Janie Grace Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 I'm going through a super plus in an hour. I was up in the night for three hours with cramps. Midol and heating pad didn't touch them -- they were close to the intensity of labor. 3 Advil and a glass of wine and I could FINALLY sleep. My periods have been like this for the past 6 months... concerning, or just what happens when you're pushing 40? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Go see your ob. It could be the beginning of menopause but that just isn't normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Yes, go to the doctor, and remind them to check your iron levels in case they forget. There are defi tely things she can prescribe to help with pain and bleeding. My doc has me start the motrin several days before the period is due, which helps with both the pain and bleeding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 I'd see a dr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 I would see your OB to rule out anything serious. I now take Meclofenamate to help treat anemia caused by heavy periods (I was down to zero iron stores), which might be something to talk to your OB about after everything else has been ruled out. As an added bonus it prevents all the cramps and yucky feeling too. For the first time ever I had to go out and buy the least absorbent tampons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reflections Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 This was my experience: I would start to spot 2-3 days before the actual event. Then on the 2nd(ish) day of my actual period I would have to stay home because I would go through a pad an hour and when I would stand up, I'd soak through my pants at least 2x a day. Tampons and a pad working together made no difference - and the tampon seemed to make the cramps worse. My cramps would be so bad that I would curse and have tunnel vision. At my gyn appt I complained and they said that as long as the bleeding was like that on just that one day, they weren't concerned. What worked for me: I started exercising. And taking some supplements. I would work out with weights and exercise my core with a medicine ball every other day. I didn't do long slow cardio, rather I opted for high intensity 10/15 minute cardio bursts 2x a week. I mixed coconut oil in with my tea/coffee and took fish oil along with a probiotic, a vit.d3 with fiber, a multivitamin with iron and extra vitamin c. Plus I upped my protein to twice what is normally recommended and cut my carbs. But, uh, not my sugar in my tea and coffee. I just couldn't do it. In 6 months I could leave the house on the 2nd day of my period. The cramps were so diminished that I didn't need pain meds anymore. I lost 20lbs and gained a ton of muscle. And then....I got (oops) pregnant. YMMV on that one. ETA: But yeah, make sure to check with your doctor first to rule out anything....mine just thought *I* was in the range of normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy the Valiant Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Also ask about fibroids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 I spent a few years of my life like this in my early 40s. It was awful. I would suggest you find a naturopath. It was what I really wanted to do at the time but couldn't afford. My doctor was old school and every.single.suggestion of his failed. Miserably. I'm sorry. I didn't know I could lose pieces of my body like that and still live. I didn't have anything wrong and ended up having an ablation (thanks to suggestions here). I feel for you and completely agree with iron supplements and ruling out anything unusual or out of the ordinary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingiguana Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Could be completely "normal". As in, lots of people experience this and don't have anything "wrong". But it can also (somewhat rarely) be the sign of something not normal and not good, so it is best to get it checked out. And a decent dr will find something to help you through this. The only thing offered to me was 1) birth control pills (which did nothing but make me sicker) or 2) a hysterectomy and I wasn't interested in surgery. So... eventually it went away on its own. I was going through a super plus every half hour. I was getting no sleep. And this would go on for over a week out of every month. I couldn't leave the house (could barely leave the bathroom), couldn't exercise.... But, lots of tests were done and there was nothing actually wrong. I don't even think they saw big fibroids. It was just one of those things that some women "get". Ablation, though, does sound like it might be a good option. Other possible options (if it's fibroids): http://www.webmd.com/women/news/20041118/condoleezza-rice-has-fibroid-surgery My sister in law had a hysterectomy. She claims it was like the best thing EVER. Kept going on and on: "I'm telling you, this is how the other half LIVES!" She'd had a myomectomy (just removal of the fibroids) a number of years before -- it never gave her that much relief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiMi 4under3 Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 It's normal for me. I'm 39 and I've noticed that my periods keep getting heavier with time. Some months I also go through a super plus in one hour. I go to the gyn. every 6-12 mos. and the Dr. says that everything is normal. My mom had the same experience in the same age range. But I would still mention it to your Dr. at your next appointment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cakes Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 I am almost 47 and the last couple years my periods have gradually gotten worse and worse. At the peak, last April, i was alone in a hotel room and panicked thinking this CAN'T be cramps! I must be dying, I almost called 911. I decided I needed to calm down, drew a hot bath (at 3 am) and promptly barfed into the toilet. Worst period ever! Then I read that cramps can be a symptom of mineral deficiency, which is pretty common, but exercise depletes even further...and I had been running a lot. When I got home from that trip I bought some liq minerals and have seen a tremendous improvement. At the start of my period I also take extra magnesium, that helps in particular. Edited to add that I had previously had a pap and discussed my cramps with my Dr and she said they were normal and that unless they were a serious disruption in my life to hang in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 it would be good to rule out something more severe like endometriosis. this was also my thought. while perimenopause will change things, with that level of pain - it's good to rule out anything else. as for the gushing, it depends how many days it lasts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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