Female hormones and T1

[Lizzzie]

Hello everyone - all welcome to read and comment. If anyone's sensitive it mentions menstrual blood.

Its that time of month again. High levels, struggling to get them down (Or overdo it and hypo) then: period starts, hypo city.

Is this normal? It seems to be getting worse and im approaching 40. Pretty heavy periods at the moment. Any experiences/ thoughts / reccomendations?

 

[Thebearcametoo]

Do you make an adjustment to your ratios before your period starts? If you have a smart meter you can put a setting like an illness setting to increase the ratio for PMS and then one to lower it for during your period. Fluctuations in glucose levels and insulin requirements are pretty normal around periods.
As for heavy bleeding. It’s common for things to change as you get older (unfortunately). Heavy means different things to different people depending what your norm was. Things to bear in mind - heavy periods can be just a normal sign of ageing but they can be because of changes to your body so if in doubt get checked out and have a scan. You may become anaemic. I ended up needing a blood transfusion as I just figured I felt so bad because of my Fibro and didn’t realise I was severely anaemic. Don’t be me. If your periods bother you chat to your GP about ways to manage it. You can have the mirena, mini pill or other ways to get hormones into your body to lighten or stop your periods. They tend not to like to give the full pill to older women I presume because of the osteoporosis risks but it’s still an option if it suits you better. If I could press a button and stop mine I absolutely would. I’m currently doing pretty well on the mini pill but it’s still early days (and I’m as spotty as a teenager which is annoying). I bled out a Mirena after 6 months which was very annoying.

 

[trophywench]

For years and years my (male) GP (who was great for other stuff) smiled and told me 'some women do have heavy periods' to which I had responded. 'Yes, thank you - I've known that fact since I was 11!' However never before had I been too scared to get out of bed since I would deposit great clots on the carpet from the side of my bed to the loo and the in the loo before even being able to clean myself up let alone yards of beige Axminster. Luckily my employer at the time provided a BUPA medical every 3 years so I went for one and was seen by a slight lady gynae - with small hands! I had mahoosive fibroids and despite trying hormones for about 6 months with no improvement to speak of the ONLY thing to do was whip the offending organs out.

Turned out despite opting to have the tubes and ovaries removed too, one was completely embedded with fibroid so I'd have lost that one anyway, plus I had numerous patches of endometriosis that she had to deal with whilst in there - which neither of us suspected prior to the event.

If you aren't happy - get to see a gynae either NHS or privately.

 

[PhoebeC]

I always get hypos with my period, a few days before and during, I use it as a reason to eat chocolate. My levels during just go crazy no reason or pattern I can find.

That’s why I wanted to sterilise me so I can come off this contraception, which gives me random periods. I might have none for 6 weeks I might have two in a month and it makes me feel so weak and tired but they won’t do it. Apparently I am too young and might change my mind, but she’s 9 and we both nearly died so unless they cure T1 and reverse all the changes I’m not having another baby!

 

[Lizzzie]

Thankyou folks. That's helpful; all three of you. Jenny, I am angry with your previous doctor on your behalf.

 

[PhoebeC]

Seems talking about it made mine come back again, apparently (i have an app to track it as I can't mentally) I am not due for another 20 days 😱 Never mind