Question:
I have extremely heavy menstrual cycles with large clots.

I have never had a blood clotting problem, but I'm getting older (34) and more obese every year. My question is this: does the menstrual clotting have any relationship to other blood clotting? Also, in the past year, I have notice my legs (both at same time) have a throbbing pain, usually behind the knees and lower. I'm wondering is this some precurser to blood clots or do you think it might be arthritis? Any thoughts or advice will greatly help. I'm hoping to have surgery soon and want to make sure that I've checked all the "little things" wrong with me that we all live with and never mention. Thanks All!!!!    — Dawn R. (posted on March 13, 2001)

March 12, 2001
Hi Dawn. I was experiencing the SAME heavy bleeding during my cycle you have described. I believe I'm still "paying" for those Depo-Provera shots (i.e. poison) for years ago. My cycles were becoming more irregular and heavier with lots of blood clots in the last 6 months. I spoke with my surgeon about it at the consultation, and he seaid that this had no bearing on the surgery. But I also told him I would be looking into birth control pills to regulate and protect myself from pregnancy prior to surgery. I understand that fertility increases with the "burning" of the fat and releasing of stored estrogen in the fat cells. So I've returned to my "full circle dosaging" of birth control pills (meaning I take the three weeks of hormones, skip the sugar pills at the end of the pack and start another one) This prevents me from having cycles, horrid mood swings and those awful heavy periods. I haven't experienced the throbbing pain behind the knees that you describe. But my thighs would most definitely ache during those heavy cycles. It is from the hormones and period itself. No matter what my experience is, yours may and can be completely different. I would talk to my ob/gyn prior to surgery (well in advance) as well as discuss this with your surgeon. I hope this helps you!!
   — Rachael R.

March 12, 2001
I had a horrendous problem with this over the last three years. So bad in fact that I was anemic and would get sick at the drop of a hat. I suffered for a long time and had unimaginable pain. I had fibroids, which were large and made me look pregnant. I had them removed this January and have had one period that was almost a blessing, (I know, how can a period be a good experience?!?). I have not had my WLS, so my bleeding abnormalities had nothing to do with my weight. The particular area one of my tumors was located inside my uterus was made worse by birth control pills and was the size of an egg. The other tumor was the size of a grapefruit and was in the outer layer of uterine muscle. If you are having pain in between periods and horrible pain during, you might have either fibroids or endometriosis. The point is, find a doctor who can pin down the exact cause. I wasted over a year of my life with one ob/gyn who kept prescribing birth control pills and never once ran a sonogram to try and find the cause. The BC pills made the tumor causing my symptoms to grow larger and made my symptoms compound. I found a doctor who listened and ran the right tests and today I am happy with the outcome. I have given up caffeine to insure no more tumors will appear, as a lot of literature I have read stated some connection between caffeine and tumor growth. I hope this helps you, because it can be scary feeling like you're bleeding to death and the dread you feel at the beginning of each cycle is tremendous. I'm not trying to scare you, but it helps to be informed. Look up your particular symptoms on a site like DrKoop.com or any other health related site. If you can find some possible causes, when you go to see your doctor, you can discuss the research you have done and help your doctor better find a way to diagnose your problem.
   — Diana M.

March 13, 2001
Do you have annual gynecological exams? You may have fibroids. I suggest you check with your gynocologist.
   — Cindy H.

March 13, 2001
I also experience heavy bleeding and blood clots during my periods. Coincidently, I developed a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) a year and a half ago. My OB/GYN had started me on Birth Control Pills about 5 months earlier to try to releive me of the heavy bleeding during my periods, however, it appears that the BCP's actually may have caused the DVT. My OB/GYN has also told me that obese women tend to produce some kind of extra hormone or estrogen (?) that may increase our flow during our periods. I am also pre/op and hope that once my weight is decreased I will experience a decrease in that monthly problem!
   — Linda H.

March 13, 2001
Any variety of gynecological conditions can cause heavy periods and clotting including fibroids and polycystic ovarian disease (PCOS). If is IMPORTANT that you see a gynecologist for a diagnosis although in the case PCOS you might find that an endroconologist can provide a more accurate diagnosis. I dealt with heavy bleeding and clotting and long periods for ten years to the point where I was begging for a hysterectomy. Finally a wonderful gynecologist (a female who didn't believe that women just needed to learn to live with their biology) prescribed ProVera the first 10 days of each month and I have been problem free even as I approach menopause. You should keep in mind that those of us who are morbidly obese store large amounts of estrogen in our fat tissue. This throws our body chemistry out of whack and increases our chances of these difficulties. It also increases our chances of developing endometrial cancer. Losing weight may not cure your problems, but it could very well lessen your difficulties and will definitely improve your overall health.
   — Nanette T.

May 9, 2001
I had excessive bleeding and clotting for many years, due to fibroids and ovarian cysts. It worsened until I developed moderately severe anemia. At first, I wanted to avoid hormones (progesterone) because they aggravated my psych symptoms. But then I decided to try taking progesterone orally, with the predictable psych problems and less than satisfactory results on controlling the bleeding. I got a new ob/gyn, who suggested Progestasert, a progesterone-releasing IUD. It has worked wonderfully in controlling the bleeding, and only initially caused me psych symptoms. Although I have a history of infertility, and I'm 48, the IUD provides protection from pregnancy that is necessary when considering this surgery. In any case, your ob/gyn has resources, such as sonograms and blood tests, to help diagnose your problem, and there are many treatments. Good luck and good health!
   — Merry M.