paracetamol 2 hours later, then another 2 at lunch time, pain has gone & no cramping or pelvic/back ache.

Maybe you could get a stronger pain killer from the GP? I was told by GP I could only take TA for 4 days.

[Justinfan20]

Haven't been offered a mirena coil, hoping I won't need one. Still waiting for hysteroscopy and biopsy appointment.  Bleeding has eased after finishing 5 days of TA last Wednesday. I know it will start again in a few days so have TA waiting in the wings.
Xxx

[ElkWarning]

Hello there.  Yeah, I was on TA for about three years due to crushingly heavy periods.  So I'd take it for five days every month.  I mean I was just so ill, I think I would have taken anything at that point.  It was a sticking plaster though (didn't address the cause) and sometimes it wasn't hugely effective.  A friend of mine finally convinced me to make an extremely big fuss at the doctors.  Within six weeks I was seen by a gynae, had an ultrasound scan, where they found I had a stoma in my womb ().  I then had a hysteroscopy, an ablation, they closed the stoma and fitted a Mirena.  The ablation instantly stopped the heavy bleeding, and after six months the Mirena took care of the rest.  Massive quality of life improvement.  This was four a half years ago.

Best of luck and keep us posted.

[Justinfan20]

Once I have had the hysteroscopy and biopsy,  hopefully I will get the treatment I need, probably a hysterectomy according to my GP,  and then this whole episode of bleeding continuously will be over. I am still waiting for my appointment after a month. Hopefully it will be soon. 😏 xx

[Bobidy]

Hi, I've just read your posts.

I suffered with fibroid / polyps, heavy bleeds (and everything that goes with it) for 8 years, constantly anemic, horrible iron tablets etc etc. It got to the point where that combined with peri was ruining my life.

I made the decision to have a hysterectomy this year and it was the best decision I've ever made and I have my life back!

It is not a decision to be taken lightly of course as it is major surgery but recovery is manageable and I was able to have laparoscopic which I think helped with a speedy recovery.

I'd held off hrt until post op so I could just use oestrogen (as estrogel), which should have less bc risk.

Now I just have peri to contend with but the future certainly looks brighter!

I guess what I'm trying to say is don't be scared of a hysterectomy (I was terrified). It is an option and sometimes the best one. Xx

[Justinfan20]

Ahhh thanks for that. My gp said they will probably offer a hysterectomy depending on the outcome of my biopsy but I think if I am offered it anyway I will have it. I've had my children, hubby had vasectomy before I met him so babies were never an option, just a sticking point at times, but that's another story....lol
The opportunity to get rid of periods full stop is a big sweetener for me as up until recently they were every 28 days on the dot since I was 12 and I'm 52 now so I think I've had my fair share, so to speak.
Have emailed gynae secretary at the hospital today so I'm hoping for a hysteroscopy and biopsy date soon....fingers crossed xx