Help me stop bleeding!

SPCnut · 06-13-2008, 10:00 AM

I have horrible breakthrough bleeding and it won't stop. I bleed for about 2 weeks, every 2 weeks. It is heavy, clotting bleeding too. I have been to my RE and everything in my uterus looks fine. He put me on the NuvaRing (BC) and I tried it for 2 cycles - yuck. I hate BC. It made me angry, mad all the time, gave me vaginal dryness and itch, ... everything BCs do!

So, any ideas of what I can do to get rid of this horrible bleeding? I am tired of it

k_odegard · 06-13-2008, 04:52 PM

I have the same problem too and I dont know what to do!

Sakinah · 06-14-2008, 12:47 AM

Me too!
Doc told me to "lose weight". ???
I used to do BC but I feel they are more dangerous than the bleeding and has great long term effects and docs may keep PCOSers on it to keep it under control. (Not a ideal solution IMO)

I have been using NPC and it has been working like I charm this past week! I also have been using a combo of herbal teas and Maca.
Wish I found it years ago!

You should experiment with the natural things and find what works for you, there is LOTS of good places to start.

Try some herbal teas and NPC.
But I wouldn't unless you get the doctors ok as you are on meds.

NYER · 06-14-2008, 01:31 PM

I second Sakinah - maca (follicular phase) then NPC(post ovulation) or a shutdown (3 weeks on 1 week off NPC). But only if you are not taking any birth control (or nuvaring). False unicorn can also stop bleeding.

SPCnut · 06-14-2008, 06:16 PM

Thanks ladies. I have used NPC a few years back. I should try it again. I am always confused as to what cds to take it though - we are not TTC.

Bummer on the loose weight comment from your dr. I just lost 20lbs (down from 205lbs to 185lbs). I was more "regular" with my menstrual cycle when I was 205lbs than I am now. Ugh.

energy33 · 06-16-2008, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPCnut

I have horrible breakthrough bleeding and it won't stop. I bleed for about 2 weeks, every 2 weeks. It is heavy, clotting bleeding too. I have been to my RE and everything in my uterus looks fine. He put me on the NuvaRing (BC) and I tried it for 2 cycles - yuck. I hate BC. It made me angry, mad all the time, gave me vaginal dryness and itch, ... everything BCs do!

So, any ideas of what I can do to get rid of this horrible bleeding? I am tired of it

Hi SPCnut...

First, let me say your girls are lovely!

Next, let me say you are entirely too young to be having this problem.

I know many women swear by NPC. However some of the latest studies find this a problematic solution for numerous reasons. It may (or may not) give you symptomatic relief, which doesn't really address the underlying reason why the need for NPC occurred, and at the very worst, can make matters worse.

You also mention a low tolerance for synthetic birth control type artificial hormones. Because of this and your young age, several issues have to be considered...

1. Liver issues. The liver is a key player in women's cycles. If the liver is underfunctioning or needs cleansing, it's very inefficient in dealing with hormone production. Hence, breakthrough bleeding and heavy clotting flow.

2. Lack of healthy fats in your diet. Ever since the lo-fat, no-fat diets came on the scene decades ago, womens hormone issues have gone through the roof. The body needs healthy fats to work with as it concerns hormone production. Healthy saturated fats are needed by all of us, men and women alike.

3. Issues with stress... both consciuos and sub-conscious. Stress raises cortisol levels which totally throws off normal hormone production.

4. Issues that encourage elevated cortisol, i.e. skipping breakfast, (protein for breakfast is best), skipping meals, going longer that 2 hours without a healthy protein snack between meals, caffeine, 6 or less hours of sleep per night, alcohol intake, sugar intake, pharmaceutical or recreational drugs, going non-stop in too many directions, worry or low grade anger about life issues. All of these contribute to or are directly responsible for elevated cortisol. If cortisol is elevated, all the rest of our hormone function is profoundly compromised.

