One of the symptoms of uterine fibroids is very heavy bleeding. A recent visitor wondered about managing the heavy days:
susie Q: i wondered if folks have any ‘tricks of the trade’ around managing the bleeding and heavy days. i feel shy to ask about this part of it all, but wonder if folks have ideas i might not have thought about – beyond towel rags, pads etc… anyway, if folks have inventions or ideas….
Another visitor suggested the great idea of a separate thread on this topic. Thanks Pam!
I struggled with the “floods” and huge clots for years. I wore dark clothing, packed a ton of sanitary supplies to leave my house (when I could still leave the house), and ALWAYS had to know the location of a bathroom. I feel for every woman dealing with this. It’s not easy but please realize that you aren’t alone.
If you have thoughts on managing it or just want to talk about heavy menstrual bleeding in general, leave a comment.
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Related Posts:
Uterine fibroid symptoms (not my idea of fun)
Uterine fibroid tumors and anemia?
Anyone using birth control pills to control bleeding from fibroids?
What makes you mad, sad, or glad when you think about your fibroids?
February 6, 2009 at 10:06 am
Amy, from what my ultrasound showed, it’s just the one submucosal fibroid. I’ll have another ultrasound on Monday, with the second doctor, so we’ll see if it’s the same or not.
The doctor I’m seeing Monday actually gave a talk on hysterectomies and options last night and I went. I was really relieved to hear him mention all the options available (and he covered fibroids in depth) – he even mentioned UAE, which I thought was surprising for a GYN. My current GYN has never even brought it up. The doctor last night also didn’t “advertise” for himself or his practice, and he and his colleagues are considered top surgeons in this area. That was reassuring as well.
He stuck around for private questions after the regular Q/A session and I spoke with him briefly about my situation. He advised me not to re-start the Aygestin (which i hadn’t anyhow) because he felt it would just cause me to bleed more. He also said that he didn’t think a hysterectomy is my only option based on what I’d told him and that we’d do an ultrasound Monday and see what’s up then. I feel better after talking to him and listening to his presentation. So, I’m crossing my fingers that all goes well Monday.
February 6, 2009 at 10:10 am
Oh- I nearly forgot -
I’ve been taking a B Complex vitamin for a little over a week, and I’m surprised at how much my bleeding has decreased. I don’t know if it’s just a coincidence or not, but it literally cut in half the amount I was bleeding. Now, I’m coming up on almost exactly a month since this crazy bleeding episode happened, and it may just also be that it’s finally running it’s course naturally. But it did seem to help. That, and not taking ibuprofen any more. I know some say it helps but it didn’t seem to be helping me after all, so I quit. Also, the iron may finally be kicking in, which would help with the bleeding as well. So, who knows, right?
February 7, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Suz, that is very hopeful news! And strange about the ibuprofen, because that helped me! I wonder if it stops helping if one takes it all the time… good luck and do let us know.
February 18, 2009 at 8:54 pm
This site has really helped me! I was found to have a fibroid after my m/c this past April. I have been having severe periods since after my D&C. We are still TTC as I am not ready to have any surgical intervention yet. Has anyone gotten pregnant amd delivered with a fibroid? If so were there any bleeding complications after? Thanks to all. This site has been a great support.
February 19, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Hi Adrienne – have a look at the fertility issues section of this website. There are some stories there about pregnancy with fibroids, including mine. I had bleeds once or twice a week during pregnancy over weeks 5 – 14, ranging from spotting to heavy gushes. I then had a natural delivery but a retained placenta & then a bad bleed requiring a transfusion (both possibly/probably related to the fibroids). I also had some post-pregnancy products build up in the uterus which I needed a D&C to remove about 5weeks after the birth (probably coagulated blood, again maybe related to presence of fibroids). Periods returned after 3 mths despite breastfeeding & are as yucky as ever unfortunately! Good luck with TTC.
February 25, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Hi, fortunatelly I don’t have uterine fibroids, but about 1 year ago I started to have 1-2 days of very heavy bleeding. The bleeding is so heavy that sometimes I must change my pads every half an hour. Also 1-2 nights if even i use Night Pads I can’t avoid leakage. I have a new job where sometimes I can’t go to the toilet even 3-4 hours. I have tried a few tricks to avoid leakage, like to use 2 pads the same time, but they didn’t works for me. Tell me please if you have some sure proved tricks .Good luck.
