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Original poster

Personal question about heavy periods!

80 replies

Ziggyzoom · 22/09/2014 22:14

If you experience very heavy periods, and in a position to measure your flow (cup users really, I guess) would you mind sharing.

I have just discovered I am anaemic and I have started to measure my flow. When I looked up what is considered 'normal' - 35-40ml - I was rather shocked.

I'm wondering how far from normal I actually am!

OP posts:
HelenaQC · 22/09/2014 22:23

How much are you losing daily?

Up to 80ml is considered "normal heavy".

Original poster
Ziggyzoom · 22/09/2014 22:28

95ml day one, on day 2 today, but will be about 150ml by morning, about the same the next day and then back to about 95ml then trailing off for next 2 days I would think.

OP posts:
HelenaQC · 22/09/2014 22:32

Good grief! That's a hell of a lot! Not surprised you're anaemic. You must feel dreadful, poor thing.

Does the doctor know? What are they doing to help you with this?

Original poster
Ziggyzoom · 22/09/2014 22:41

They have been like this for 6 years since DD2 was born and I had scans done a few years ago. They found some rogue cells (adenomyosis) which was thought to be the cause. At that point I was using pads and tampons and had no means of measuring the quantity. I decided to leave well alone as I thought it may settle down and I guess I have now got used to it. But I had no idea I was so far from 'normal'!

I have been given iron tablets for the anaemia and have been asked to go back to the GP about the likely cause - hence why I am measuring and recording!

I do feel pretty shit, but I thought it was just my age! Thanks for the sympathy though Smile.

OP posts:
lazydog · 22/09/2014 22:44

Normal is 35-40ml in total?? Seriously?? Or is that per day...?

Ermm, well, I gave up on the Mooncup because it was filling to capacity within a couple of hours on my two heaviest heavy days and apparently it holds 29ml.

I guess I must lose about 10x the norm over the course of those 2 days alone?

Looks across at conveniently placed 355ml coke can...yep, that seems a completely believable volume for me Grin

I haven't included the lesser amounts of day 1, before it really kicks off, and about another 3-4 days after the worst 2 days have passed.

NitramAtTheKrap · 22/09/2014 22:49

In total, according to the NHS website.

HelenaQC · 22/09/2014 22:50

That's per day, Lazy!

Original poster
Ziggyzoom · 22/09/2014 22:50

You sound similar to me Lazydog perhaps you are anaemic rather than lazy! Wink

OP posts:
HelenaQC · 22/09/2014 22:51

Sorry....over all. Half asleep.

So for Ziggy to be losing 95+ a day is really, really heavy.

Hope they find out the cause soon.

lazydog · 22/09/2014 22:52

Wow. I knew I suffered from "very heavy" periods, but didn't realise that they were quite that abnormal.

HelenaQC · 22/09/2014 22:53

Yes, sorry, Nitram...I am not quite with it this evening!

Boysandme · 22/09/2014 22:56

Have you not been prescribed tranexamic acid and mefanamic acid? The combination really slowed down my flow.

NitramAtTheKrap · 22/09/2014 22:56

Ok, so I have checked the measures on my Mooncup. The top line is 13ml. I would guesstimate total loss in one period for me is therefore about 50ml. I cannot imagine how you cope losing 95 a day! Hope this is sorted for you soon!

Figrus · 22/09/2014 22:56

I lose 120 mls in the first 60 hours. It is steady and consistent. Blood lose tails off rapidly and period is all over by day 5. Ive no pain or cramping but have to get up in middle of night to change cup.

My ferritn levels are 15ng/ml (right units?). It used to be around 50 -100 when i was on the mirena, but that gave me other problems. Hope this helps.

AlpacaLypse · 22/09/2014 22:58

Ferrous fumerate dealt with the anaemia, and Tranexamic acid has dealt with the cripplingly heavy periods. So effectively that I no longer need the iron supplement!

