Period from hell. How much bleeding is too much?

[Snowbell]

I am 53 and have not had problems until now. Have been having regular periods mostly, and no problems. However this one has come late, after 50 days and is really heavy. I feel like I am bleeding to death! Since Thursday I have got through six jumbo tampons every day, plus sanitary pads as tampons are leaking, and there is no sign of it letting up. I feel like I will have no blood left soon. I have made a docs appt but of course couldn't get one for two weeks. Do I need to go to docs as an emergency on Monday if it is still this heavy or is this a "normal" thing?

[gingerbreadmam]

i dont know how much is too much but know my mam went through this for months before deciding to see a doctor, when she finally did she was prescribed medication so should she experience a heavy period like that again it would help slow it down or something. if it is unbareable and difficult to cope with try and see a dr sooner. hope youre ok.

[poisonedbypen]

The blood isn't coming from your blood stream so you won't bleed dry! However I have every sympathy for you. I bled so heavily at times that the tampon was leaking but the time I left the bathroom. They can give you something to reduce the flow (ponstan or similar) but you may have to start it before your period comes, I'm not sure. I would see your doctor.

[Pooka]

What's normal for one person isn't for another.

The blood loss you've described is relatively normal for me, since having children. Not normal for me pre children.

The crux of it is that it isn't normal for you and that's why I think if there's no let up by Monday morning, you should get an appointment to be seen rather than waiting for a non urgent appointment.

If the bleeding does lessen, then maybe wait and see how your next period goes, and if the same, then make a non urgent appointment.

[crabb]

This sounds "normal" for perimenopause, according to my experience anyway .
That said, you are going to become anaemic at that rate of bleeding. Have a look at this webpage, I have found it useful especially with regard to quantifying the amount of bleeding:
www.cemcor.ubc.ca/resources/very-heavy-menstrual-flow

Have you tried taking ibuprofen, as mentioned in the article? Disclaimer - it never worked for me.

This could go on for days (7-10 for me), and while it's not am emergency it can be very debilitating/ restricting so I'd be inclined to ring the surgery on Monday and explain the situation, and see what they can do.

[pinkfrocks]

I think very heavy bleeding is defined by some drs etc as more than 1 tampon / towel per hour.

You won't come to any 'harm' because as someone said the blood has been in your uterus for 50 days- it's not as if it's coming from an open wound.

See your dr who can give you tablets to help reduce the bleeding ( you only need take them just before and during a period) but if this is just the first time it's happened you may not have any more like this.

[Hassled]

If it doesn't stop after another few days I'd see the GP who can prescribe something (Progesterone? Not sure) which will make it stop - I had to do this a few times before I went on HRT (which settled everything down).

[pinkfrocks]

ps

someone mentioned that you could buy a version of this OTC but I'm not sure- your dr can certainly easily prescribe and there is another similar product.

www.patient.co.uk/medicine/Tranexamic-acid.htm

[Calmthefeckdown]

Stupid question. How can a heavy period make you anaemic if it is not connected to your blood stream. If your uterine lining is a 'separate entity' so to speak, why does the loss of it during your period mean you become iron deficient? - I'm prepared to be embarrassed by how obvious the answer is

[Lovetheleaves]

Hi snowbell , I recently had my period and I'm the same. I got through a hell lot more than 6 per day . Probably more like 10 and also wore with pads. It was awful when I would stand up as I would flood. I'm going to keep track of the next couple of periods before I go to the doc though so as I have more info. I'm in my latter 40s .

[MrsSquirrel]

Tranexamic acid worked for me. When you see the doctor, do ask about it. As mentioned up thread, you only take it when you have your period. The effects are not long lasting.

[marne2]

I'm like this every month ( so normal for me ), I have days where I can't leave the house. My gp has only offered medication ( to stop bleeding ) when I have been bleeding for 14 days, I often have to take iron tablets. I'm only 32 and the gp refuses to diagnose early menopause.

If your bleeding is very heavy you may be able to get something to slow it down but in my experience it just makes the bleeding last longer

[jellycake]

Hi I am 42 and have just been through an 8 week period. when I got to my doctors half way through (week 4) he told me off for not coming in sooner. There is no 'normal', it is just how you usually function and what goes against it. You need to get an earlier appointment because I ended up being severely anaemic and there was discussion about me having to have a blood transfusion. My doctor prescribed transexamic acid which slowed the bleeding considerably but he had to give me hormones to stop the bleeding. Get yourself an emergency appointment - good luck!