5. Nutritional deprivation secondary to calorie deprivation.

6. Nutritional deprivivation secondary to an under-functioning digestive system... stomach & small intestine.

7. Zinc deficiency. This is very common in the US. Here are some symptoms of zinc deficiency:

• behavioral and sleep disturbances

• dandruff

• delay in wound healing

• diarrhea

• different kinds of skin lesions such as eczema, psoriasis and acne

• growth retardation

• hair loss

• hang nails

• hyperactivity

• increased allergic sensitivity

• inflammation of your nail cuticles

• inflammatory bowel disease

• loss of appetite

• loss of senses of taste or smell

• loss of sex drive

• mild anemia

• pre-eclampsia (toxaemia) in pregnancy and post-natal depression

• pre-menstrual syndrome, disturbance in your menstrual cycle

• reduced fertility

• skin dryness and rashes

• white spots on fingernails, transverse lines and poor nail growth

See if you have any of these symptoms in addition to the menstrual cycle disturbance.

Your solution may be as simple as a daily zinc supplement.

With 2 young daughters, I'm sure you're on the go.

I've worked with many women concerning this issue.

I can make recommendations of products I show my clients and I don't want to make this into a post endorsing me or any products.

You can do some of your own research and look at some of the issues behind the hormone imbalance that you're experiencing.

Hormone issues are a deep issue in the body and are always a symptom of other things going on that can be easily corrected by lifestyle and free will choice alterations.

Hope this has been useful.

Yours in Health,
Cheryl Laures RN, Kinesiologist, Personal Wellness Consultant

ChristineK · 06-17-2008, 07:57 PM

Does false Unicorn really work? Would it work for complex hyperplasia?

NYER · 06-17-2008, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristineK

Does false Unicorn really work? Would it work for complex hyperplasia?

Hi Christine,

Yes, false unicorn works very well with heavy bleeding during menstruation. It's suppose to balance hormones, is a uterine tonic, and in chinese medicine I believe it increases qi (which keeps blood within the vessels). But I wouldn't feel comfortable saying it should be used for hyperplasia as I don't know enough about it. You can ask here:
http://www.inciid.org/forums/alternatives/index.html

Anca is a well known acupuncturist who specializes in female hormones/infertility/reproductive system. She's very knowledgeable about herbs and she'd be able to answer your question. She volunteers on the INCIID boards, so she only answers questions about once or twice a week.

Wishing you the best!

ChristineK · 06-18-2008, 07:49 AM

Thank you so much!

NYER · 06-18-2008, 01:43 PM

Your welcome

eljaustin · 07-02-2008, 05:03 PM

I'm hoping someone can help!! Nyer, I have read a lot of your posts in the last several months. Energy33, your post above was an eye-opener. Here's my issue:

- I was dx'ed with PCOS back in '04/'05.

- Had heavy bleeding on and off since '98. Old gyn. put me on quick heavy doses of bcps to stop the bleeding. It worked, but I still wasn't ovulating, and the bleeding always came back, for months at a time, every 6-7 months later. Still don't like taking bcps due to side effects and dangers associated with it (also due to religious reasons, but know I can take it for religious reasons if needed, although I don't want to due to medical dangers associated with it)

- Was trying to conceive in late '05, but wasn't ovulating. Old gyn put me on Metformin 3x/day (even though I was seeing a new gyn - trusted the old gyn in my old state better). Conceived a month later, had beautiful DD 10/06 (stayed on Met until 3rd month of pregnancy)

- bleeding started again May or June '07; started Met up again in July '07 2x/day based on new gyn's recommendation (even though I told him old gyn had me on it 3x/day to ovulate)

- heavy bleeding started in 8 or 9/07; finally took short course of bcps again (reluctantly) in 10/07, and stopped a month later.

- had "normal" cycles Nov. '07 - Feb. '08, and was using Met 2x/day, but wasn't ovulating (used CBEFM from Dec. '07 to Feb.'08 which is how I know I didn't ovulate)

- lost a lot of weight (about 20 lbs.) from early Jan. '08 to Feb. '08 due to change in diet (ate a lot of veggies, pistachios, cut out most of sugar, and drank lemon & honey in hot water); started gaining it back in April '08 and gained back all of it.