I've shouted this out on several threads but will do it again - there is NO NEED to completely shut down for a week, because you're too scared to go more than half an hour away from a safe opportunity to replace an industrial size tampon and towel. And if your GP won't prescribe something (and some GPs seem to know fuck all about the joys of the menopause) demand to see another one.

rednellie · 22/09/2014 22:59

I gave up on the mooncup as I couldn't keep up with how often I'd need to empty it. I'm probably the same as lazy. I had actually had a paddy during my last period as I still seem to leak despite using pads and tampons. I felt angry that as a woma in my 30's my period still gets the better of me.

hmm, let us know how you get on ziggy, maybe we all need checking out.

Original poster
Ziggyzoom · 22/09/2014 22:59

I had to go back and check, but yes, that is the total.

Lazy my anaemia was found during an unrelated blood test. I hadn't realised that getting out of breath going upstairs and being unable to dry my hair without my arms nearly falling off were symptoms of anaemia! It is worth seeing your GP and they can give you tablets to reduce the bleeding.

Grin
OP posts:
lazydog · 22/09/2014 23:01

Ziggyzoom - I'm not actually anaemic right now (going by my current Hgb level) but if I don't take my iron tablets, I rapidly go back to being anaemic. Even with daily iron my ferritin is never better than around 20... That's well within "normal" range, apparently, but my goal is to get up to 50 or above.

I was first found to be anaemic about 6 years ago, but with hindsight, probably had been for a lot longer than that.

HelenaQC - I've had loads of tests and scans. All that's shown up is two tiny fibroids that haven't grown in 5 years. What I do notice is that my periods are far worse when I start lapsing about taking my iron regularly. Vicious cycle - anaemia definitely causes heavier periods for me!

Original poster
Ziggyzoom · 22/09/2014 23:07

Thanks for all the replies, I'm struggling to keep up!

Glad to hear I'm not alone, but not glad that a few of us are putting up with this!

A slight complication for me is that I had a DVT after DD2 was born and that ruled out any medication that thickened the blood. I think mefanemic acid was still considered safe, but I think at the point it was being discussed I was sick of popping pills and being poked and prodded!

OP posts:
HelenaQC · 22/09/2014 23:08

I have never suffered heavy periods....but when I did,out of the blue last year, I spoke to the practice nurse. I was flooding, filling up a pad an hour, leaking on to my sheets, turning the toilet water bright red and she said..."Not abnormal. It's like that for a lot of women every month!"

So you lot have my greatest sympathy. My experience was bad enough...and that was considered normal (ish).

HowsTheSerenity · 22/09/2014 23:18

I feel your pain!
For those who are anaemic, get your GP to look into iron infusions.
I was told for twenty years to take iron tablets and they did nothing. My haemoglobin is fine. My ferritin sits around 3-8 normally. I finally found a GP who admitted that tablets do nothing for ferritin levels. After my first iron infusion I felt better. Not perfect but better.

Original poster
Ziggyzoom · 22/09/2014 23:21

If it hadn't been for the anaemia, I probably would have continued to put up with it, but I shouldn't really. It has ruined many a day out, holiday... mattress!

Mine has started a new trick of coming on without warning, so I have had a few awkward moments at work when I have been stuck dealing with something and realised it is all kicking off and I have no hope of getting to a toilet.

Why did I not go back to my GP?!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ziggyzoom · 22/09/2014 23:22

hows what's involved with iron infusions?

OP posts:
HowsTheSerenity · 22/09/2014 23:28

I'm not sure how it works in the UK but here you go to your GP with your horribly low blood test results in hand and ask nicely for an iron infusion.
You then pop up to the hospital and have the iron IV. You have it at the hospital as there are a certain number (low, very low) of propel who will have an anaphylactic reaction to it. Easier to treat that at hospital (defibs and adrenaline on hand) if something goes wrong. If nothing goes wrong then you have it at your GP surgery next time.
Costs me nothing as it's on Medicare (NHS).
There are two types. The slow one which takes 8 hours or the quick one which takes 20 minutes.

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