[YouAreBoring]

It sounds normal to me too, I'm practically housebound on the first day and I have to be careful for the next few days. I feel fine I just bleed a lot. I use mooncups so I can easily gauge how much I am bleeding. I can fill mooncup in one gush (yuk) I have lots of lumps too. (Sorry but if im oversharing I might as well overshare properly )

I think it still might be an idea to speak to your GP if your period is so unusual for you. My heavy periods came about gradually.

[pinkfrocks]

Calm the blood during a period is due to the lining coming away which has built up. Obviously 4 weeks' worth is normal-ish but 5-6 weeks or 3 monthly cycles will mean the lining is very thick, because lack of ovulation to kick off the whole cycle isn't happening so often.

I suppose the haemoglobin ( red blood cells) that are made in the body and usually circulate in the blood stream are 'directed' to the uterus under the influence of progesterone in the 2nd half of the cycle to make the lining thick ( this would normally be the best conditions for implantation of an embryo) and keep being directed if a cycle isn't completed.

So there is no direct blood supply - loss connection, more a steady transfer of haemoglobin over a regular cycle, which in longer cycles will reduce what is circulating in the body.

[Monathevampire1]

I've just been through something similar, my doctor took it very seriously and referred me to a consultant. This isn't normal for you so get it checked on Monday.

[Snowbell]

Thanks for all your helpful comments everyone. If it doesn't calm down today I will get an emergency appointment for tomorrow. Wish me luck. I am already on drugs for rheumatoid arthritis so I hope there is something I can take on top of those. [conf

[Snowbell]

I've been prescribed Norethisterone for the heavy bleeding. Has anyone taken this? It's a progestogen. Doctor is also sending me for a blood test for hormone levels and anaemia. I will also be going for a scan to see if I have fibroids, and if so, she will want me to have a mirena coil fitted. I hate the sound of that!

[gingerbreadmam]

glad you have got sorted snowbell hope you are feeling better and test results come back ok.

[pinkfrocks]

see how you get on with the Noreth. frst.
Your dr can't make you have a coil fitted- it's your choice.

[mkmjimmy]

I was prescribed noresthisterone when I was bleeding lightly but almost non-stop - and it was dreadful - got v depressed. Should have been given HRT.

Eventually went onto Qlaira as HRT (via another HRT which also made me depressed) - Qlaira is marketed as being more like your natural body hormones than some. Who knows but its the best for me. It would have been coil if that hadn't worked.

I had one flooding incident like you describe (abroad on holiday) I'd never experienced anything like it (took transenamix acid (sp?) and ibuprofen) just to get home.

Anyway that's what sent me off to the doctors to get HRT. Not had another flooding since, cross fingers.

Upshot is you might have to try a couple of things till something works.

I don't think being confined to home because of your period is normal in any way.

Also I was very anaemic due to 2 to 3 years of bleeding lightly almost continuously - with no GP connecting it to peri. So get yourself checked out for that. The GP said the anaemia could have triggered the flooding.

[Snowbell]

I only have to take the Norethisterone for 10 days, 3 tablets per day, so I' m hoping that if it does make me depressed I can bear it for 10 days. I've been feeling nauseous since this afternoon which is horrible. Interestingly the bleeding was stopped in its tracks after only 2-3 tablets!

[redrubyindigo]

Snow

I feel for you I really do. I have experienced all of the symptoms you described. I lose two or three days every month. I vomit and pass out occasionally. I have an appointment tomorrow with the dentist as I chipped a tooth while I was being sick in the loo and passed out when I tried to stand up. I am late forties.

I have flooded through a super plus tampon and two heavy duty towels in the space of a minute. I also have to change tampons and towels practically every hour.

I was given Mfenomic (sp) acid which I took as directed but really didn't help.

I have found eating little and often helps with the nausea, try Nurofen gel capsules specifically for period pains as they seen gentler on the stomach, drink lots of water and avoid alcohol at all costs. Hot baths, hot water bottles also help.

[Snowbell]

Redrubyindigo, I don't really have pain with all this bleeding, strangely, only a bit for the first couple of days of it. It makes me feel really washed out though, shaky and weak. I'm hopeful this norethisterine will sort me out for a while.

[redrubyindigo]

Fingers crossed for you.