Apocalyptic periods - how do you cope?

[Corygal]

I'm 46 and now having the most flamboyant bleeds. Last month the flat looked like a scene from Reservoir Dogs after my period started and I tried to make it from the ruined bed to the loo - think carpet cleaning and binning the bedding - this month the bleeding has been so bad I've been almost housebound.

How do you cope, particularly at night? I'm using super plus tampax, a night towel, two pairs of pajama bottoms and still waking up soaked and having to change or throw away sheets. Pain is not too bad, but still nearly keeled over with a cramp when I nipped out to the shop today.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Oh no. Really feel for you. The doctor has given me some pills and, after four months or so, they seem to be starting to help. This stuff

It doesn't help the pain at all though.

[BigBirdFlies]

I have the same problem and someone suggested on another thread to use Tena incontinence pants. It would work out expensive, but could be worth a try. I'm going to try these next period with a massive towel. Tampons are no good for me, because I need to change them hourly or more often.

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

Tranexamic acid, or mefanamic acid, or a coil?

See your GP as soon as you can. Bleeding this heavily could be making you anaemic, and you don't have to keep suffering with this.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I used to be like this too. When DH first moved in with me I had to stop him calling an ambulance for me.

Two words, mirena coil. I still have periods but now its dealt with using panty liners

[justmuddlingalong]

Would you consider using a Mooncup? I switched to one when my periods became horrendously heavy.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

And yes, yes, yes re blood test. I suffered for years without going to the doc and it turned out I was very, very anaemic when I finally did - and, perversely, I think that then makes periods even worse.

[BerniceBroadside]

Definitely a gp job, but in the interim try using disposable bed mats to save your bedding. Or even for sitting on during the day if things are really bad.

[EBearhug]

Please see your GP.

I'm another one on tranexamic acid.

Also, if you're at work, do not announce that it was like a recreation of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre in passing to a male colleague, because you're thinking more about how your body can lose so much blood when it's apparently healthy, rather than the fact you're in a professional work environment talking to a colleague who has never menstruated.

Still, he was more embarrassed than I was.

[DramaAlpaca]

I feel for you, it's a horrible peri-menopausal symptom.

I was the same until I got a mirena coil fitted when I was 46. I know it's not for everyone, but it has literally changed my life - no more periods at all now.

[Shallan]

This really is not normal, you must see a dr!

In the meantime try putting towels on top of the sheets, big beach towels can be tucked in, to stay in place.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Work can be a nightmare. I sometimes have three hours of lessons in a row, with no space for a break. I wear two super pads and a tampon, wear black trousers and a long black top and don't sit down. Nightmare.

[nonameisgoodname]

Set an alarm during the night so that wakes you to change tampon before flooding the bed.

[sherbetpips]

I get it about every third month, starts off slow then 2 days of 'the flood'. I change every hour or so and deal with the overnight horror in the morning. Work is a nightmare although I have learnt that black leggings and a black chair at work hides a lot.

[Corygal]

Bearhug - that has made me howl with laffs despite the cramps.

Remus - the stylish solution as ever... thank you.

Thanks all so much - I have now set aside four pairs of baggy black jersey trousers that I am resigned to wearing a week a month. The washing and cleaning is horrendously irritating.

I am working from home at the mo so it's not too bad, but I have to stop doing the voluntary work in the charity shop as lifting all those bags of donations triggers an even bigger rush. Tsk.

I am waiting for a scan re fibroids but as I have travel anxiety I have missed an appt. at the hosp which is miles away.

[goodasitgets]

Mooncup for me has helped. Mainly because when you go to the doctors and tell them exactly how many ml of blood you lose, suddenly you get listened to
You need to check you're not anaemic, that can make you bleed more too, and the more you bleed, the more anaemic you get

[MyFabulousBoys]

Nappies opened upend worn as pads instead of tena pants may be more affordable. Toddler baby dry ones or maybe the newborn ones because they are open weave for newborn poo to soak in.

Worth a try? Sounds grim. Hope it stops soon

[pearlgirl]

I had an ablation last year for similar flooding issues - we knew that our family was complete as it means no more babies but it has changed my life - I no longer carry spare sets of clothes around or sit on waterproof coats when at work( I teach in people's homes and was always terrified of the sudden gush that would signal a flood)

[Firsttimer7259]

Mirena coil barely have periods now

[lapsedorienteerer]

Another Mirena coil fan here. Had same problems as you until had Mirena fitted at age 43 and a replacement 5 years later. I've now gone 8 years without thinking about periods......bliss.

[lapsedorienteerer]

Should have added I had fibroids so had ablation under GA and mirena fitted at the same time (not in UK), a win, win solution.

[BeckAndCall]

Another vote for the Mirena here, at least as a first pass. Changed my life for several years.

But then got an intrauterine infection and had it removed and back to square one. Same as you OP - carpets, bedding the lot. Housebound for a couple of days at a time. Stuck in the bathroom not leaving for hours at a time. Work days in London with clients - nightmare.

Then - endometrial ablation! Under GA, had the lining of my womb removed. And got my life back!

[Atbeckandcall]

Hello.

Firstly, have these and when you're done bleeding, this .

I suffered with this and it was horrid. Used to sit on the toilet for 2 hours at a time, until the pins and needles got so bad I had to stand up! This would go on for about 4 days a month. I had a mirena coil fitted at 27, and I got my life back. As someone said up thread, it could be peri-menopausal symptoms.
Get to the GP and demand (I know it's not polite, but they're quite good at fobbing off) blood tests and gynae referral.

[BeckAndCall]

Crikey atbeckandcall look at our names!!

[Atbeckandcall]

It's because I'm your stalker.

[Northumberlandlass]

Hi Corygal - I had similiar, understand how awful it is. I had my Mirena Coil fitted in Feb this year. I'm still waiting for it to settle & now on my 2nd period in 4 weeks. But it's nowhere near as heavy as it used to be. I'm giving the coil 7 months to settle & if it doesn't I'm going for ablation.

Talk to your GP - there are things that will help.