Day 2 of period

[jennistarr1]

Recently, day 2 of my period is absolute fucking hell. I'm in pain, and I'm bleeding sooooo much. Soaking through pads. When I'm on the toilet it's loud plops of the "clots" falling out. I destroy pants. 

My best "trick" was the BIG pads you get postpartum....but I'm out of those

I need more tricks....pads or tampons or cups you use...and any supplements that help

My doctor gave me the choice of birth control but being in my 40s I worry about side effects

[Leeham Rimes]

I have the same problem with no “solution”. I use ultra tampons (it’s like sticking a submarine up there. My god) along with “period underwear” (cheapies from Amazon and not at all sexy) which really just protects me from completely bleeding through to my pants

[wanderingback]

I don’t have specific tips, but did you have an ultrasound?
Did you talk to your doctor about side effects you’re worried about? There are so many different kind of birth control options that I can usual counsel people appropriately to pick the best one for them based on what side effects they’re worried about. I have tons of patients in their 40s and early 50s on different birth control options to prevent pregnancy and help with period symptoms as well.

All that to say is there are many treatment options and you don’t have to live in pain and bleeding so much.

[dcn]

I had awful heavy 1st and 2nd day of periods and they came every 22 days so I went on birth control. Before that I used ultra tampons with a pad backup and changed it every 2 hours. I was totally zapped and was miserable. Much improved with the pill. I’d definitely discuss more with your provider!

[mrspez07]

I had someone recommend Advil to me prior to and through the heavy day to help break up the big clots. I’ve found it helps, plus with the pain. I have 1-2 days that can be really heavy.

ETA: I’ve also found with clots, that tends to overflow my cup more easily, not sure if it’s a full issue or a blockage and overflow issue. Tampons could be doing the same thing?

[Ashley&Scott]

I really like this cup, it works better for me than tampons. On heavy days I have to empty it more often but still have less leaking than I did with tampons. www.amazon.com/dp/B08JGC9H76?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

[litskispeciality]

I couldn't do tampons because I just bled too much. I wore the super heavy overnight diapers all the time. I didn't try (pre-hysterotomy) period underwear but always wanted to try that as a back up as I'd leak all night.

I second getting an ultrasound to find out what's going on, and/or (hopefully) treatment options. Not that easy to switch GYN's, but advocate if they say nothing's going on. I had to switch GYN's to get someone to take me seriously, vs. stick an IUD up there buttercup.

[dexteroni]

I’m in the same boat and it sucks. For me it’s days 2 and 3. Ultra tampons with a pad at the same time and I don’t plan a lot for those days. My last GYN recommended an ultrasound to check for fibroids before we moved last year, but I wasn’t able to get it scheduled in time. I need to find a new GYN and get that done.

I’ve seen posts here about people having ablations for heavy periods, but I don’t know in what cases they’re recommended. Maybe read about them and ask your doctor if it would be right for you.

[plutosmoon]

I was using the meruna xl cup with always infinity pads. I had similar issues. I am nearly 44 and my quality of life was truly suffering so I went back on the pill after being off for over 15 years. It's been amazing. I take it continuously and still have more spotting than I'd like, but it gave me back my a week of my life each month.

[winecat]

I have/had periods like this. It's awful. I couldn't leave the house for the first couple of days of my period without massive preparation, an arsenal of supplies, a puppy pad for my car so I wouldn't ruin the upholstery, and I'd still bleed through everything so black pants. I'd go through 50+ tampons/pads. It wasn't until I kept asking for tranexamic acid that I got referred to GYN and they wanted an ultrasound before seeing me. And then they wanted an MRI with/without contrast. I have 3 large fibroids and a whole bunch of small ones which have been causing my hellish bleeding. My uterus is the size of a 20 week pregnancy.

I'd told my GPs that I had heavy periods but didn't get specific and would get shoulder shrugs because my periods are long and I don't have breakthrough bleeding. If you haven't been specific with your doc, it might help. The Gyns I've seen since gasp when I tell them the number of tampons/pads I'd go through.

