Sudden menstrual flooding

[needthemenopause]

Name changed.

I will seek medical advice but in the meantime I would like recommendations for period pants or other sanitary products that can deal with sudden, unpredictable flooding with clots without leaking. I will need it to be able to give me an hour of dignity after a large flow in case I can’t get to a loo to change.

I have had sudden gushing flooding on day 3 of my period this month and last. It’s gone through my tampon, pad (I generally double up for security but don’t usually need to change my pad) and clothes within minutes. Most recent episode was 20min after changing a tampon i.e. not because it was already saturated.
Fortunately, both times I was wearing dark clothes and was able to get back home and change. It also happened once before about a few months ago when I was at work and was unable to change clothes but they were black and it didn’t show.

Now that it’s happened in two consecutive months, I am worried it will happen next month. There is no warning other that it has been on day 3 each time but I don’t if, when and on which day it may happen next.
FWIW I work in a public facing role with a huge number of different people, I can’t wfh but equally I can’t call in sick every month for 4 days in case I flood.

TIA

So I had this problem, i went to my gp and they prescribed me mefanamic acid tablets, which are a god send, but unfortunately not a permanent solution.
Before this though I used the largest sanitary towels I could find, placed one normally and the other at the back horizontally. Then i would wear cycling shorts/anti-chafe shorts underneath whatever I was wearing, I found that they kept the pad in place and meant I didn't leak as much.
I've also worn tena pants with the cycling shorts on top, they worked brilliantly, but show through trousers.
Hope you find a solution soon! It's awful leaking through and as much as we shouldn't be embarrassed, because it happens to everyone at some point, it is embarrassing in the moment. X

I’m in the same boat, also can’t just go to the loo when I need to at work. Firstly, make a GP appointment to see what they can do, and what might be causing it. Secondly, I have spare clothing that lives at work, along with wipes and pads. I wear period pants, a pad and shorts under whatever I’m wearing.

I’d be interested too in good period pants. The M&S ones are comfy enough but don’t come up high enough at the front so you end up flooding. They are also quite crinkly sounding.

I hope you find a good solution.