Bloody periods!

[Rhubarb]

Just wanted to rant off about periods! Does anyone else feel so dehabilitated by them? For the first three days I have to plan my life around my period. I try not to go anywhere, as just moving, or even coughing, opens up a little floodgate inside me! But if I do go out, I have to make sure I have enough pads with me and that I know where the toilets are, and I take loo roll with me too just in case they have run out. If I'm in someone's house I have a moral dilemma - do I flush the pad down the loo or put it in their bin? If I put it in their bin, it might be seen, whereas if I flush it down the loo, it won't, but then it might block the system! Or, they could have no bin, as happened today, in which case I have no choice but to flush it.

At night I have to wear what amounts to a nappy, and I daren't move an inch in case I leak, but despite this I usually leak anyway! So most of the night is spent awake, uncomfortable but daren't moving, and anxious in case I've spoiled the sheets again. This nightmare lasts three whole days before it eases off a bit.

Then I worked out, that because I was a late starter (16), I'm not even halfway through my periods, I have at least another 17/18 years of periods to get through! How will I manage it? I dread every monthly period coming, I have to cancel appointments made during those three days as all I want to do is curl up on the sofa with a duvet, a portable toilet, lots of loo roll and some hot chocolate!

I just want comforting that everyone else feels the same way!

You are most definately not alone, for the few days that 'The decorators are in' I am in total agony and am so heavy that i dare not leave the house & as my periods last so long i am slightly anaemic but no so much that my doctor gives me medication, i have tablets to take to slow the flow but them combined with the special painkillers i have to take make me as high as a kite, so therefore if my period happens to be when my dh is at work i can't take these tablets and have to suffer. I'm unable to use tampax so have to use pads and they are so uncomfy and the invisible are no good at all as they would hardly absorb a teaspoon. I get horrendous stomach ache and feel generally drained and a few days before i am really really bad tempered, fed up to the hilt with them as sometimes they can last 7 days.

I used to be like this before the pill and then having ds. Now, they are not too bad, but I can totally empathise. I used to dread school in case I leaked. I have heard from others that the mooncup can be a brilliant thing for those with heavy periods, and am considering using one myself...just a thought. apparently it can ease period pains, although I don't know how. And no, I am not a sales person for them!

You sound like a carbon copy of me.

I used to be like that before I went on the pill. I had a major leak while on school trip once, no change of clothes, no jumper to tie round waist etc. So now, 17 yrs later, I'm always asking dp 'Am I ok?' while nodding to my behind!!!

Hi
My miracle cure for all this is the Mirena coil, think it has been discussed here before, but anyway it is fantastic. I havent used more than a pant liner for 3 years since itwas 'installed'. No pain, minimal bleeding, its great. And suitable for most women who have had children. So maybe worth looking into?

Another vote for mirena. I was like this - trying not to move for about 3 days - and the thought of going on like that for years was so awful, plus I get migraines when I ovulate, so my obstetrician suggested it at my 6 week check. Have had it almost a year now, and havent had any bleeding at all! Marvellous!

I know what you mean, Rhubarb and Chiccadum I feel exactly the way you do. I loved being pregnant without worrying about periods, it was 10 months of bliss as I was fully breastfeeding dd, it delayed my periods for 3 more months.

Sometimes my period lasts for 8 days and that puts a spanner in the works if you are gagging for some action in the bedroom.

Anothersufferer here

I had to srip down to my underwear on day 2 of my period for my osteopath appointment yesterday. I was terrified that I'd leaked on the way there despite a "fresh super plus" before leaving home!

Luckily, the awful cramps I used to get are infinitely better having had children - maybe it's just tht they hurt less than labour so I don't notice them????

Oh the joys of being a woman!

i too can sympathise with this thread...ive always suffered with horrendous pains and heavy bleeding and lived in hope my doctors advice that after id had a child that they sort themselves out...what a lot of crap!!!!
theyre still as bad as ever and to go with it i now get pain when i ovulate and bad headaches for three days before they start.as well as the ever increasing lethargy ,in usually end up having 2-3 days off workn every month.
before i had my dd i was on the pill and i thought it was great but realised when i came off it how grotty it made me feel,it made me tired all the time ,and my sexdrive was zilch!
saying that though its getting to the point where i feel that i will have to go back to the docs for the pill so i can feel human again through my cycle.have considered asking if i could take it so i only have 6 periods a year instead of the 12 as apparently it does help in these situations.
bit scared at the thought of the mirena coil....does it hurt when fitted etc and has anyone had a bad time with it?
would be interested to know

Definitely the pill makes all the difference for me. That was the worst thing about trying to conceive - not being able to take it.