I am taking tranexamic acid during my periods while I figure out a longterm solution. It has helped SO much. It takes me a 2-3 or more hours to bleed through an ultra and through a pad instead of an hour or less. I haven't ruined any undies or pants this month! huzzah! lol

I don't want to go on birth control. There's no room in my uterus for a IUD. And it's causing all sorts of other physical symptoms; pushing on my bladder, nerves, spine, anemia, constipation, etc., so I'm going to have surgery.

Please get help. This is no way to live.

[fluffycookie]

I have/had awful periods. For me it's days 2-5. It's awful and I hate leaving the house. I do ultra tampons with a pad backup. I wrecked a mattress protector recently because I managed to bleed thru it. I had an ultrasound which showed no fibroids and had a uterine biopsy which my uterus hated (it looked like a crime scene in the room after). I was on tranexamic acid for two months. I took 1 pill every 8 hours and it did help with the bleeding and passing clots. Right now I am on progesterone only birth control which caused my period last month to be so much lighter, but I also had a second period about two weeks later. MH is getting a vasectomy soon and after that I plan to go off birth control pills and try the tranexamic acid for a few months, but I feel like I will end up with an ablation at some point. My mom had to same heavy bleeding and had one when it was a relatively new procedure and it was a game changer for her. Good luck. It's an awful way to live.

[ssmjlm]

I used to have periods like that.

I got an ablation last month and my August “period” was 2 days is spotting.

The ablation was in/out and I had one main day of recovery.

I didn’t want birth control of an IUD, I had tried those in my 20s.

Talk to your doctor. Mine was amazing at listening, doing an ultrasound and offering options.

[arielroux]

I used to have the same problem. I’d have to use ultra super whatever tampons PLUS an overnight pad and change the tampon about every 1.5-2 hours. I’d have horrible cramps and clots, I’d be bloated and nauseated. It was horrible.

Eventually I told my doctor that I was fucking DONE and I had an ablation. Once I hit 35 the pill didn’t work anymore (as far as regulating my cycle) and I didn’t want an IUD. Best decision ever. I haven’t had a period in over 2 years…every other month I get some brown spotting for a couple days and that’s it. You may want to consider talking to your doctor about an ablation. It literally solved every single one of my period problems.

[scout8]

Not on the pill, my periods were very heavy and came every 21 or 22 days. It was awful. I stayed on bcp through menopause because it made my life so much better. I did not have any side effects. The one I was on in my 40's was loloestrin and I had no side effects and didn't get my period at all.

I never tried it, but I know that ablations work for a lot of people.

[wanderingback]

Oh yes, tranexamic acid is another option, forgot to mention that, as someone else mentioned.
NSAIDs can help for some people, but for heavy heavy bleeding like you're describing I find it typically doesn't do much.

[alicethellama]

I had heavy periods for years which only got worse in my late 30s and early 40s. My old gyn only tried to push for an IUD, which I didn’t want, and my PCP brushed it off when I’d bring it up, and attributed it to peri menopause.

I finally went to a new gyn, who did an u/s and uterine biopsy. Those were clear, so I tried progesterone only for several months. While it did help with bleeding I was still having some heavy days and had some side effects, so I scheduled an ablation. I’m 4 months out, and so far am really happy with results. Still have some cramping, but super minimal spotting. I regret not doing something sooner and dealing so long with my debilitating periods. Hope you can find relief soon.

[gummybear]

I used to have periods like this. I got an ablation 10 years ago and it was life-changing. I was actually thinking about this just the other day - I don't think people who don't have these types of periods can fully understand how much is affects your life. Every month when I get my period now I actually get a little sad that I spent 20+ years suffering having no concept of what average bleeding is like. It's so much easier now. I am sorry you are suffering.

[livinitup]

Have you considered an IUD for period relief? Or talked to your Gyno about other options?

[bunnies]

Aug 26, 2022 14:49:53 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

I used to have periods like that.

I got an ablation last month and my August “period” was 2 days is spotting.

The ablation was in/out and I had one main day of recovery.

I didn’t want birth control of an IUD, I had tried those in my 20s.

Talk to your doctor. Mine was amazing at listening, doing an ultrasound and offering options.

This. I had an ablation done in 2008. Life changing!

