It's a disgustingly graphic TMI one I'm afraid, period and perimenopause related - need advice

[sprigatito]

I need advice on whether I need to do something (ie try in vain to get a GP appointment!) or whether this is within the range of normal and just tough it out.

I've been peri for years, night sweats, mood swings, constant itching, perioral dermatitis etc. I had heavy, flooding periods alternating with very light or none at all for about four years, gradually transitioning towards only fairly light ones and only happening every few months.

Until yesterday, when I started flooding yesterday evening and it's been insane since - I'm wearing three nighttime pads at once and having to change them every half hour, a few times I've had to clean up the floor because I've stood up and it's just gone everywhere. I've had to change my trousers three times today, am dizzy and look like a vampire (not the youthful alluring kind!) and there have been some enormous clots as well. If it weren't physically impossible I would think it was a miscarriage, as that's the only time I can ever remember it being this bad.

Is it normal-ish?

This happened to me and I ended up passing out, blue lighted to A and E ...... on 2 week pathway scans and hysteroscopy, it was 'only' fibroids in the end but left me anaemic and happened intermittently for a couple of years ..... I was prescribed tranexamic acid which meant I got some control over the flow.....it's horrible OP, you need to get it checked out and get some help with it..... and yes it can be serious so don't ignore....... take care

Please get medical attention OP. This is not a period, it is severely heavy bleeding. You need to be seen.

I’m a former A&E doctor, please do go to A&E tonight

Hope OP is OK and getting treatment! This thread is an eye-opener for me, as someone with fibroids who has occasionally had this type of bleeding and dizziness - I’d never have thought to go to A&E. Goes to show the deep-grained brainwashing of women putting up with extreme health issues!

Please get checked out as soon as you can. That amount of blood loss , period related or not, is a concern and needs medical attention.

Hi OP,

Don’t let doctors fob you off with the just s heavy period nonsense and a little tip I discovered recently due to another issue is that children’s nappies, especially the 6,7 or 8 sizes are a marvel at containing heavy periods without the need to lose your mind in case a pad overflows. I wish I had known this years before but they are great and cheaper than thin flimsy pads for heavy bleeding 🩸

A&E orr 111 and photograph and datte stamp every change or pad from now on (put your thumb in the photo with a clot to give an idea of scale). Make a note of how often you've changed a pad since this started and how much blood (eg I bled through 3 pads in half an hour at 11.30, at 12 I stood up and flooded through another three, at 12.30 I had to change again and had a clot the size of a golf ball etc etc). My 21 year old DD has this sort of period and the only way she can get anyone to take her seriously is to take her phone along with date stamped photos.

It thins the blood and stops clotting - last thing she needs to take

I hope you’re on your way to A&E op. I’m another who experienced similar but due to miscarriage. In my case (apologies in advance for the tmi) there was a huge clot stuck in my cervix that meant it couldn’t close and blood was pouring out of me. I needed surgery and afterwards had a huge blood transfusion as I collapsed and was close to cardiac arrest. An incredibly frightening time. I agree that we shouldn’t have to put up with this as women, that amount of blood loss needs to be taken seriously.

My periods ended up like this. It was miserable. I was changing my knickers up to 7 times a day as I was flooding through a tampon and pad. Also had huge clots. Turned out to be polyps which I had removed and a coil fitted at the same time. I'd get hold of your GP in the morning if I were you.

I will never forget the thread pps are referencing - a woman bleeding like this, who was urged to go to A&E by other posters that night and saved her life. The doctors told her she would have died if she'd waited til morning. It worries me whenever I see a similar post on here and anyone minimising it as 'just a period'. I hope the OP has managed to get medical help, and maybe Mumsnet should make that old thread a sticky somewhere as a warning to anyone experiencing similar!

I had this and was also passing massive clots . In the end I got my mum to drive me to A&E , and I was immediately whisked into resus as I was losing so much blood.

I just had a miscarriage and I ended up in A&E because of blood loss like you describe. They took it very seriously. 111 told me to go straight there or they would ring an ambulance.

I do think you need to call 111. With that much blood loss you may need a transfusion and you definitely need to rest and not be trying to carry on with your normal activities. Hope you get some help soon OP 💐

I think you should go to A&E with blood loss that severe
If you start to feel very faint ring 999

I had this, turned out to be fibroids. Get onto your GP as an urgent appt - they will prescribe tranexamic acid or similar to slow the bleeding, and then insist on a gynae referral.

The amount of blood the op is losing is a medical emergency. It is not something a GP can deal with - they'll just send her to A&E.

i was like that a few years ago bleed through my clothes at a gp appointment, ended up having a womb albration.they microwave the womb lining,a day case, after that a 2 day a month tiny dribble, get medical help.

Sorry to hear you’re having to go back to A&E @sprigatito Good luck.

Oh no, @sprigatito you're having such a run of terrible luck lately.

You need to go to A and E.

If you're waiting for a call back from 111, please don't.
It will be hours, and they'll only tell you to go to A and E.

The amount of loss you're having is clinically significant.
Please, please go to A and E - and take a bag full of today's pads with you.

I had menorrhagia in my early 40s but well before other symptoms of perimenopause started. The volume of blood was absolutely insane. I couldn't leave the house. It was like a slasher movie! I was prescribed mefenamic acid, which worked brilliantly. It doesn't work for all women but my understanding is it has a high success rate. It was also the best thing I'd ever taken for period cramps. I think it is quite common but maybe people don't talk about it too much.

I'm another one who suffers like this too, always have, it's been 33 years. I'm currently on tranexamic acid and i've been on iron for years. I really hope you get seen and they can do something to help you❤️.

Ibuprofen can help to reduce period flow, though I don't know if it would apply to this situation.

So don't shout at me, but I didn't go to A&E, I couldn't face it. I have spent so many hours in A&E over the past few weeks. I got the triage call back from 111 and they didn't seem to worried, they said to call my gp in the morning but to call them back if it got worse overnight. I took some ibuprofen a couple of hours ago and the bleeding has eased a bit, it's still heavy but not as bad. So am going to get some sleep and call the gp tomorrow. Thanks for all the advice

I routinely have periods like this and have never thought to go to A&E. I just keep changing my pad, take iron tablets to stop the dizziness, and annoy my husband by bleeding all over our bed/furniture despite wearing incontinence pads/massive sanitary towels. It’s usually that bad for 12 hours or so, and I feel exhausted for days afterwards due to the blood loss.

I’d suggest seeing your GP because I have moderate adenomyosis and severe endometriosis. So, it’s not ‘normal’ and suggests there are probably other medical issues at play, but - in my experience - you’re unlikely to die. Your GP will be able to recommend a medication that should help.

I don’t blame you for not going to A&E. In my experience, it’s a recipe for spending 12 hours sat upright, bleeding all over a plastic chair.