Heavy periods!

[HeavyPeriodHelp]

To all my fellow heavy period sufferers, I need advice! Not an AIBU posting for traffic.

I’ve namechanged for this, regular poster.

Every month I have extremely heavy periods, fine during the day and just about manageable but I’m struggling to find something that works at night. If I lay down for a few hours and then get up to change pad there’s a mini explosion and blood leaks everywhere. Up my belly, down my legs, feet....everywhere. I have to shower, clean, change, vanish carpet etc. it’s nightmare.

I wear 3 pads (front of knickers horizontal, middle one normal vertical and at the back horizontal).

I also wear 2 knickers that are on the tighter side to minimize the chance of a leak. I have the thickest pads. Etc etc. but I still explode and leak constantly at night.

Anyone else with this problem? What can I do?! Is there a nappy made solely out of sanitary towels for females?

Maternity pads work wonders for me

Have you tried tampons? I used to get heavy periods and used tampons. I did get up once in the night to change them so that they weren’t in too long

Sounds like you need medication to reduce them.

I think you need to see your GP.

Mooncup. Possibly with a pad just to be sure.

Definitely see your GP - I ended up with the Mirena coil to help and it’s made such a difference! Very few period and when I do have them they are so much lighter.

I’ve tried maternity pads, tampons etc. nothing works :(

To the posters saying go to the GP - is what I’m experiencing not normal for women who suffer from heavy periods? I just thought it was part and parcel of a heavy flow....

You should see a doctor.

I'm sure you'll seek medical advice but in the meantime google Mooncup or Diva cups, they can cope with much more flow than tampons and in my experience tend not to leak as they creates kind of seal. I swear by mine, though haven't had to use it since having coil fitted.

When speaking to Dr re heavy periods, things to consider are PCOS and a contraceptive. I ended up with a mirena coil and went from periods that had me housebound (never ending, heavy, gushing, lumps and all sorts 😱) to having NO period at all.

Good luck, it's nightmarish but there are options, def speak to your Dr.

Mefanamic acid and transexamic acid. Saved me from heavy flow like you're describing. In the meantime make sure you take ibuprofen before you come on (as soon as you get a twinge) and keep taking it regularly until you're finished - the anti-inflammatory works best preventatively and reduces bleeding.

This sounds too heavy, I would check in with your GP

I didn't get on with mirena coil, the drugs to reduce the flow weren't enough as limited to only 3 days so as my family complete had womb ablation - utterly fantastic!

Mirena coil reduced mine. Mefenamic acid also good.

I don't think that's normal. I get heavy periods - on day 2/3 I lose blood clots and feel likecI can't go out because I will bleed through the pad in minutes, but that lasts only for a day and then gets better. If you are bleeding through 3 pads etc then I do think you need medical advice.

I had to get tablets from the gp as mine was like that and I bleed for 2 month solid . Im now being referred. The tablets you take for only 4 days and really help with the flow

Tena pads.

Tranexamic acid tablets, super plus tampon and a massive always night sanitary towel (the really thick ones, often found in pound shops). Tight knickers, pyjamas bottoms and lay on your side. That usually (Not 100%) deals with it.

Why would you not have gone to your GP already?

Please see your GP. I don't think what you are describing is normal even for heavy periods. I had this same problem for years and had no idea it wasn't normal. I used to go to bed in a Tescos carrier bag [cut 2 holes in the side for my legs then hoick the bag up by the handles!] Felt truly awful, dirty and smelly and finally confided in a close girlfriend who was absolutely horrified. Transexamic acid was a wondrous drug to me- there is loads of help out there for this these days and you really don't need to suffer it any longer, honestly. Good luck OP I hope you manage to sort it and feel better soon.

See your GP and ask for a referral to gynae. You should not have to put up with that.

Agree that tranexamic acid and mefanamic acid are great for heavy painful periods. I suffered for years with flooding, horrendous pain & feeling like shit for 10 days a month. They were truly awful. I had scans & tests, I was anaemic. Then the transexamic acid stopped working so I had the coil....that was life changing & I don't have periods at all now.

I had dreadful periods - soaking through a super+ tampon in an hour or two, bad cramps, really unpleasant.

I went on Cerelle, the minipill. Completely solved the whole problem. Now I bleed very lightly for 10 days every 3 or 4 months - lightly enough to rarely even need a pantyliner, let alone a pad or tampon - and have no cramps at all.

Obviously won't work for everyone but it had exactly the effect I'd hoped for with no other side effects, so you can pry it from my cold dead hands.

Def transexamic acid. Works a treat!

Also no this is not at all normal! My GP immediately put me on Cerelle with my periods, even though they sound far less bad than yours.

A mooncup or similar might also be a good idea - they can hold a lot of liquid. I'd used mine for only a month or two before going on Cerelle and haven't needed it since, but I had a good time with it. Reduced the cramps too.

I have very heavy periods without contraception and normally wear tena adult nappies at night as theyre the only thing i dont leak through. Really comfy too lol