Heavy periods, holiday, depressed.

[Depressedasf]

Some one please try and cheer me up because I feel so depressed and have had non stop panic attacks today.
I am due to go on holiday tomorrow. I have so looked forward to this holiday and I have had a really really terrible year, so I was desperately looking forward to the time away.
We planned the timing of the holiday so I would not be on my period.
My period was due last Monday and still has not arrived.
My periods are so heavy that I usually would not leave my house on the first 3 days that I am an on. They are so painful and painkillers won’t touch it. I can’t use tampons. I will leak through 2 night time maxi pads (which I wear in the day) within an hour maximum (but usually 30 minutes) to give you an idea of how heavy they are.
I am devastated at the thought of being on my period on holiday. I know some people might think it’s ridiculous to get so upset over this, but I have had such a bad year 😭 I feel like my bad luck is never ending. I want to go swimming. I want to relax and enjoy myself. I don’t want to spend my time stuck the hotel room most the time, or worrying that I’ve come on, or worrying that I’m leaking, or covered up by the side of the pool and running off every 20 minutes or change pads.
Today it’s really got to me and I’ve just cried all day and I’m having panic attacks. Someone please give me some words of encouragement or uplifting words.

I was going to suggest norethistone for period delay, but I think you need to take it at least 3 days prior to your period arriving.

Do you have any transexamic acid to slow the flow down, if it does arrive?

Going forward, have you thought about a mirena for the heavy period?

@Runaround50 Thank you so much for your reply. Unfortunately norethistone doesn’t work for me. I actually tried this last holiday and I bled through it for a long time, getting progressively heavier. In the end I had to stop taking it, and then my period came again (!) and super heavy. So it just doesn’t work for me.
Last holiday was ruined by my period so this is why I tried to plan around it this time.
I haven’t heard of transexamic acid before. Does this need a prescription or can you buy over the counter? And are there any side effects?
A coil is not an option for me either unfortunately.

You poor think. I know exactly what this is like.
Have you been checked as to why your periods are so heavy. They shouldn’t be.
Mine were because I became anemic and so they got heavier. It’s a vicious circle.
Its no help for the holiday I know.
i find taking a ginger supplement capsule reduced the bleeding somewhat.
But ultimately you need to get to the bottom of this. Get it treated. Sadly a contraceptive like the coil is just a sticking plaster and isn’t addressing or treating the issue

Ah okay, that's a shame norethistone doesn't work for you. I agree with the previous poster, in that you need to try and get to the bottom of things.,

Transexamic acid can reduce the flow if taken regularly during the course of the bleed. I think it is prescription only though.

Going forward again, a womb ablation might help? Or even hysterectomy ( drastic i know).

Really hope you manage to enjoy your holiday this year.

Go and see your GP. Tranexamic acid has been really helpful in reducing my heavy periods.
Depending on where you are going on holiday maybe you could get a prescription send to a local pharmacy? I don't think you can buy it.

Can you try using a menstrual cup? It may not change the inevitable but might give you a bit of relief from the leaking/changing pads and you can perhaps get into the pool for light swimming..

You should put yourself on the pill so you always know when it's going to arrive and you can avoid dates as needed. Even you can delay it by taking a few extra pills or bring it on early to get it out of the way by only taking day 18 of the 21 tablets.

Thank you all for your suggestions.
I think I will look into transexamic acid. I don’t fly until tomorrow afternoon, so I will give the GP a ring in the morning although I think it is unlikely I will be able to speak to a GP and get a prescription in time. But it worth a try! 🤞

And I think I do need to see a GP when I get back as my periods pretty much rule (and ruin) my life at the moment. I’ve thought I should get it checked out for a long time but have felt like it’s not ‘serious’ enough.

@Lavendersummer I have recently been told by my GP that I am anaemic. I started ferrous sulphate tablets beginning of the month. I didn’t know anaemia could make periods heavier.

No suggestions, only sympathy and another vote to investigate via the GP asap. I don't understand why stories like yours have been so normalised over the years that you struggle on. No one should have to stay home for 3 days every month - there is a reason for periods that heavy, there's nothing normal about it.

I don't know how old you are but my periods used to be like this and it honestly completely ruined and ruled my life

Then I paid to see a private gynae and had an endometrial ablation. You need to have finished having kids. It changed my life. I went from carrying spare knickers in my bag and bleeding through everything to only wearing a panty liner every month. It doesn't work for everyone but if you've finished having kids, I would push for it. Tranxaemic acid did nothing for me sadly.

I really sympathise with you - it is so so so shit. I wonder now why I put up with it for as long as I did!

Sorry I cross posted with you I took me so long - that ruin and rule was exactly how I felt for decades of my life!

Yes anemia can make them a lot heavier. Your body find it hard to clot as you get more anemic.
Also anemia can make you feel sad/low
If you can get an iron infusion (even privately) this would be good. If you are so anemic it’s possible the iron supplementation won’t increase your levels sufficiently before the next period.
I don’t live in the Uk but every time I’ve been anemic I have been given a iron infusion and then supplemented with iron as well.

