When periods are messy

[Tminamechange3]

Had to name change for this, as I’m so embarrassed!

I’m having the worst time with my period this month. I have quite heavy periods, with the occasional “flooding” on days 1-2.

As I’m a teacher, I usually have to let someone know before I leave the classroom to go to the toilet. This makes me conscious about how long I’m taking, and how frequently I’m having to go to change my tampon/pad.

Whether it’s because I’ve been in a rush, I don’t know, but every time I’ve gone to change my tampon at work this week, I’ve gotten into a right mess. I somehow managed to end up with blood all down my leg this morning (sorry tmi!) The day before, half of the applicator fell off onto the floor mid-way (rubbish cardboard applicators!). Before I could leave, I felt I had to do a good scan of the toilet/floor/etc to make sure I hadn’t left a trail behind! Just makes me feel so awful and ashamed as surely I should be able to sort myself out without getting in such a state.

This has turned into a bit of a TMI rant, but with a glimmer of hope that I’m not the only one this happens to!

Oh OP don't be hard on yourself! My periods were like this too. It's a bodily function and you can't do anything about it! Don't let anyone moan about how often or how long you're in the loo. Do what you have to do. And know you're not alone!

Menstrual cups are good for the clots. No flicking, you just break the seal and tip it down the toilet.
Tbh I've had them for about 10 years (not the same one) and while I need a pad for safety on heavy days, the rest of the time they're great. Test it out at home first, of course.

Another vote for mirena coil. I went from periods like yours to no periods at all. It's AMAZING.

I’ve always been worried I would flood through onto my chair, kept telling myself it would never happen. Then one day last year I stood up from my blue fabric chair to see a patch of blood (no thanks to super tampon and giant pad!). Luckily had a change trousers in car.
I don’t consider myself to have bad/particularly heavy periods. I’ve only really 2 “risky” days a month so I try to trip to toilet regularly to check, but it is hard as my work too is demanding and difficult to pop out from!
Sympathies!

Teacher here too. Had a full hysterectomy 4 years ago at 43 and have never looked back
Appreciate that is not the answer for most though

I had heavy periods for years - super plus tampax and a pad changed every hour or so on some days. After I hit 40 they got worse and were lasting up to 12 days!!!!!

Had a mirena in for 18 months but it made me feel awful. And then I had the tablets and an op where they scrapped the lining of my womb. Which worked for a while but they got worse again.

Add in horrendous mood swings, migraines, low mood, low iron and numerous other symptoms and I had had enough. Took me a very long time to see a doctor who would refer me.

I digress. I really sympathise. The period pants sound good.

Bless you OP. Periods and teachers are not great together! I had a flood, black trousers on, just two minutes before I took a class of 30 Reception children out to meet their parents. No TA. Thank goodness I had black trousers on as I just had to get on with it.

I had the mirena coil for heavy bleeding and it was a total game changer, stopped my periods completely. I had it removed after 5 years and didnt bother getting one put back. I thought maybe I wouldn't be so heavy now. I'm now back to heavy bleeds but I use a cup, brilliant things. Take a few practices to get insertion and removal right but once you get the hang of it it's great, no leaks, longer change time, cant feel anything and reduces cramps and it also shortens my period from 5 days to just 3. I think it must be due to a slight suction.
I'm getting the mirena back in next month so hopefully my periods will stop again.

I hope you manage to find a solution, something so natural should not be interfering so much with your life. X

And I started taking B vit supplements, really help me with fatigue around my period.

Cup and towel. It's not glam but it'll get you through

Just to ease your mind, if you are rushing because you are worrying about the length of time you are taking then STOP! A minute will feel like 10 minutes to you but honestly, it probably only takes you an extra 3mins to clear up. Nobody will notice that. Give yourself a break from that side of the worry

This is not normal, please go and see your GP to investigate if there is an underlying cause for the heavy bleeding. Even if there isn’t there are treatment options available which should reduce the bleeding. A lot of people say the mirena is amazing but it hasn’t worked for me (I can still go through super plus tampax in 1-2 hours while taking traexamic acid). If you look on the nhs website you definitely fit their definition of excessively heavy bleeding.