February 27, 2009 at 3:21 pm
After five weeks of bright red, heavy bleeding and clots, and six months of problem periods, attempts to control periods with Prometrium, and no end in sight, finally, some action!
I went to a drop-in clinic. There, I proceeded to flood on a chair. I’ll be having a TVU within days, thanks to the empathetic female doctor who stated the obvious, “You can’t go on like this.” Nope, I can’t. It’s not much of a life when you’re dizzy, laying on a couch, shivering under a blanket, unable to leave the house for fear of the inevitable flood, can’t even shop for groceries, doubled-up pads and incontinence pads can’t stop the flow…I don’t believe in suffering if there’s another way. Waiting it out is like waiting for Godot.
March 2, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Finally, down to just spotting, three days after starting Select 1/35. How ironic that the risk of migraines now seems preferable to continuous bleeding. I have iron-deficiency anemia, so now need to dash out and buy ferrous gluconate. Fibroids are suspected.
Incontinence pads (also sold as puppy training pads) are my best insurance plan. Other women I know never leave home without a towel and a black garbage bag for the seat of the car.
Where is the dignity in all this?
March 3, 2009 at 3:20 pm
hi all.
I am 4 month post AM and used to have heavy periods pre-op. I had lot of bladder pressure due to fibroid and had to go pee every half an hour and let the blood out. Now my gyn had prescribed me medicine to be taken at the onset of periods and bleeding has reduced dramatically low .. I wonder why gyn do not suggest medicl treatment to all.. if tht helps that much
March 5, 2009 at 4:11 am
Dignity… oh well…
PostAm, what medicine are you on?
March 26, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Before I had a UFE, I used to buy boys boxer shorts to wear over my panties because even the pads with wings were sometimes not enough when the bleeding was especially heavy.
April 12, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Want to sleep the whole night through?
MY “5 LAYERS SYSTEM” ® is THE ANSWER!!!
1) tampon – (tho I’m trying to lay off ‘em & go non-chlorine)
2) Poise pad or large X-long period pad
3) cotton period panties
4) Depends or generic brand absorbant disposable underwear
5) old pair of sweatpants ***because it gives one more layer and keeps everything in place!!
Since I have been using my “5 LAYERS SYSTEM” ® I can sleep the whole night through. Most of the time nothing goes through to the Depends layer.
But nice to know it is there…. That is why I can sleep.
April 12, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Claire, your post made me laugh! I’m not quite at that point (yet) – I just do the back-to-back overnight pads thing. But I’m sure, before too long, I’ll move on to the Depends! The things we go through…
May 16, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Hiya All
Im so glad to have found this website.
Two weeks ago I went to my doctor after I had large clots one morning in the shower. I didnt understand as I had a tampon in how this could happen. i was scared. I have had problems with heavy irigular periods for about 2 years but i put it to stress. last year I was diagnosed with BiPolar for moods I was having but im starting to wonder if the hormones have more to do with it.
I said to the doctor i can feel something large in my abdomin. She confirmed I had enlarged womb and i had an ultra sound later that day.
A number of statement the ultra sound tech said were very upsetting. She said if she didnt know it was a Uterus she wouldnt know and called my uterus “Manky”. it means messed up. Couldnt see where the mass ended and the uterus began.
She cant see what type it is. She measured what she could. Its 120 mm by about 100mm but there are some she couldnt quite see outside the uterus. Uiterus size of 20 weeks preg.
Im scared. The followup appointment with the doctor confirmed im probably looking at Histerectomy and because of the size it will be abdominal. im 36 and dont have kids. im sad. It make me nauseus and i get sharp pains in my guts not to mention the times i have to goto the toilet all the time. I get short of breath and having bowel problems too. They have to do some bowel tests now. Im worried about the surgery and what else they will find.
I havent told anyone except my mum and aunties. It only worried them
Could it be cancer if there is other stuff they cant quite see?
has anyone had a cancer diagnosis?
