I'm a 40yo woman and feel embarrassed that I don't really know what is within then normal range for day 1-3 of my period. I would be quick to advise others to see their gp if in doubt but feel reluctant to go myself.
My heaviest days are day 2-3. I usually wake up to a flood and can feel flooding with large clots for most of those days. I use the most absorbent modibodi period pants and need to double up with pads if I'm leaving the house. I sit on towels in the house and already this morning I have leaked out of a saturated pair of pants after only 90 minutes. I have just started wfh and this is actually a massive relief. I also get a horrible headache every month.
However, day 1 and 4-5 are fine. Easy to deal with, no issues. If I get cramps I can manage, sometimes need a paracetamol but never anything more. They are regular though my pmt is awful, spend 14 days feeling great and 14 days feeling irritated, hot, fat, slow, low.
I can't take contraceptive hormones so living with a natural cycle. It's rubbish but is it in the realms of normal?