To assume most ladies don’t have as heavy periods as this (tmi sorry)....

[Hunnybears]

I need to wear the most absorbable tampon that you can buy. So the supper super plus super one and I have to put in a night pad and have to put two towels and a blanket down incase I ‘leak’ during night.

I always have to get up to change the tampon during night too otherwise I would flood (that’s why I have to put all the towels down etc)

For example this morning I put a new one in at say 10.15am and by 1 ish I stood up and could blood dripping down my leg as it had soaked through the tampon- again I always wear the most absorbing one.

I mean is this normal? None of my friends have ever experienced the heaviness.

I’ve always had heavy periods and used to get bad cramps but now I don’t get cramps- I can only assume it’s because my womb has been stretched with having 2 children.

It drains the life out of me this.

[NewName2020]

Definitely not normal. Have you spoken to your GP?

[Hunnybears]

It’s clearly normal for me but it’s a pain and if anyone has any tips I’d gratefully appreciate it.

I have to change tampon every 3/4 hours during the first two days of period. Fine when I’m at home but when I’m at work it’s really hard. Only saving grace is that I’m sitting all day at work so gravity is on my side.

[UnfinishedSymphon]

Mine are very heavy since I hit my mid 40's but nothing like that, definitely see a GP

[AllHallowsEve14]

I haven't any advice but I'm the same. I have to wear super plus tampons and night towels aswell as getting up at least once in the night to change it all. It's horrendous. I've been sterilised so I do not need periods which makes it worse!! They last about 6 days aswell

[ScottishBadger]

Mine are like this but I have PCOS

[Mixitupalot]

Hi i have this also, I’ve always had super heavy periods to the point I was totally debilitated and could barley work. I went to the GP many many times & eventually they gave me a tablet to reduce the flow. Tranamexic acid. It’s helped a lot but i still wear a super plus tampon and a pad and sit in a towel incase I leak but it’s not as bad as before.

Believe me you have my sympathies.. no one takes this seriously even some doctors!

[Hunnybears]

@NewName2020

Thanks for reply. Well I thunk because I’ve always had heavy periods I assumed it must be normal. I have mentioned it in the past and they gave me iron tablets as I was borderline deficient and she advised me on the best tampons to use really that was all.

I had the coil for a few years so I forgot how bad it was having heavy periods but I had it out as we’re thinking about trying for a baby.

[Thisismytimetoshine]

Whenever I hear the word ladies I assume it's spoken by a man

[TeaLibrary]

Not normal OP. I'm in the same position. The floods and agonising cramps are debilitating in the extreme. I've seen my GP and have been prescribed tranexamic acid and mefenamic acid..seems to be helping a bit. I would like to try a mooncup but my flow is so heavy it would be a bit pointless.

[ChockyBicky]

I started to have heavy periods and my GP said there's no explanation for my heavier periods but he prescribed Tranexamic acid 500 on repeat prescription and it seems to have settled back to normal so worth going to see GP.

[Waveysnail]

Mine would be that heavy. I changed tampon every 2 hours at start. Use mental cup now and reusable pads. I also take ibuprofen as lightens my flow. At night I wear cup, pad, period pants and put down a towel. And yes I'm often anemic

[justanotherneighinparadise]

I think it really depends on your age. In the peri menopause I don’t think this is unusual. I wear a mooncup and lose pretty much 80% of my blood on day 1 or 2 of my cycle. I fill the mooncup 3/4 full every few hours. I hate it as it really cramps my style on that day as I have to deal with so much blood. The rest of my period is very light. So o suppose I get it out the way quickly.

[Want2beme]

No, mine have never been like that. I get the odd heavier than normal period, but it'll only be during one day of my cycle. I don't use tampons either as I find them quite painful. So, I can manage with heavier sanitary towels for a couple of days, with the odd accident, but generally mine are light'ish. However, mine do last between 5-6 days, and always have done. Maybe see a gynaecologists for advice and an examination, for your peace of mind.

[Averyyounggrandmaofsix]

I was like that for years and eventually got a mirena coil which changed my life.

[Bellie99]

Unfortunately I am the same. Although on my bad days I have to change tampax every 90 mins, and set an alarm for the nights to save bedding!I find using tranexamic acid tablets does help. It seems to be getting worse with age though. I also have 2 children.
Have had loads of scans and have found fibroids that can effect flow, had some removed but not really made any improvements. Apparently I am so bad that I 'qualify' for a hysterectomy, but for all sorts of family reasons (health of others, timing with teenagers taking exams and house move) have not pursued this yet.
Not much help I'm afraid but much sympathy.

