I’ve perioded on a really expensive mattress [angry]

[SweatyBetty20]

Bought a new bed about 18 months ago, including a new mattress which was a grand on its own. I’m having hellishly heavy periods at the moment as I am perimenopausal, although think my jab has made things even worse. Went to bed last night with an orange tampax and night time pad, and still leaked massively. I had a mattress protector on, but not a waterproof one as it makes my night sweats worse, and woke up at 5am absolutely flooded. It’s soaked through my underwear, the bed linen, AND the mattress protector, and left a deep red blood stain about 8 inches square in the middle of the mattress.

I kicked the boyfriend into the spare bedroom (he was lovely and vv understanding), tried to blot up as much as I could, and then left a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water on it for a few hours, before then treating it with Fairy liquid. It’s shifted about half, but it’s still really noticeable. Is there anything else I can try? I’m gutted that my mattress is ruined, and that it looks like I’ll have to get another waterproof cover and start sleeping on towels every month too.

Ace laundry bleach is fantastic on blood. It fizzes and foams and removes the blood. I think it’s peroxide based.

Peroxide based bleach is good for blood. I’ve used old fashioned contact lens cleaner before, but there must be a cheaper peroxide. It fizzes up very satisfyingly. I seem to remember from a long ago science lesson that the peroxide reacts with the haemoglobin in the blood, which is the red colour ( but I could be very wrong, it’s 40 years ago.).

@Paq

No advice on the mattress but please see a GP about your periods. I had similar issues and now take tranexemic acid. It's changed my life.

I second this. Tranexamic acid is amazing stuff. Whilst it was taking effect I wore large tena ladies at night to save the sheets!

Stupid uterus! They really are little shits.

I am prone to flooding too - (a orange tampax and night towel I can get through in 45 mins). I use two waterproof mattress protectors then a normal one on top then the sheet. I get them as cotton not polyester and find them cool and not rustly in the night. Helps to have a spare to put on too incase of a change in the night.

Tranexamic acid is a game changer, I no longer have to fret about leaking, plus I use the terry topped waterproof mattress covers from IKEA/John Lewis under the fitted sheet, I don’t find them sweaty or rustly. Mattresses will get stained though, whether it’s periods, wee or sweat stains, once your sheets are on no one will notice.

Ikea (used to?) do a waterproof mattress protector which is like a towelling fabric on one side and is not so sweaty. Pretty sure they did all sizes.

Ha! SBAM I had only read some of page one. Good to know Ikea still do them.

Another one for tranexemic acid.

Changed my life!!!

Use a quality waterproof mattress protector on the mattress.
Top that with a quilted cotton mattress protector.
Top that with the bottom sheet.

You won't get sweaty, you won't hear crinkly plastic noises, and the mattress will be totally protected.

@2bazookas

Use a quality waterproof mattress protector on the mattress. Top that with a quilted cotton mattress protector. Top that with the bottom sheet.

You won't get sweaty, you won't hear crinkly plastic noises, and the mattress will be totally protected.

All fitted so they won't budge

Can't help with cleaning, but I'm here to reccomend the bamboo waterproof mattress cover! They don't feel rustly or sweaty and are fully waterproof. We've put them on all our beds just in case!

There was a thread not long ago about non-rustling waterproof mattress protectors:here with a few recommendations.

Ace laundry bleach will work... I had this problem until I had an Endometrial ablation which was life changing
Please seek help as you don't need to suffer