Period from hell, when to worry? Warning gross content.

[siriusblackcat]

I've gone 3 months without a period, thought brilliant they're stopping, I'm mid 40s and been in peri menopause for ages.
Last Saturday period came, heavy as always. Well it's just not stopped.
Usually I'm heavy for 2 to 3 days, then light for another 4 to 5 days then stop.
This time it's horrendous, I'm flooding every time I stand up, I can literally feel it pouring out of me (sorry tmi). I'm heavier now on day 8 than I was on day 1 and passing black clots too and it's showing no signs of slowing down
My back is hurting so much too and pain down below and the top of my legs.
I just want to curl in a ball and cry 😭

DH reckons I need to seek medical attention, I'm of the "your arm needs to be hanging off" school of thought.

Has anyone else had similar?

But a lot of us lose lots of blood on our periods?

Saying that I also advise ringing 111 to check. It's never any harm to check

My friend developed adenomyosis in recent years. She is peri and has recently started HRT. It took ages to get the adeno dx & to get proper treatment, which for her was the Mirena coil which she says has made the world of difference.

I know that's unlikely to be the case here given heavy prolonged bleeding is not the norm for you, and proper investigations should be done for you to rule out fibroids etc. but it may be a possible option if you continue to have heavy bleeds.

Best wishes OP.

I was going to add taking progesterone only tablet while waiting further answers will stop the periods to give you a chance to recover.

@Applemayjune, 'But a lot of us lose lots of blood on our periods?'
That doesn't mean it's normal. Many women tolerate heavy bleeding during their periods but shouldn't.
Just because you are prepared to put up with it doesn't mean other women should too - and OP is flooding, meaning if she was away from home she would likely need to change her clothes.
I had a colleague who bled right through everything and it was embarrassing for her.

Go to a&e. The initial doctors will be useless but once gynaecology are involved you'll be given some tranexamic acid.

I had something similar and was hospitalised and put on drips overnight, seek medical help

Who said that I was just prepared to put up with it.

Don't assume for other people please

I did go to the doctor and ask about my periods, which had increased from 5 days to 8 days.

The doctor told me that it's normal for my age, due to hormone changes In perimenopause.

There’s a heavy period and there’s bleeding like op has described. No one should be accepting heavy periods without investigation anyway. It can be a sign of something needing treatment and there are things people can try.

OP once this is over, if you can, highly recommend Mirena coil. I got one early 30s, haven’t had a period in 15 yrs. No idea of perimenopause or even menopause. If it works, it’s a game changer. Only wish I’d had it at 20

I've had similar bleeding to the OP, I went to the doctor to check and I was told that it is normal in perimenopause.

Hormone changes make our period become longer.

So it can be normal for our age.

Anyway in case you missed it, I did also say to the OP that she should check with her doctor. It's always good to check

Yes, I know all about that. I’m 44 and recently had a hystoscopy to investigate heavy bleeding due to menopause (I went into early menopause at 37 due to autoimmune issues).

The things women go through!

I'm looking forward to menopause and never bleeding again.

It's always best to get it checked.

However, in peri menopause cycles can be longer or shorter and periods can be longer, shorter, lighter or heavier.

I'm mid 40s and had a period that lasted weeks last year. I've also had heavy and light ones. All 'normal' apparently, so although you should get yourself checked, I wouldn't be overly concerned if you're feeling ok generally. Try to make sure you're eating well and getting enough iron.

If nothing else see your gp for tranexemic acid. Mirena might be good. If the bleeding carries on/you do start feeling woozy then a&e.

It's sad because women have so many things to be scared about.

And as usual we aren't given much information about what happens in peri menopause or menopause.

When I got my first 8 day period. I was worried something was wrong.

Then the doctor told me that it's normal during peri menopause

My periods went like this through menopause. Horrific. Tranexamic acid definitely helped. It got to the point where I also couldn’t move for the first 3 days. I just bore with it every month. Now hopefully out the other side.

Tranexamic acid was prescribed by my GP when I was experiencing heavy blood loss. Phone appointment and collected from pharmacy so no bother

This thread is interesting as I had an ovarian cyst removed recently along with a fallopian tube. It was endometriosis and since that my periods have seemed longer. Also the last one was two weeks early and that never happens. I’m always late. I thought it was the cyst removal but maybe it was peri. I’m 43 and my mum said I’m too young.
Hope you’re ok OP x

When I had similar it was 10 days before I gave in and went to the doctor. Had same symptoms as yourself including the leg pain. It turned out to be an ectopic pregnancy - may not be the same for you, however I do think you need to see someone.

Sorry you went through that.

OP said her partner had the snip, so it's unlikely to be a pregnancy

Is your back still very painful, and are you still getting low pain? If so, you feel ill.

I had this a few years back and went straight to the GP.

They gave me transamic(,?) acid to help
stop the bleeding and was referred for further investigations. Turns out I had lots of scar tissue from the c section years earlier and my womb was sort of stuck together so couldn't contract properly.

I had it all cleaned out and a mirena coil fitted under general anesthetic and it has literally changed my life.

Don't suffer in silence

@siriusblackcat
My mates partner had the snip 5 years ago, they have a two year old son, so having the snip still isn't 100% proof, so people saying it's unlikely a loss are totally wrong.

I would suspect fibroids.

I have multiple and have had instances where there the blood has literally poured out of me and down my legs........I am also peri and a recent period contained large clots and lasted 3 weeks.

I can't take hrt as it can increase the fibroids, so have ben told that it is either a hysterectomy or riding it out until full menopause.

I would push for a trans vaginal scan so you know what you are up against.