Heavy period sufferers - how do you cope?

[MamaMilkMachine]

I suffer BAD when it comes to periods....always have. Sorry if this is too much info but I literally bleed through and begin to leak down my legs with both a super plus extra tampon and a night time pad in the space of around 3-4 hours. It's so heavy I have taken the day off work today. I have told them it's because of a head ache and stomach cramps which I am also suffering from but just couldn't bring myself to say that it was because I'm bleeding so heavy. How would I even say that? My boss is a Man and he is lovely but very awkward not sure how he would cope with hearing the gory details of my monthly visitor. How do you other ladies cope? Any tips to stop leaks etc? I have been to the doctors various times tried various contraceptives and tablets nothing seems to work :( thanks

What have you tried so far?
Have you ever thought about a mirena?
Heavy periods suck! Sorry you're suffering OP.

Have you completed your family, OP? Because if you don’t want further kids, an endometrial ablation should solve your problem. It’s done under GA, and the gynaecologist simply lasers or microwaves your uterine lining, leaving it so thin that future periods are light or non existent.
Alternatively, if your menorrhagia is due to large fibroids, a hysterectomy might be the only effective remedy.
If your GP hasn’t managed to solve it, maybe you could ask for a gynae referral?

Hi Notabee, thanks for replying. I have tried the coil, but ended up getting it removed because it never settled after 6 months and the bleeding was continuous rather than monthly, the same happened with the implant rod, and I've tried lots of different contraceptive pills, also something called nemenafic acid.... or something like that. This was all before I had a child, tried the mini pill after childbirth (I'm still breastfeeding) and that just seemed to make me bleed heavier and breakout in spots a lady at my family planning place said to have the babies I want and get a hysterectomy! I'm only 27 and have one baby I'm not ready for that yet.

Hi @Babdoc cross post there. I'm not sure if I am done having kids. OH doesn't want any more as he has 2 from 2 previous relationships, but I only have the one and not sure if I would like another. There is a significant age gap between mine and her siblings and she only sees them on a weekend so fee as if she is an only child.

I read about the Lillets "Ultra" tampons on MN, and they've saved my life. Much more absorbent than even Super Plus.

Hard to find in shops so I get them on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00I0O457C/ref=cmcrrarpmbbbdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

Thanks @WhatsGoingOnEh I will get some ordered

I use a moon cup and night time pads. Tried mefenimic acid and tranexamic acid, but didn’t get on with them.

I could never get the hang of non-applicator tampons so the ultras were out for me, the lil-lets super plus extras gave me the extra couple of hours on the heavy days - so from 3/4 hours on a tampax super plus to about 6 maaaybe 7 on the super plus extras. Makes getting through the workday a little easier, so only have to change tampons twice at work, once mid-morning & again mid-afternoon (i'm out from 7-7).

www.lil-lets.co.uk/products/tampons/compact-applicator-tampons

Nothing to help with the pain front. I alternative ibuprofen and paracetamol every 2 hours (so 4 hours between the same medecine) and continue to do that for the 2/3 days when it hurts. I haven't found anything else effective. The pill (the progesterone only one) helped make them lighter but turned me into a crazy woman.

The copper coil made the period lighter but the pain worse and I can't try any other hormonal contraceptives because I get migraines with auras.

I have similar periods and used to use the ultra tampons, which would give me an extra 45 mins/ an hour so 4-5 hours. I now use a cup (like a mooncup) as I became allergic to something in pads (even unscented ones) and so made the switch to reusable stuff. On my heaviest days I still need to empty the cup every 4/5 hours but I find it much more manageable than tampons and I get less cramping etc. It's also great for towards the end as you can safely leave it in all day. I used to get annoyed with people banging on about cups, but it's made a bit difference for me and there are loads of different types - some hold way more than others so might be helpful too. In a weird way I find it helpful knowing how much I lose (as you read everywhere that 60-80ml is normal but that would be 24 hours max for me!) sorry probably TMI!

Softcup plus super tampon plus pad. Thankfully I only have 2 days per cycle this heavy.

Also you can get period pants. They have a name , of which I have forgotten, but saves the day for any break through !

Thinx - I think.

Have you tried changing your diet? You could ask your gp for a referral to a Dietician?

Have you had any kind of investigations to make sure you don't have a polyp or fibroid causing the excess bleeding?

Have you tried taking iburofen from a couple of days before you are due on?

Here's a link to Thinx period pants:

www.shethinx.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlOav7ra33AIVl-FRCh0sAgGFEAAYASAAEgLWzfD_BwE

Thanks all, I have been wondering about getting a cup but thought I was maybe too heavy for one. It's also good to know I'm not alone.... no one I know in real life seems to understand as they all have a light flow

@OddBoots the docs have given me all sorts of scans, blood tests etc can't seem to see any problems

@SandAndSea thanks for the link. I haven't tried changing my diet as I didn't think it could have a great impact?

I tried a cup, it was full to overflow in less than an hour. I second the lilets ultra, you can get them in boots. I wear them with a night pad, and waterproof period pants (Amazon) and change every two hours.

Iron sachets all the time & double up when on.
Lilets orange (the Uber super mega ones) + night time towel.
Regular changing of sanitary ware - every 1.5-2 hrs. I bleed less at night so I only need a couple of overnight alarms if I change last thing and first thing.
4-6 hourly 400mg ibuprofen to reduce bleeding (no more than 2400mg in 24hrs).

I would second going to the GP for a gynae referral if you are suffering and the GP cannot help.

Also, I found strengthening my pelvic floor helped to reduce leaks. It must’ve improved the fit of tampons or something but since doing proper, effective pelvic floor exercises (I have a Kegel8 machine but you don’t need one), it has helped in the leaks dept.

Have you tried transixemic acid (probably spelled differently ), it did make a difference to flow. I've only used it a few times as big Boots were happy to sell it to me over the counter, but smaller Boots and Lloyds weren't (no idea why not), and I don't have time to go to Dr usually.

I'm one of the very lucky one whose period is nothing more than an inconvenience.

Reading these I'm horrified and so sorry for those of you who suffer such heavy periods.

I honestly never knew that people had to set an alarm overnight or use cups, tampons and towels.

Hope you all manage to sort them out as it must be so debilitating for you all x

My periods were very similar to yours OP, and similarly affected by the implant and coil-with the implant I bled for a year before I cried all over a GP who finally agreed to take it out.

I know this sounds completely bonkers, but I switched to reusable pads and also went vegetarian at the same time a few years ago, and I don’t know which it was, or whether it was both, but my periods went from 10 days to 4, and are now entirely normal-no more clotting, leaking, etc.

I would ask for a referral to a gynaecologist if that has not already happened. Have you never been referred, these types of problems more often than not are outside a GPs general remit. The cause (as well as treating the symptoms unsuccessfully to date) needs to be found and addressed.

Your heavy periods are impacting on your day to day life and it is something that you should not have to put up with.

You need a gynae referral to see if there are fibroids causing your heavy bleeding. Do not be fobbed off with pills, seek proper answers.

Mefenamic and tranexamic acid tablets may not be of much if any use here. Neither will address the root cause of the bleeding and you've already tried the mefenamic tabs without success.