Advice please - how long and heavy a period before I should go to GP?

[abitworried]

(Sorry for TMI...)

Started period last Fri - at least I am assuming it's my period, although at the time I thought it perhaps seemed a bit early?

This has now been the 4th day of heavy bleeding. It's not normally like this - normally 2 days heavy and then tails off.

And it's bright red blood - not brownish etc as usual.

Know I am not pregnant/ having a miscarriage.

Soo - how long can I safely wait until I probably SHOULD go to the GP.

I've had something similar about 6 years ago, and ended up anaemic, but even then when I went to hospital the doctor said, "you're not actually bleeding THAT much"
I remember thinking afterwards - "how come my iron levels are down to 7 then??"

What should I do? Is there anything medicine cabinet-wise which could help?

I'm nearly 42 BTW - surely not menopause ?

Did you receive a blood transfusion when your level was 7?

I would go to you GP. He may give you something to slow the bleeding down (transxaemic acid). You could have fibroids which can bleed alot.

If your local hospital has one, ask to be referred to a Menstraul Dysfunction Clinic.

If you are bleeding through more than one pad an hour you need to seek urgent medical help. Transxaemic acid is the thing, though nefamic acid may also help.

Have you had heavy periods for the last few months or have you lost a lot of weight/been under the weather. If you are ARE anaemic you may have much heavier periods - vicious circle.

A big steak will help your blood count with spinach preferably for the iron and folicin. But no, you need to talk to a doc!

No - narrowly missed a transfusion - heavy duty iron tablets and bedrest and iron levels checked a week later. I was completely GREY though - don't think I'm that bad at the moment.

WMMC - not sure how much blood - using mooncup, but it is filling in about 2-3 hours?
That's probably what would happen for Days 1-2 normally, but that seems like a lot to me on 4th/ 5th day...

I have 'old' nefamic acid tablets in meds cabinet, but they are out of date - any pharmacists know what the risks of taking them are ?

Do not do as I did and leave it 6 weeks and then arrive at the doctors sobbing with exhaustion.
IIrc, you can have flooding with the menopause (or perimenopause) but, I still wouldn't leave it too long. My dr was very sympathetic.

I've taken them three years out of date because I couldn't be arsed to go to the doctors. But I'm a rebel

Ooh it's good that you mooncup, so you can give the doc a CC measurement - that's excellent. I think they are 30 ml aren't they? So thats 120 ml a day - that's a lot.

You need to go see a doc.

DId they work? Did you have side effects?

Presumably I can wait for docs til tomorrow - I mean I don't have to go to A&E or anything?

Yes they worked, they smelled a bit funny that's all. No side effects other than the bleeding decreased quite a bit obv.

You can wait till tomorrow so long as you aren't getting dizzy from lack of blood (in which case don't drive yourself!)

OK - quick update - things seem to be slowing down (phew!) but I've got a Dr's appt anyway, as I'd rather have something to hand if this happens again this time next month, when we're skiing (good timing huh? )

I didn't take any TA in the end - it was 5 years out of date!

Ah, well take it to a pharmacy and they will dispose of it. Definitely worth getting something for next time (and request a blood test for two weeks time) so you know if you are anaemic and can take iron before you are due again.

Thanks WMMC - saw GP this morning and got some more TA.
After I posted I discovered things weren't slowing down at all, so just as well I had the appt.

I wonder how long the TA will take to have an effect? Took some at 12 noon - probably can take some more now, and then before bed?

Twelve hours - they build up in your system. Did you get any nefamic acid? It's good to combine them if you are crampy as they have an anti-inflammatory agent in and they reduce bleeding.

I have had this problem over the last few months and went to the dr. She did a smear and general examination to see whether I had fibroids or anything untowards. I have been given TA too and she said to take it as soon as you start bleeding - I assume it will just slow down the bleed. At least I hope so .. I have been going through super plus tampax and pads in 20 mins for the first 2 days! Absolute nightmare! Fingers crossed the TA works for us.

I had the nefamic acid last time WMMC, and they didn't seem to help at all - I didn't get any of those this time anyway.

Interestingly my GP asked about regular cycle etc and how this one was different, and asked if I'd been taking any over-the-counter medicines recently. I mentioned that last week I had a stinking cold and had been taking paracetamol/ lemsip etc regularly, and she said sometimes things like that can have an effect on your blood loss?

Does anyone have any idea how long you're meant to take the TA for - it just says take 2, three times a day, when required?

Perhaps I'll take the last 2/6 tonight and then see what's happening in the morning.
Huge sigh of relief though, as it now means I've got some in the medicine cabinet for future emergency use if I need them!

bodiddly - oh dear - that sounds awfully heavy . I'm sure TA will help - I'm already feeling a bit better tonight I think.

I have Transxaemic acid and was told to take it on my heavy days. So that usually works out to be 2/3 days.

Have comparable periods to bodiddly inc. hideous clots - have done since mid- 30's after DC2. Researched on internet after GP not that helpful, some research seemed to suggfest taking the max ibuprofen dose can work as well/better than TA because of the anti-inflammatory function. Have noticed that it's important to be continuous - if I forget to take a dose bleeding starts getting heavier quite quickly. Sceptical but tried it and v. impressed altho' perhaps not a long term solution - from a health point of view which would be better ? TA made me feel v.v. weird