To seek medical help today (very heavy periods)

This isn't what you asked but is your cup really just 15ml? Mine is more than double that. I have heavy periods and would not cope with a 15ml cup!

If you have ibuprofen to hand it can reduce flow

I know where you are coming from OP as I had a horrendously heavy period last week and at one point, I was wondering if I needed medical attention as could not believe what was coming out of me! Tranexamic acid is what you need, thankfully I had some, took a few hours to kick in but worked. I’m just going to make sure I always have them to hand now. You can also purchase from online pharmacies for next time.

OP go to the pharmacy and get some tranexamic acid. You can also buy ferrous fumarate iron tablets for a few pounds, ask for a high dose.

My iron levels reached 8 when I was anaemic from heavy periods, but both of the above medications have really helped. I was told the iron tablets can be taken indefinitely, you don't need a prescription.

Of course she's lightheaded she's anemic and it 30 degrees where all light headed.

Tranexamic acid is v good.

But I must say one of the good things about cups is that (assuming you get the capacity detail off the website) is that it allows you to get an accurate figure of blood loss. No other fem pro product has that advantage.

This is what I was like so eventually i was put on them for life but then went on the mini pill so don't need them anymore

Well let’s hope so but given the additional lightheadedness she should seek medical advice as neither you nor I know.

That's very different predicament to OPs though
She's having a normal heavy period and is booked to see her GP about it.

I didn’t realise you could get Tranexamic Acid over the counter - thanks so much for this info - makes things so much easier!!

Stunning isn't it.

Dismissing the OP based on their personal experience.

Whilst ignoring her changed symptoms and medical history.

And also re Mirena - bloody fantastic! No pun intended.
when I started bleeding more heavily (rendering me anaemic and with bugger all iron stock) I had a scan and hysteroscopy then coil. Instant and continuous improvement

@Ninkynonkpinkyponkswere you anaemic before the section? The op is, she’s now bleeding heavily and she’s showing symptoms that suggest her body is struggling to oxygenate itself.
@RichHolidayPoorHolidayi think that analogy is offensive and further demonstrates a lack of understanding.

menstruating is not a strength contest. You get no prizes for withstanding more blood loss than the next woman.

And if you are reading this thinking your situation is worse then you too also need to see a doctor!

I’m always going on about the Mirena coil, totally saved me from 3 week long horrendous periods . Took a year maybe but eventually my periods stopped completely, bonus being that as I had no periods I went through the menopause without noticing !

It sounds tough but I don’t think you should go to A&E for it. Maybe 111 tomorrow if you still feel worried.
Id personally drink more water, have some red meat, take some iron and have a lie on the sofa.
It’s obviously not the same but I lost over 1000ml of blood during recent c section and didn’t feel any repercussions or need medicine or a transfusion or anything. I don’t think A&E would have anything to give you other than perhaps monitoring?

No wonder women are gaslit and have their pain ignored by medical professionals, when even fellow women are like ‘Suck it up love, it’s just a PERIOD you silly little girl’. I’m sure OP knows what is within the limits of heavy but normal for her and if this feels alarming then she is perfectly reasonable to seek medical advice via 111, especially as she is symptomatic and anaemic.

It’s not as simple as that, sometimes cumulative blood loss can cause severe anaemia, and with the OP also having lightheadedness it’s certainly worth seeking some more immediate medical advice.

It’s also possible in cases where people have been having heavy periods for a long time that’s something is different this time, they may have trapped tissue in their cervix, for example.

I actually disagree, because of the reason above. It’s saved peoples lives when they had no intention of actually seeking medical advice. There’s no perfect scenario here.

I have heavy periods too but I don’t go around telling people with prolonged heavy bleeding that are now experiencing lightheadedness not to seek urgent medical advice.

It’s also pretty insensitive to refer to it as worse than a miscarriage.

OP, yes do call an ambulance, just to be on the safe side. That's what they are for after all.

As someone whose heavy periods are WORST than a miscarriage, I am not ignorant. But thank you for your advice 😂

This thread is another example of why I think medical advice shouldn’t be allowed to be sought or given on MN!

I’d advise A n E too. I would have died if I hadn’t gone but ended up discharging myself from a hospital where the consultant said she couldn’t do anything for me to a hospital where I had scans, IV fluids, 3 units of blood and a TAH. My HB had dropped from 16 to 8. I had been on the pill but had a DVT then when my normal period returned it wasn’t stopping and was very heavy. I was on Warfarin so that didn’t help matters either. I was 46 and had completed my family so that wasn’t an issue.