My problem is not so much the heavy bleeding but the length of time it goes on - 11 to 12 days. Days 5/6/7 are heavy with quite a lot of pain but before and after that is not much more than a trickle. I have mentioned once before to my gp about going on the pill but she wasn't keen because of my age. Might mention the Mirena coil next time I see her - I too would be interested to hear of any bad experiences with it.

Try another Pill - I always feel exactly the same on the Pill - but there are lots of brands and all different. I have three periods a year max on the Pill as I take packets consecutively without a break. (You don't have to 'ask' to do this as it is perfectly healthy BTW) It's fantastic! Having so many periods is really unnatural anyway. We are 'meant' to be either p/g or breastfeeding for our whole reproductive age not bleeding. That's why the Pill cuts the rate of ovarian cancer so drastically. I find not having periods very liberating. WOuld never go back.

Have thought about having the Mirena fitted but after a very bad labour with dd1 i am now petrified at the thought of anyone fitting it. At my last smear test i got so worked up and frightened i had a panic attack and nearly passed out. Delivering dd2 was ok though as it last 20minutes. I only became very bad tempered and very heavy after dd1 & dd2 was born and i agree with you KARENANNE, it's a load of crap when the doctors say childbirth will make things better, in my case it has made alot worse.

Im also very p**d with my periods at the mo, there not heavy or painfull, but ive allways been as regular as clockwork before my kids and after, but i was sterilised last september and ever since there all over the place, after reading some of these messages i feel rather stupid worrying over it, but since my last period in early january which was late ive been pretty much bleeding every day, certainly not heavy and sometimes not even needing to wear any protection but its still very annoying and i suppose even a bit worrying, its so abnormal for me as ive never had any problems with my periods before.

Use to suffer horrendous period pains, especially in my teens. Had to be put on the pill at 16 because of the school I was missing. But have found the pain much more bearable since having a child, all those stretched muscles I presume. And yes, I take the pill for months at at time cos I can't stand the disruption to my life, but I do fell 'bunged up' after 3 or so months on it - know medically this can't be the case but...it must be pretty safe, we are 'meant' to be permanently pregnant or breastfeeding and it just simulates that.

ariel I don't want to worry you but have you had a cervical smear test recently? I tend to think bleeding which you think is abnormal needs looking at.

Quick question for those of you who take the pill consecutively. Does this have any physical effect? eg on heaviness/length of period, weight, mood etc. I have occasionally taken two packets together if going on holiday but never more and never regularly.

Cam, im pretty sure my last smear was soon after the birth of dd2 who is now 5, so i guess im probably due another one, maybe i should make a doctors appointment.

Bozza - must admit, I do feel larger when on the pill, definitely increases my appetite. But other than that, no worries.

Bozza, if I take it consecutively for a really long time -ie more than four packets or something, there is a slight build up of womb lining and a little spotting, which is inconvenient. No other physical symptoms. The bleed on a the Pill isn't a real period of course, so it isn't necessary at all.

BTW investigated this thoroughly for my work so I do know what I am talking about. Also my consultant recommended it as a preventative treatment for ovarian cysts.

Again another sufferer, i have a very messed up cycle and have periods every 3 months which only last 4 days, so you can imagine how heavy they are. I admit to actually folding down one of ds old nappies and using it so i can get at least 20 minutes sleep before i have to change, since having ds i can not longer wear tampons, when i do i get terrible cramps.

When i said ds old nappies, i meant the ones that were left over before he was potty trained, no old used ones .

Breeze, that's a relief!
Karenanne, I know lots of women do find the idea of having a coil fitted scary, and the idea of it didn't bother me so maybe I'm not the person to ask. But I'd tried another one before, and it had been fine at first, then my periods started to get heavier and anyway we decided to try for another baby so I had it taken out. Then I heard about the Mirena on Radio 4 where loads of women were raving about it. I don't remember any pain or discomfort at all when it was fitted. I honestly don't think it was any worse than having a smear test. And I had it checked at the same time as my last smear test so that was fine. I guess it must suit some people more than others but I thoroughly recommend it!

How long can the Mirena coil be in place? Are any side effects known?