Blood Clots

Sometimes I have monster ones too, but never that big. A friend of mine also had heavy periods. It got really bad at one point. Her body couldn't release the blood fast enough. So with each period, there was still tissue in the uterus, and it built up. Her doctor put her on the pill to regulate. When I had monster cramps it was because i drank too much soda. I don't know it was the caffine or the other chemicals in the soda. But I cut down, the cramps were a lot easier.

I get these also, but thought it was just the uterine lining that breaks down.

Yes I used to have debilitating cramps (they would literally knock me down)I also have always had very heavy periods and I used to go for 9 days at a time. If I took BC pills I went all month or more. As I got older(and had children)the cramps slowly went away and I lasted fewer days (on average 5 or 6)but the clots started. I have had them so bad where I thought I may be having a miscarriage. Now that I am headed toward my 40's (just on the other side of 35) my periods will go for three days and stop for 1 to 2 and start again for 1 to 3 days. I am still very regular but it freaked me out at first. I remembered my Mother started going through menopause between probably 38 and 40. She is 57 now and says it took ten years. She had clots too as far back as I can remember. If you are not in pain and there is no odor then your Dr is probably right, it is normal. If you are still having the really bad cramps I would get a second opinion (could be endometriosis which is very common) here is a website with more info www.endometriosis.org
I did a google search there are a ton of sites about it. You might get a second opinion anyway just to be sure. They can always run tests but you have to ask for them and be insistent. Good luck. Hope you find the answers you need and God Bless. K.

Heavy, painful, clotty periods are not normal. I have the same experience and have endometriosis. Ask your doctor to do further testing (maybe even a laproscopy-exploratory) and if he says no-get another doctor. Google Andrew Cook. His website is wonderful. He's a doctor in the bay area (CA). Email me if you have any questions.

I get the clots too, and very bad cramps. There have been times where I wondered if I was having a m/c, but probably not since it happens so often. My periods aren't terribly long, I think it's almost like getting it over with quicker by so much coming out together at once. I don't know, it's just my theory. I don't have any real advice, as I should probably see my gyn too, but I just wanted to assure you that you are not alone in getting the clots.

"NORMAL", not!!!

There is so much that women do to their bodies and are done to our bodies that is completely unnormal, but doctors and whoever else will say it's normal. And what does normal mean??

All the tampons and pads that we use have chemicals in them that cause cancer and other reproductive problems. That is not normal, but most people think it is. Most people don't know the truth and how men are trying to dictate to us how we use and what we do with our bodies. Big money makers.

There is got to be the truth out there somewhere. Maybe wholistic practioners know. Food also must have a big influence on our cycles. We need to learn what to eat at specific times to help us regulate our bodies better, instead of relying on the birth control pill!!!!!!!!!

GOOD LUCK to us all...

I have had smaller ones but in your case it does not sound normal to have ones that large. I would suggest you finding someone else who can give you a second opinion because you don't want to continue to go on thinking it's normal if something is wrong. Are you taking any birthcontrol pills at all? The ones that I am on, ortho try cyclen lo has really helped reduce a lot of pain and bleeding and of course each person reacts different to birthcontrol but I would go online and type that in to see what comes up. Check and make sure that what your doctor has said is correct and if you have any doubts, get a second opinion.

I used to bleed very heavy and have large blood clots. It used to scare me cause i started getting them when i was 11 too. The doctor said everything is normal. But my periods are a lot less heavy and a lot less blood clots. But i used to be on the pill. It helped.

yes. And i was told it was not normal. In fact i was put on low estrogen b.c. pills to lesson the flow and clots, and it actually works quite well.

You are not alone in this. I am 33 years old and have always had very heavy periods since I was 13. Just recently I missed my period for 2 months and when I did get my period, wow, it lasted 8 days, heavy and with alot of clots. I have spoken to the dr. about this and he said it is normal in me, and if I wanted to I could take the pill to help me. I took the pill many years ago for about 1 year and it was great. My periods lasted only 3 days, not painful, and no clots. I don't want to take the pill anymore, so I just bear it. I have also heard that if you exercise, your periods will tend to be less painful and heavy. Well, good luck.

Dear M.,

Have you gone to a Gynocologist? You need to. C. N.

M.,

I'd get a 2nd opinion. I went thru that for a few years and then finally saw a doctor about it when my periods began running 3 wks long! I had a lot of cysts in my uterus but they weren't problematic and I was finally diagnosed with a hormonal imbalance. Turns out my mom had the same & so does my sister. If you have any sisters, you should ask them about their cycles too & your mom. Apparently it can be hereditary and their cycles might give you insight or clues as to whether it is a hormonal imbalance or possibly something else. You might need a biopsy or D&C (dilation & curretage) but I would ask your doctor to do what my doctor did and that is to start out with the least aggressive treatments and "weed things out" until he/she figures out what the exact problem is.

My doctor ended up putting me on birth control pills to regulate the hormones and now all is well. Because of my age (late 30's when it began) and have my tubes tied, there were no issues of me wanting to get pregnant again so the pills basically just keep me regular and now I only have about a 4 day period with few symptoms.

Good luck,
D. H.