[litskispeciality]

Just to echo others, when you're (hopefully) on the other side you really kick yourself for dealing with it. I kept heming and hawing saying it wasn't worth trying to switch GYNs because they'll all blow me off. It's a relief to find one who cares

I had to keep a pad in my glove compartment and some in my desk at work because I'd run out of them in my purse. I always bought overnight pads whenever I was in a drug store because the 'four month pack" lasted a month, maybe two. The booster was what finally made me change when I bled for a month straight. Don't let it get that bad.

I never had luck with NSAIDS other than a tiny bit of pain relief. I took 3 progesterone pills a day only for 3 months that got me to really light bleeding, then stated up again the week of surgery. Hopefully you can get in something to make it better.

Eta I fought hard against an IUD. My last options were remove some fibroids and try an IUD, knowing eventually I'd need a hysterectomy, or just go get everything out. Glad I did, there were more issues than I knew.

[CurlyQ284]

I have the same issue and had an ultrasound Wednesday, waiting for the results. My new doctor wanted the ultrasound and blood work drawn on my worst period day. She said if I'm "super fertile" ::barf:: I might regrow the lining back after an ablation so she wants to see all that to figure out if it would be a solution for me.

[tiki]

My period also got much heavier the last few years, possibly as a result of having a baby, and possibly due to perimenopause. I had to switch to Ultra tampons plus a pad with wings as backup and the first couple of days are still difficult to manage.

[krystee]

I second getting an IUD. I went from periods just like that to NONE AT ALL after three months of having Mirena. I plan to have one until menopause. I would be in Mirena commercials if I could. It is life-changing.

[konapoppy]

I finally got on the pill, which has helped a lot.

Others have great ideas. It has been so nice to not have extremely heavy periods anymore.

[silvercrayon]

I did an ablation. It did not completely stop my periods but they are so much more manageable.

Tampons and heavy pads are the only way for me to not ruin clothes before my ablation.

[mcppalmbeach]

Wow, I relate to a lot of this. I just assumed it was perimenopause and I had to deal with it. Day 2 and sometimes day 3 are usually miserable. I definitely will bleed through a super tampon in an hour and a half to two hours and usually will end up with an accident I always have to sleep for two days with a Heavy overnight pad as long and as winged as possible because The super tampon alone doesn’t cut it. We were recently on vacation and I got my period and we had an activity on day 2 where I knew I would have no access to a bathroom and it involved multiple tampons and a back up pad, which I know is not exactly advisable. My gyn was very blasé about it when I asked for birth control to help it (also because I have bad pms symptoms).

[arehopsveggies]

Here to chime in for ablation
My periods were 8-9 days and I was afraid to leave the house for a few of those. Now they are 2-3 and much much lighter. We are taking a weekend trip and for half a second I thought “oh my period is due I can’t go…” and this I remembered that it really doesn’t matter anymore.

[gummybear]

Aug 26, 2022 21:43:32 GMT -5 arehopsveggies said:

Here to chime in for ablation
My periods were 8-9 days and I was afraid to leave the house for a few of those. Now they are 2-3 and much much lighter. We are taking a weekend trip and for half a second I thought “oh my period is due I can’t go…” and this I remembered that it really doesn’t matter anymore.

It’s crazy isn’t it? I used to have to forecast my period with my half marathon races bc if it was supposed to be on day 2/3 I wouldn’t sign up bc I wouldn’t be able to run more than 90 minutes without a bloodbath. Couldn’t be on the beach day 2/3. Flying on an airplane or long road trips was also out.

[stemmie]

I'm sorry. That sounds really unpleasant.

I never had the bleeding to that degree once I got my thyroid hormones corrected, but cramps? OMG yes. My gyn instructed me start taking an NSAID 24-36 hours prior to my period starting which helped a lot. I personally found Aleve more effective for cramps than Advil though ketoprofen would be my choice if I could find it.

My mom had the super heavy bleeding from fibroids, she ended up being transfused and having a hysterectomy which thrilled her by the time it happened. She refused to trial OCs as she'd taken them very early on when doses were high and had some clotting issues.

[formerlyak]

This is why I had an ablation 5 years ago. Haven’t had a period since.