[Hunnybears]

Thanks for all the replies ladies. Good to know I’m not alone.

@AllHallowsEve14 and @Mixitupalot

The doctor told me she finds the lil-let tampons work best for her heavy periods and I can say the same. Used to use tampax super plus but I find for me the other ones are a bit more absorbing, if that may help you.

It’s a nightmare it really is and until you have to deal with it, I don’t think people realise how crap it is

[Blobby10]

*@Hunnybears * I had heavy periods like yours (mine were erratic too - anywhere between 5 and 13 weeks apart) until about ten years ago when I started using a mooncup. Whether it was a coincidence or not, my period flow started to lessen. In the first 48 hours I was on, I used to have to change a super plus tampon and a pad every hour. At night I was regularly up 3-4 times just to avoid leaking and yes, like you I slept on a towel. never went away for the night without a towel just in case my period started.

For those thinking that a mooncup can't cope with a heavy flow - when I first started using one I had to empty it every 60-90 minutes for the first couple of days. And once or twice during the night but gradually its lessened off, I have had a coil fitted and am also now 50 which will have contributed to the lessening flow but I wish I'd known about mooncups years before. They are certainly cheaper and, once you get over the 'ick' factor about getting blood on your fingers they are so much easier to deal with than tampons and, of course, much better for the environment.

[Newname12]

I have to change tampon every 3/4 hours during the first two days of period

That’s normal for me. I wouldn’t consider my periods “heavy” though . It’s always been like that.

I use a mooncup now which has made things much much easier. Still the first 24-48 hours it needs emptying every 2-4 hours, and once overnight. After that I can manage with just mornings and evenings, maybe a lunchtime as well on day 3.


I would like to try a mooncup but my flow is so heavy it would be a bit pointless

Mooncups made a huge difference. They hold more and leak less- they’ve also shortened the duration and made a difference with cramps.

[Blobby10]

Forgot to add, I went to the GP numerous times and had scans and blood tests only to be told 'its normal for you - you are just one of the unlucky ones to have heavy and erratic periods'. They did suggest the Pill but it didn't agree with me.

[GaaaaarlicBread]

I’ve never met anyone else who had periods like I used to . Honestly mine were exactly the same as yours . From the very first day I started my period it was like that. I would have to change my pads every half hour, change a tampon every 3 hours otherwise it would literally fall out with the weight of it. I went to the drs as I couldn’t cope anymore at work (I had put up with it from the age of 15 to 20), and they did all the tests and nothing was wrong they said I just have bad periods . I asked if we could do anything and they said try the Mirena coil it either works for periods or doesn’t . Anyway it was a life changer!! I had it taken out to TTC last September and my god I forgot how awful the periods were !! When I’ve had the baby in August I’m getting the coil again for sure! Highly recommend x

[Hunnybears]

@ScottishBadger

I’m sorry to hear you have PSOS. I did google and that comes up a lot, but I don’t seem to have any other symptoms. Excuse my ignorance but I was under the impression it made it more difficult to conceive with PSOS abc with both my DC I conceived first month and that’s what made me think it can’t be that. Again please excuse my ignorance if that’s not always the case.

[onedaysoonish]

Hi - I'm bad too - first day of my period in the morning I have to change a super every 30 mins/ 1hr. Settles down to every 2/3 hours the following day. I have PCOS and it's always been like that for me. Night time is a pad but not much happens during the night. My periods last for around 10 days but every 6 weeks. I can relate to feeling tired/slightly fainty on the first couple of days. It's a bit of nightmare tbh!

[NameChange84]

I’m the same and have been since I was 12 . I’ve had investigations but nothing that’s curable and I still want children so more permanent options are out. Hormonal tablets exacerbate existing health conditions so I can’t take them. Mefanamic and Transemic Acid made me dizzy and gave me unbearable pain. Ibuprofen used to help cut down the blood loss but now I can’t take it l as it interacts with another medication I’m on.

I’ve taken to wearing the most absorbent Tena Pants at Night with three of the biggest maxi pads underneath.

During the day I wear black period pants, one of the thickest Tena pads and a smaller maxi pad over the top.

I’m finding that bladder weakness pads are working better for me that period ones.

[HolyWells]

'Normal' for me is changing the most absorbent tampon hourly, sometimes more frequently.

[GaaaaarlicBread]

Also to add I tried moo cups and they did help with cramps and I could get away with going maybe 6 hours before changing it. This was when we were ttc , so I did only try them for a month before I got pregnant so I’m not sure if I would get on with them long term