Anyway the doctor
May 18, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Hi Sharlene,
Because your uterus is enlarged, it is pressing on your bladder and your bowels and is almost certainly what is causing you distress both in terms of urination frequency and the sharp pains (most likely constipation). Also, because you have been having heavy bleeding for a couple of years, your shortness of breath may be tied to anemia. Your doctor should order a blood test to check your blood count if he/she hasn’t already.
There are some women on the site who have ended up having cancer and it is a possibility, but a fibroid is far more likely the culprit. I know how unpleasant it is to hear a diagnosis (and to be scared, and to not know exactly what’s going on or what to do), but the good news is that you are on the path to discovering the extent of the problem and to solving it and feeling MUCH better.
Best of luck!
May 25, 2009 at 3:33 pm
I have been bleding for 6 months non stop despite going on mini pill 3 months ago, all snce the birth of my baby and I have a large fibroid which was found during my pregnancy. I have taken tranexamic acid in the past for my heavy periods esp when I was TTC, but I don’t know if I can take this safely ALL the time or if it is only for short term bleeding – presumably it would only be to sort out short term bleeding. I have taken it a few times in the last 6 months but scared to take it too much. But it didn’t really seem to help lessen the bleeding like it used to before my baby came along, anyway.. I have what feels like period pain also, sometimes just all day andall night, or it can be on and off. More towards the ends of the days. Does anyone know an answer to my qu about tranexamic acid also what is the best painkillers as I take paracetomol and it doesn’t even come close to helping with the the pain. I am so fed up
Thanks x
May 25, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Hi I have always had bad periods, Ever since I had my first one. I am 26 now and my doctor has always known about my problem but never said anything about these fibroids i mean I know what they are but he has never said i have them or anything. But anyhow the last 3 months i have had the worst periods of my life last month i even had it twice. and they were both so bad that i could barely get out of bed. But i just started this months yesterday and this one takes the cake i can barely move, I am going thru a tampon in 20 min i have gone thru a hole box in about 24 hours. I wonder if i should go to the hospital because of the pain, and the clots they are so big i feel them comming out ,and yesterday i slept 15 hours im so tired .today I almost fainted I just dont want to go there and them just say hey sorry suck it up its a period…
May 26, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Hi Clare,
I believe the mini-pill is progesterone only. When I was on it, I fell into a continuous cycle of bleeding as well. Acc. to my doctor, I needed estrogen to help keep my endometrium in place. (Breast-feeding may be a complicating factor in all of your decisions and so I would definitely consult with your doctor.) From what you said on the other thread I suspect that you are anemic. You should get a blood count done — this will make your doctor understand how serious the bleeding is. Some of your pain issues may be tied to dehydration as well.
And Kim, that would be my advice to you as well — get a blood count so that your doctor can see in hard numbers how much you have been bleeding out. I felt like they thought I was exaggerating when I was telling them how fast I was flooding. When I hit your level I got so desperate that I finally sought treatment. It has made a HUGE difference in how I feel and I can’t believe how long I put up with being so sick.
Best of luck — I remember how hard it was to research all these decisions when one feels so exhausted and so betrayed by one’s body!
May 27, 2009 at 10:46 am
Clare and Kim, Ditto what Aja said. Some docs just really don’t believe how much we are bleeding until they do the blood work. A number of us even had transfusions – my hemoglobin was 7 or 8 and had two transfusions and felt SO much better. But even then, it’s my impression that takes a while for your body to repair the damage done to you body as all your cells have been essentially malnourished. My skin, hair, nails all showed it. It affected my thinking as well. Best to you and keep us posted.
June 17, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Help! Im scared of bleeding to death every time i get my per. I have to change my super pads every hr. Sumtimes evry 1/2 hr. Blood clots the size of golf balls. Im scared to take hormones and im scared to have procedures done what to do? Will this just naturally go away soon? Im realllllly stressed out over this! Pls. Advice?
June 17, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Hi Crys,
It will go away with menopause, but it will potentially get worse before then and you are likely to develop anemia in the meantime, if you haven’t already. I know how unpleasant it is to have to deal with this and I know how much you want it to go away. But now that I have been treated, I just wish I had been braver quicker and been more pro-active about getting treated. It will make such a HUGE difference in your life if you get your bleeding under control.
