Personal question about heavy periods!

[Ziggyzoom]

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!

I'm a size 18, the mirena hasn't changed this, for better or worse!

You can weigh the pads (wrap them up though). 1g = 1ml. Just weigh a clean pad in the wrapper and deduct the weight from a not so clean one. I worked in a hospital and we'd do this for the babies nappies to measure output so it's pretty accurate.

Like LadySybil Cerazette has been a wonder drug for me no bleeding at all now.

I was just going to start a thread, but will just write in here

How do you cope physically with gushing flow? I am having investigations done for mine, including a biopsy, but in the day at home I have a folded bath towel on my chair and I still gush off allways nighttime pads. Can't use tampons, and don't think a mooncup would stay put either. Is there any other products please?

Have you tried an incontinence pad, Divster? I know it sounds crappy, but they hold more than sanpro and if a nighttime pad isn't holding enough it will help. They do use these on the gynae wards by the way and they do help. I hope you get this sorted quickly, it must be hell

I didn't put any weight on with a Mirena if that helps.

Thanks LadyslCakes, have been thinking of trying those sorts of pads, but wasn't sure if they worked for thick liquid. Thanks, me too, hoping to start on some tablets to shrink my fibriods at next gyne appointment ready for removal. Night time is getting hideous, having to drink lots of water so I keep having to get up. Think I will try the weigh thing too, although think they believe its bad. Don't know what I would do if I was working, would probably need a few days off every month

Esmya? I tried them, they can make your stomach look larger towards the end of the course but it does go down. You can have them embolized but they won't do it if they are on the outside of your uterus because they can break off and cause infection. My sister's had hers done and they are shrinking (hers are not on the outside). I'd try this rather than surgery first. They basically cut off the blood supply to them via the artery in your leg.

Try to get hold of some incontinence pads, they will help. Esmya should stop your periods for a few months too so it will give you the chance to recover from the bleeding.

Hope this all helps

Mine are inside and within but they think I have 5+ large ones, but they can't see it all on the scan because its all to big, might have to have a mri. Don't know what the drug is called, but trying to preserve womb for future pregnancy, but its not looking great for now. Only found out they were there when I had a miscarriage, and had been trying for 3 years. Thete isn't anywhere for a pregnancy to attach

My sister had 3 miscarriages because of her fibroids, she now has a lovely boy so don't give up hope. A MRI is OK. I found that my stomach really hurt towards the end though, I've no idea why as I have had MRI's before. Try the medication and see if that helps, I know it shrunk my smaller ones though as the sonographer said there were 'lots' before the treatment, and they only picked up three after when I had the MRI. Do keep reminding the hospital that you're trying for a baby though or they will automatically tell you to have a hysterectomy. It's still the treatment of choice, despite the other things they can do. My sister was also told to have a hysterectomy before she got pregnant. She had acupuncture but isn't sure if that helped.

Thanks stupidhead. It's a shame so many of us are suffering in this way. I have my appointment booked with my GP on Monday. I'm perversely looking forward to seeing her face when I tell her my period fills a coke can!

I'm sure it will be a picture. I hope your appointment goes OK. Remember, they can do things do don't let them fob you off!

Divster - have you tried a cup? Mine (Lunette) has taken me from hourly to two-hourly changes. I still have to wear a pad in case of leaks or overflow, but it does help. Saves a bit of money too!

The Mirena was the answer for me. I know it doesn't work for many people and it took around a year to settle down for me but no periods for ten years now and I was severely anaemic when I had it put in.

I had heavy periods prior to having DS. Since then have had Mirena coil (on number 3 at the moment) I have used one box of extra mini tampons in the last 10 years and pantyliners are the biggest pads I need.
I suffered with endometriosis and at its worst I would be loosing in excess of 500ml per period. I usually bled heavily for 5days. I was so anaemic when pregnant I had to have iron infusion.
I remember an old school male GP insisting that I couldn't posssibly be loosing so much blood since it was well known that women only lost around an egg cup full of blood each month. I asked him 'would that be an ostrich egg?' I told him that since he was clearly unaware of the actual loss many women experienced I would be happy to collect and save all sanitary wear the next month and bring it in to show him.

Excellent, Willdo!

The first time I said I had 'heavy' periods, I had no idea what was considered the norm. Therefore, this time I will be interested in the response when I actually quantify it!

I'm feeling more positive about the Mirena now though so thank you.

Doctors tend to look on it a bit more when you tell them the measurement. I am v similar, also on ferrous fumerate and take mefanamic acid. I have a copper coil fitted though but they've been heavy even before this
Hate that feeling with pads where you stand up and feel yourself flood

That happened in the doctor's surgery, I moved and that was it. I suppose it's one way to get them to take you seriously Lucky I was wearing jeans or there would have been a huge mess.

I'm sure I've read that your period is heavier if you have a low iron count. Spa tone is great, take it for a month and see how you feel. My iron count was horrendous and it helped no end. Tablets just didn't work.

Ziggy, like the other poster said, when on the Mirena I would have to buy a packet of mini (mini ffs!!!) tampax and a box of liners about once every 3/4 months! Now I'm on supers, one box a month and Always Ultra duvets - well it feels like them.

Tena lady pads are good while you are flooding, and yes, anaemia will make you bleed more heavily, so it's a bit of an awful cycle until you can get your levels up.

If you have fibroids your womb can't contract and stop the bleeding. So getting them sorted is vital. You can have just the fibroid removed, or a procedure where they cut off the blood supply to it done. That didn't work for me but others have had a good result.

In my case a hysterectomy was considered as a last resort option by my doctor, they were reluctant to do it at all as I have lots of internal adhesions. Anyway, had it done last year and for me it's been brilliant, I haven't had any problems since.

Really feel for everyone on this thread trying to carry on as normal, I can clearly recall the total awfulness-and I found having to explain to people embarrassing! There's no easy way to say I'm bleeding like a stuck pig!

OP, although I have never used a cup, mine were like yours from starting aged 12. I thought it was normal. They got a bit better after DD and DS then peri-menopause sent them even worse. Now on HRT, I can't believe how little I am bleeding! I am anaemic (of course) and am on extra iron now.

Go and see your GP - there must be something they could do.

Oh, my appointment with the surgeon for a chat has come through. Should I ask her for a tummy tuck while she's at it?