Anaemia, terrible pain and coughing up blood

Michelle has had really painful periods from the start which have got worse to the point she became anaemic due to heavy bleeding. She now coughs up blood with her periods and is understandable very depressed

This is Michelle’s story ….

Hi! So glad I came across this site, it's made me realise I'm not as alone as I thought I was! I will try to make this as short as I can. I'm nineteen years old. My periods started when I was 12, and for as long as I can remember, they have been painful and heavy. At first, I accepted it must be normal, especially as I, at that age, knew no different.

But as time went on, it got worse and worse to the point that I had no choice but to stay off school sometimes. My periods were so heavy, that I often wore more than one sanitary towel, and changed on the hour, sometimes even twice, or three times (during one hour!).

I became very anaemic and was put on iron tablets; I became tired, irritable and just very down and out.

However, those symptoms were the least of my problems as the pain was so bad, it made the bleeding seem so much more of a minor problem. I would lay in bed, just crying for hours.

Tried endless number of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. Nothing worked.

I visited the doctors more times than I can remember to only be told it was normal to be in such agony, and was given some kind of new drug each time or a drug increase on what I was already taking.

One drug, ponstan, I noticed had a tiny effect on minimising the symptoms, but it only lasted around three months. After that, it stopped working and no other drug has worked since. During the last two years the painful episodes have doubled and the bleeding also, and it's often come to the point I just want to sleep through my whole period and not wake!

Last April I was diagnosed with Epilepsy, and therefore had to come off any kind of drug I had been trying to take. The last six months have been horrid, a complete living nightmare (as I'm sure many of you can relate to).

The never knowing when the agony will start is horrible... it hits you from out of nowhere. You can be fine one moment and then in an utter state of distress the next. It comes on so fast that it's sometimes almost impossible to prepare for it.

My choices in drug treatment are limited and my options left are extreme (hysterectomy). I roll on the floor in agony, screaming in agony and doctors have been so little in means of help, it's been a waiting game.

During my actual cycle, I scream about how I want the hysterectomy SO bad, at times I've even said I'd rip my own stomach out to just stop the pain! Then when I get that one to two weeks where the pain is so much less... I cry because I think I can cope without the hysterectomy, and promise myself I will get through the next period ok.. it just never happens.

I now cough blood, faint and can't cope during my periods any more.

Earlier this month, if I had, had the chance.. I don't know what I would have done (and I am the least suicidal person on the planet) The pain has genuinely got this far.

Anaemia, terrible pain and coughing up blood

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