The first thing you need to do is go find out what is actually wrong. Yes, it sounds like a submucosal fibroid, but it might be a thickened endometrium or polyps or something else, so first things first, you need to see an ob/gyn and get an ultrasound done to see what’s going on inside your uterus. If you haven’t had one done before, they aren’t that unpleasant.
Once you have a diagnosis, then you can start reading about the different treatment options. Again, I’m really sorry this is happening to you. None of us want to get sick but it is better to know what is going on than to worry or be afraid that it might be something worse or end up needing a transfusion from ignoring the bleeding for too long. If it’s any help, most of us on the site have been where you are and can completely relate to what you are saying.
There are many different treatment options for all the things it might be. You’ll be OK! Good luck!
August 10, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I’m glad I found this site; it’s been the most helpful of any of the fibroid sites I’ve been to so far. I am 51 & was just diagnosed with fibroids after a year of really heavy periods, clots, floods, etc. I can’t wait for menopause to kick in, but am wondering if somehow fibroids delay the onset of menopause? I will try the Motrin someone mentioned & make sure I take iron pills—I had no idea why anemia was such a problem until I read the posts about strokes, etc. THANK YOU, ladies. It’s good to hear your stories.
September 19, 2009 at 9:05 pm
YAY!!!
FYI – I contacted WordPress and they were able to fix the blog!!!
I’ve asked if it was an actual malfunction or the domain mapping wasn’t paid up or whatever…. and will continue to follow through on this is just in case.
I really hope the whole thing is working again and all the regulars come back!
(for those who get ALL the comments emailed to them, sorry for all the repeat posts, but I want the message to get through to everyone!)
October 13, 2009 at 2:33 am
This is going to be long… sorry.
Hi everyone, I am glad that I found this site. I am 21 and not sure if I have fibroids, but what everyone is describing seems to point to that. When I started my period, it was like clockwork up until mid-high school. Then up until a few months ago, it was at very irregular intervals, some spotting inbetween, but when I did get it, the flow was always normal.
Starting a few months ago, I spotted for a month and that ended in a very heavy, long and clotty period. The same kind of period happened two weeks later. After that, a month passed with some intermittent spotting and now I am having another VERY heavy, long and clotty period. So I have had three episodes of extremely long, heavy and clotty periods in a row. This is relatively new to me so I’m wondering if anyone can help me figure this out.
I have read many of your posts and my last three periods have not been as bad as some of yours. It makes me feel good to know that there are other people who are going through something like this. On the heaviest days of these last three periods, I have soaked a tampon in less than an hour (sometimes it would take longer. I’m not sure why it has been fluctuating). I have also had a few clots come out every time I sit down to change my tampon and pee. The clots are smallish… each about the size of an average marble (I say small after reading posts about clots the size of a melon). More clots and blood would come out depending on if I walked or if it has been longer since I changed my tampon (or if it was morning). This morning it literally felt like I had an explosion in my pants when I sat up in bed and I had to run to the bathroom and the clots all plopped out and then I would keep dripping.
This is really scary but what makes it even more scary for me is that I am TERRIFIED of doctors and medical situations. It’s an irrational fear but a fear nonetheless. I haven’t ever been to the gyn (I am 21).
What is happening to me right now is scary enough to cause me to go to the doc in a few months when I get my health insurance. But I am also wondering… does it sound like I have fibroids? What are some other symptoms that I should look out for? I have pretty much no pain. Is it possible to have fibriods with no pain? What else could be wrong with me? Are there any other factors that could be causing this since these heavy, long and clotty periods just suddenly showed up a few months ago out of nowhere?
Could lack of exercise or diet have anything to do with it? I recently started taking women’s multivitamins. My second period since this started ended a few days after beginning to take the vitamins and I stopped taking them for about a week because they taste bad and now my period has started again. Coincidence? Also, these periods started around the time the semester ended for me. Could what is happening possibly be caused by lack of activity? I am ashamed to say that I literally sit on my butt all day and have since June. But the only time I am motivated to get out and walk around is when I feel unhealthy, and when I am having very heavy periods. Is it unsafe to walk around and exercise during a heavy flow day?
