Started Esmya. How long until bleeding should stop?

Women's health
1

Hi all. I started Esmya 6 days ago and am still bleeding, heavy at times. Had a slow wean off norethisterone, last tablet was 2 days before starting Esmya. So prob having a withdrawal bleed from that but just wondering how long til Esmya kicks in.

Had big haemorrhage at Xmas and lost over 30% blood volume so any bleeding leaves me highly anxious and unable to function normally. Has anyone else experienced that?

Also, consultant put mirena in 2 mths ago to help control bleeding. He said it won't impact on effect of Esmya but I've read that it can as they're both competing for progesterone receptors. Have others come across this at all? Is there anyone else out there on Esmya who also has the mirena? Did you have any results?

Thank you.

2

Hi Caz, I am aslo on Esmya and have coil. I was bleeding heavy for the first 6 weeks and then it slowed down to barely nothing but then a few days ago started bleeding again, I only have 2 more tablets left of my 3 months and am now worried I will go back to heavy bleeding.

I did not have any side effects on these tablets so thats a bonus and I dont belive it has effected my coil. Hopefully your periods will settle soon.

3

Thanks Shaza. Can you just confirm that your heavy bleeding was for 6 WEEKS!!? Not 6 days!! Goodness! I really do hope mine settle sooner than that!

The waiting is agonising isn't it? Do you know if your fibroid has shrunk at all?

I wish there was a quicker solution to these fibroids that didn't involve a hysterectomy. I really do feel that there is no "best" solution.

Thanks for your reply Shaza.

4

Hi, yes am afraid it was 6 weeks on off with heavy bleeding and clots . My stomach has shrunk so I do belive they have got smaller. I do have 7 of them 😕

I am going to have a TCRF on Thursday 😑 bit nervous but hopefully I can get rid of these horrible things.

Everyone is different, hopefully you will stop bleeding soon x

5

Hi, I haven't had the mirena but can tell you that for me Esmya takes a while to stop the bleeding, maybe 4-6 weeks. I'm on tablet 31 of my 3rd course, and after only a few spots during the month, I have now been bleeding since Wednesday, so 3 days, it's about stopped now. Not flooding though. But it does stop completely eventually.

6

Hi Caz

I am on my first treatment pack of Esmya. Started taking it on day 1 of period. I was bleeding for about 8 days, which is the norm for me. I too thought that when i started taking the tablets it would stop or not be as long as usual but no such luck!

7

Hi glen pen

Thanks for your reply. I'm on day 8 now and hoping things are starting to ease up. How have you managed the other symptoms? Do you have many? I've had to take Friday and today off work - spent most of the weekend in bed, just shattered. A few headaches and dizziness but tolerable. I'm not sure if the tiredness is due to the ESMYA, coming off the norethisterone, the anxiety I suffer when bleeding (worried that I'll haemorrhage again), or just a combination. How have you been?

Caz

8

I have had really good results with my heavy bleeding with Unsulfered Blackstrap Molasses.  I know it sounds crazy but since I have been taking bsm I have had NO bleeding between periods and my period lasted THREE days instead of TEN.  No joking.  I use to bleed 20 days out of the month.  I don't have ANY cramping and NO clotting.  I also started taking Apple Cider Vinegar to shrink my fibroids and cysts.  I won't know if that is working until my next period but it sure feels like they are getting smaller.  1 Tbsp BSM with hot water in the morning and 1 Tbsp BSM and 1/2 tsp ACV with hot water in the evening.  Godsend.  I have been able to cancel my scheduled hysterectomy.  I now have co-workers trying it and I'm excited to hear their results.  

