There are lower dose options these days. I used Nuva Ring for a while to deal with heavy frequent periods, and did not have bad side effects. Unfortunately I wound up needing a higher-dose solution for my problem, and the pills I switched to did a number on me (water retention, migraines, feeling enraged most of the time) so I got off them as soon as possible.

But something lower dose like Nuva Ring might be enough to take the edge off your misery, and you leave it in for 3 weeks so you don't have to remember to do anything every day.