What would you describe as heavy period?

[Tunnocks34]

Typically my periods last from 5-7 days.

I will have a day of light bleeding requiring a panty liner, followed by 2 days of heavy bleeding where I’ll change a super plus tampon every 2/3 hours - often bleeding through the night. Day four will be again, typically light like day 1.

My blood tests show anaemia. My diet isn’t great but I’m wondering if these periods could be the cause? GP follow up in week or so.

Yes I would describe that as heavy.

I know some women are unfortunate enough to have more than 2 days of very heavy bleeding but that what you have described is definitely heavy.

The Mirena coil is generally a good treatment for heavy periods if you don’t improve your iron levels enough with tablets alone.

Last year I had to have iron infusions as my periods were so very heavy and I ended up with ferritin levels below 3. I then had a uterine ablation as I just could not continue in the way I had.
My periods would last around 8 days. Day one would be light and then from day 2-5 I would soak through a super absorbent pad within an hour, soaked through so there was no white of the pad left. Couldn’t wear tampons as the flow and clots would push them out. The clots would sometimes be the size of my palm. I would have to get up several times during the night and would have to double layer the pads. It was all far from fun! Your anaemia is most likely caused by your periods.
What things/meds have you tried to ease them?

@Sixmonthcruise that sounds awful. However, @Tunnocks34 I would also describe yours as heavy. It impedes you going about your normal business, if you have to change your tampon every two hours, and worry about leaks the whole time

@Sixmonthcruise honestly I’ve not done anything really. I’ve not felt particularly tired but my HB was 95. I had originally gone as I have had several bouts of diarrhoea this year, plus my period this month has lasted 3 1/2 weeks but my stool sample for blood, inflammation markers were all normal range. Only issue that was flagged was iron issues on my FBC plus slight kidney issues (did recently have a kidney infection). Waiting for gp to ring me with further instructions!

Yours sound heavy. Mine are similar. First day can be light or ridiculously heavy straight away. I wear pads, the night time extra long ones, for the two heaviest days, and have to check and change them every two hours. I leaked through my thick jeans last week after about an hour. I don't bother with tampons because I feel like they prolong the bleeding and the period drags on for longer.

Anemia makes your periods heavy as when you are anemic you bleed more. It’s a vicious circle. So it’s essential to get iron levels up. An infusion can help.
Your periods do sound heavy. Mine are too. Have been for ages. Some months they are better than others. I’m mid 40s.

I do get blood clots too. Sometimes as big as a 10p coin. Sometimes smaller. TMI but if I sit down without a tampon in I can literally watch the blood poor out like someone has a rap running.

Tunnocks34 what are your ferritin levels? My hb levels were often just below normal but my iron stores were virtually non existent which made me feel awful. Are you anywhere near perimenopause? That’s when my periods went from bad to horrendous. You could try tranexamic acid, my 15 year old dd suffers from heavy periods and this does help to ease her periods somewhat.

They didn’t do ferritin levels - they have referred me now for a full iron study. My red blood cell count was high, it just appears they aren’t doing their job properly. They are all different sizes or something.

I found period pants really helped when my periods got heavy. Modibodi 24 hour ones. I used to stain the bedding with a tampon, 2 pads and a towel. Now I can wear one pair of period pants and last all night. Same during the day. I do change them during the day but once I went out all day and forgot to take spares and I had no issues. Before if I felt I had flooded, I couldn’t sit down till I had dashed to the toilet.

I got low iron probably through heavy periods in peri-menopause. Iron tablets have sorted it out for me. My bowels were impacted when my iron levels were low. That’s settled down now. I started on 3 tablets a day, went down to 1. They tried to say stop the tablets but I said I was starting to feel tired again and wanted to try upping to 2 rather than stopping. That’s worked for me. Iron levels are now stable. All the best getting it sorted. I’ve just had slightly high cholesterol showing on my last bloods so that is my next challenge to sort. Will finally have to sort out my diet and lose the couple of stone I gained during lockdown.

@Sixmonthcruise well, I have asked the dr about peri, I’m actually only 34 but my mum went through menopause at 40, and my grandma at 39. The last two years my periods have got closer together (every 23 days) and twice a year I’ll have a period that lasts a month. Also grown some chin hair. GP was very dismissive - said more likely PCOS at my age!

I have chin hair ( waxing again tomorrow ) & likely pcos

Periods also heavy. At least 2 - 3 heavy days
Iron deficiency anemia

I would say that's heavy. My gynaecologist classed heavy as needing to change every two hours.

Managed to have 2 scans 2 check 4 fibroids and rule out ovarian cancer with raised ca125

Im keen to try and see a gynacologist in aug or sept though

worldwidetravel2017 has your gynaecologist rules out endometriosis? My sister had the same symptoms and a raised ca125, turned out to be endo.

Thank you - i need to see a gynacologist re it
The scans were NHS refered by gp due to raised ca125

Ca125 abnormal high aside - i was told gynacologist is 66wait on nhs..

Will be paying to see a private gynacologist soon

I have NHS gastro consultant assessment this week

And 3 bloods being re done in aug
And maybe b12 injections 2 come

Thank u tho

worldwidetravel2017 definitely worth seeing a private gynae. I’m stuck on a waiting list for issues following a procedure I had over a year ago and even though my issues are due to something that has gone wrong I still am having to wait at least 9 months!!

@Sixmonthcruise - thank you and sorry to hear that.

Was reading about scans re endo

My scans - in jul - pelvic & transvaginal were looking at - structual -

Nothing endo_y was mentioned there

Google tells me mri could help

Mad nausea today - dunno if thats a bug or my b12 deficiency or a reason 4 late period potentially or what ..
Believe i ovulated 7 - 8 days ago

I bleed for about 18-25 days. I can use anything upward of 100 tampons as well as pads. The first 2-3 days are lighter (can get away with tampax plus), then I have to use lilets ultra for a week and change them probably every two hours. I have to set three alarms a night on my worst days to change. Drives me crazy. No surprise I’m anaemic!

worldwidetravel2017 endo can only really be seen via laparoscopic procedures although there is a specialist mri but I think it’s hard to get. My sisters endo was never picked up via scans.

I have anemia, take blood thinners, and am peri

I have 1 day spotting, day 2 change every 2 hours, day 3 to 5, changing at least hourly but still bleeding through, and then day 5 to 7 getting lighter

Mine can be like these. I have fibroids and am waiting to see a gynae. Lillet's Ultra are the only salvation that allows me to leave the house. I usually wear a pad too, and period pants over the top.

@RubyWedding Ive seen multiple gynaecologists, had a laparoscopy, countless scans, 2x hysteroscopies and 4x rounds of ivf. No cause ever found. I literally just have to deal with it. It makes me so unhappy.

Mine started heavy with flooding from day 1, then down to plain heavy day 4-6 & then slowed to stopping by day 9.