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[Focus]

When things were as bad as they'd ever been before (back in early November) I was passing clots the size of golf balls a good several times a day, for days on end. That was before I had taken anything for all of this.

Now? It's heavier than my heaviest flow ever was before all of this started, and I'm passing clots the size of ten pence pieces, maybe 8 or 10 times a day. I have to go to the toilet every hour or so to make sure I don't get caught out by them.

But it doesn't feel as insanely desperate and out of control as it did back in November.

I mean, it's still utterly horrendous and totally dominating my life. I can't plan anything. And I'm beyond physically and emotionally exhausted. It's totally drained every single ounce of confidence I had. So, in that way, it's perhaps worse.

I'm a couple of days into taking the Loestrin 30. I discovered it's got 1.5mgs of norethisterone in it. So we wait and see...

I'm still suffering the side effects of the two Tranexamic Acid tablets I took last night. Still feel nauseous as heck, with a really painful headache and super sensitive to the smell of smoke. There was someone smoking at the other end of the street when I was walking home just now and a seriously thought I was going to throw up.

Please let this pass soon, please.

[Focus]

For the last two nights I've been able to sleep through the night, and not have to get up once/twice to go to the bathroom and change. I can't begin to describe the difference it's made to my entire state of being.

Yesterday my period has become what I would just call a regular heavy-ish period - not one single clot. I honestly can't believe it.

I was able to go to work (two separate zero hour shifts). I did feel a bit nervous and tense on both shifts...worried about any sudden clots/flooding. But it was all OK. I think that today I will be able to relax a bit more and start to enjoy my work.

On the down side, now the panic has subsided, I've become more aware of the constant dull ache in my ovaries. I can feel the pain extending down the back of my left leg, sciatica like. It's uncomfortable pretty much all the time, and a bit wearing because of that, but it's not unbearable.

I have three months until my scan.

[Gangan]

It always seems such a long time when you are waiting. Hope that you continue to improve.
From what you wrote on another thread i think it's bad that your GP didn't organise a scan for you but the contraceptive specialist did.
I skirted round my GP by going private at a couple of points then back to the NHS. I probably couldn't afford to do that now. GP's are the gatekeepers but seem to watch their budgets. All you (in general) want is information and peace.

Gangan x

[Focus]

Thank you. And yes, you are totally right.

Now, hopefully after the scan and the results are in, I can ask the contraception specialist to refer me to menopause clinic, or write a letter requesting a referral to my GP.

Gads, I can't believe how much of this is up to you and how much you need to find out yourself about it all as well. It's not easy, for sure.

I *seem* to be getting on better with the Loestrin 30 than the Loestrin 20. And better on the combined pill in general than the POP.  Of course, that may all change at some point *sigh*.

Anyway, that's where we are now.

I'm heading to do my own work for a few hours, and I know it will be very quiet...not many people around. So I'm going to try wearing a pair of jeans for the first time in goodness knows how long. Skinny jeans were my staple before all of this but I've had to wear black leggings the past couple of months. They're comfortable : o) but I've been hating it. I'll make sure to wear a long black coat, just in case.

Then tonite I have another zero hours shift, like the one I've had the past couple of nights. So I feel a little more confident having done a couple already and not had any trouble.

I've been spending a little extra time experimenting with my makeup to try and help me feel a little better in all of this.

[Focus]

I feel able to go back onto solid food now too.

[Focus]

Oh my goodness, this evening I went back to the gym after a huge chunk of time away because of the constant bleeding, flooding and clots.

I am so, so happy. I feel like myself again.

I just took it easy this evening, as I wanted to see how it went.

Tomorrow evening I'm going back, and I think I might go for a run. I'll try for 45 minutes and see how it goes.

So happy.

[Hurdity]

Hey Focus - so glad to hear that things are improving for you - long may it last

"Zero hours shift" - that sounds like not working at all - how can you work no hours on a shift  ?!

Stay happy  . Spring is around the corner (after a bit of winter first!).

Hurdity x

[Focus]

Thank you Hurdity!

I should maybe have said 'zero hours contract shift'.

You know that type of job where you're not guaranteed any set hours per week or month? You may get one three hour shift in a month, or you maybe get a ton of shifts one week (that maybe amounts to 40+ hours) and then nothing at all for the next three weeks? All just depending on how much staff cover they need. It's one of those kinds of contracts.

Actually, I have two of them that I juggle.

I really like the freedom they give me, so I can do my own work. So if I get offered temporary contract for my own work, I can just tell my zero hours jobs that I'm not available for that week/fortnight/month. Go and do my temporary contract and then make myself available for shifts again.

The downside on those sorts of contracts is that you have very little in the way of employment rights. So if you're scheduled for a shift and can't make it because you're ill, you don't get paid. Well, I have one zero hours job like that, and my in my other zero hours job where you get a little more, in terms of sick pay, holiday pay, cancelled shifts payments (like if they cancel a shift and you lose the work/money because of it).

So, yeah, it's really, really essential that I do the work and am not stopped by the heavy periods etc, because otherwise I get nothing, no income.

[dangermouse]

Glad the combined pill is working for you, it really is the best option for bleeding and remember not to have any pill breaks.

[Conolly]

Hello Focus,

Fingers crossed this regimen will be the solution for the bleeding issue. Yes, please, no more pill breaks.

Conolly X

[Focus]

Thank you ladies.

But why no pill breaks? The doctor didn't mention that?

[Gangan]

Just as a complete aside and going by the title of your thread Zero hour contracts don't seem to be progress to me in this day and age.
Glad that you are feeling so much better and yourself again.

Gangan x

[Focus]

I know what you mean Gangan, and I totally agree in one way.

The only thing is, they totally work for me. I can accept other, temporary contracts in my line of work. Those can be in the city where I live, in other cities or abroad. If I was tied to a part time job, with regular hours, I couldn't do this.

[dangermouse]

If you take the 7 day pill break you'll have a withdrawal bleed and will
also be allowing your own suppressed rampant hormones more chance of waking up, so you need to take the pill packs back to back. You then won't have any bleeds.

GPs are now prescribing this regime for all women as there is no medical justification for having the breaks (it was based on an historical agreement with the Church who would only support the pill if there was a bleed!). Google it!

[Focus]

Brilliant, thank you!

Yes, I remember seeing the news crop up on my FB feed (was it just a couple of weeks ago?).

When I was on the combined pill throughout my 30s I just used to take it back to back anyway. I wasn't struck down by lightening strangely enough : o)