Heavy periods... when to worry?

[tenlittlecygnets]

I'm 46. For the last years or so my periods have been getting heavier but shorter. Still regular. But today I've bled through a tampon per hour for the past four hours and had to change clothes each time. Clots, dark blood. Not normal for me. No pain.

How long to let this go on? I know there have been similar threads on here in the past...

[Fleetheart]

I would go and see the doctor. I left it too long and really suffered with crazily heavy periods. When I went to see the doctor she a) sent me for a scan to see if anything was wrong b) told me to get transaxamic acid (not sure if I spelled it right), that really helped a lot and c) suggested a mirena coil. I was quite anti the coil, but decided to try it and oh boy it changed my life - really sorted out the periods to the extent that I don’t have them any more.

I am 53 now so maybe they would have stopped but I am reluctant to have it taken out in case they come back again!

Good luck 😉 don’t suffer - it can be sorted.

[tenlittlecygnets]

Thanks. Soaked 8 tampax in 7 hours... what’s normal for heavy periods, and what’s abnormal?

[ememem84]

Is say if you’ve soaked through 8 super tampons in 7 hours that’s not normal. And seek medical advice.

[MoaningMinniee]

I was about your age when this happened to me. Tranexamic acid is wonderful, also the iron supplements that I was put on to urgently (like, call from GP to come and get prescription and start taking NOW) about 3 hours after my appointment.

[MoaningMinniee]

You'll find a huge amount of help on the Menopause section here.

[tenlittlecygnets]

God, god, I’m not ready for this. Dd is 15, and I don’t feel ready to move on to the next stage. Not that I want another baby. God! I don’t but it’s just knowing that phase of my life is drawing to a close...

Normal tampax, not super. Never had heavy periods before.

[Fleetheart]

No, I never had heavy periods before this- they were always a walk in the park for me. It’s something to do with your body changing. Honestly go to the docs it’s not that bad.

[Bouldghirl]

I’ve always taken the view that when something isn’t normal for me I get it checked out. You know your own body better than anyone. I think you should see your GP in the first instance.

[Redgirl7]

I would go and see doctor. I have had heavy periods and bad pains and was being robbed off by doctors. It got worse over the years. They offered me the coil or ablation or hysterectomy. End up having a hysteroscopy, curretage and mirena coil fitted under GA. Have stopped the period pains and reduced bleeding.