I am pretty sure I am not anemic because I am not overly tired or pale. I still have color in my nailbeds and the underside of my lower eyelids as one of you mentioned.
One last thing.. are there any natural things I can try to reduce the flow? Walking is going to be one thing I start doing as soon as this current period starts to get lighter.
Thanks for any words of advice, support, information…
October 28, 2009 at 4:14 pm
hi i started my period on 13 october and i still have it,heavy bleeding,clotting,went to the hospital on monday because even with a cough i was leaking so bad.they done a pelvic examination and i have to wait for an ultrasound .i am taking primolut and cyklokalpron.i am feeling so tired and weak and i am unable to work at the moment.what will happen when my next period starts i will be back to where i started!!
November 2, 2009 at 12:24 am
Amaya and rowena,
Until you are both seen by doctors make sure you continue to eat iron and vitamin C rich foods and supplements (vitamin c helps you to absorb iron). I also found out that motrin helps the uterus to clamp down and lessen the bleeding some (I thought it would make me bleed more, but no). So Rowena, as long as it’s ok with your doc, since you’ve gotten other meds, keep that in mind.
Amaya, it’s really hard to tell you if you have a fibroid, you are just going to have to see what your doctor says, but please see one as soon as you can. The first time is the hardest, after that you get more used to it – bu tit really is inevitable, so you might as well get it over.
Rowena, how long before you get an ultrasound?
Hang in there you two and best of luck at your appointments.
November 8, 2009 at 3:49 am
I am so glad to have found this site. I really thought I was alone but realize now that I am not!
I am 52 years old and stopped having my periods, on my own, about 5 years ago. The reason is because I no longer make progesterone and evidently I make too much estrogen. I am supposed to take Prometrium for the first 10 days of the month. I have always been a heavy bleeder but recently I skipped taking the Prometrium for about 5 months and had the worst period ever.
I was changing a super plus tampon every 10 minutes for 2 days. I went through 60 tampons in 18 hours. I finally ended up in the ER. Even though I felt light-headed, my blood count was pretty high at 11.
My GYN put me on Megace 40 mg 4 times a day until bleeding stops and then 2 a day until pills are gone. I have taken this medication before and I dread what is coming. The Megace will essentially give me a “pharmaceutical D&C”. There will be really bad cramping and uncontrollable bleeding and clots. I think the medication causes the lining to come away from the uterus in chunks. It is disgusting and scary.
I will be going through this in another 4-5 days. I hope I can be strong and not want to run to the ER. The fear sometimes just takes control and I start to panic. There is just so much blood. I agree with others here that our doctors really do not know how much we actually bleed. I think they would be surprised if they saw it. I’m considering getting a menstrual cup, saving it, and taking it to her! While I was at the ER, the doctor told me that I probably hadn’t lost more than a few tablespoons of blood! BS! I can squeeze a few tablespoons out of a single soaked tampon!
I’m glad I found this site and that there are others who know what I am going through.
November 29, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Lynda RK – how is it going? Was the Megace as bad as you thought it would be? What is the plan now? are you off hormones all together? I still can’t make up my mind – I hate the way I fee without them, but don’t like the problems they may cause…
November 14, 2009 at 4:42 pm
In March of 09 i was -1 in Iron. I had quickly gone to see the Doctor and he sent me to another doctor who works with blood count. In July of 09 i had to go into the outpatinent clinic and take in a whole bag of Iron. Oh my if felt awful just lying in there for 8 hours taking in Iron. After that i felt 100% better. But the problem with heavy periods continues I go through 20 pads per day by the end of the thrid day i’ve gone thru almost 50 pads. Only one problem me and the hubby want to have a child and i’m not getting any younger. It’s hard to fine a good OBGYN in town one that you can trust. Sometimes i get so frustrated and depressed that i know it’s affecting our sex life in general. Sometimes i say God i can’t take this anymore heavy bleeding take it away…..
November 14, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Krissy, wow! I didn’t know one could be -1 in Iron… or that they could give bags of iron. I had a trasfusion of two bags of blood, but that was it – but yes, I felt a lot better afterwards.
