Periods and flooding

[Itchyandscratchy]

I'm 48 and my periods are still fairly regular but are getting a bit unmanageable because of flooding.

They've always been quite heavy on day 2/3 so I use pant liners with my mooncup. When I saw my GP about them being heavy & painful I was prescribed tranexamic (sp?) acid but I've stopped taking it as I think it adds to the problem which is...

I bleed on day 1 then it stops for anything up to another day. However I still get pain so I know it hasn't gone away. And then I'll get a terrible 'gush' and I'll flood really badly - completely fills up my mooncup, spills onto a pad and when I change, it fills up again immediately. It'll then die down a bit, gush a bit more the next day then disappears. If I'm at work I dread it and constantly wait for the 'gush'.

It happened today and luckily I got into a toilet with a locked sink bit, as it looked like I'd been slaughtering chickens in there when I was done. Sorry if TMI. I think because I'm getting on a bit my blood flow is more clotty and sticky, which causes blockages, hence the dry spells then the flooding.

If I go back to my GP what's the likely course of action do you think? A hysterectomy seems a bit drastic so is there anything in between that and putting up with this? Thanks.

[FinnMcCool]

I took that for flooding, and found it really helped. Stopped it completely flooding actually and was manageable again. I'm a similar age. I see you've said you stopped taking it, but were you taking the four a day spaced evenly? I also had something else at the same time for the pain something else I can't remember the name of, 😄, but both prescribed together.
It's shit, isn't it? I'd go back to your GP to be honest, that's no way to deal with it. Maybe the strength of the tabs isn't right.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Your GP will
Most likely suggest the Mirens.

[illegitimateMortificadospawn]

My GP told me ibuprofen reduces flow by c15-20%. I also have tranexamic acid to help with flooding, but sometimes ibuprofen is enough. My periods are becoming more erratic so it helps to have a variety of options.

[Itchyandscratchy]

I know the tablets help blood to clot so I figured I didn't need any help with that as the clotting was causing the flooding! My blood just seems so tar-like these days. Ewwwww. And yes, it's shit isn't it?
Thanks - I think I do need to go back to the doc. It's so tedious getting old...

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Dark is good, fresh bright red blood is worse.

[Itchyandscratchy]

Sorry didn't say thanks for replies last night - iPad ran out of juice. I'm pretty sure it's the consistency of the blood that's not helping. I've 'dried up' again overnight so am expecting another flood at work now today.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

I would be asking your GP for a referral to a gynaecologist. Fibroids can cause heavy bleeding to arise.

[80sWaistcoat]

I'd go back to GP. I had to try a few things, going on HRT then the pill helped me. Peri menopausal same sort of thing, slaughtering chickens indeed.

TA helped short term and ibuprofen as well. A large dose.

If pill and Hrt hadn't helped mirena was going to be the next try.

Get your bloods checked for anaemia, that can make flooding worse.

[fortyfourfeasts]

I also have something similar so clicked through to piggy back and see what advice you get!
But my flooding is usually thin and can be bright red. But also get the dark clotty stuff too. Why is the thin, brighter stuff bad?

[EBearhug]

I too take Tranexamic acid. I think it does mean flooding is less likely because that seems to happen more with thinner, more liquid blood.

I was told if it didn't help, next stop would be Mirena, and then there are other actions, up to hysterectomy, but they would do more investigations first, to see if there were other causes besides age (and being overweight), to see which course of action is most appropriate.

[castle251]

I had this at exactly the same age, it felt as if my insides were falling out, got the shock of my life. I happened a few times over the course of 6 months or so. I bought a pair of Diary Dolls (pretty knickers with waterproofing) which really helped with the worry of it all. Couldn't recommend highly enough until the menopause kicks in! //www.diarydoll.com

[ArabellaRockerfella]

I went through exactly the same as you for about 2yrs. I ended up anaemic and exhausted. As a teacher the flooding was a real problem so in the end I opted for an endometrial ablation. I didn't have a period for over a year and now just light spotting. Best thing ever! No stress or worry and have a lot more energy.

[Itchyandscratchy]

Thanks for links and suggestions. Good to know we're not alone in our period misery isn't it?
I don't think Mirena is an option - I was on this for a spell pre-kids and I was crackers on it. I don't suit any hormonal treatment really. Same goes for pill.

I think ArabellaRockerfella's mention of the ablation is a possibility. Dh works with gynae surgery sometimes and he mentioned that to me too. I'll go to GP on my day off Monday. Thanks again :-)

[Itchyandscratchy]

Plus I'm a teacher too, Arabella. Not a great environment for flooding...!

[illegitimateMortificadospawn]

Is there any job where flooding isn't a problem? Abbatoir worker?

[EBearhug]

Flooding is always a problem, but I have the option of working from home most days, and I don't have to wait till the end of class to get to the loo. That does make it more manageable than teaching or nursing or retail or catering or many other jobs where you're in direct contact with students, patients, customers, clients or whoever.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

I was just going to say that Ibuprofen could be worth a shot, dirt cheap and you can just start taking it when your period starts. I don't think it's anything to do with blood clotting (?) so may work better for you?

[Chippednailvarnishing]

Is there any job where flooding isn't a problem?

Well i can discreetly slip away from my desk and deal with it, I'm guessing that you can't do that with a class of kids watching you.

[illegitimateMortificadospawn]

True, but I've had to do a walk of shame out of a meeting after a gusher.

[RedStripeIassie]

I ended up in a&e with flooding. It had soaked down to my knees!
They couldn't really do anything for me but I was scared as it just wasn't stopping. They suggested a go to specialist refer all and regular ibuprofen. I used to think I was the only one. I've done the bloody walk of shame too

[LunaLoveg00d]

I'm a week post-hysterectomy. I had to have the operation because of a huge fibroid which caused the excessive bleeding and flooding and it was awful!

I would definitely push for a referral to a gynaecologist. They'll probably want to do an ultrasound as a minimum to find out what's going on. If it is fibroids - which are very common - there is a range of different treatments like the transexamic acid in combination with other drugs, another drug called Esmya, ablation, embolisation, Mirena, myectomy, hysterectomy and probably more. The treatments offered will depend on what is causing the bleeding, your age, and whether you're planning on having more children.

I tried Mirena and it did work for a couple of years. I know someone else who had a really good result from an ablation.

Push for a referral and keep on pushing. Don't let GP fob you off with "heavy periods" or "it's normal" because it's NOT. If you were losing that much blood through anywhere else in your body, you'd be in A&E. You don't have to put up with it just because it's coming from your vagina.

[ArabellaRockerfella]

Great post Luna!

[Itchyandscratchy]

Thank you. Second that about Luna's post. Hope your recovery is speedy and hassle-free :-)
I'm going to doc on Monday. Dh will help with my referral as he has direct contact with the gynae specialists so at least I know I won't have to fight with my GP. They're very good anyway. I just haven't been for ages as I guess you just put up with it. But Luna's right - we shouldn't have to.

[LunaLoveg00d]

If you read through a few more pages of this forum you'll find loads of threads about women putting up with heavy periods. My theory is that it's not something which happens from one month to the next, it creeps up on you. Gets a bit worse each month and before you know where you are you're flooding all over the place but that's your "normal".

Good luck with your referral, once you've had the ultrasounds and blood tests and know why you are bleeding heavily, you'll know what your options are to remedy it.

[EBearhug]

Don't let GP fob you off with "heavy periods" or "it's normal" because it's NOT.

I agree with this - my GP said, "no woman in this day and age should have their life controlled by periods," and that alone made me feel better, before we even got started on treatment options, because I knew she was taking me seriously.