Periods - excessive blood loss

[MrsBennetsPoorNerves]

Sorry, probably TMI, but when should you be concerned about how much blood you're losing during a period?

I am perimenopausal and I have fibroids. My periods have always been on the heavy side, but they have got much worse in recent years. Not always... the last one was very light. But mostly they are getting worse.

I'm now afraid to go out on the days when they're really bad. I'm so afraid of flooding despite using super+ tampons as well as pads. I have to change the tampon within half an hour sometimes. I woke up this morning and my pyjamas were soaked. There is just so much blood.

GP is aware of the issues. I am anaemic so taking iron tablets and due another blood test fairly soon. She suggested potentially looking at the coil as an option but said we'd monitor and see how things went. I don't really want it tbh, have known others to struggle with it.

I have to work (thankfully wfh today) but I feel totally wiped out and actually a bit freaked out by how much blood I have lost over the last 24 hours. I just want to cry.

How much blood can you afford to lose before it becomes a cause for concern?

I had this experience in peri menopause, I tried the coil and it stopped my periods completely but made me feel nauseous so I had endometrial ablation instead, I'm not sure that's possible with fibroids though as I had to have a scan before to make sure there weren't any. The ablation worked and I haven't had a period since I was 42. Being anaemic can make you feel dreadful, you can have iron infusions if the tablets aren't bringing your levels up enough.

From memory I think anything more than 50mm of blood loss in a day is concerning but you know this isn't ok, go back to your GP and ask for some help with the fibroids and maybe they can give you transemic acid in the meantime to slow down the flow, that can be effective.

Thank you for replying, @MissSmiley . You're right, I probably do need to go back to my GP. My GP is really lovely but I'm a bit phobic about doctors (traumatic childhood experience) so I tend to put off going unless I really have to....I know, I know.

I really think fibroid removal and ablation could change your life, don't suffer any more
Let me know how you get on

I just had the mirena coil put in and it's such a relief to have a break from periods, I'd really recommend it.