Period problems. Posting for traffic. My stupid body

[Avoidtheshameoffloods]

Please help me.

My period goes like this;

Days 1-5 spotting/slight

Days 6-7 horrendous flooding/clots.
Used to be morning only (and only one day) but it’s gradually become all day.
Changing tampons/pads sometimes after 20 minutes.

Days 7-10 (or 12,14,16,18) spotting/slight

I can handle my periods lasting 12-18 days
but I can’t handle the 2 days of flooding.

I can change a super strength tampon and nighttime pad just before the school run and be soaked through my clothes when arriving home 20 minutes later.

I’m using tampax super plus and bodyform goodnight at the worst times and they’re failing me.

I only work part time, 4 hour shifts.
Previously changing before starting and immediately after was doing the trick but now it’s impossible.

I’m not supposed to have a break but am often excusing myself to sort this (which can take ages if I’ve leaked blush)

Any advice? I’m 40.

You need to see your GP. This is not normal at all. You are suppose to seek medical help if you are going through a sanitary towel in an hour.

Flooding and clots is normally a sign of fibroids. You generally need a scan to find them. Dr can give stuff (mfenamic acid/transamic (Sp)acid to reduce flooding). Or they can be removed and you literally get so many days back it was life changing for me!

I was also going to say it sounds like fibroids.

You need to ring your GP, and get the ball rolling with further investigations.

Your periods sound similar to mine and I had severe endometriosis and adenomyosis.
I would look into the symptoms of these conditions and see if they ring bells.
The long phase of spotting at the start can also be indicative of endometriosis I believe.
Do you also have pain/ nausea/ fatigue too?
Best of luck xx

I get this when I am anaemic.

www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/heavy-periods/

Try using a mooncup with a super pad. Mooncups hold more than tampons.

You need to see your GP. I have had this for the last few years and it can be awful. Some days I have felt that I cannot leave the house.

It may be fibroids, and many of them can be detected by an ultrasound scan.

There are some medications which can reduce the flow and may take some control of the flooding. Tranexamic acid helped me, although there can still be days when it causes a problem.

Don't suffer in silence. I hope you can get the help you need from your GP.

I may have the chance to start work in a new area of the hospital I work in within the next few weeks and I’m struggling to accept the position due to there being fewer toilets available.

I will go to my GP to try to find and treat the underlying cause but in the meantime does anyone know of anything I could try to help me with the flooding?

If you consume dairy, you may find not doing so makes a difference.

Transaxemic (I think) acid tablets. I take them. You nee to see a GP though this not normal.

Weird question but are you vegetarian or vegan? I've noticed a link with heavy periods in the women I know - could be total coincidence of course.

Sympathies though and agree check with the GP.

My periods used to be like this with flooding and clots and it wasn't fibroids or any other reason. My gp recommended getting a mirena coil which is one of the main treatments and now my period consists of a couple of days of spotting.

You could also use a mooncup or similar with a pad for backup as they are supposed to hold more than a pad

Go and see your GP. There are a lot of different options. They will need to understand your periods and how it impacts your life physically and mentally. NICE has issued guidelines on how it can be managed - www.nice.org.uk. It is worth quoting these at your GP if they’re being less than helpful.

You can buy tranexamic acid tablets from the pharmacist at Boots- you have to ask for it, you can't just get it off the shelf. It might help you until you can get to see the GP to get it investigated. Don't suffer in silence OP, it sounds miserable.

Definitely see your GP - I have fibroids and also have long periods with flooding which caused chronic anemia. I finally got an ultrasound last Christmas and they suspect I also have Endometriosis (though my gynae appointment is on hold due to covid). Your GP will be able to prescribe trans acid too and set you up with an ultrasound. Push for a scan though as they sent me away with iron tablets several times thinking it was all fibroid related.

I suffer with flooding too, I had an ultrasound but apparently haven’t got fibroids. It’s rubbish. I always leaked at night, even getting up at night to change an Always night time pad.
So I bought leak proof pants from Amazon, which I also bloody well (sorry, no pun intended) leaked through
Finally discovered that taking regular ibuprofen when my period starts makes it so more manageable. Takes away the cramps but also massively lessens the heaviness of them - I hope it helps you too xx

Tampon, pad and period pants maybe? Sorry this sounds awful

Have you tried a moon cup or similar?

I had similar but not as bad and tranexamic acid really helped me. I got sent for a scan after flooding at work and leaking through my clothes 😳 but it didn’t show any fibroids. The medicine hasn’t totally fixed it but it’s manageable now? And I’m on a low dose, so s higher one might help you?

I've had the same issue for going on 8 years. Initially diagnosed with fibroids but by the time I had a hysteroscopy they'd disappeared. Still have the heavy periods though. I'm 53 and constantly fobbed off being advised it's perimenopause and quite normal. Around a month ago I fainted. I was just watching TV and lost consciousness. I poked DH as I was going under and he managed to raise my legs and bring me round within a minute or so. Turns out I'm severely anaemic. I was examined by gp on Tuesday this week and she thinks I have a large blood vessel on my cervix that may be causing the heavy bleeding. I've been urgently referred to see a gynae this week coming.

Hope you get sorted. I don't know why these things take so bloody long to get sorted.

I have the same. Endometriosis but not fibroids. Period pants and a cup helps. Mines been better a little since I’ve been home on lockdown.

Tranexamic acid has been great for me although I need to see the GP as Boots appears to have stopped selling it over the counter.
In the meantime, Ibuprofen every 4 hours helps to reduce blood flow - it has made life bearable again although not as good as the T acid.

I had this, nothing showed up when I had a hysteroscopy so they advised having a coil fitted, it took about 8 months to settle but now I barely have periods at all, just very light spotting now and again.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/heavy-periods/

See your GP for further investigations. You may have uterine fibroids for example. In meantime Try tranexamic acid for the flooding. It is very effective if taken regularly during the heaviest days. You can buy it at a pharmacy until you can obtain it on prescription,

www.nhs.uk/medicines/tranexamic-acid/

You poor thing. I got coil stopped all the heavy bleeds/floods. God a nightmare each month. A scan would be best? I had arm implant aswell so he thought my cycle was crazy but coil settled all this. Im 47