Is there anything that can reduce how heavy a period is overnight

[IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece]

I know I’m asking for the impossible but I have incredibly heavy periods (heavy duty tampon, night time sanitary towel and, we, a wedge of tissue every hour for 3 days)...I also have incredibly irregular periods due to pcos.

Tomorrow I have a christening to attend that will involve a reasonable amount of sitting down then standing and inevitable “gushing” and I’ve just unknowingly come on my period

I could do without panicking about leaking onto seats all day...I can’t get Norethisterone (nor would it have time to work) but is there ANYTHING that can temporarily slow it down for a few hours?!

Google told me vitamin c...so I ate 2 oranges 🤷🏻‍♀️

Not that fast but ya e you co differed a mirena cool as it really helps with heavy periods ... unless you're ttc of course!

That does sound very heavy! Tranexamic avid works but that's prescription and needs to be prescribed if doctor thinks it's ok to as can have other effects

I don't know of anything.

I've just started using period and incontinence pads for when mine is heavy though. They have two sets of wings and are almost like memory foam, they absorb loads and don't smell as much.

The only thing that worked for me was going on the pill. Nothing else worked. The pill has been life changing for me.

I can't think of anything to slow it down but I think I would buy some tena pants (the actual pants that look like a pull-up rather than just a pad so you'd be fully covered) and, if possible, wear black trousers and a long top with a dark raincoat that you can shrug off once you're sitting down in the church so it's under your bum in case of leaks (so you're not worried about the chair)

Sympathies - mine used to be awful (had a hysterectomy a few years back, thankfully)

Will be following for tips!

Neurofen, (ibuprofen) works to reduce flow by about 20-40%.

I think you can get tranexamic acid without a prescription, though could be wrong. It is worth asking a pharmacist if you are near an open pharmacy tomorrow.

Ibuprofen is meant to help. Personally I don't notice a difference. Maybe worth trying the max dosage though.

Mefenamic acid and tranexamic acid work, but I think you need a prescription. If your periods are usually that heavy, it's worth getting a prescription for one or both anyway for the future and maybe seeing your GP to rule out causes and possible anaemia.

I find incontinence pads work better than sanitary towels

My doctor prescribed cyklokapron which has seriously saved my sanity. 2 or 3, 3 times a day for first few days. The stress is now over!!! Thoroughly recommend you ask your gp

You can buy transexamic acid over the counter in Boots as heavy period relief tablets. They will ask a lot of questions but I’ve had to buy it a few times when I’ve forgotten to get a repeat prescription. I feel your pain and echo what a PP said about Tena pants. Hope today goes well

Ibuprofen but it works best if you take it from the very start of the period and then don’t miss a dose.

Nurofen worked for me, but I did take more than the recommended dose on very bad days.
Also for days like that, I would make sure to get to a bathroom between home and the start of the ceremony to change pads,etc. The church should have a toilet.

I would be inclined to use all the usual stuff with a pair of incontinence knickers to provide all round protection.

Yes you don't need a prescription for tranemaxic acid. I bought some last month because I'd forgotten my repeat prescription.

On really heavy days what works for me is a mooncup and towel.

Not much help to you now, but I found that taking ferrous fumerate has lightened my periods significantly.

Tranexamic acid can be bought at boots. Get it first thing and start taking it straight away

Mooncup is the only thing that stops me leaking on a heavy day - I've come to the conclusion that my period is too thick/clotty (sorry!) on those days for tampons/towels so it doesn't really get absorbed properly... Worth a shot if you can get to a boots to buy one. Just make sure you wear a towel too and have some wet wipes in your bag!

Definitely don’t need a prescription for tranexamic acid.

I use it every month and just buy it myself.

Get thee to Boots, it’ll be behind the counter and look like this

I saw pull up inco pads in aldi for 6 quid!

Not all churches have toilets. Ours doesn't. The closest are in the pub across the road, which isn't always open. Others are in tied cottages, which sometimes have people living in them so aren't always available.

Get and take tranexamic acid. Find a place if possible to change sanpro before the service. Have a change of clothes available. Hope for the best.

Good luck. I am a flooder too. It is unpredictable, challenging and shit.

Oh, and wear dark coloured clothing, even though it is a christening.

I have a question about transemic acid, i thought it wa smeant only for that one cycle but the picture of the boots one says it helps future cycles. Does it help improve future cycles?

Tranexamic acid is used in all cycles. I have been on it for at least five years. I only take it during my period, when the flow is at it's heaviest and I flood. I take it for about 5 days of each month, on average.

Had a huge fish at 8am, flooded the bed and everything and since then not a single spot . I’m anticipating it coming back as quickly as it went but I’m a smidge more relaxed right now!
I’ve been regularly taking ibuprofen, have a tampon the size of a sausage roll, 2 pairs of underwear on and maternity pads (have never had a baby so these are a revelation!).
Navy blue dress and tights (thank god it’s cold!) and a change of clothes in my bag!
It’s a beautiful afternoon tea affair and of course the chairs are beautifully white so everytime I’m on my own, I jump up and have a peek at the chair...I look mental!!

Thank you all so much

Fish? Gush!