TMI really heavy period

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

Not sure what to do. Since dd was born 8 years ago, my periods have been regular as clockwork and still are, but they are getting heavier.

First day I would say light to moderate flow, contained with a tampon/mooncup, no worries of leaking.

day 2 flooding, passing large clots, can't go more than an hour without changing super tampon and a nighttime towel.

day 3 minimal not worth using a tampon/mooncup so just use a towel

day 4, 5 minimal and can usually just wear a liner rather than a towel.

the heavy days are now so heavy that I dread being at work when they occur. I work in an office with no other women so its not great. If it happens on a weekend, I feel confined to home as dread not being neat a toilet, as it will flood so quickly that the towel doesn't have chance to soak it in.

I'm 38 no other gynae history, dc all born by c/s, had irregular periods prior to dd, but were always moderate flow.

Its a nightmare as I'm allergic/sensitive to most towels, have to take an antihistamine, I still get swollen bits and sometimes itchy from the towel. I have tried reusable towels but to get absorbency they are like bricks. he itchiness is eased using a medicated cream but again I don't like applying that each month.

Even though I knew it was extremely unlikely as married and faithful, I went to GUM for tests and all clear (couldn't face going to gp)

You have my every sympathy. I use mefanemic acid and tranexamic acid for heavy blood flow and pain. Its great. Go see your gp and discuss options.

thanks ghost I did wonder if there was anything that could be done or if a case of just accepting it as a getting older and heading to menopause thing.

I need to bite the bullet and make an appointment. SO silly to feel embarrassed by something that happens each month and is natural.

You need to pop and see your GP. Ask for an ultrasounds (this will check for fibroids) and for your iron levels to be checked (incase you're anaemic).

Are you on the pill? This can really help to lighten them. I take vitamin D, zinc, magnesium and calcium which also seem to make them lighter. The pill makes me spotty though

I remember reading research about hormones and heavy periods, so I changed my diet. Organic milk (has none of the hormones from the cow), beans, oily fish and lots of veg. I used to have nightmare periods (I have three fibroids) and they used to last for weeks. One one occasion my GP sent me to A&E as I was bleeding so much and I've needed a blood transfusion because of them.

It's not natural to bleed this much

I'm not using any contraception, h had the snip a few years ago now so no need. Also the pill makes me a tad psychotic!

I will order those supplements in the mean time, as the gp surgery is one where its near on impossible to get an appointment. Ring and they fit you in a year on Tuesday I may or may not be exaggerating slightly

I take cerazette, it's OK but I do get a little bad tempered (and there's the bloody spots). I'm not sure whether it's worked but I rarely get periods now. When I do, I take a magnesium pill and they stop for a few days. It starts again, I take another magnesium pill and it stops!

I hear you about your GP. It's a huge problem I think Do go and ask for an ultrasound. If you do have fibroids there's medication you can take to shrink them, so there's no need to put up with Niagra every month.

Your GP will probably recommend a mirena coil. For many women these are worth the side effects. They are like marmite really, women either love them or hate them, but it has to be said that they do cut down the bleeding.

For heavy days when you have to be at work, I find that Tena lady night time towels give the best security, if you are looking for a practical solution before you get the right treatment.

Sympathies to you. My periods are really heavy now (due to copper coil) and exactly how you mention, but it's the only for of birth control that works for me so it's either put up with it or no sex . GP prescribed me some of the medication mentioned earlier but I didn't take it as the side effects made me chicken out (I'm useless with these things). I just put up with the bad day, but dread it every month. I did have anaemia and have to take iron supplements. FWIW when I was on cerazette I never had a period at all.

Maybe your DH needs to have the snip, Reastie? It's unfair to leave all of the birth control to the woman, I think. I only take it to make Niagra lighter. Sometimes I still bleed though but it's a hell of a lot lighter than it was.

Tranexamic acid is almost the same as Ibuprofen and they use it in A&E when patients are haemoraging (I can't spell this). Mefanamic acid seems to work better for pain.

There was a thread on here a few weeks ago about nurofen/ibuprofen making periods lighter

I take ibuprofen for the pain of my periods. I find paracetamol doesn't touch the pain.

Well have been brave rang for an appointment it's in three weeks time! If I wanted one outside of my work hours would have been middle of August but at least leaving work half way thorough the morning I won't have to take dd with me.

Will look at tena I guess as they are for urine they absorb quicker?

That's good, Help!

They gave me a large tena when I was taken to A&E. It's just a big sanpro. The nurse said she used to work in Gynae and they gave these to the women as standard.