Nothing all day then flooding - periods

[ineedtowomanup]

I started my period on Sunday, I've had a really heavy going period then this morning and all day zero blood so I thought oh it's a day early but I must be done.

This evening I sat on the sofa and started cramping and literally flooded - why does that happen? I've had no bleeding all day not even to wipe and then Armageddon!

Is it possible you were dehydrated when it stopped then drank a lot of water?

Mine always paused for a day then started again for its last two or three days.

I've definitely had plenty to drink (not booze( water, squash). Interesting that it's happened to others. The pain and cramping took me by surprise I'd even changed to a normal pad so very little blood got caught sadly!

Have you taken ibuprofen? It reduces bleeding but ones it wears off the floodgates can open.

Happened to me on the bus once. Absolutely horrible, my jeans were soaked to the knees.

Oh no I haven't I did yesterday though.

How old are you? I had this sortof thing pre children with pcos. Then it settled (spmewhat) post kids. Then as I hit peri menopause it came back x1000.

44 and two children. Aged 10 and 13.

Perimenopause. I'm sorry, it's shit.

Talk to a female GP about options.

I hit peri in my forties. Definitely something to bring up with your doc.

I'd agree with peri menopause. I remember going to the zoo with my dh and niece, period had finished a few days previously but halfway to the zoo I absolutely flooded, had to tie dh's jumper around my waist while I bought underwear, trousers and sanitary supplies. It was the first symptom of peri (not that I had a clue back then), if you continue with symptoms I'd suggest seeing your GP, there are lots of ways they can help but not all are willing so please get a second opinion if you're not happy with the first, my mistake was accepting my gp's opinion for far too long.

I would say peri menopause, definitely.
This happened to me on a train in my late 30s.
Lighter period than normal for two days, then nothing at all for a full day, so the next day I just wore a panty liner.
And very light jeans.
And then, late afternoon and completely out of the blue, I stood up on the very busy train and completely flooded, very visible as the jeans were so light.
Luckily I had a dark jacket that I could tie around my waist that covered the (huge) stain until I got to Paddington, and could find a clothes shop and Boots.
I continued to bleed really really heavily for the next three hours or so, before it completely stopped again.
And the next few periods were normal.

Thank you - why does Peri menopause cause this?

You're hormones are fluctuating as you approach the menopause. You will gradually release fewer eggs so sometimes you won't bleed, sometimes you'll be heavy, sometimes you'll keep bleeding for weeks.

There are a lot of options available, but be careful about contraception as you might still conceive but assume it's the perimenopause.

But do see a woman. My male GP told me not to worry about a month-long period and to come back when it was two months. I saw a woman and it turned out I had an ovarian cyst.

But do see a woman. My male GP told me not to worry about a month-long period and to come back when it was two months.

My male GP was referring me to gynae almost before we'd finished the conversation about my mega period, so I think it depends on the GP more than their sex.

Yup, peri. I retrospect thay was my first obvious symptom, started about the same age. Took me.until 47 to develop others and get hrt.

My period is about every 25-27 days and heavy, big clots and flooding but this is the first time I've had this where I've not bled all day and then whoosh! Ordinarily I'd just bleed and bleed. It was very sticky blood too. Not sure what that means.

Thanks for the advice I'll head to the GP.

Could I ask what the treatment is please?

There's a range of things they could offer, probably starting with tranexamic acid, which should reduce bleeding, and then work upwards from there, through Mirena coil and increasingly invasive options ultimately to hysterectomy, though most women wouldn't need to get that far. It's possible they could refer to gynae to check for fibroids and so on, as that can cause heavy bleeding. It can depend on your GP and how keen they are on investigating, so don't be afraid to point out how it's causing you problems with every day life if it looks like they're going to fob you off.

Thank you @EBearhug I can't believe I've put up with it so long, I mean this in itself was the first time I've not bled all day then whoosh but I've had a lot of flooding. I will look into it.
Thank you. I will update. I have BUPA so I might see if I can get a Pvte GP appt.

My periods last 4/5 days. Heavy on the first two, then days 3 or 4 very very little. Been caught out sooo many times on days 3/4 - I've learnt to NEVER go without a sufficient flow tampon until that final gush is done. Even if I spend a day changing empty towels! It will arrive and only after are we clear 😂 I can always tell when the final gush has arrived as I get cramps again after zero pain for a couple of days. The joys!!!

Omg this!!!!! Now today I've just put on a super towel on heavy days I have a super tampon and a towel!

But those cramps, I was like wth is happening here. Why does the body hold it all to then let go, wouldn't it make sense for it to space it out. Not good.

It’s something to do with lower estrogen. Mine are similar. I often wear period pants and a night time towel if I’m working. Just in case.
It awful.

Yes I wear period pants with a pad and tampon during the day and at night I wear a night towel and period pants. I've always had heavy periods but I genuinely thought I was done and had no where near enough protection in!

Will be getting in touch with Bupa

Would anyone be able to advise if HRT would help with this at all - I'm curious as have the same issue and wondering if HRT helps at all.

Just wanted to add that my mental health started deteriorating at the start of peri. it was so gradual that I hit rock bottom before I realised it was menopause related. It was as if all the joy had been sucked out of life. I don't want to scare you as it doesn't happen to all of us, just wanted to put it out there as something to look out for.