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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Heavy periods!

75 replies

HeavyPeriodHelp · 14/04/2018 21:58

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?

OP posts:

Gradiva · 14/04/2018 22:36

I have been investigating ‘period pants’ online as since my copper coil was fitted a few months back my periods have been mega heavy. (Like a super-duper tampon is totally saturated within an hour and this level of heavy blood loss lasts about 48 hours - I am essentially housebound by it). But I find nights are the worst, last night I was up every 90 mins or so dashing to the loo. I’d just like something to catch leaks and save sheets/clothing. Googled this last night at 3am in desperation and yes they exist - a uk company called WUKA and US brand called Thinx (plus some other random Amazon ‘period/leak/waterproof pants’). I like the look of the thinx pants (various styles) but think the shipping might be very expensive. The wuka ones are just black sporty pants but they absorb a lot of blood apparently. If I buy a pair or two and they save my sheets etc then I’ll report back!

gettingbacktoresearch · 14/04/2018 22:36

Tranexamic acid and 3 ibuprofen every six hours for the whole period works... Ibuprofen inhibits a hormone responsible for smoothening muscles in uterus known as prostaglandin from doing its job which reduces the flow

GreenVelvetwithfrills · 14/04/2018 22:36

Mooncups are ok, I bought some Tena lady pads by accident..they were huge, and great for night time periods, when it was horrifically heavy. They were very thin, and large so maybe they were nighttime ones ?

Groovee · 14/04/2018 22:37

I was always like this, then a few friends told me they had never experienced anything like me.

Went to the dr and the traxanemic acid didn't really work for me. The mini pill was useless. I ended up having an ablation done. Now have no periods and feel so much better in myself! But I knew I had completed my family over 10 years ago.

Definitely seek help.

Ticketybooboo · 14/04/2018 22:37

2 tranexamic acid at bedtime, an extra large tampon and a night pad with wings usually keeps me dry until the morning. Pre-tranexamic acid it was 5 trips to the loo each night with leaks and not sleeping properly. Life changing for me.

IfYouDontImagineNothingHappens · 14/04/2018 22:38

Menstrual cup teamed with reusable pads.
Helped with mega bleeding. Also see a doctor!

Wobblybitts · 14/04/2018 22:39

I had similar problems for years. Severe flooding at night especially. Tampons/ double layer towels and a plastic sheet over the mattress. Also after sitting down for a while and then getting up -whoosh!
Finally saw gp and referred to gynaecologist, turned out it was fibroids but whatever it is don’t suffer it. Get seen and sorted.

GoldenBlue · 14/04/2018 22:39

I used to suffer like this but am now on cerazette pill which inhibits your cycle so I only get occasional periods and they are lighter.

Before I had to use super plus tampons and ultra pads, sleep on a dark towel and run to the loo in the night with my hands gripping the towel to my bits to contain flow as best I could. I also suffered from bad pains, nausea and migraine and this pill helps with all of that.

I am afraid the ultra heaviness of these periods is beyond normal. Good luck with things

GoldenBlue · 14/04/2018 22:40

I used to suffer like this but am now on cerazette pill which inhibits your cycle so I only get occasional periods and they are lighter.

I am afraid the ultra heaviness of these periods is beyond normal. Good luck with things

glitterbiscuits · 14/04/2018 22:40

Tranexamic acid pills 3 times a day for first three days of my period.

Really helped.

See your GP

Popc0rn · 14/04/2018 22:40

How old are you OP? I had really heavy periods in my late teens, was given tranexamic acid by my GP which helped a bit. Then a different doctor advised me to try the contraceptive pill because of how painful my periods were, honestly say it's a life changer . My periods still last a week, but so much lighter/less painful. Defo go see your GP, life is too short to spend 25% of it like that! Good luck!

Angie169 · 14/04/2018 22:41

I would agree you need to see your GP and get a coil fitted bit in the mean time try tena / always or boots own incontinence pants, they absorb a lot and you just chuck them away after . They work for me when I am on heavy

littletike · 14/04/2018 22:43

I have very heavy periods too and use a mooncup and maternity pads at night for a couple of nights each month. I can't take anything for it as TTC but I think you should see your gp to see if there's an option for you. It's awful trying to sleep with the anxiety of leaking.