- didn't have AF in 3/08; light AF 4/08; non-stop light AF started 5/21/08

- called gyn office in 3/08 when I didn't get period knowing that it was probably going to lead to heavy bleeding sooner or later; he referred me to an endo

- endo office said they couldn't schedule an appt. for me until they got all of my records; by 4/08, they had everything, but the earliest date available was 7/1/08, so scheduled that

- on 6/23/08 heavy bleeding started; took ibuprofen on and off to help lighten, but it wasn't much help; also tried ACV with honey for two days...killed my hunger, but was pretty tired

- on 6/30/08, endo office called saying they have to reschedule me (after waiting that long!!!!!!) to 7/17/08

- got an appt with gyn on 7/1/08 to discuss heavy bleeding; he prescribed bcps (Lo-Ovral) in high doses, tapering down until I get in to see the endo on the 17th

-tried tea steeped with cinnamon stick and honey 7/1 and this morning; got really heavy gushes within an hour of drinking it; early this morning it tapered down a lot, but started again

- haven't started to take the bcps b/c I've been reading all the posts about natural remedies, and I'm really not wanting to take bcps and screw my system up again (weight gain, moodiness, masking the problem, etc.); I want to order the Hyponidd (I have relatives in India who can get it for me), but the gyn said to wait to talk to the endo to get on that (he also said to show her the studies on it that I printed out)

SO, with all that being said, what do you think will help me out here? Zinc is something I hadn't read about until today, and I have a lot of the things indicated in energy33's post.

Someone, please post suggestions with proven results...the sooner the better, and I'm really not wanting to start the bcps. Hope someone can help. Thanks.

NYER · 07-02-2008, 06:03 PM

Eljaustin,

Energy33 gave a lot of great info. Nutritional deficiencies can certainly play a part. I noticed a big change in bleeding when I started eating alot of fruits/vegs working on getting all my minerals up, and didn't need the false unicorn anymore. Vit. K. deficiency is something to look at too. It is responsible for clotting. If your liver is sluggish, then that can make it worse. Vit. K is processed in the liver. Try eating lots of green veggies if you don't already.

I agree with you that bcp's are a temporary fix. They don't address the problem, and as soon as you're off them, your back in the same place or actually worse. Nevermind if you have an undiagnosed clotting disorder, and the risk that goes with that. The false unicorn does really work. You only need a couple drops of tincture during AF. It's great stuff & was a life saver for me. I still stand by that, maca & NPC. NPC to break out of the cycle of anovulation by replacing the missing progesterone. But long term, nutritional is the way to go. I know you said you changed your diet, but some people have malabsorption issues like me, and need to go above & beyond with their servings of veg/fruit - at least temporarily - and then taper down to a normal intake. Even when your bad with diet, make sure to get the produce in. I use to be one with the attitude of "I messed up with my diet today, so I might as well just give into it for the rest of the day". I had to get myself out of that habit & make sure to eat the good stuff with the bad. And I big ditto about addressing the liver. Milk Thistle, and now personally I'm finding Royal Jelly have helped me with blood sugar issues(and obviously insulin resistance). And the EFA's (fish oil best) like Energy said.

Brooksie · 07-06-2008, 11:52 PM

I was having break through bleeding even though I am on the birth control pill. My obgyn told me that studies now say that women who are on birth control pills should not be a whole week off the hormone. she told me that the pill companies are in the process of changing their pill packs. She said that at the end of the hormone pills to only take three of the sugar pills (or throw them away) then start a new pack of pills. Since I have been doing that it has helped.

MissChrystal · 07-07-2008, 12:46 AM

Met has been the only thing non-BCP that has stopped my horrible horrible bleeding

eljaustin · 07-07-2008, 06:26 PM

Well, here's an update... unfortunately, I started bleeding even heavier though I was taking the cinnamon, zinc, etc. Didn't try to the false unicorn since I didn't get out to the store. But it just got so bad, I finally started the bcps (Lo-Ovral)...had to take 3 the first day, 2 the second, and one a day afterwards. Oh my Lord, I was so sick on the first day....had severe nausea, and a terrible non-stop headache. I had to lay down for a few hours, and I NEVER lay down during the daytime. Anyway, to make a long story short, I'm barely bleeding now, and can't wait to get off bcps.

I also got my m-i-l to buy some packets of Hyponidd for me, and she'll be sending it to me with some relatives who are returning from vacation there. I have an appointment with the endocrinologist on the 17th. Have any of you had negative reactions from your endo when asking to be treated with Hyponidd? I plan on showing her the studies, etc.