9

Hi Caz

After about 7 days of taking Esmya I did feel very light headed for a couple of days. That soon passed though and I must admit overall I do feel better. The tiredness seems to come and go, just do what you feel your body needs. I have put on about 5lbs in weight but feel that is a bit of water retention. All in all side effects are manageable if the tablets shrink the fibroids! I have 'a little family' of them about the size of a grapefruit but my gynaecologist is trying to avoid a hysterectomy at 51 as he thinks I should soon be through menopause and then they will shrink anyway! Hope you re feeling a little better, its good to share experiences as theres very little info about Esmya. Take care x

10

Hi, I have also been waiting for menopause to 'kick in' but at 58 it still hasn't! It seems to be a bit of a myth, as when you have large fibroids they are 'self perpetuating' as they produce hormones themselves, I never had more then 2 weeks without bleeding until I took Esmya the first time over a year ago. After the 3 month course I didn't bleed for another 3 months, then the flooding came back again big time. I was devastated as I had actually thought I was experiencing menopause and my problems were over.

So when the consultants ask 'have you been through menopause?' I really don't know what to say. My bleeding now surely comes from the fibroids themselves, but the only time I ever had menopausal symptoms was while taking  Esmya. 

11

Yes I have heard good things about these two products, especially when taken together. I do take ACV but supposedly the 'Mother' product is best which I can't get in Spain, neither have I found the molasses here. 

Hope it carries on working for you!

12

Wow! Seriously, has this actually worked for you? I've tried various fibroid diets over the years but with no success (well, that I know of - periods didn't change but who's to say the fibroid didn't stop growing in those times?). I may try this out. Which ACV do you use - does it have to be some kind of special one that's cloudy in appearance, is that the "mother" one? The molasses are also good for anaemia I believe!

Caz x

13

I have just found I can order these two products online, so will order tonight! May as well give it a go, will try to moderate my diet as well, I could do with losing weight. Just takes a bit of motivation, which I don't have much of when the fibroids keep growing back and I feel worn out.

14

Hi i have read good things about these products too.  I had an open myomectomy 5 weeks ago but my surgeon only managed to remove the 4 biggest fibroids due to extensive blood loss.  So i still have fibroids but he called them 'seedlings' . Do these products shrink fibroids??  If i use them will it get rid of the ones i have left do u think?

15

Hi Caz yes i had esmya for 3 months prior to my surgery and my first period on it lasted 6 weeks but that was a great improvement from 3 months which is how long my periods were going on for before the esmya!!  My next period was much shorter and lighter.  I am now 5 weeks post op myomectomy and am waiting for my first period to see how it is...kinda worried.

16

Hi Velbim

Yes Esmya are used to shrink Fibroids so hopefully these would be an answer to your problems. They are an expensive drug and some are reluctant to prescribe but its worth a try! Good Luck x

17

Hi Velbim

That's reassuring that your periods did shorten in length but goodness, 3 months! You poor thing! How long were you not bleeding for? Sounds like there was very little respite, you must have been very anaemic! Hope the op has helped you with this.

Caroline

18

Hi Caz i would stop bleeding for one week then start again.  It was truly horrendous.  Yes i was very anaemic but the Docs gave me Provera and then another drug whose name i cant recall to stop my periods while my Hb rose. 

I still have to wait and see whether my periods ease up as i have not had one yet. I am positive that i will see an ease because the biggest monsters have gone.  

I was amazed at how soft my tummy was immediately post op haha.

19

Hi Glen pen.  Yes my surgeon gave me Esmya for 3 months before my op.  But am keen to try something more natural to see if i can get rid of the remaining fibroids that were not removed.

Thanks 

20

Hi caz. I just started my Esmya. 1 week now. So far, head ache was the first side effect i noticed on that first day i took it and no more until today. Some of the days i felt tired but i kept myself awake or moving so i won't be sleeping all day to avoid gain weight. Still watching my diet esp away from meat, dairy, sugary, wheat. More on green. I lost 5kgs within a month. Exercise sometimes. Trying not to be lazy in the house. My tummy looks smaller as i lost weight but need to persevere in eating ang exercise. Will update on Esmya.

By the way, anyone knows how will i know if Esmya is working?

Thanks to all. We will keep on updating each other.