>several days of almost haemorge liek bleedign adn then antoehr day or two tailign off, usually all told aroudn a week or so. 

Barbara
I am older than you, but also used to be very, very heavy.  I always lasted 10 days minimum.  After an extremely heavy period, when I felt that blood loss was such that I would bleed to death, I felt so weak and washed out.  But it proved to be my very last one!  I had the worst ever period, but none since.  I was 52.  Oh how I love not having them!  :-)

I am glad you mentioned the Mirena, Lilyowen.  A wonderful invention.  Many of our patients are treated with these with great success and it should always be considered before surgery which was so often the only option for our mothers generation.

I would echo what Lea says and advise those of you suffering to ask for a referral to a gynaecologist.  We put up with all these things and start to accept them as normal, but they AREN'T and you shouldn't need your life controlled by these problems.  I was guilty of just accepting it too - I assumed all my problems were my age (49 last week!) - including needing to pee all night and day, bowel problems, severe headaches, and of course the bleeding problems...  I only went to my GP in a panic when I couldn't wee (despite needing to) and found I had a uterus the size of a 14 week pregnancy and packed with fibroids.

I had Zoladex injections too (they block oestrogen so mimic the menopause and therefore should shrink fibroids) and had a hysterectomy 6 weeks ago - and I am so pleased I did!  For those of you who end up needing one, it really isn't too bad - my biggest issues were bending down to dog bowls, clearing up poo etc! I am still tired but going back to work tomorrow, allbeit on reduced hours to start with. 

Brainless, get yourself checked out - your cycle will change leading up to the menopause but shouldn't be that bad.

This website has lots of information, not only for those considering hysterectomy but for heavy bleeding etc - I've found it very useful over the last few months!  http://www.hysterectomy-association.org.uk/forums/index.php

Well I had my smear call up card a few months ago, so must go for that.

Jan thankyou for your suggestion of the site, I am um um quite prolific in posting in there, and it has helped me no end :) :) :)
I have a date now of 17th April :o :o
So, a thread about periods have given me so so much information about something else ie going off topic it is unbeleivable :) :) :)
Good old Champdogs for you :) :)
Thankyou again :) :) :)
Lea :)

I too have been to doctor after being able to measure my blood loss with the moon cup and was amazed at how much it was over the normal.
Doctor put me on tabs for each month which initially worked but the last one was horrid and all the symptoms of either fibroids or endometriosis. Got my follow up appt on Tuesday & would gladly take a hysterectomy as treatment!

Lorripop, make sure you push to see a gynaecologist xxx
Lea :)

No problem Lea!  Glad it's helped!  I am Meredith on there (thought it was a bit personal to be myself on that site!) and have a lot of postings on October Opals if you want to look!  Good luck on 17th April. :)

For anyone with really heavy periods, if you also bruise very easily, and take a long time to clot, have nosebleeds, or for some people no more symptoms at all it may be worth being blood tested for Von willebrand's disease. You may know it from dobermann's but it's very much a human thing and apparently the majority of people go undiagnosed. I was only diagnosed about 4 years ago and so were my sisters - who have had children!