Are anyone else's periods like this?

[blackcoffeenosleep]

I'm sat with my phone waiting for the doctor's to open at 8 so I can speak to someone about it. Just wondered if anyone else is suffering with heavy periods.

After my second birth 4 years ago, my periods returned and were extremely heavy. I would often bleed through my clothes/onto the chair at work/on the bed sheets. I would use a super plus tampon plus a super night time pad and still bleed through. Doctor at the time said it can be normal and will regulate etc. It didn't. I had my 3rd baby in May and since periods returned in the last few months they have been just as bad. I began using a mooncup but it will overflow within an hour. So then started using a pad with the cup. Tried a couple of different cups.

Finally just gave up with the cups and went back to pads. Yesterday was day 1 of my cycle and last night i went to bed at 11 and put two night time pads on. I had to wake and change them at 3am and then at 7.30 this morning I woke up and had bled through to the sheets again. I cant use tampons because they really hurt to remove.

Is anyone else suffering like this or had advice? Any tips? I am embarrassed and sick of this.

I tried using cerazette which makes me bleed constantly. Got a mirena coil. 9 months constant bleeding. They then paired it with cerazette which stopped the bleeding for 3 weeks then it returned so currently not using hormonal contraception.

Not personally, but I’ve heard others mention this: www.nhs.uk/medicines/tranexamic-acid/

Make very detailed notes so you can prove how heavy your periods are, eg 8am changed super night time pad. 8.25 changed super night time pad. 9.00 flooded super day pad etc and then you can back yourself up. You can ask to be referred to a GYN, your GP will hopefully send you for an ultrasound (might be an internal as well as an external) so they can see if you have fibroids. Good luck. I had an endometrial ablation which solved everything but I knew I didn’t want anymore children.

It’s common for periods to change after pregnancy. Some women have lighter or shorter ones, others heavier and longer. It could be fibroids or endo, the GP should be able to investigate and help.

Yes mine are heavy. I can soak through a pad as soon as I've put it on and pass clots. Painful, also.

My periods are like this now, after DC3 was born. I don't want a hormonal implant or pills because I hated what they did to my emotions in the past. I've been prescribed tranexamic acid and totally love it - it's a total game changer for me. I had to push my GP for an ultrasound to look for fibroids because he said that they wouldn't offer me any different treatment for fibroids unless tranexamic acid and hormonal drugs didn't work. I did get a scan in the end and no fibroids were found.

Yes mine are really heavy and painful. I have mefamenic acid and tranexamic acid both on prescription. They have helped a little but I'm also looking into ablation surgery

Nightmare. I had this too after 2nd birth, couldn't leave the house some days for flooding, but was lucky that after 5 months bleeding every day with mirena it eventually stopped. I had a huge prolapse though so eventually had a hysterectomy. Best decision ever.

Thanks everyone. Sorry others have been through similar. It's awful.

Still waiting on the GP phoning... hopefully they will decide enough is enough and time to do something. I'm worried they will just say give it time to settle after the baby etc.

How's the iron level in your blood? Do doctors still take a look at that nowadays if women lose heavily?

@upinaballoon

How's the iron level in your blood? Do doctors still take a look at that nowadays if women lose heavily?

I thought about this too. I will ask if it can be checked. I had alot of blood loss after all my births and was always given 6 months of iron supplements but the heavy periods can't be helping. My haemoglobin level after having dd in May was 10. Not really sure if thats low or normal.

I have exactly this following my children. Gp tested iron and got me a scan and when nothing was found gave me tranexamic acid which has worked wonders.

I have seen a GP about this a few years ago. I have always had heavy periods, just as you described. She said no referral to gynae would happen until I tried the Mirena but I fear the bleeding will worsen. I tried the implant year ago and had it removed as I just bled heavier than before.

At a stalemate as I have no intention of getting Mirena fitted. Hopefully you have better luck resolving your situation OP.

It's a nuisance every month!

If you've finished your family then ablation can be a great option. It worked really well for me. No bleeding since a week after the treatment which was several years ago now. But it doesn't work for everyone.

I know someone else who ultimately ended up with a hysterectomy as even with ablation the fibroids where making her bleeding awful.

User48751490 I was pretty much in the same position re: having to try Mirena first (in my case with a ring and physio for the prolapse too) and if it's any help, although I bled every day for 5 months with the Mirena, it was a fairly light bleed. I was really anaemic from the heavy blood loss, but with iron and the lighter flow, it was at least more manageable.

Hope you all find something that works for you.