Period problems - suddenly really heavy

[LilRedWG]

I've always had fairly light periods only lasting four or five days, but the past couple have been really heavy, flooding for the first couple of days then tapering off after a few more - a day or two of nothing and then a 'normal' period followed by a week of pale brown discharge, so three weeks in all.

Am getting concerned but don't want to tell GP as don't want to sound like a hypochondriac - I've had a few health concerns of late.

Anyone?

Has anything changed in you? Any pregnancy, or changes in (hormonal) contraception? What about other changes in health? Or circumstances? (My periods went a bit screwy for a couple of months after my mother died - just stress.)

If you've had a few health concerns, there probably is some connection. Periods do change as we get older anyway.

And please do tell GP, particularly if it's a sudden change, and if it's causing you flooding. My GP, when I saw her about heavy periods, said, "No woman in this day and age, should have to put up with periods interrupting her daily life." I could have hugged her - does depend on your GP, though. I've heard from others that their GPs have responded with things like, "Well, that's just what women have to put up with." It's not - there are things which can be done.

She recommended me these two links:
Heavy periods
Blood loss chart

But 3 weeks is not normal. Flooding does interrupt your daily life. And if it's a sudden change, there could be medical reasons for it - please go and get it checked. These are symptoms that should be checked, and it does not make you a hypochondriac.

You need to go see your GP

Thank you. I have an appointment with in a week or so. Will broach the subject.

I also have nipple discharge which my breast consultant wants to see me about as it's 15 months since I stopped breast feeding. Maybe it's linked, am totally fedup of my body.

I have found that things seem to go wrong in clusters - it's like things get out of kilter, and that has a sort of domino effect on other bits of our body. Good luck with it all.

Thanks again.

I nearly started this thread today OP. No advice other than to see your doctor. I feel for you, it's horrible.

I've also had flooding and a lot of pain, this is my third period since having a baby and they never used to be like this.

After three nothing days my next period started yesterday and was fine yesterday but this morning I got through, as in running down my legs, a super tampon in ten minutes.

sorry for tmi.

I would recommend the ultra tampons by lillets - I still have to change them every 1.5 hours and wear a night time towel as well, but such an improvement on all other tampons.

But I would still recommend you mention it to the doctor - mine are heavy and all over the place because of fibroids that measure as big as a 20 week pregnancy!!

Ooo, you poor thing.

I have an appointment on Monday with GP, so will mention.

Ask about Tranexamic Acid. Wonderful wonderful stuff!

Thanks Alpaca. Am having no more children, so don't need menstruation - wish we could just flick a switch amd turn it off.

After having kids my periods went shockingly heavy. I've always had really light ones before. Transaxemic acid is great. Really works. But now I've had the mirena coil. That works a treat as well. Can't think why I didn't go to the doctor earlier really. I suffered for about 3 years with that hideous flooding you describe. It's just awful!

I would definitely second the recommendation to use Lillets "Ultra" tampon (orange packaging). Tranexamic Acid seems to work for some people, but didn't make a blind bit of difference to me. Ditto the Mirena coil. Worth trying though.

Also ask for a blood test as having heavy periods can cause anaemia iv had heavy periods for a few years now due to medication and I'm often anaemic but tranexamic acid helps I was offered the marina coil but it made me whince thinking about it :-( I'm really sqeemish xx

GP isn't overly concerned and has given me a prescription for Transaxemic acid. She also wants to do an internal, so Im booked in for that.

She went through all the options, coil, progesterone pill, ablation, hysterectomy.

So it's a case of see how it goes.

Thanks for all your support ladies.