Just literally walked out

[fulltimeworkingmotherof4]

Just had to come home and change my jeans! Having the period from hell and leaked everywhere. So embarrassed I just text my Male boss to tell him I’d be back soon, girl stuff! Worst bit is we have an offsite meeting later and it’ll be just me and him in the car for 2 hours

I think we all need to wear red jeans, just in case

Had flooding periods for years. The pill at least let me know when to expect the monthly horror but it ruined my work /social life. Practically did nothing during period except go to work heavily lagged with sanitary products. Worst thing was getting up after sitting for a while as that often caused a monumental flood!! Finally had a hysterectomy, I was scared to have the operation but so glad I did.

i had terrible periods until i had hysterectomy at 23 after problems with my daughters birth worse i had was a heavy on my first wedding day i had to wear literally a nappy and felt like crap

Perimenopausal here too and I’ve never known anything like it!

Same! I had no idea this was a thing until MN posters mentioned it. Reassuring, but wow, yet another thing women just get on with, and you have no clue about until you reach that life stage.

I had this at school, too. I was 15, in a light summer dress, and came on in a lesson with a male teacher. Right at the start of a double period (fittingly). I asked to go to the loo and he said no, I could wait. I asked again and he said no again. It was horrendous - an all girls school, boarding at that. Thankfully that meant all the other girls were really supportive, but he and his wife were housemaster/mistress so his being oblivious to menstruation... some girls would have gleefully explained, but I'd have rather died. When we left I nabbed a friend's sweater and tied it around my waist, so only my friends ever knew, but ugh. I can still remember my misery as the minutes ticked past.

It's only now, typing that, that I realise how lucky I was that it was a boarding school. I had a full change of clothes and a shower easily/closely accessible to me. A co-ed day school would have been so much worse.

Is there any way we can get this thread sent to doctors everywhere?? It just infuriates me to read all these experiences and know that it's so unheard of to most men. I get flooding too but not on the scale some of you are describing - WOMEN ARE INCREDIBLE!!!!

But my god this needs to be more widely recognised. Zillions of pounds would be going into research if men experienced a fraction of this.

Grrrr!

I’ve heard it’s common to happen every 6 years! Think I’m going to have to go back to the mini pill even thought it makes me an evil bitch!
Maybe I’ll give it another month but cannot cope with this again. Hats off to those of you who have to deal with this every month.
Me and my boss had a little giggle about it earlier although he couldn’t quite look me in the eye.
It is a shame there is such a taboo, it does happen to us all, but i remember that “lesson” at school, egg cup my ass! And if any teacher stopped my DD going to the toilet I’d go mental, how is that not a breach of human rights?

Cis privilege.

There was a thread a couple of weeks back claiming periods to be a thing of the past, due to modern contraceptives. I felt odd to still have one. Very sorry for all of you who suffer evèry month, the back and stomach pain is enough.

Had this a lot. I call it a "Shark Attack". Always have spare clothes in a rucksack in the car. I noticed that after I had fibroids removed &several hysteroscopies it's settled. Now afterchildbirth it's back to bad again. I think another hysteroscopy will have to be booked! It's really embarrassing but it's an unfortunate fact of life, just don't wear a white skirt like I did one time! 😱😩 x

Thanks to those that replied on the additional allergy point. Some pads are worse than others I guess, but I've always just assumed the blood itself was the issue. Will definitely get the pads tested and steer clear of the perfumed varieties. It's an absolute minefield

This thread has been fab though. Thank you OP. I thought I was the only one with allergy and flooding issues...but seems like it's rather common! Sharing strategies definitely helps!

Even if you have never experienced flooding before there is always a first time. Best to make an emergency bag with super plus tampons, night time towels, wet wipes, incontinent pads, spare pants, leggings and a towel and keep one bag at work and one in car. It makes sense and can save horrendous embarrassment. I have had four such events and truly wished the earth would open and swallow me. I also miscarried in a supermarket and blood everywhere plus bad pain 2 year old in tow. Men get the better deal.

I really feel for you OP. Sincs I had dc2 my periods have been even crazier than they were before (I have pcos). They were always quite heavy but sudden gushing is new. Once I was at the park with loads of mums and kids, my period had reduced to normal person levels so I’d gone out with just the mooncup and no pad. I was also in a dress with no tights. I stood up and felt this massive gush, looked down to see blood running down my leg . I quickly wiped it with a finger and went and interrupted a kids ballet lesson in the village hall to use the loo!! It’s also happened at work but luckily I was wearing thick dark tights and made it to the loo to clean myself up. With that one I hadn’t even started, period just appeared out of nowhere. Being a woman is tough sometimes!

caringcarer 💐

The flooding is miserable and you can feel so alone. I'm seeing a consultant next month about a possible hysterectomy, and hearing your experiences has been really helpful.

This has never happened to me but I have heavy periods and have had a few close calls and reading these stories reminds me I've a good few years of potential incidents left.

I also wanted to also say - wtf is up with the "you'll lose 2 tablespoons of blood" thing? I've always thought I was totally abnormal before reading this. Is all the educational menstruation material written by men who have watched too many white-jean sanpro commercials?

to all of you who suffer with this - you're all superheroes.

I have a heavy first day period and then it's ok for the rest of the time, but I do use a moon cup and can monitor this really well. If anyone wants to message me to talk about them, I'd be happy to answer any questions, it really is so easy to use and holds a lot more than you'd think :)

It should be obligatory for all male bosses to read this thread. to you op

All those suffering, please make that GP appointment. The stress and embarrassment is bad enough but I battled on for years (the stories here are awfully familiar) and ended up severely anaemic which is really not a good situation to be in, I'd be breathless just going up a flight of stairs. I eventually had a hysterectomy as I had huge fibroids but you have to try all the other options first (medication, mirena, ablation in my case, none of which helped much) so you may as well get the ball rolling asap and hopefully something less invasive works for you!

dangermouse many women find that washable cloth pads don't cause the same issues as disposable. Also, mooncups or similar might be another option. Hope you find something that works for you!

I had this happen when test driving a new car! Fortunately car was good, as I felt I had to buy it once I'd covered the driver's seat with blood. Fortunately it was dark so the man didn't notice, and I just washed it when I got home.
Mine seem to go from nothing to Niagra within a few hours, like that for 2 days then just linger on for another 4 days. Bloody awful

Been there you have my sympathy. I don't want any more children and had an eblation a year ago. Not as radical as a hysterectomy and it's changed my life. I don't have to plan and worry like I did and I can actually enjoy beach holidays and wear white. Talk to a sympathetic GP.