Can I have a handhold please - in a panic state.

[Makinganewthinghappen]

For the stupidest reason considering what is going on at the moment. The last 6 months I have managed to get myself in a total panic about getting heavy periods. Every month I spend a day or two in a constant panic attack that I am going to bleed to death which of course I don’t.

I am not really affected by it - no anemia and tbh I am not certain the really are actually that heavy it’s possibly just my ridiculous mind.

I have been lying on my bed for hours now on the verge of a panic attack - every time I stand up I feel totally insane with panic.

I already take fluoxitene - and tbh other than these literally 2/3 days a month I am fine.

I am 36 years old, I have had periods since I was 11 and I gave given birth six times but for some reason now my mind is crippling me with panic over this .

Really just looking for any support!

Given you've not died from them already, it's unlikely they will kill you now.

Have you had the cause investigated? And your blood pressure checked?

I imagine that is general anxiety exhibiting itself as a fixation in heavy periods?

Gobby - I had a scan which was fine apart from a cyst but it should go on it’s own as it wasn’t that big.

Smell - yes I have NO idea why after all these years anxiety has attached itself to this. I KNOW how ridiculous I am being and that I am ok but it
Doesn’t seem to stop the total panic!

Have you ever tried using a cup? They are different, also you can truly see how much blood there is. And then you could tell the GP exactly how much blood you are losing in a period. If you look on youtube there was a video by SafiyaNygaard about cups. Maybe it would give you a different perspective.

Hi OP, so sorry you’re feeling like this.
The chances of you bleeding to death from a period is very low - but you do need to get this seen to as the previous poster says, low blood pressure and low iron are definitely possible if you bleed heavily every month.
There are so many options for treatment including hormonal and non hormonal pills, and other procedures which can thin the lining of your womb if you’re done having babies.
If you ring your gp in the morning they will be able to chat through the physical problem and how your current anxiety is. They deal with heavy menstrual bleeding every single day so don’t be worried.
Hope you feel better soon x

Strawberry I will have a look at those now.
I normally have a normalish flow for the first day then on the second day (like today) it gets really heavy and I get huge clots when I stand up etc. And it’s that that totally panics me. My Gp was totally unconcerned though as apparebtly my iron levels etc are perfect.

Sorry that you’re feeling like this. Def try out a cup. I did that and was able to tell my GP roughly how much I was bleeding. (Ridiculous amounts) She prescribed me something called tranexamic acid; I take it at the start of my period and it reduces the flow.
I was panicking as well but everything has worked out well and I’m far happier now.

Thanks maisy - do you think it’s ok to call up gp about this at the moment? I know it isn’t urgent. I did look on the gp website it just says they are not doing appointments but i think they may be doing phone appointments? Not sure if that’s just emergencies though!

Clots definitely aren't right. I'd see if you can get a phone appointment with a gp, preferably a different one to last time. Women's health issues are often dismissed, even if they have a negative effect on our quality of life.

I thought clots were normal? I only have a heavy first day usually and definitely get clots, some quite big

Yea I get clots too, pretty sure it’s perfectly normal!

I know how you feel OP. I used to have big clots and the feel of them coming out would really panic me, so much so that I'd almost refuse to leave the house.
I was also prescribed tranexamic acid and within a month the difference was noticeable.

You are suffering from anxiety and your mind is trying to rationalise the reason for it by focusing on your periods

Sorry! That wasn't helpful in the slightest. To clarify, large clots are not normal. The NHS says anything over 2.5 cm/size of a 10p piece is large. (I used to think it was just something I had to put up with. Turns out it wasn't.)

Clots are terrible and I do understand the panic.
I also take tranexamic acid and it's made it much better.
Some GPs and also some women, don't understand how bad it can get.
Sorry for tmi but it's best said.
To me it wasn't unlike being stabbed, and being ignored and told to put up with it, on a monthly basis.
I used to have several showers a day on period, was unable to work without severely embarrassing chair ruining incidents and not able to get from shower, after shower, to towel rail without ruining bathroom floor and legs. Tampons didn't work.

Argue with new GP for a hospital referral. You don't have to live like this.

I remember watching a documentary on periods and everyone thought they bled loads so they collected it and it was hardly anything I was so shocked!

I do get clots sometimes, I did go to the doctors one time as there were massive clots but he was not worried. So I wouldn't worry too much but I would only wear pads/cup so you can see how much is coming out and then if you're still worried you could take a photo or sample to the doctors.

I think it could just be anxiety.
I have anxiety over appendicitis - completely irrational and I don't know anyone whos had it but if I have a slight pain I will not sleep and just cry and think I'm going to die from a burst appendix haha

Also when I lie down and then stand up - especially in the morning it all comes flooding out lol. So maybe as your lying down it's making it feel worse?

Thanks everyone I will ask about something to help with the heavy periods but tbh I think the anxiety is more of a problem than I would care to admit as well .
I know in the past I have had anxiety issues but it’s normally over things like social interactions not health so it’s a new and wonderful thing for it to focus on this.

I have managed to get through the evening routine etc and now I am having a bath to see if that helps ca me a little!

My husband also finished working so I told him how anxious I was and just telling him made me feel a little better even so I am hoping I can calm down enough to actually sleep tonight

Aw, anxiety is the pits. It has made me iller than anything else ive ever had, and your gp should recognise you havd a real problem with that (as well as unpleasant periods which can probably be made less unpleasant)

Have you tried any cbt techniques ?- your rational mind can have a conversation with your panic mind and kind of 'talk it down' (you can probably find something on the internet, or learn via a phone consultation). I have found it reallh helpful in separating the awful feeling of dread from the 'thing' I had fixated the feeling onto, and learn to accept the feeling as a nasty feeling that nonetheless did not mean the nasty thing was really do terrible/true. As you are already recognising that anxiety is feeding this, it could be worth a try?

Did you have any traumatic births? I bled a lot, like splashed the walls and floors with an APH, ever since I have not been able to cope with pads because the feeling of the blood coming out takes me right back there. Sorry to be graphic!

Inwood - the last birth (4 years ago) was a nightmare. Doctor insisted on induction by drip and it was the worst - I bled a lot after compared to normal births had and had to have a an injection and the midwife pushing down on my stomach etc BUT It did stop really quickly and I was ok after.

It was upsetting enough that both me and dh said never again and he had a vasectomy though

Ok so I called up the new doctor today (we moved in jan) and she was SO helpful and lovely compared to my old doctor.

I had been in hospital on a drip the middle of last year to slow the bleeding and she has given me tablets of that to try they are going to be ready to collect today!

I feel so much happier having been told that they will actually help me.

@Makinganewthinghappen that's great news. Hopefully the new GP will prove to be just as helpful with your anxiety.