Nightmare neverending period and PCOS advice...

I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome) 3 years ago when I went to the Doctor and was getting really bad lower abdominal cramps and started having weird periods where I would be on for 3 weeks, off for a week and then back on for 3 weeks etc. When I got an ultrasound scan they said that both ovaries were much larger than average (which is how they diagnose PCOS because the extra follicles on the ovaries make them visibly larger - they aren't actually cysts but the mislabel has kind of stuck with the condition). I wasn't offered any treatment for this and just kind of coped by altering my diet and trying to make healthier lifestyle choices. Since then I've had lots of missed periods followed by heavy, prolonged periods. It's been very up and down.

I've now been on my period for 4 months and counting with no break. I went to my GP who took swabs which came back clear so no infections or anything and have been put on Micronor (Norethisterone) which according to my Doctor may or may not do anything but they have to do that to rule out a problem with hormones before referring me to the gynecologist. Since I've been put on this drug the bleeding has got even worse, my abdominal pain has got worse and I've been having crazy moodswings. I'm getting a phone call from the GP in 2 weeks to see if there's any improvement and if not I'm going to get a referral to the gynecologist. I'm so fed up!

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Reply 1

AnnaR11

I'm in the opposite position I've not had a period since having my daughter nearly 20 months ago but I didn't want to read and run! I hope you get some answers soon, it's horrible not knowing what's actually wrong. :frown:

Reply 2

username2324383

Stop taking the pills and contact your GP asap and tell them the side effects were the reason you decided to stop taking them. They should give you something else or may refer you to the hospital sooner. Or just book an appointment at the hospital and you'll get to see a specialist sooner.

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Reply 3

kellywellydoodle

Original post by samzy21

Stop taking the :colondollar:

pills and contact your GP asap and tell them the side effects were the reason you decided to stop taking them. They should give you something else or may refer you to the hospital sooner. Or just book an appointment at the hospital and you'll get to see a specialist sooner.

Posted from TSR Mobile

When I rang my GP (on Tuesday) she said that the side effects I was experiencing were fairly common and just to wait it out for two weeks - she said it may take a while for the bleeding to settle because norethisterone works by thinning the lining of the womb. I'm guessing by the amount of bleeding I'm getting that the walls of my womb must have been crazy thick :colondollar:

She reckons because I went through a time of not having periods for a few months that it's built up.

My side effects have calmed down a bit tbh...hard to say if my abdominal pain is worse or I am just noticing it more because I'm off work...

Reply 4

username2324383

Original post by kellywellydoodle

Ok, if it gets any worse then call again.

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Reply 5

Bicuspid

You should have been offered treatments, and a blood test to confirm PCOS - which is an endocrine disorder, ie. your hormones are out of whack. Your GP obviously doesn't have much experience with PCOS - you should be seeing an OB/GYN and taking either the combined pill if you can, a POP along with spironolactone, and possibly metformin, WHILE having your blood tested every so often to see how your hormones are doing!

However, being in that amount of pain might suggest something else, like endometriosis, PID etc. Talk to a gynaecologist!

Reply 6

kellywellydoodle

Original post by Bicuspid

I had a pretty awful time back when I was originally diagnosed...I was sent to the hospital for scans and I was told there that I had polycystic ovaries but no one actually told me what that meant and I thought it meant I would be unable to have children... I remember going into the toilets afterwards and just sobbing - no one supported me in the hospital at all. I then had to wait a week till I had an appointment with my GP to explain what that meant. I looked up stuff about it online but there seemed to be a lot of discrepancies between different things I read.

I'm allergic to the combined pill which is why I've been put on norethisterone as an alternative. I was tested for PCOS 3 years ago - full bloods done which came back saying hormones normal but scans showed massive ovaries (both of them) and I had enough of the symptoms to diagnose PCOS.

I was reluctant back then to take anything to regulate periods because my mum found that the pill and similar did not agree with her and made it really tough for her to conceive afterwards which scared me but I wasn't offered any alternatives or talked through my options.

I think my original GP I had didn't really get the condition but the GP I'm with now is a specialist in gyno...feels much better to talk to someone that seems to know what they're doing.