The other advantage of a mooncup is you can measure how much blood you're losing.

I wonder whether tena lady would help? I know when I was in hospital and had my period the towels they gave me were huge and more like nappies.

dangermouseisace · 14/04/2018 22:43

I had disaster periods...would go through highest absorbency tampon and super duper towel in 45 mins during the day. Mooncup would just leak. I got the minera coil and ended up with only extremely light bleeding each month. I want one until I’ve gone through the menopause!

CaviarAndCigarettes · 14/04/2018 22:44

@HeavyPeriodHelp I have always had a heavy flow.
When I was on the copper coil for a while it became ridiculous. It was crazily heavy. I had to use lilets ultra tampons (they're like a fucking umbrella) and maternity pads:
If this is your normal flow I would definitely have a chat with the doc.

CaviarAndCigarettes · 14/04/2018 22:45

Just to add, while on the copper could I still had to get up several times a night to change. Lucky the kids woke me most nights

Lotsofsausage · 14/04/2018 22:45

Agreed that you should probably see a gp re medication.
In the mean time I’d suggest a moon cup (I have fairly heavy flow and mine doesn’t leak) or super tampon plus a pad. It’s bound to flood when you get up out of bed if you haven’t got anything ‘blocking it’ so to speak. I never use just pads overnight.
Also Have you heard of ‘thinx’ period pants ? Absorbent and washable - sounds like you wouldn’t be able to use them alone but definitely as a back up in bed.

QuestionableMouse · 14/04/2018 22:50

Could you take a bucket and loo roll into the bedroom with you? Then if you feel like you're going to leak, you can get up, let it all out and go back to bed. Put a towel down on the floor to reduce any mess. Then all you have to do is empty it in the morning (and you can see how much you're actually losing.)

And do go to the GP!

Lynz39 · 14/04/2018 22:52

I can totally sympathise as I am the exact same. Very heavy periods that last over a week. Night time is the worst for me too. On iron tablets as constantly anaemic.

Have been back and forth to the gp and have eventually been referred for an ultra sound to check for fibroids etc. Please see your GP.

AornisHades · 14/04/2018 22:52

I had perfectly normal periods until my 40s when as a pp says I was housebound with palm sized clots. The biggest tampon I could buy lasted 15 minutes and it was awful. The GP tried to put me on the Mirena but I pushed for a referral to gynae who gave me transexmic acid followed by an endometrial ablation which stopped the whole mess :)

MumW · 14/04/2018 22:53

Been there - it's bloody awful, if you'll pardon the pun. If it's unmanagable then you need to get checked and get some help. Mine were down to fibroids and a mirena coil has helped.

I use the disposible baby changing mats in bed to save the mattress. Latest lot were from Poundland!

condepetie · 14/04/2018 22:58

Absolutely see your GP - I hope this thread is helping you realise that a) this isn't what many others put up with and b) that there are many, many options to help you with it, be that with medication or other management.

If there's a problem causing these awful periods your GP will be able to help you. If it's just natural random heavy awfulness, there's options available for you. Good luck!

longtompot · 14/04/2018 22:59

I agree, you need to see your gp. I had super heavy periods, and they got to the point I was more on than off. It turns out I had a massive polyp which needed removing under ansthetic. Since then, all has been pretty much marvelous. I still get heavy periods, but nothing like they were before.

happymumof4crazykids · 14/04/2018 23:03

Tena lady nappies at night. I can't have any hormone treatments at all so this is what I use.

SleightOfMind · 14/04/2018 23:03

Echoing the GP as first port of call but also mooncup helped when my periods suddenly got V heavy for the first two days.

I still sleep with an old (dark coloured) bath towel under me for the first night. Mainly to catch the flood when I first stand up in the morning.
Mooncup gets me through the commute and a working day without drama though.

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