Your periods sound a lot like mine. My dr prescribed me tranexamic acid and mefanamic acid and I seen no difference. I went to a private gynaecologist and he told me to try again and upped the dose 3x. The difference is unreal, it really has changed my life. Definitely try and get hold of it!

You are not going to be able to get tranexamic etc by tomorrow so I would try ibuprofen. There's some evidence that if you take high dose ibuprofen 3 x a day for the first few days it can reduce flow. It works for me. Make sure you don't take it on an empty stomach. Pack a hot water bottle.

Have you ever tried a menstrual cup? It's an absolute game changer for me. I work 12h shifts and if someone's unwell I can't just walk away. Previously I wore tampons but after my children I kept flooding through them. I switched to a menstrual cup with a night pad and on day 1-2 I can get a good 2 hours which is unheard of for me. On the last few days I can sometimes go 12 hours and live normally again. You can get ones that hold 40mls but I find the larger ones a bit uncomfortable so I go smaller and empty it more frequently. You have my every sympathy, if I wore pads i would be running to the toilet every 20 minutes, I remember after the covid jag I had one period where I lost 2 pints of blood over 48 hours...I remember thinking at what point does this become a medical emergency?

Thanks so much everyone for the advice.
Its nice just to have a sympathetic ear. I have tried to be positive and upbeat this week, tried not to think about the fact my period was late and was hopeful it would arrive any day now.
Even this morning I was trying to stay positive, but about midday I thought about the reality of not being able to go swimming with my 3 year old, and watching from the sidelines and all the worrying about leaking and I just burst into tears.
DH was very unsympathetic when I told him why I was upset and told me “All women have periods” and rolled his eyes at me.
So thanks everyone for the support - I really needed it today.
Lots of great tips and advice on here to try. Even if it may not all help before holiday, I will book an appointment with my GP when I get back and finally get it looked into.

@Lavendersummer That would explain a lot. Maybe that would explain why my periods have got gradually worse and worse. I will look into this with the GP when I get back.
@CinderellaFant Thank you for sharing that, I’m definately going to look into this when I get back.
@Beseen22 Great advice thank you. That’s another tip I haven’t heard of before, so I will try the ibuprofen for holiday.

do Call the GP in the morning and get a prescription for tranexamic acid. if you can’t get through to your regular GP use one of the private GP apps.

I recently started - makes a huge difference. I take 2 tablets 3 times a day on the heaviest days and the effect is immediate.
Your DH is an ignorant dick - tell him he has no fucking clue what heavy periods are like.

Also ask about Memfemic Acid if you haven't tried it? It really helps with the pain and reduces the flow as long as you take it as soon as you think your period is starting

this was me a couple of years ago. had day case womb ablation,changed my life,

Another vote here for tranexamic acid if you can get it, otherwise ibuprofen.

Your periods are extremely heavy and you should see your GP about that when you get back from the holidays. They're probably the cause of your anaemia. Don't just put up with them because you've always been heavy - this much loss is not normal (I wish someone had told me, I just thought it's on the normal scale and women just deal with it).

Also might help to get some period knickers as another layer of leak protection (use with pads). I think M&S sell them if you can get to one tomorrow morning.

My period is very heavy for two days and was the first two days of my holiday this year. I read a book by the side of the pool while dh did all the swimming.

for tomorrow id say get a moon cup and primark do period swimming pants.

I have bought transamic acid over the counter in boots (about a year ago) - you will need to speak to the pharmacist. It worked for me. Also found incontinence pads work better than period max night towels they are huge but if you are travelling would be more reassuring.

Where are you going? Just go to the pharmacy, abroad, a lot of medicine is over the counter, antibiotics included, for example. Just say you have a very heavy period, can they give you anything to ease the flow.
I have used Spanish and Italian pharmacies with great success, ear infections, tonsillitis, the pill, you name it. It’s cheap and they are qualified to help.

Further to the previous message about incontinence pads I used incontinence knickers after giving birth when the bleeding was horrendous and found them better than pads. I now use them at night time when my flow is heaviest too and find them better for leaks.

I also second tranxenemic acid. I've been taking it for a few months now and while it's not a magic bullet it's reduced the leaking and flooding significantly. When I spoke to my gynae about it she almost told me off for waiting to speak to her so long about my heavy periods. She basically said there was no reason these days for women to suffer when there are solutions available. So definitely speak to your GP.

I hope you manage to enjoy your holiday - I know it's tough. I was super relieved when I found a trip I have to take for work fell in between my periods as it involves 24 hours of travelling and it would have been horrendous if I'd been on my period!

Instead of norethisterone you can ask for medroxyprogesterone 5mg tablets one three times daily.

Ideally taken 3 days before period due and continue until back from holiday. This is the progesterone that is prescribed now instead of NE as it carries reduced risks.

I also second tranexamic acid but can only be taken for 4 days in any one cycle due to clot risk

Depending how quickly your practice process them you could fill out an e-consult explaining your issues and also ask about your longer term needs.

Wow how ignorant is your DP - im so sorry.

i would sit him down and very clearly explain to him the mechanics of what hapoens

i would also ensure that he does all child care for the first three days of your period