Period has arrived before going away on beach holiday - what to do ?

[thedogsdinnerandall]

Im peri and my periods are all over the place. Only been 2 weeks since the last one, before that it was a 6 week gap. Do I:

A) Let it be and just pray it's super light - it could be either light or heavy. Im so up and down what with peri

Or

B) Take medication to stop/reduce the flow .. but this could make for a super heavy & lengthy period when I get home .. and im going to a spa 10 days after getting home

Thoughts ?

thanks for all the comments and thoughts.

I have no idea if this will be a heavy or light one. It's only been 2 weeks since the last one .. could that mean there maybe hasn't been enough time for much blood to build up ??? I hope so !

it is very early days yet .. but I can feel some pain already and pain this early in for me can mean a heavy one is coming .. but that's not given. As I say, I have been very up down the last year or so in peri. Best case scenario is that it takes 3-4 days to actually start properly flowing (that has happened before), so it is not the whole holiday (1 week) I have to worry about. Worse case scenario is full flow starts later today and is heavy. I have no idea what is going to happen. I am currently at the airport. I always said I would never do the meds (noristherone) when in peri as it would really mess me up .. and I have the upcoming spa .. I don't have enough meds to last for the holiday now and also cover 10 days when I go to the spa .. I am only using 'spare' left over meds. However, I have the meds with me and if i get full heavy flow then I will be using them as they could reduce the flow - that has worked in the past many moons ago. Noristherone can make me very spotty and large clots in the period that follows. I once stood up from the sofa and a large clot fell out of my pjs and splat on the floor. That was after noristherone.

As an aside when I have needed noristherone in the past, I have always asked for enough to last for 3 weeks, even if it's only a 1 week holiday, so I get 'spare' and only pay 1 prescription charge. Appreciate some may frown on this.

If you're not super heavy then just put up with it. I will do pretty much anything to avoid being on my period on holiday but that's because even with a heavy duty tampon and period pants/swimwear I've got approximately 45 minutes before I leak through.

Just to add - I have every size of lillets with me for this trip and will be on pants watch the whole time. I will be anxious - I could leak/be heavy/have cramps .. I won't have access to a bath for a long soak to help the pain .. a shower doesn't really do it like a bath would ! It will hot and sweaty where we are going, I will be sweating and worrying is it sweat or leakage, I will be checking the chair/sun lounger as I stand up every time .. it will not be as relacing as I had hoped now. First holiday with a period in a LONG time as have always been fortunate with timings

Tranexamic acid! Absolute game changer.

@Tenthouseandspoon I will be getting some at the pharmacy over there !

Good luck 👍 I’ve only discovered it this year - a year after discussing heavy bleeding resulting in anaemia with my GP, who failed to mention it 🙄

It made very little difference for me, so it’s not necessarily a gamechanger for everyone.

That's not always the case. I have used it for years to stop my periods. It definitely can work.

Instead of spending the holiday anxious I would get some pads or thick pantyliners to avoid having to check shorts, and keep on top of tampon changing if swimming. If it’s hot you’ll go through a lot of pantyliners, but better that than spending the holiday stressed. I would definitely be wearing an extra layer when not swimming if you often pass clots with a tampon in

You could try Evana (tranexamic acid) instead of the nohisterone, if you have a few heavy days. Also Tampax now do a purple one that's even bigger than the orange, although it looks pretty intimidating in the packet!

But yeah, if you have time get some period pants too - M&S do packs of two that aren't too expensive I think.

Use a pad as well?

That’s what l (don’t) like about MN, good female solidarity! 😟

Wow - @notimeforregrets clearly hasn't had heavy or unpredictable periods. Tampons absolutely don't handle everything and thin, light clothing and swimsuits hide nothing!

OP, whatever you do, from my experience, don't take the noresthisterone. I took it for 3 weeks last year as I had a long trip in a country with poor facilities. It totally messed me up and left me feeling bloated for the whole holiday. Took months for my body to get back to a form of 'normal' again. I'm peri too so you just want to avoid upsetting your hormones any more than necessary. I think Mefenamic acid or similar could be a good idea though if you can get a pharmacy on your hols to prescribe. It will just help if it is heavy.

Buy and use a moon cup or whatever brand you prefer. Game changer

I’m sorry to hear it hasn’t been helpful for you. I was saying that it’s been a game changer for me personally and therefore perhaps worth trying 🙂

And the OP is asking for any suggestions or thoughts about how to do exactly that - manage her period - in a phase where they have become less predictable in timing and in severity. Sometimes the bleeding is very different from what a woman has been managing fairly easily for 30 odd years - why is that so hard to understand and empathise with?

This is a bit harsh!! I have been in a similar position to OP. I’m very comfortable and at peace with my own periods but since getting older they can be extremely heavy and sporadic. Not so bad day to day but if you’re planning a holiday in skimpier clothing it can feel a bit daunting.

I had this recently OP, couldn’t get nortehisterone anywhere so I bought some period knickers, stronger tampons and some expensive (flex) pads. Ironically the period never came so it was all wasted and that month I ended up having 8 weeks between periods. Then I’m approaching the next one after 3.

You can order at boots online and get delivered to the boots at the airport. Double up with tampons and pads/period pants. Better to take more than you need although I assume there will be supermarkets and pharmacies where you are going.