To have had enough of my period.

[CornishTiger]

My cycle has been mostly absent for the last nine months. Extreme stress, Covid vaccination maybe and possibly peri menopausal.

Then boom two nights ago just as I’m about to go out to a long awaiting event where it was sodding portaloos it made an appearance. And it’s been a constant heavy flow since.

I’ve had 4 changes of underwear and pjs this evening alone. Nothing is containing it. I’ve been trying to sleep on a blinking toddler bed pad and here I am awake lying on a towel on sofa after counting how many sanitary towels I have left wondering if they’ll last til morning having felt a gush which made me flood. I’ve just grabbled with a menstrual cup too which won’t play ball with my vagina and seems to think I want it low down like it feels like it’s going to come out

I haven’t had anything like this in years. The consultants response to that shitty few months of constant bleeding was to do a biopsy of my cervix ( I think?!) in a rush after I didn’t response well to his suggestion my bleeding was due to being fat.

And now the cat thinks I want her climbing all over me. Argh.

If I didn’t need to get up early and get out for san pro I’d be hitting the gin bottle! Oh and I’ve got a 90 min return journey to do twice tomorrow to drop my daughter to a birthday party so need to plan where I can stop to use a toilet.

The best my DH has said today when I tried to explain how shit it is is oh dear - I never ever moan like this!

I take northisterone daily as mine were like this constantly. I'd not bleed for 12-16 hours and then it would pour from me for a few. Then stop and start. 14/25 days.

It pissed me off every time they told me I wasn't losing as much blood as I thought I was

I was flooding a super tampon and maternity pad every 20 minutes for hours and hours on end.

My ferritin was 6 so I beg to differ the blood loss wasn't significant!

I'm having a hysteroscopy in October as ultrasound showed suspected adenomyosis.

I was afraid to cough and/or stand up every moment of everyday and it really affected my MH.

Really push for Gp to investigate. It's the 21st century and woman really shouldn't be suffering like this.

OP you poor thing , please get checked out asap, but you can buy transamic acid over the counter now but it is pricey.

I went out to supermarket and I’m glad I didn’t send DH. Purposely went to Asda as knew they had biggest range of San Pro. All the cheaper own brands out of stock and a lot of the other ranges wiped. (Lorry driver and supply issues?!)

Got 3 packs of 16 of the night secure fit max ones. Plus dry nights bed pads. Had to put one in car seat on way home as felt leaking. Good job I did as got home moon cup full and pad full. 45 mins total. Seriously fucked off!

DH has to do full grocery shop in a bit and I’m going to do the drive to party then home. We need to do both so and I just can’t do the supermarket. Just going now has showed me that! Why can’t you just do it all at the same time he said. Well he understands now!

So the party is actually more like just over an hour return so fingers crossed now I have better pads it’ll hold. It’s a drop and go and she’s had hardly had any invites for the last few years. Plus it’s an expensive entry per child so there is no way I’m cancelling it.

Ive checked my temperature and for me it is raised by not raised enough that a typical health care professional would say is raised. I normally range between 35.1 and 36. Yep freak. And it’s 37.2.

I need to remember what they were looking into years ago. I’d had constant bleeding, heavy, and pain. CA125A marker was just over top of normal. Endometriosis was explored and I had a laparoscopy which was fine. I got pregnant about 4 months later. Then breastfeed so periods didn’t return for a while. Since they have they haven’t been great but no where near as bad as this.

You need to demand a gynaecologist appointment, pay to go private if you can for the initial appointment. If you have completed your family would you consider a hysterectomy? The Nice guidelines criteria for heavy periods are that you have completed your family, have tried at least one hormonal method to stop the bleeding & are unable or unwilling to have a mirena coil. I had a hysterectomy for endometriosis & it was the best thing I ever did.

@Nat6999 my family is complete but I can’t do surgery. Not after what’s happened recently. I can’t even bear to ring 111 and end up in that hospital.

Gosh OP that sounds horrendous. Definitely call GP tomorrow and get some noresthisterone prescribed! You can’t go on like that! You may also be suffering with anemia now too!

God that sounds like hell, you definitely need to see someone.
I've had horrible periods for years. I now take the pill back to back. Every 6 ish weeks I'll get a breakthrough bleed but it is completely insignificant compared to it! Just a very light discharge and no pain.

Bleeding has reduced so I’m no longer flooding.
Going to prepare an e consult.

What am I asking for. Scan? Gynae referral? I am not being fobbed off like my friend was. I can hear her now telling me how dismissive they were with her. If a man had to go through this then they’d not be waiting to see if it “resolved”.

I’m going to ask them to get my medical records from central store for a time I was with another practice as there was a lot of gynae stuff on there. It’s not on my record at current practice.

I'm really sorry. It sounds terrible. I don't have any advice but I didn't want to read and say nothing. I really hope it passes soon.

