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Original poster

If you have heavy periods.....

102 replies

Aperolontherocks · 26/04/2021 15:19

......how heavy are we talking?

I would post this on the General Health board, but am posting here for traffic.

I know this is a bit of a personal question to ask, but I figured an anonymous forum was an acceptable place to ask Smile Not that periods are anything to be ashamed of!

Mine are ridiculously heavy. I wear the super PLUS tampons, along with pads and at my peak, am probably needing to change every 40 minutes or so. Huge clots (sorry 😬) and quite a bit of pain or though that isn't constant. Usually have a bit of pre period cramping and then around half a day of cramping when I'm on.

The peak only tends to last a day and a half. The rest of my period is still quite heavy, but manageable and overall lasts around 5 days.

I am on iron tablets as you can imagine and whereas I'm no longer anaemic, I am still iron deficient, although not dangerously so and am trying to really build up the iron in my diet recently, so hopefully my ferritin levels will be slowly rising.

I don't want to take hormones and I suspect at some stage I will consider having a hysterectomy.

GPS never seem concerned and say that it's basically just the way it is.

I hear people saying they have very heavy periods, but I do wonder if they mean this heavy.

I can cope. They don't destroy my life, but it is an alarming amount of blood to be losing.

So, if you don't mind sharing....

TIA

OP posts:
MixedUpFiles · 26/04/2021 16:33

Mine are the same. I have about a 36 hours where leaving the house is close to impossible each month because I have to change doubled up absorption at least once an hour.

MamboVipi · 26/04/2021 16:51

Three days of soaking a pad, maybe one those days its would be 2 or 3 pads a day. Then pretty much done.

I have 1 fibroid I think. Also the IUD non hormonal coil.

Wierdly been experimenting with eating lots of raspberries as they tone the uterus apparently. Less pain and easier flow anyway.

Flowerpot28 · 26/04/2021 16:55

Mine were as bad as yours till I was prescribed transexamic acid

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Graphista · 26/04/2021 17:12

Important question op - how old are you and do you have dc yet and if not do you want dc?

Because if you've no dc and want dc then you need to see a gynae urgently

Number of possible causes but one is what I have which is endometriosis. I too was fobbed off and dismissed for 14 years until it was discovered during surgery for mc.

You've ran smack bang into a phenomenon called "medical misogyny" women's health is not regarded as important as men's unfortunately - even by women drs

You don't need to suffer like this and you have every right to pursue a diagnosis rather than mere masking (which is what hormones, tranexamic acid etc do, they don't treat the underlying cause they mask the symptoms of whatever is causing this)

Don't be me, don't lose babies and end up needing several surgeries and other treatments due to late diagnosis.

honouryourflow · 26/04/2021 17:22

It won't help lighten your flow (unless the heaviness is due to using disposables, which does happen for some women), but people have said that our Mega pad can be a life saver for those of us who can't leave the house on days 1 and 2 or who can't lie down to sleep on nights 1 and 2. They are massive, and even have the option to add extra boosters.

If you have heavy periods.....
itsgettingwierd · 26/04/2021 18:59

My clots are twice the size of the tampon Shock

I've had GP ring tonight after coil number 2 being expelled and trans acid doing feck all.

Back on northisterone daily and urgent referral to gynae (which will take 3 months for urgent)

Original poster
Aperolontherocks · 26/04/2021 19:19

Thanks so much for all the replies

I'm so sorry to those of you who can relate. It really is horrible.

I actually recently had a transvaginal and abdominal scan for persistent pain (not cycle related) and nothing showed up as abnormal, although I know this wouldn't show endometriosis, which I suspect I might have.

When I mentioned this to the GP she said that diagnosis is an operation in itself and an unnecessary one if I'm managing it ok.

I'm mid 30's and I already have dc @Graphista. I was thinking about having more, but this last year has changed our minds I think. Another thread perhaps.

OP posts:
MiloAndEddie · 26/04/2021 19:26

Mine are bad but not that bad but just coming on to add to the chorus of trying a menstrual cup. Mine has changed my life and that’s no exaggeration. I can now go 6 hours on my heaviest days before emptying rather than 3 hours with a super plus tampon

ThePontiacBandit · 26/04/2021 19:35

I have “heavy” periods, finally got diagnosed with endometriosis after years of problems. Mine don’t sound anywhere near as bad as yours! I would push for a gynae referral. This isn’t normal.

Turquoisesea · 26/04/2021 19:51

Following but I’m 51 so right in the middle of peri menopause but mine are every 3 weeks and I bleed for about 7 days but have 2-3 days where I’m having to change a super plus tampon every hour and get up in the night to change too. Has been going on for a couple of years. Been anaemic, had iron tablets that got my levels back up. Had a scan, all clear. Been debating getting the Mirena but don’t normally get on with progesterone so that’s what’s put me off. It is awful though as feel like I can’t be more than an hour away from a toilet on my heaviest days.

BaggoMcoys · 26/04/2021 21:54

@Flowerpot28

Mine were as bad as yours till I was prescribed transexamic acid
Me too. Ask your GP for this op. I can't get on with the pill either and it isn't the only option but for some reason it seems like it's always the main port of call for all things period related.
Socksorter · 26/04/2021 22:24

Mine were the same and I struggled a few years then finally had the mirena fitted. It was life changing, iron levels improved, and i got my energy and confidence back, also i slept really well, i am on my second one now and that will see me through the menopause
Dont rule it out, if it doesnt suit you it can be removed, which in my experience, was totally painless

Sorka · 26/04/2021 22:31

Yours are similar to mine though mine aren’t quite that bad.

