period question - not for the squemish!

GlasweJen

I have an implanon, have had it for 4 and a half years (this is my second one), prior to the implant I had fairly heavy periods which caused me to collapse.

Post implant periods have been lots lighter and less regular, at one point I never had one for a year. This is now my 3rd period since my periodless year and it's scarily heavy. I've flooded 2 regular pads in about 6 hours (maybe 7 hours at a push). There's been black clots on the pads but I've had less cramping than I normally do.

Now I know we all have a heavy period at some point and I'm not too concerned given that there's not much cramping but can anyone suggest a way to supplement the pads? I only have 2 left and the local shop doesn't open til 9 tomorrow morning!

jenniewb

Nothing in that makes me squirm and I tend to find most things stir my stomach!

Are you nowhere near a 24 hour chemist/pharmacy? (Google- they do exist!) or a petrol station which may in some cases sell things in emergency? (hit and miss but when your desperate...and if you have someone living with you, they could come in very useful!) I'd also call up NHS direct, faceless and they may have a solution, worth a try anyway.

So you have until 9am. I'd save one pad until you leave to go to the shops as you will need it.

Or if you have any neighbours, now could be a good time to meet? Again, very embarassing but its a long time to wait without a pad when you really need one this badly.

Other solutions would be a make-shift period pad with tissue/cotton wool wrapped up by old cotton clothes or similar (old clothes/towels/other old cotton items don't tend to disintergrate when made wet).

And have a bath/shower every few hours until you go to bed. It could get you through a good half hour each time and if you have any toiletries to try out/occupy yourself with testing then submit reviews on dooyoo/lush/boots/wherever suitable (earn vouchers or quodos...-I struggle with insomnia, can you tell )

I would suggest exercise- I seem to have a reduced flow when I am exercising (anything from walking through to running) but its night and you probably will want to sleep, but if you do get up early it could be an idea?

Jacks_xxx

I've done the two pairs of cotton pants with a folded over flannel in between the gussets routine before when I've been stuck, but you need to change often. I think it's probably going to be a case of saving your last pad for the trip to the shops if nobody can go for you and having a bath beforehand if things get messy.

My periods used to be very light but since I've been menopausal my bathroom floor looks like the set of "Carrie" in the time it takes me to dry my bits and get a pad and pants on. :eek:

ERICS_MUM

Do you live close to a hospital, A&E might have or be able to find some for you.

Or perhaps you could wrap layers of kitchen roll around a pad and change it regularly so it doesn't actually seep through to the pad ?

Or fashion a pad from a large chunk of cotton wool bound tightly with a length of toilet roll.

I do hope you can manage something so you can sleep well. I'm so glad all that's behind me now, like most women I could tell you some horrendous stories about my menstrual incidents :eek:

GlasweJen

Unfortunately I don't live close to anything, eventually went with 2 old microfleece blankets that were on the verge of being binned anyway.

Caroline_a

I once had a really bad episode, with symptoms probably about 5 times as worse as you describe (I won't be graphic..), and had to go to docs with it. First doc said that 'it's your age, deal with it', second one, (after 5 days and 20 large packs of emergency flood relief supplies later) gove me some tablets as he felt something was wrong. It took 6 weeks to fully stop, and the upshot was that I had a deep tissue infection. Cue mega antibiotics, and I was fine a few weeks later. So if you're worried, don't suffer - I nearly quietly bled to death as the doc told me later!