We are living inthe 21st century and women are still suffering this filthy primitive ordeal every month. Shameful

I agree. OP I don't know what to suggest as I've never had it as bad as you but I can absolutely identify with things like sitting/sleeping on towels in the car, on the sofa and in bed. And the loo filling up with blood and clots (sorry for TMI).

You said you've not had a period for months. I think it's all come out at once! I had the same a couple of years ago - I didn't have a period for three months and then it all seemed to come at once - I run, and really notice when I have given blood and was losing so much blood I thought it would be like giving blood.

It is getting better, I do seem to have lighter and shorter periods these days (though not this month's) and I used to get headaches all the time and now I don't.

So in your case it could absolutely be a one-off but I would definitely do an e-consult and ask for more investigations (if you can face going into a hospital). Not sure what but a ultrasound scan as a basic thing I'd think - and that is not invasive so nothing can go wrong?

And the suggestion of a hysterectomy is not a bad one - my mum had one and thinks all women should have one once they've completed their families. In her words what is the point of leaving it there to get cancerous in old age...

I had a period that lasted two months a while back and am still getting them for a prolonged time and only a couple of weeks apart. Not as heavy as you describe but quite bad and always bright red so in the end I was worried it wasn't a period but that I was jus bleeding continuously. Gp referred me for blood tests and a scan. Turns out I have several small fibroids and an underactive thyroid. I don't know which if either of them is causing the problems but the levothyrixine and transexamuc acid have already made an improvement. So definitely try and get bloods and scan done and a gynae referral. Good luck x

Op I have been having similarly insane periods. I lost a pint of blood in 24 hours at the start of the week.

I had already seen my GP (who prescribed iron after a blood test) and he referred me for an ultrasound about 6 weeks ago but my appointment still hasn’t come through so I thought ‘fuck this’ and paid £135 for a private scan- turns out I have fibroids which can at least be treated.

I suggest you see your gp ASAP and set the ball rolling for treatment. There are a number of things they can do.

Oh and I have found Modibodi 24 hour period pants useful (though expensive).

Keep a diary and include how often you are emptying your moon cup. I suffered for years and then tried moon cup, realised i could measure amount along with eternal leakage.

Took this info to the GP who was amazed I was holding down a FT job, was happy to refer to gynaecologist straightaway, had the minor treatment first such as pills and the endometrial ablation, still returned to flooding.

Referred back to gynaecologist, didn't even have an examination, he booked me in and i had partial hysterectomy 6 years ago, wish I had had done it so much earlier, got my life back.

‘Keep a diary and include how often you are emptying your moon cup.‘

Yes, do this. Giving them figures really cuts to the chase.

Thanks @lockdownmadnessdotcom. Hoping any referrals can be down virtually or in community hospital rather than the main hospital. It’s just too triggering at moment. I can’t even think about a hysterectomy at the moment. Even though I know it would solve issues. Assumed I was sat filling my face and piling on the weight He shut up when I said look at how much I weighed in 2011. Look at now. 10kg difference. Not great but not in line with his assumptions.

@loopsngeorge wouldn’t be surprised if it was fiberoids. Only recently had thyroid checked. Normal range apparently but tbh I know it’s under active and the range means nothing. I thought I was being referred to endocrinologist and ended up with an obesity consultant. Offered me gastric surgery - I say whoa wait I thought I was here to look at why I’m not losing weight, thyroid etc. He wasn’t even interested in anything but surgery.

This was really recent and I just burst into tears. I’m not putting myself anywhere near surgery unless I really have to and certainly not til other things properly explored. I saw a lovely registrar 4 years ago who listened and wanted to treat as under active regardless of levels but then I found out I was pregnant a week later!

Sorry I’m really ranting today! Feel let down over the years as a woman

Sorry more replies as I was typing. Yes the mooncup surprised me.

Also modibodi as soon as I get paid I’m ordering a pair! I didn’t really their sizing would go up to mine. It’s just that bit of extra confidence. I’m already thinking of cancelling work meeting on Wednesday- it’s an hours drive. I’ll speak to manager.

How are you getting on OP? X

Thank you for asking @BlueMoons90 waiting for GP to call. It’s eased but still heavy. Just attempting to use pads only but will double up again for school. Not so much pain now. I can do things around the house /work from home. Hoping it eases enough for when I have to travel to office on Wednesday.

Face to face appt booked with duty doc 530

short term: regular ibuprofen to lighten the flow plus incontinence pants

long term: have you considered a Mirena? absolutely life changing

Short term for anyone with flooding, these are amazing

https://www.honouryourflow.co.uk/extremely-heavy-flow-66-c.asp

Hi all.

Saw a nurse practitioner today who was very helpful. I’ve been referred for a ultrasound to check for fibroids etc.

It’s at a local clinic so not at the main hospital which is a relief. Also separately had a phone call and got on waiting list for bereavement counselling which may help with my grief and going to main hospital in time.

Can’t do Mirena as coils have been rejected twice by my body. Copper and the mirena. Plus mirena made me feel so bad mental health wise. Basically I was vile too on it!