You don’t say why you are bleeding or what you’ve tried to do to stop it, or how old you are… there are several pages on this blog that give pointers about finding a good doc, what questions to ask, and how to prepare for different procedures. Here’s one: http://blog.geekwithfibroids.com/2006/10/18/how-do-i-find-a-good-local-fibroid-doctor/
You could also try going to the pages that deal with the procedure you might be considering and ask the women their if anyone lives in your area and can recommend someone… for example if you might want a myomectomy, go to the following page (it will take some time to load, it’s very long) http://blog.geekwithfibroids.com/2007/03/25/how-are-you-feeling-after-your-abdominal-myomectomy-part-4/
Finally, I just remembered that some women really recommend going to a reproductive specialist instead of a regular OBGYN, as their focus will be on treating you in a way that will be more likely to allow you to have kids, rather than a focus on just stopping your bleeding. You might try asking questions on the TTC (trying to conceive page): http://blog.geekwithfibroids.com/2007/02/15/trying-for-pregnancy-ttc-after-your-fibroid-procedure-abdominal-myomectomy/
Good luck, hang in there, and take some comfort in knowing you aren’t alone and be thankful we actually have some options. For one, I’m thankful I don’t live in a cave, I would have bled to death a long time ago – no wonder the life expectancy used to be so low!!!
December 14, 2009 at 11:20 pm
I’ve had a myomectomy in 2005, but apparently at least one has returned. My doc attempted a Mirena IUD insertion but the fibroid was causing too much distortion. So 11 days ago I had my first of 3 Lupron shots in hopes of shrinking the fibroid. I started my cycle last Thursday evening. I’ve been bleeding heavily and passing clots almost non-stop since then. I am anemic and receive IV iron infusions (INFED) – once a week at first, then biweekly, now monthly. Until the bleeding is under control the infusion are all for not. I was in tears earlier today until I found this blog. It helps just to know I’m not the only woman suffering. Thank you all!
January 2, 2010 at 4:46 am
hi am 26 yrs of age i have two kids i had an irregular period since my frist period started until i had my daughter at 21 then it went normal about two year after i was pregnant with my second while i went to find out the sex of my child the tech asked meif i had fibors i said not that i know of. but that was the end of it havnt heard word about it after that. anyway i had a csection (oh sorry i had a csection with the frist too ). i keep for get info sorry i was found to be anemic with my frist and my second. after my seconds birth and my menstrual came it was heavy i taught it would go away i taught it was because of the c-section. but my daughter is almost two in feb and its still happening i hav too use two pads sleep on the floor use a tampon ,a period protective panty which is not reusable am cloting like crazy when i go pee i could feel it goshing out of me. can i say gross!!!!! i told my doctor about the problem she juss prescibed more iron pills which not workin for me am having headaches almost everyday i seriously cant take this no more am very paronoid i cant even go outside cause am embarass thinking am going to mess my clothes up. living with this is really driving me crazy and i would really like some help am really paronoid and i cant take it no more
January 2, 2010 at 3:21 pm
I have been a prisoner in my home on day two of my period, for the past year, after a tubal ligation. (Read up on tubal ligation syndrome, ladies, before you consider it!!) I used to double up with tampon and long pad, and still have to change hourly. I would use my daughter’s diaper at night, which would still leak.
I just tried Alway’s Infinity which is AWESOME! It is amazing how much blood it can hold, which it pulls away from your body. It is expensive, but so worth it. It replaced the diaper at night.
Good luck. You are not alone, everyone.
January 10, 2010 at 2:34 am
Like Madaline, I highly recommend the Infinity pad. They just dropped their prices and they are sooo worth it. Before, regular maxis were useless, i would spillage within an hour, sometimes sooner.
I have four fibroids and my insurance refuses to pay for a myomectomy. My doctor is appealing since my uterus has basically doubled and so have the fibroids. I had them even when I was pregnant with my son 12 years ago. They apparently died down about my 6th month and I had no complications from them during the delivery and afterwards.
Only the past two years have my periods gotten out of control and lately I have had almost nonstop bleeding. last month only 3 days off and now I am restarting after Day 15 of my cycle, so maybe 8 days off. I am also anemic.
My doctor said if the anemia doesn’t resolve with the iron pills she will put me on lupron. So I though Lupron was a treatment for anemia but now I read it is something different. I’m glad i came here and found out !