What the fuck do I do now? TMI warning

[BuggerBuggerBuggerBugger]

So I’ve just started my period. Haven’t had one in five years because they were horrific! Bled through everything, had to use waterproof sheets at night. Periods regularly didn’t stop for months on end leaving me severely anaemic. Also, I was awful when I was on, very emotional, got the rage about everything and completely exhausted. 5 years ago I finally got a female doctor who immediately put me on the pill and I haven’t had a period since. It’s been heaven! Except this morning I’ve come on. Stomach hurts, bleeding, period poops, the lot. I go on holiday on Monday with the kids. Long awaited beach/pool holiday so lots of swimming involved. I can’t swim when I’m on, tampons aren’t effective enough. I’m devastated. It’s just me and my young kids, they can’t swim without me and I can’t swim right now.

I’ve got three choices that I can think of-

1. I’ve got some out of date northisterone that I could use? Used it loads In the past to stop when my periods just keep going
2. can I take extras of the pill to try and make it work again?
3. the obvious choice and the one I’ll be doing is that I’ll try and get a doctors appointment first thing on Monday morning but we are supposed to leave first thing Monday and doctors appointments are a nightmare to get
4. cry

Can anyone suggest anything that might help? Do pharmacies prescribe northisterone?

Tranexamic acid can reduce heavy bleeding. Have you ever tried that? You can get it OTC.

However, I have never been on the pill so I don't know if this breakthrough bleeding or whatever it is is normal or if you need checking out. I would advise calling 111.

Best of luck to you. What terrible timing.

Can you call 111 speak to an out of hours doctor? Or there are private gp apps that cost about £30 they can give you a prescription . so sorry I hope you get to enjoy your holiday

I would do the private gp and get a prescription.

Enjoy your holiday.

Can you also Amazon Prime some period swimwear to double up with tampons in case the tablets don’t work 100%?

You can order norethisterone privately from Boots to collect from a pharmacy.

Double up tampons and period swimwear?

Last time I tried to get GP-prescribed Northisterone (Scotland), it was unavailable EVERYWHERE. Like, at every single pharmacy I tried.
Stock is hopefully now back to where it should be.
Hope you manage to find a solution and enjoy your holiday.

If norethisterone has worked in the past and you know how to use it, use that.

I'd not be fussed about the in-date bit.

Can you Amazon prime yourself a cup? They work for me and hold much more than a tampon. Looked for a Lena cup.

Sorry.

you can get norethisterone prescribed very quickly via boots dr online

I take two pills daily, can you try that? It's the only way to stop everything for me

I know you need something now but from experience I had a mass of polyps and fibroids had them removed no heavy periods since

I'd also get some black swim shorts like little cycling shorts to help make you feel safer.

I would try and get a private prescription.

Have you had incidents when swimming before? I’m only asking this as often the cold water means we don’t have a heavy flow in water (I have found this). The idea of quickly getting some black swimming shorts is also a good idea. Could you time your swimming to the minute you put a super tampon in? So it would be ok for half an hour or so?

I'd second tranexamic asid to stop the flow being so heavy. I'm not sure if you take noristherone now that it will stop the flow?
If you use a moon cup and period swimwear would that work ?

Doubling up on the pill (recommended for women over a certain weight often anyway) can work but it will take a couple of days to kick in. Don’t take too many though as you will make yourself funny.

Also cup/sponge/period swimwear etc

Norethisterone will dry the period up so I would just try and get a private prescription

I know you said tampons aren't effective enough, they weren't for me either but I have had no problems since using a mooncup - have you tried one of those?

I'd also be trying to get a prescription of Norethisterone

Transexamic acid definitely. I have prolapse and could use a tampon whilst on my heavy period when I was taking TXA as it stopped the flooding.

And get seen and have it checked out after the holiday. Unusual to have a sudden heavy period like that esp if you have not stopped the pill. Could be a lot of things. But I wouldn't just assume it's a bog standard period.

You will get noristherone from a pharmacy I think.

onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/period-delay-ppc.html

Unless the norethisterone is many years out of date I’d take that.
what pill are you on?

All the medical advice, plus you can get period swimwear these days. That might help, on top of other suggestions.

My complete sympathy to you, OP - I’ve had similar for years and it’s incredibly frustrating let alone debilitating (usually at the most inconvenient times!)
I have used vaginal sponges many times for these sorts of circumstances - and wouldn’t be with a good supply now!
https://amzn.eu/d/3jzLubM
Tranexamic acid can be useful, though it doesn’t always work for me.
Good luck- hope you can get something sorted!

Do an online doctors appt, it’s about £50 and you can speak to a GP within 30 mins usually. They email you a code at the end of the consultation for a prescription and you take it directly to pharmacy who make it up while you wait.

As a last resort OP you can get incontinence swimwear (my DS needs this as he has severe LD) which can either be a swimsuit or to wear underneath