Can't believe I didn't know this at my age-periods

[OneBlossomBee]

I feel utterly foolish to be even putting this down even on an anonymous forum at my age. I have always had horrific periods since age 11 and have only ever used pads as a personal preference as a squeamish person. No problem with the sight of blood though. My flow has always been very heavy and bled through clothes and sheets even sometimes now and did so 2 months ago. I have super heavy pads I use even in the daytime and last year found out I have cysts. My periods have had me imn agony, nearly fainting and doctors, even a woman, said it was "normal". I always thought it was the norm to feel your period as it flowed out of you, but recently read it isn't and only usually if you have a heavy flow or wear pads. To me, I can feel it every period and, sorry to get graphic, have blood clots come out and feel them slide out rather than flow out. It feels shameful to admit finding this out at my age, I shall only say I am over 30. Does anyone else regularly feel their period come out even when laying down?

I don’t have massively heavy periods but yes I can often feel it come out, particularly if lying on my back or if my tampon is leaking. I had the copper coil for a while and my period was much heavier, I could feel flooding and knew I needed to go to the toilet quickly to check my pad and clothes

I pop up on a lot of these threads to say I had my flow get heavier and heavier.

Doctor said was normal.

I got very, very sick- finally hospitalised and had four blood transfusions as an emergency.
Was a life threatening situation.

After lifetime of issues was diagnosed with fibroids, endo and hormone imbalance.

Care for women’s issues in the Uk is abysmal.

If your flow is increasing and blood clots are sliding out (I know exactly the feeling you mean) you need to see someone.

Go to the doctor, ignore their (likely) dismissive ill informed advice and request a referral to a Gynaecologist.

Had very light bleeds until I was 38, then became like you describe- peri menopause started. TA was a big help. Stopped altogether early 40’s which was fab!

I never have problems with my periods, not heavy no very painfully no clogs and I can fell when the blood goes out. I can feel the first day is going to come, I always fancy a chocolate drink the day before and I only drink it once a month. and the day I'm ovulating too.

Yes I used to. I used to pass clots the size of liver! I had bad fibroids which they said they couldn’t remove. It was a relief to have a full hysterectomy when I was 50.

I'm not a doctor ( so take what I say with a pinch of salt) but was told by a doctor that it can be normal if it's what you're used to and it's not a change to you. My periods have been heavy and painful since I started at 12. After the birth of my fourth child and being sterilised the pain really increased and they went even heavier. I went to the doctor and got given prescription painkillers and tablets to lighten my period though I never took those as I found it extended my number of days bleeding. I got referred for a transvaginal womb scan and nothing showed up, totally normal other than scar tissue from previous c sections but I had the pain before that.

I used to have this from age 14 they were so heavy I could feel them especially with the clots
I had a ablation 6 years ago and it’s been life changing my period is barely noticeable
(I’m done having children hence the Ablation)

I've had extremely heavy periods due to fibroids and I can assure you that a blodclot the size of a golfball can absolutely get past a tampon. They are sort of gelatinous so anything goes 😬
So anyway, here's another tick on the side of "we know what you're saying OP and it means there's something wrong"

Could you push for a uterine ablation ?
I had very heavy long periods after my last baby. I was bleeding 21 days out of 28
i had an ablation

best.thing.ever

I could feel clots sometimes -but all a distant memory for me now as well past menopause.

I had a 3 week period, flooding and huge clots. Ferrutin (iron) level went down to 4 which is severe anaemia.

luckily on BUPA so investigated and scan showed likely Adenomyosis. They were also looking out for fibroids but thankfully I was clear on that. I’m having the Mirena coil fitted next week.

The BUPA GP, Doctor who did the scan and Consultant (all Female) all said it was NOT normal. Please do go and get it investigated and don’t take no for an answer! Female health is a joke in the UK 🤬

I always feel mine and I often get a “gush” where I have to get to the toilet and change quickly. I also feel clots coming out which is always gross.

This is exactly how my periods are. It almost feels like a dwelling/pressure in my vagina as the blood clot is making it ways down, and then this kind of popping sensation when it comes out. I feel gushes of blood coming out of me all the time and I always have to run to the nearest bathroom to deal with it.

You need to go back to the doctor. This idea that normal for you = normal is utter bullshit. Normal for me, which was bleeding so heavy I left puddles of blood on the carpet and had excruciating pain, turned out to be severe endometriosis including in my bowel and urinary tract.