I had an ovarian cyst removed and mild endometriosis treated a few months ago which has helped a bit, though I’m still having a grotty day spent coming and going from the toilet today.

I have more severe endometriosis and a fibroid that weren’t operated on. I’m on the waiting list for another operation for those. The NHS can’t even offer me a clue as to how long I’ll be waiting but they don’t seem to have a target timescale for endometriosis. That would never happen for a surgery that men need to have.

I have frozen embryos as my last chance of having a baby. The longer I wait the less chance they’ll take, but endometriosis increases the risk of miscarriage so I want surgery before trying again. The miscarriage link hasn’t been sufficiently proven for doctors to accept it as fact but it’s clearly true. It’s an awful position to be in.

TheChosenTwo · 26/04/2021 22:40

Oh op it can be pathetically debilitating can’t it? I say pathetic in that when I say I’m having a nightmare period I don’t think they understand what I mean and just assume I’m being pathetic.
I have PCOS but since receiving the diagnosis have been offered zero support or advice on how to deal with it.
Fortunately my periods are so few and far between otherwise I’d probably be sacked for the amount of time I’d need to take off if they were regular.
For 36 hours I basically sit on the toilet or am
In the bedroom next door.
I soak through a super heavy plus tampon and leak through the heaviest duty towels in 10 minutes for about 10 hours and then after that it’s about every 30 minutes for another 10. After that, it’s about every hour. Approximations really. I could cry over the amount of soiled sheets/mattresses/mattress protectors/carpet/duvets/pillows/towels I’ve destroyed and had to either clean to the best I can or just replace. Not mentioning how many pairs of underwear I need during this time.
It gets me down so much but then because it happens to infrequently I kind of forget about it until next time.
But it fills me with dread and sadness. It’s NOT a disability, I’d never want to be accused of being so insensitive but I would say that while it’s happening it’s so debilitating being trapped at home and unable to stray far from the bathroom. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve just given up and slept in the bath (in water). Totally horrific Sad

TheChosenTwo · 26/04/2021 22:41

Tranexamic and mefanamic (so?) have both been prescribed to me to no avail during that initial day and a half! It’s so brutal.

Ontheboardwalk · 26/04/2021 22:42

Clots and heavy bleeding were my issue. I got fobbed off at every opportunity even being told at 16 if I had a baby it would solve my problem

Agree transanemic acid and Mefanemic acid first port of call but they made me ill. Dr really pushing coil but not for me

Mini pill is my saviour

SardineJam · 26/04/2021 22:48

I can relate too OP, and in the last year they have got worse and worried they'll continue to get worse! My mum and sister both had gynaecological issues in their 30s. I am wearing Modibodi period pants now and whilst my flow is no different, I weirdly feel less discomfort and pain. I wear their 24 maxi pants which as the name suggest should last ages before needing changing however I can only go about 6 hours which is better than before when I was using a super extra tampon and pads and having to change a lot more regularly

OverByYer · 26/04/2021 22:50

I was like this many years ago. I ended up in resuss one day as I had lost so much blood I was tachycardic. I was booked in for an ablation but they found I had polyps. Those were removed and I had pretty ok periods after that .

Original poster
Aperolontherocks · 27/04/2021 09:28

@Socksorter, I don't really like the idea of a constant stream of hormones in my body, although I understand this is concentrated to one area and doesn't go into your blood stream, like the pill - is that right? Also, I really struggle with smear tests, to the point of almost finding them impossible, so the idea if having the Mirena fitted, fills me with horror tbh! I think most people find the fitting painful don't they?

@Sorka, wishing you all the luck with ttc.

@TheChosenTwo, Sad I'm so so sorry. That sounds absolutely horrific.

OP posts:
Autumn101 · 27/04/2021 09:59

My consultant fitted my coil for me, I had a local anaesthetic and honestly I didn’t feel a thing! Was easier than a smear. I know it can be very painful but I think GPs don’t use any anaesthesia and it made so much difference. I had mild cramps for a day or two and that was it.

Autumn101 · 27/04/2021 10:00

It’s so sad reading all these stories of women suffering, it’s so unfair how little attention is given to gynae issues that are so common.

Original poster
Aperolontherocks · 27/04/2021 10:15

@Autumn101, can I ask where you had your anesthetic?

Can this type of hormone give you similar side effects as the pill? I.e, weight gain, loss of libido etc?

OP posts:
JustDavesWife · 27/04/2021 10:18

Yours sound worse than mine were and I thought mine were awful. It's definitely it something you have to put up with, ask your GP for a referral to a gynaecologist as they will be more helpful. Once I knew for sure I was done with having children my consultant booking me in for an endometrial ablation and it's been life changing, I still have a period but it's so light I don't have to wear anything (it's a bit of blood on the fissure when I wipe). I don't get pain anymore and it's just been amazing, I'm 5 years in now.

Autumn101 · 27/04/2021 10:20

It was injected into my cervix - very slight scratch and then I didn’t feel anything at all. She used a speculum but it wasn’t as uncomfy as a smear.

I had a few symptoms the first few months - some mood swings and spots around my chin but it’s been 6 months now and everything is back to normal. I didn’t like being on the pill and did have weight gain, low libido etc. but not had any of these so far.

itsalltrue22 · 27/04/2021 10:22

Have you been checked for fibroids?

My periods had always been quite normal and then got heavier and heavier. I was changing everything including my clothes every half hour!

I was sent for a scan and lo and behold - fibroids!

My child bearing was done and so I had a hysterectomy - I had 1 fibroid ..... as big as a cannon ball!!!!!!!

See a different practioner if your GP isnt helping.

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