Soaking through a tampon in an hour.

[justanothermanicmondayyyy]

Hi everyone.

just looking for a bit of advice. My periods are usually normal, every 28-32 days. First few days are heavy but manageable.

I have an absolute monster period which started yesterday. I have no idea what has happened. I am soaking through a tampon every hour, I have thrown away 3 pairs of knickers today and I've had to change my bed sheets. I have really god awful period cramps which are something I can usually manage but I'm in quite a bit of pain. I never normally suffer like this! No medication or dietary changes. Very stressful life events happening at the moment.

what are mooncups like? I think I'm going to try one out of desperation. I don't want to ruin my lovely white linen sheets again.

at a loss on what to do and I can't get it under control. No chance of pregnancy I haven't had sex since February. Any advice on how I can stem the flow? I'm currently typing sat in the loo trying to pass what I can before I tackle tampons again.

thank you

I also have a runny tummy (sorry TMI) and a huge headache. I usually do get headaches though when I'm on my period.

I will occasionally have an awful period like this and I stick to pads until it settles. They are also better for monitoring how much you’re bleeding.

Call 111 if you are concerned.

I've used mooncups for about 15 years.
If I get a flooding period, I'll use a nighttime pad too.
They need emptying umpteen times a day if you're bleeding really heavily.
I think they're brilliant and after a wee bit of practice, better than any other method of sanitary protection. Definitely worth a try.

I have been using a mooncup for over a decade and can feel if it's getting full. If I was having a really heavy period I'd use a mooncup and a pad. My DDs like period pants so that's another option, I'd definitely double up your protection to catch leaks.

I’ve had a few absolutely horrendous perimenopausal periods recently - they look like I’m giving birth to my innards. A combination of tranexamic acid tablets, medroxyprogesterone, and Always Ultra size 6 pads (the heaviest duty I’ve ever seen), plus tampons at night, have been getting me through them.

how old are you?

All my periods are like this for the first day. Always have been. I use super plus tampons and heavy duty period pants for the first 48 hours. No leaks since I switched to these.

I'm 30 :)

Puppy pads under the sheets will catch any excess. I had the Mirena coil and it stopped my periods completely.

I’m approaching 40 and mine have suddenly turned like this in the last year.
I didn’t get on with a moon cup but a tampon and pad under leggings (and changing them every hour or so) has helped.
In the worst of it I’ve also ensure I sat/slept on a towel and set an alarm for every few hours to get up and change.

Nothing I’ve found helps with the cramps but a hot water bottle, and mine come with delightful migraines that sometimes shift with high dose (900mg) soluble aspirin.

See I don't think I've ever had a period like this. This is really different for me!

I'll give the moon up a try, I've just found one I bought ages ago in the box which hasn't been used so I'm just soaking it in some boiling water and will give that a go with a nighttime pad. More concerned about my lovely bedding more than anything as nothing gets blood out of white cotton sheets!

thanks for the advice. I take using a mooncup needs a bit of practice, so I won't give up straight away if it's not comfortable.

I didn't think of period pants either so I'll have a look at those!
thanks all

I'd probably get tranexamic acid for now but ask GP about other issues

Hmm I’d go to the doctor if this happened to me. I know it’s normal for some women, but to have this suddenly at 30 seems like it’s probably worth talking to a doctor about. I know this can start happening in perimenopause but you’re not likely to be at that stage yet.

I had similar and it turned out to be fibroids

Yes good idea re the towel I'll sleep on one too. It's inevitable that I'll leak tonight by the morning so I will set alarms too.

things we do ay!

I have a 2 week holiday coming up in 4 weeks today so I might see if I can take some of those tablets as to have this again when I'm away will be a nightmare. And I'm due on the day we go :(

Mine were like this when I turned 40......now 44. Got fed up and had the implant as they won't put me back on depo.

@justanothermanicmondayyyy I know this isn’t what you asked but soak blood stained items in COLD salt water. I then pour neat salt onto staining and wash as usual.

For the sheets soak them in COLD very salty water for a few hours before washing. That will sort them out.

@Wibblywobblybobblythank you both for this, I never knew! Will do this tomorrow for the sheets

I go through an ultra tampon every 30 mins on my 2-3 'heavy' days. I found moon cups useless and messy. Impossible at work unless you want all your colleagues watch you wash it out and risk a redrum scenario in the cubicle.

I'd call 111, hopefully it's nothing but a dramatically heavier period can be a sign of something wrong.

I get heavy periods like that, you have my sympathy! I use a combo of period pants and a moon cup.
Vanish bar and cold water can also get out bloodstains.

Poor you, OP! Mine are always dreadful on day two and sometimes I wonder when it will ever stop. But, invariably, by the evening of day three, I’m almost done. I’d probably check in with the GP though if this is unusual for you. It does seem very heavy.

switching to a mooncup honestly changed my life - they hold about 3x tampons worth of blood so use one with a reuseable pad on heavy days.

It is concerning that this is unusual for you though OP, I would see how things go tonight but if the bleeding hasn’t slowed down by the morning try and see your GP or call 111.
Also even if things have slowed down I would still advise seeing the GP before your next period because suddenly having a very heavy period can mean something is wrong.

Get some 3% hydrogen peroxide. You can get it on Amazon. It will get the blood out 😊. I bought it specifically for this purpose as I started to get very heavy periods.

The GP can prescribe tranexamic acid or mefanemic acid, they work for some ladies (didn't work for me, unfortunately).

Might be worth mentioning the heavy bleeding to your GP just to rule out underlying causes; mine was caused by a large fibroid.