I've had a quick scan of the thread and I surprised more people haven't mentioned endometriosis but several things you've described are classic signs that you have it, including being fobbed off by a GP. I know they told you that what you are experiencing is normal, but they're wrong. I know we're supposed to trust doctors, who are supposed to be the experts, but with this condition, they really aren't and it's very common for women to be laughed out of the GP's office repeatedly before they finally get a diagnosis. I know I was. And this is despite the fact that it's a very common disease - around 10% of women are thought to have it. It is also common to be told there's nothing of note on the ultrasound, either because the endo nodules are too small, or because most sonographers don't know what to look for.

What you need is a referral to gynaecology, preferably at a hospital with a BSGE centre, as they are the specialist endo clinics. Please do a bit more reading about the condition and see if it describes what is happening to you. x.

No I can't feel it come out - and my periods are super light, I could wear a standard sanitary pads for days (but I don't, I change them once a day). When I gave birth my lochia was also super light, could just use normal sanitary pads.

That doctor was wrong. A clear TV ultrasound doesn't mean that everything is fine. Please ask for a referral to gynae.

Well past menopause now but my periods were terrible when young. Heave flow for at least 7 days each month, the most terrible pain, sometimes I was doubled up with pain, I passed out due to period pain during my A levels and had to be stretchered out of the exam room.

Doctors were useless. Firstly saying it was "because I was young" then "it must be psychological". Yes, I could certainly feel the flow coming out, I wore heavy pads as tampons were a waste of time.

In my 20s had a D&C, but it didn't cure it.
Was told it would "sort itself out" when I had children. I had a family, and it didn't.

Eventually I found a doctor who would listen and who prescribed 'ponstan forte' (mefenamic acid) tablets, they are anti-inflammatory so help the pain, they also reduce the flow to manageable amounts. They were a game changer, I was on them for years.
Eventually I had a hysterectomy which was fantastic, it solved the problem and was the THE BEST operation I ever had.

Me too. I would worry if I couldn't feel the blood flowing out of me. It is not all the time though.

I can feel it. I thought painful periods were normal, even pain until the end and the dragging feeling down my thighs. I did see the doctor numerous times and asked if it could be endometriosis
diagnosed FINALLY age 40 with stage 4 deep endometriosis affecting my bladder, bowel, ovaries… 8.5hrs of surgery to remove

This is not normal-but your GP will probably tell you it is. Women’s health care is woefully poor, hence the average time of around ten years to diagnose endometriosis. Please go back to your GP and if they are still dismissive ask to see a different one. I had to change surgery to find someone who listened, I wish I’d done it sooner. My life is so much better now (I have a medina coil )

I didn’t know until this thread that this isn’t normal either. This is why I don’t understand how people can use period pants - I can’t imagine being able to feel gush / flow all day even if the blood was being safely collected.

I am 47 and regularly have to run to the toilet after an hour with a super max tampon and a pad, but I have no pain and this bit only lasts a day or two. Had to run out of a meeting last week 😳.

is this something I should see a doctor about? Or is it less concerning because I have no pain?

Anything over 80mls of blood is classed as a heavy period. Hopefully you can see this video on the BBC's tiktok showing the volume of blood lost that was actually collected by scientists and then represented with the volume in jars

www.tiktok.com/@bbcnews/video/7307598389611384097?lang=en

I have endo, I can sometimes feel it pouring out of me. Luckily now in peri it is much less blood loss and less clotty too but I have tiny seed like clots and when I have those my period pain is worse.

I wear tampons and pads at the same time (heavy periods). The clots usually pass when changing a tampon/using the loo. It's never been an issue.

Tampons are definitely the answer for me. If I didn't use them, I'd be chained to the house/somewhere with loos very close by for the first 2-3 days of my period.

I've had 4 c sections and a sterilisation so it probably explains some of it.
I did notice an increase in pain and bleeding after my tubes were tied after my last c section but I've had various scans and examinations over the years and nothing has ever been picked up. That womb scan I had was to specifically find any reasons my periods were so bad and there was nothing. I think even if something was to be diagnosed, it wouldn't suddenly give me a miracle cure after almost 3 decades of periods.

I can feel it, but don't have heavy periods. I can also control the flow to some extent, but no one ever believes that's possible!